The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-08-05

log, looking away out over the wa
tiers of the Jake. The scene was
strangely peaceful-tiny, ripping
waves gently kissing the wet line Of
the beach, made the only sound. Then
from out of the horizon rose thin,
black line, a line that widened as the
minutes passed, widened and swelled
into smoke clouds. Fascinated, the
pair watched until the great lake
freighter, with its belching smokestack,
was clearly outlined and gained mo-
nopOly of the scene. Nearer and
nearer came the freighter-a steady,
onward force that rode the mighty
waters with the air of conqueror.
"Someday l am going TO be like
that" The girl broke the silence. 81
am going to spring up out of the back
ground and swiftly take a place of
prominence in the world. Like that
steamer, l will travel on and on.
nothing will stop me, nothing can, I'M
I'll l have achieved greatness"
The boy smiled. He. too, had
dreams.
II will be like these waves" he said.
Il will travel slowly, gently, surely.
will go around the things in my way,
pass over or carry with me the small
things. | may be pushed back, like
the waves, but like them 1 will come
back again. Always l will be reaching
out, out, out"
II 10 To- al
pie, millionaire broker. left his of
flee, his head heavy and aching. Big
business had meant always a headache
for Jack. Despite his remarkable
achievements and his worldwide fame
as the cleverest and coolest fnancier
on Wall street, he still faced every
battle nervously, still battled at a
tension; but none save Jack knew
that-to Wall street he was q man
without nerves, a man with an iron
constitution.
1t was for men like Jack "the tired
business man" form of entertainment
was invented, but the "girlie-grl"
shows had no attraction for him that
night.
Anything but musical show" he
told his chauffeur after he had given
up the thought of eating. 81 don't
care where. Even melOdrama would
be welcome tonight"
So 1t was that the car drew up at
small theater playing THE Bubble
Breakers" The name could apply to
any show, but the glaring Autographs
displayed in front of the theater pro-
claimed it melodrama without doubt.
Jack went in without flinching. He
smiled when his chauffeur declined an
invitation to accompany him-that in
itself was sufficient guarantee that the
show was poor one, but Jack was
there at his own bidding, and he never
went back on himself.
The house was well filed. The
cheaper seats were all occupied, but
some of the more expensive ones were
vacant. Jacks seat was near the front.
The curtain went up on the first act
before the millionaire had chance to
study the types around him.
| The scene was a beach. The water
in the background was a poor scenic
effect, but the log and the pair seated
upon it looked natural enough. Then
appeared at the head of the canvas a
black line. 1t was some time before
the audience could grasp that it was
intended for smoke, but when lights
appeared and the form of a poorly
| niyto Lob fraiphtA- ottoohnI itSn1f
to the thin smoke line the riddle was
! solved.
Then the pair began to speak. The
| girl spoke first. Her voice was low
and sweet; there was nothing of the
forced melodrama in her tone. She
was just a child, barely fourteen, Jack
thought His mind was more on the
little actress than on the words she
was saying, but when the boy spoke he
realized that they were dreamers,
dreaming of the future. Such fool
ish, useless pastime 1t was.
But Jack could not become bored by
the play. The plot was ragged, but
the bright little actress protraying the
chlld's part kept life enough in the
play to hold his interest.
1t was between the third and fourth
acts that Jack came to his decision.
His life had been such a lonely, bar
rem sort of thing, why couldn't he
do something worth while now? he
| asked himself. Here was his chance
to spend some of his millions on an
other, here was his chance to give
this child-dreamer the means of realiz-
ing some of her dreams.
Lenore Roselby sank to the chair
before her dressing table and gave a
sigh of relief. The play was over,
and she was glad of it, for her part
was a hard one and she had eXerted
her every effort to portray it. Her
maid entered with a card. The actress
gave the card but a fleeing glance.
Cards meant only one thing in her
life-stage johnnies, and experience
had sickened her of that type long
ago.
"He was prosperous, rich looking"
her maid whispered. "And he was
persistent"
Lenore glanced up. 1t took almost
n minute before she connected the