Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-25
CHAPTER I
The Past Iutervenes

..,,shed an imaginary speck OF dust
from the shouider Oh MS e'nner 's'Nee
and momentarily stopped nus cheery
~h,.,,inp TO stare at himself In the
Wn''' .,,,,o, .vo,
glass WIN or''io",
Jimmy was feeling very pIeased with
,,,.sIf IN particular and the world In
n'"''e ~. 900. vo,,ne ana ou,,a nors.
general ne w se'e
ably good-looKng' ne hao psckeo u
snn,o or winners that day for a n..e
Wup'0 ,, h. ,,,s .ngosos %
woman with whom ne had been desper-
~, 4, Ioye for at least three month";
a'sn :" a,,,s vo, a ,o,o t,n,n tor
Three Ihoh''' ""' '0"s .e ~.
Jimmy Challoner 70 De IN love ras g
rule, three days was tne OUTSIDE unit
which he allowed himseitl, but this
we'll this was the real thing at last
the real romantic thing or winch author
chaps and piaywright Johnnles wrote, :,
the thing when sweeps man clean on
his feet and paints tho world with rain
bow tInts.
Jimmy was sure or IL his usually
merry eyes sobered nttle as ne met
their solemn reflection IN the mirror. lie
took up a silver backed brush and care
fully smoothed down kink or heh
which stood aggressively erect above the
rest It was confounded nuisance, that
obstinate wave In his hair, making nun
look like poet or drawing-room
actor.
Not that he objected TO actors and the
stage In the very least: on the con-
trary, he had the profoundest admiration
for them, at which one could hardly
wonder seeing that Cynthia-bless her
heart was at present playing lead IN
one Of the suburban theatres, and that
at that very moment a pass for the stage
box reposed happily In an inner pockul
OF his coat
Cynthia was fast making a namo for
herself. In his adoring eyes she was per-
feet, and In his blissful heart he was
confident that one day ell London would
be talking about her.. Her Photographic
would be In every shop window, and
people would stand all day outside the
pit and gallery to cheer her on first
nights.
When he voiced these sentiments TO
Cynthia herself, she only laughed and
called him a SILLY boy; but he knew
che was pleased to hear them, all the
sane.
Jimmy Challoner gave q last look at
bis immaculate figure, took UP his .o...
and gloves and went out
He called taxi and gave the address
Of the suburban theatre before he
climbed in out OF the chilly night and
Jimmy was quite Young and very
much In love; so much in love that as
yet he had not penetrated the rouge and
grease paint OF life and discovered the
very ordinary material that lies beneath
u The glare OF the footlights strlI
blinded him. Like a child who is taken
for the first time to a pantomime. he
did not realize that their brilliance is
there In order to hide imperfections.
ne was SO perfectly happy that he
reached the theatre An atten ,iva nnr,nr
hurried forward.
Just at the moment Jimmy Challoner
was very we'll known In that particu-
lar neighborhood: he was generous wi,n
hs ups, Tor one thing, and for another,
re mad cheery. personality which went
Gown with most people.
He went round to the stage door d.,
ne were perfectly at home there. ae
noeed ne was Tie doorkeeper bade
MI MN respectful good evening and asked
chill stone passage. ...... 90
AZ tho top a door on tho right was
pMuy open: a par or yellow light
ss1nt usained I OUT INTO the passage. A little
r,rpt r,gs.d 1hto Challoners youthful face ias
@ The refractory kink before he went fol-
ward and knocked.
n. Peoccupieu voice sald' come In
psnt "''GnSr im.t opeyea' ne stood FOR a mo-
sneakIrS ''s'oe the door without
II was NOT a ve,.v ,areo roo,, o,s .,o
was friPb,sSrI,l P btsSiHm ~ gave one was that 1t
Eyerv i,ary cbsiry oDG OSetcrowded: tsr1N u,..s
with frocEs Gsa,r ana ana frh tapie seemed Uttered
pictures and photographs and odds and
ends The room was brilliantly lighted,
and at dressing table strewn with
,Guke-up boxes and hundred and one
Toilet requisites a girl was reading
At first Rlapoo cha ,oo,,o,
sne was small and dainty, with clearly
beautiful hair in all the world Jimmy
yHnslloner thought for the thousandth
itDnne, as he stood In the doorway look