Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-10-29

"Thc money I'm losing" returned
the manager wildly dis2ustcd. Il
could've filled the metropolitan opera
house three times over -
He swung on his heel and began To
push his way ont ct the lobby. come
nlong--no use trying to get in this
way
Whitaker followed, to be led down n
blind alley between the thpator and
the adjoining hotel. An illuminated
sign advertised the stage door, through
which. via IL brief hallway. they en-
tered the poStscenium and-Mux drag
gIng him by the arm-passed through
Il small door into the gangway behind
the boxes.
"Curlan's just up" Max told him;
"Sara doesn't come on TIL near the
middle of the act Make yourself com
Portable; I'll be back before long"
He drew aside Il curtain and ushercd
his guest into the rght-hand stage-boX,
then vanished. The few empty stalls
were rapidly filling up. There WAS n
fluent movement through the aisles. a
subdued hum and rustic rose from that
portion Of the audience which was al
ready seated. The business going on
upon the stage was receiving little at
tention--from Whitaker as little as
from anyone. The opening scene in
the development Of the drama inter-
nI 81 IL ~
IT was hanging in suspense upon the
unfolding of some extraordinary deyel-
opment, something unprecedented and
extraneous, foreign to the play.
Max slipped quietly into the box and
handed his guest Il program. Better
get over here" he suggested in
hoarse whisper. indicating chair near
the rail. You may never have an
other chance to see the greatest living
actress. Won / house, he WhiS-
pered, sitting dowr behind Whitaker.
"Drummond hasn't shown up vet.
though
THAT so:" Whitaker returned over
his shoulder.
"ies; It's funny; never knew him to
be so late. He always has the aisle
seat, fourth row, center. But he'll BE
along presently
He glanced idly ut his program, in
differently absorbing the information
THAI Jules Max has the honor to pre-
sent Miss Sara Law in her first and
greatest success entitled Joan Thurs
Iuy--n y,loV n ,brna
The audience stirred cxpeCtantly:
movement ran through il like the
movement of waters, murmurouS, up
on shore. Whitakers gaze was
drawn to the stage rs if by an i'm
placable force. Max shifted ON the
chair behind him and said something
indistnguishable, in an unnatural tone.
A woman had come upon the stage
suddenly and tenn. .t7ouSly, banging
a door behind her. The audience got
the bHrcst glimpse of her profile as,
puusng momeniarly, she eyed the
other actors. Then, without speaking
she turned and walked up-stagc her
back to the footightS.
Applause broke out like a thunder
clap, pcning heavily through the big
auditorium, but the actress showed no
consciousness of il. She was standing
before a cheap mirror, removing her
hat arranging her hair with the
typical, unconscious gestures of Il
weary shopgirE she was actng-iving
the scene, with no time to waste in
pandering to her popularity by bows
and set smiles; she remained before
the glass, prolonging the business, I'M
til the applause subsidized.
Whitaker received an impression rs
Of tremendous force at work across
the footliEhts. The woman diffused IN
effect as Of a terrible and boundlcSs
energy under positive, control. She
was not merely an actress, not even
merely II great actress; she was the
very soul Of the drama Of today.
Beyond this he knew in his heart
that she was his wife. Sara Law was
the woman he had married in that
sleepy Connecticut town, six years be-
fore that night. He had not yet seen
her face clearly but he knew. TO find
himself mistaken would have shaken
the foundations of his understanding.
Under cover of the applause, he
turned to Max.
"Who Is that? What is her nalneT
"Thc divine Sara" Max answered., |
his eyes shining.
~ mean, what IS her name OFT the
stage, in private llfe!'
"rhe same Max nodded with con-
yiction; "Sura Laws the only name |