Middletown transcript., 1920-06-05

H.. ~ N u. q Sa - sd s6t " (
developnentfat Psftoq. and wear oet
and walked. inqulries af hotels fdrse
AMI, suan occupieos mes until seven
iocloek No one had heard df a Mrs.
.Bashford OF a sldrs. Farnsworth. My
inspection Of the occupants OF several
thousand automobiles proved eaqa1iy
fruitiess. I ate 4 lonely dinner at the
club and resumed my search: Hang
ing about theater doors, staring at the
crowd, is not a dignified occupation.
and by nine o'clock. having seen the
most belated theatergoers vanish.
was tired and footsore. The flaming
sign Of Searles' "Who Killed Cock
Robin?" over the door Of the LAS You
Like 1t" caught my eye. I sought
seattle last in the rack-and
squeezed into my place in the middle
of the last row. AS ! had seen the
piece at least dozen times, its nov
city was gone for me. but the laughter
of the delighted audience was cheer
ing. The first act was reaching It's
elimination, and I watched 1t with q
glow of pride in Searles and his skill
full craftsmanship.
AS the curtain fell and the lights
went up amid murmurs Of pleasure
and expectancy, I glanced across the
rows of heads. The half-turned FACE
Of q man three rows in front OF me
suddenly caught my attention. There
was something curiously familiar IN
his outlines and the gesture with
which, at the moment, he was d.awing
his handkerchief across his forehead.
It was Montani-bey0nd any question
Montani-and instinctively shranK IN
my seat and lifted my program as
he turned round and swiftly surveyed
the rows behind him.
watched his black head intently
until I remembered the superstition
that by staring at person in pub
lie place you can make him look at
you. Montani knew great many
things wanted to know, but l must
have time to adjust myself to the
shock Of his propinquity.
The house now took note Of STIR
ring in the boxes. There was an ex-
cited buzz as the tall form and un-
mistakable features of Cecil Arrow
smith, the. English actor, were recog-
nized. I had read that day of his
arrival in New York. With him were
two women. My breath came hard and
I clutched the iron frame Of the seat
il front Of me so violently that Its
occupant turned and glared.
The trio settled into their places
quickly, but not before had satisfied
myself that Arrowsmith's companions
were Alice and Mrs. FarnswOrth. AS
they fell into animated talk saw that
Alice was in her gayest humor. The
distinguished tragedian seemed greatly
amused by what she was saying to
him.
'Must be members of Arrowsmith's
company" one of my neighbors re-
marked. "They open in two weeks
in Shakespearian repertoire"
Montani had half risen, the better
to focus an opera-glass on the box.
The gong solemnly announced the Sec
ond act, and Alice moved her chair
to face the stage. Once more Mon
tani scanned the party with his glass.
As the lights faded Alice, with the
pretty languorous gesture so well re
membered, opened her fan-the fan
of ostrich plumes, that became blur
Of white that held my eye through the
dusk after the curtain rose.
Alice, Montani, and the fan! To this
combination had now to add the new
element introduced into the situation
by the apparent familiar acquaintance
of Alice and Mrs. Farnsworth with
Cecil Arrowsmith. And yet, as the
play proceeded on its swift-movins
course, I reasoned that there was moth
ing extraordinary in their knowing the
eminent actor. He had long beer
a parsonage in England and had late
ly been knighted. Their appearance
with him at the theater really dis
posed Of the idea that they might be
imposters. The presence Of Arrow
smith had put zest into the company
and I hadn't seen q better perform
ance of Searles' play. The trio In
the box Joined in. the prolonged up
plause at the end Of the act.