The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-05-08
The Dre:anlers.
BY VINCENT g. PERRY,
Copyright 1920, by the Mcclul

.fsttV Ill NI6ANucE6ib dL pAu0 W seASAS Sse
a log, looking away out over the
waters Of the lake. The scene
was strangely peaceful ripping
waves gently Kissing the wet line Of
81 the beach, made the only sound Then
from out OF the horizon rose q thin,
black line, q line that wldened as the
minutes passed, widened and gwelled
into smoke clouds. Fascinated, the
pair watched until the great lake
" ffeighter, with its belching smoke.
stack, was clearly outlined and gained
monopoly Of the scene. Nearer and
nearer came the freighter-a steady,
onward force that rode the mighty
waters with the air Of conQuerer.
".Some day / am going to be like
that !" The girl broke the silence. Il
am going to spring up out OF the back
ground and swiftly take place o.
prominence in the world. Like that
Steamer, / will travel on and on, moth
4 ing viii stop me, nothing can, until
have achieved greatness"
The boy smiled. He, too, had dreams.
II will be like these weayes," he
said. II 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
! will come back again. Always ! will
be reaching out, out, out.
It was many years later. Jack Tenn
pie, millionaire broker, left his office,
his head heavy and aching. Big BUSH
ness had meant always o headache tor
Jack Despite his remarkable achieve
\ 1nents and his worldwide fame as the
eSCleyerest and coolest financier on
Rall street, he still faced every battle
@ yously, still battled at q tension
Ebnt none save Jack knew that; to
alls street he was man without
ton.
It was for men like Jack the tired
4 business man" form Of entertainment
y WAS invented, but the "girlie.girl"
SHOWS had no attraction for him that
might,
Anything but a musical show" he
tod his chauffeur, after he had given
& lip the thought Of eating. II don't care
where. Even melodrama would be
1Vplcome tonight"
So it was tnat the car drew up at q
Il small theatre playing THE Bubble
;;l53teakerS. The name could apply to
any show, but the glazing Autographs
AZ displayed in front Of the theatre pro-
s CLAIMED 1t melodrama without doubt.
q Jack went In without flinching. He
lied when his chauffeur, decline.
nm invitation to accompany him-that
itself was sufficient guarantee that
lie show was a poor one, but Jack
vas there at his own bidding and he
never went back on himself.
The house was well filled. The
cheaper seats were all occupied, but
eSof the more expensive ones were
ant. Jacks seat was near the front.
The curtain went up on the first act
before the millionaire had chance to
Z study the types around him.
The scene was beach. The water
. the background was a poor scenic ef-
teCt, but the log and the pair seated
upon 1T looked natural enough. Then
reared at the head OF the canvas a
black line. It was some time before
i the audience could grasp that 1t was
INTENDED for smoke, but when lights
appeared and the form OF poorly
painted lake freighter attached itself
to the thin smoke line the riddle was
sEolyed.
Then the pair began to speak. The
itl spoke first. Her voice was low
slnn1 sweet; there was nothing OF the
forced smelodrama In her tone. She
US Just child, barely fourteen. Jack
s2tno1gnt His mind was more on the
Little actress than on the words she
he realized that they were dreamers,
dreaming Of the future. Such fool
Y useless pastime It was.
But Jack could not become bored by
the play The plot was ragged, but
the child part kept life enough in the
play to- hold his interest.
was between the third and fourth
4 ilets that Jack came to his decision.
Els Lie had been such o lonely, barren
H9ft OF thing, why couldn't he do some.
thing worth while now? he asked him.
sell. Here was his chance to spend
some OF his millions on another, here
was his chance to give this child.
dreamer the means Of realizing some
6t her dreams.
4lenore Roselby sank to the chair be-
Tore her dressing table and gave a
sight OF relief. The play was over, and
q elle wac glad Of 1t, for her part was O
,net4 one and she had exerted her
every effort to portray 1t. Her maid
entered with q card The actress gave
the card but fleeting glance. Cards
meant only one thing in her life
nthse iohnnies, and experience had
nc kened her Of that type long ago.
He was prosperous, rich looking
her maid whispered. "And he was per.
siSteiik r
q .eHpre glanced up. It took almost a
minute before she connected the
2lnaid'g comment with the card; then
she picked the small tiny bit Of card.
pCsEd up pnce more.
Jack Temple," she read aloud, and
them as she turned the card over read
the spenctled note on the back, IAN old,
dleaged man who can perhaps
help you. An admirer who does not
Eent 20 make love to you"
ne text OF the note was so unusual
E5enore gasped.
Vhyl" she started; but tap on
the door stopped her. Something
4 1eemed 70 tell her that Mr.. Temple
xes waiting In the corridor. "Show
INN In Bhe said suddenly.
Jack felt very much at home "a he
found his way into chair opposite
HSenore.
/ You must know that we do not pe.
ceive Visitors In our dressing rooms"
Lenore started In. Even small show
actresses have pride, Mr.. Temple"
Well spoken, little GIRL" Jack said
a his most fatherly tone. 4 was sure sure
II should find you modest little girl
like this. have come to make a pro |
position to you. would like you to |
leave this life-I would like to educate
you-give you tho chance the modern
girl Graves for, in social life"
"Mr. Temple" Lenore had risen to |
her full height, and her head was held
high, you must think, indeed, that ] |
am inexperienced to be 80 taken in by
such an impossible offer. The thing
10 preposterous!"
"There! guess have gone thu