Middletown transcript., 1920-06-12
~'LADnL ARK SPUR
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CHAPTER ,iv-continued.
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~ MEREDITH NICHOLSON


CHAPTER iv-continued.
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Az they resumed their talk Alice, it
seemed, was relating something OF mo-
ment for Arrowsmith's benefit. refer
ring now and then to Mrs. Farnsworth
as though for corroboration. The
scene in the box was almost as In
teresting as any in the play, and the
audience watched with deep Absorb
tion.. .Ahce. the least self-conscious
Of mortals, was, I knew, utterly un-
aware Of the curious gaze OF the
house; whatever she was saying with
an occasional gesture Of her gloved
hand or shrug Of her shoulders
possessed her completely. Thought
she might be telling Arrowsmith of
her adventures at Barton; but the
length Of her narrative was against
this, and Arrowsmith's attitude was
more that Of a critic appealed to
for an opinion than Of polite listener
to q story. He nodded his head sew
eral times, and finally3 as Alice. with
a slight dip of the head and ar, out
ward movement Of her arms, settled
back in her chair, he patted his hands
approvingly.
In my absorption had forgotten
Montanrs existence. but AZ the thlfd
act began I saw that he had gone.
Whether should put myself In Alice's
way as she left the theater was still
an undetermined question when the
play ended. With Montani banging
about felt a certain obligation to
warn her that he had been watching
her. I was among the first to leave,
and In the foyer I met Forsythe, the
house manager. who knew me as
friend Of Searles.
"You notice that we're still turn
ing 'em away" he remarked. I'VE
don't have to worry about this piece
everybody who sees 1t sends his friends
the next day. Searles hasn't looked In
for some time; hope he's writing a
new play?" -
"He's West visiting his folks. Don't
know when he'll be back" l answered.
II must write him that Sir Cecil Ar
rowsinith enjoyed Who Killed Cock
RobinT just as much as common NOR
tails"
Forsythe had paused at the box
Office, and In my uncertainty bstuck
to him as the crowd began to surge
by.
Arrowsmith's approach was adver.
tised by the peculiar type of tall hat
that he affected. and the departing au-
dience made way for him. or hung
back to stare. At his left were Alice
and Mrs. Farnsworth, and they must
pass quite close to me "Who Killed
Cock Robin?'' was q satisfying play
that sent audiences away with light
ened hearts and smiling faces, and the
trio were no exception TO the rule.
Listening inattentively to Forsythe,
I was planning to Join Alice when the
trio should reach me. She saw me
there was a aeeting fash of recog-
| milton in her eyes, and then she turned
toward Arrowsmith. She drew near
er; her gaze met mine squarely, but
now without sign to indicate that
she had ever seen me before. She
passed on. talking with greatest AMI
nation to Arrowsmith.
"Well, remember me to Searles II
you write him." heard Forsythe say
ing. I clutched his arm as he opened
the office door.
"Who are those women" I demand
ed: /.
"You may search mel I see you
have a good eye. That girls rather
nice to look att"
Crowding my way to the open,
blocked the path Of orderly, sane citi'
zens awaiting their machines until O
policeman pushed me aside. Alice
saw for a bewildering instant. framed
in the window Of big limousine tina,
rolled away uptown.
had been snubbed! No snub had
ever been delivered more deliberately
with a nicer calculation Of effectAthar
that administered to me by Alice Bash
ford-a girl with whom. until mo
ment before, had believed myself
ON terms Of cordial comradeship. She
had cut me: Alice who had asked mt
at the very beginning Of our acquaint
ance to call her by her first name
Alice had cut me without the QuiYel
Of lash.
I walked to the Thackeray and set
tied myself, in a dark corner Of tn
reading room, thoroughly bruised II
spirit. In my resentment I meditatet
flying to Ohio to Join Searles, alway!
my chief resource in trouble. Affair!
at Barton might 60 to the Levil. I
Alice and her companion wanted t,
get rid of me. would not be sorry t.
be relieved Of the responsibility hat
assumed in trying to protect them
With rising fury I reflected that b.
the time they had shaken off Mon
tani and got rid of the prisoner IL
the tool house they would think bette
Of me.
Telephone call, sir"
I followed the boy to the boot
in rage that any one should disturb
my gloomy reflections.
"Mr. Singleton? Oh! This is Alic
speaking"
I clutched the shelf for support
Not only was it Alice speaking. bu
in the kindest voice imaginable. NJ
anger passed. but my amazement a
Alice and all her ways blinded me