Evening star., 1921-09-18

II
" had a lucky break Even
if it's only something you've
pulled accidental. like win
ming out in a raf1ie, or being pro-
NOTED at the Office because somebody
quit sudden. Whether you deserve it
or not. the fact remains that you've
landed. and you can't help feeling a
little puffy in the chest. But the big
.>.loment comes when you spring it on
We folks at home.
That is, it should. So when 1
~crolled back to the apartment after
having been picked by Ames Hunt
to play the Flapper part in Earry's
new play, expect l was wearing my
chin high and stepping: firm on my
, rubber heels. OF course, the only ones
could reckon as home. folks were
Uncle Nels and lneZ. Counting on
them in that role was stretching it
bit, ! don't deny, but when you're a
runaway double orphan you can't be
choosey about such things. So tried
to break it to 'em as modest as l
knew. how.
Inez was the first to get glim-
' mer. Hey" says she. You mean
you gonna be talk actress. on the
stage?"
Not that I was crazy about her
way of distinguishing a movie per-
son from a real actress, but l nodded
enthusiastic.
HUH" says Inez. You"
why SO fiattering?" says 1. But
] don't wonder at the tone. Inez.
That's good deal the way l felt
about it myself at first. Who would
have thought. hardly a year ago.
ders and soft drinks on Superior
street, Duluth. that would ever make
broad jump like this: And in star
lakes her rhythmic assault on the
chewing gum and let's her calm gray
eyes rest on me curious. "You-you
get your name printed?" she asks:
absolutely" says !. "on the bill
boards outside. probably, anyway on
the programs and in the newspapers:
and il the thing makes a hit later on
and we move uptown. maybe you'll
see Trifby May Dodge spelled out in
electric lights. How about that?"
x x* x
put 1nez hasn't such a frisky
- imagination. She simply gawps
and shakes her head. IT gotta see it
first" says she.
Which gives Uncle Nels chance
to come in. You don't get paid for
doin' that play actin'?" he asks.
Real money" says I. More than
ever dreamed I'd be getting week"
He wags his gray head and suuints
at me from his shrewd eyes. "Lotta
fools amt dead yet. eh?" says he.
No. says ], '.and some haven't
they are, either
This doesn't register with Uncle
Neis at all, for he just blinks satisfied
and goes on pruning his nails with the
young tooishop he carries moored to
his right forward 91Snandar nv q
chain. It's one of the tall timber
tricks I've tried to break him of.
without any success. 1 had already
pointed out to Inez that nail trim
ming wasn't parlor pastime prac-
ticed in the best circles, but I couldn't
get her to drop hint to the old boy.
IF he don't. he whittie," Inez had
said. Likes to show off his knife"
matter of fact. 1t was whole car
penter's outfit-sixteen blades. I be-
1leve, including a saw, screw driver.
gimlet and I don't know what else.
any handy man could weI build a
house. or dig a well. or scuttle bat
tleship. 1t had a pearl handle and
a ring In one end, and must have
weighed couple Of pounds. Uncle
Nels had seen it in store window.
gone back to view. it for three days
in succession before he dared price it.
and at the end of the week had
worked up enough courage to buy it.
I'll bet it hurt, at that, for when it
comes to little things, such as spend
ing real money for haircut or a
new necktie. he's as hard s6oi1ed as a
picnic egg. Yet he'll write q fifteen
hundred dollar check for "a months
rent for this de luxe apartment with
out batting an eyelash. Odd old
codger.
But when Annette-the Montreal
French maid who has been induced to
Join our encourage and do mez's hair
and keep her hooked up in the back