New Britain herald., 1921-07-14

to the telegraph operators. Her an- swers did not satisfy him.
 She was Tar buster, too, than he inn agined, for Reben was grooming her for stardon1 without giving her an inkling of lis schemes.
 In Spite of it's great success in Eng land and ts substantial merits as play, the production was a first-class disaster. Sheila's notices were of the however" sort. crediting her with ability and charm .
 The slow death of play is mis- erable process. While it was dying Reben set the company rehearsing "vour Uncle Dudley. which caught the public and the critics at just the right moment. It was hopeless suc- cess. All the raptures ere for Sheila. She was lauded as the success of the year.
 Meanwhile Reben was convinced u at the time was near to launch Shella as star. Her success in character role of peculiarly Ameri- can traits led him to abandon the eff fort to find a foreign success to float her in.
 One evening, during the second entr' acte, he led a tall and scholarly looking young man back stage, and introduced him to Sheila as Eugene Vickery, who had written play which it might be worth while to pro duce with her as the star. The three went to supper together after the theater and Sheila's eyes glistened as Vickery recounted his own boyish am bitions to write her a play. Then he described his retrieval of her during the riot at Leroy and she blnshed to remember that she had owed /Eldon letter for long time.
 Then Vickery explained that Win field had gone to her defense and not to her offense, and she felt pang of remorse.. She had a queer thrill. too, from Vickery's statement that Win field had vowed to meet her some day and square himself with. her; also to meet that actor" some day and square himself with him.
 When Vickery began to talk of the play he had written for her Sheila could see nothing but her opportun- ity and that strange self an actor visualizes in a new role. But finally she was bewildered and suddenly sAi ::
 T never could tell anything from scenario. The play is written out isn't it?''
 '. "Oh, yes" said vickery. May I send it to your hotel?"
 Before SheiIa could answer Reben br oke in sharply:
 "At my office-at tomorrow-if that suits you, Miss Kemble."
 Sheila said that it suited her per- fe.,tly.
 That's settled, then, MT. Vickery. Tomorrow-my office,-3 o'clock"
 There was sharp dismissal in $, his tone. As Vickery scrambled through the tables to the door Sheila said:
 Nice boy"
 50 you seem to think" Reben growled.
 She stared at him, troubled at his manner. It aroused in her sus- picion. She was afraid of it and of h.m
 Just put me in a cab,'' said Sheilar
 He spoke to the driver and got in with her. ,
 "Sheila, you're wonderful girl" he said. "This man Vickery felt fascin- ation when you were a. child and never forgot you. He's trying to put something of you into his play. If he succeeds we'll all get rich.
 Now I'm already as big a manager as you'll ever be a star. I can give you advantages nobody else can give you The question is what are you willing to do for mel"
 Why, I'll do all can-of course, MT. Reben. I'll work like a slave. I'll try to make you all the money I'm able to-"
 TT want you toto marry me, s:heila! We could be married secret ly. No one need know"
 You can't keep such a thing se- cret"
 ."They never found out that Sonia Eccleston was married to her man ager. I saw her with their child in Switzerland"
 "Then it was true" she exclaimed. i've heard so many people say so.' .'
 "It's true" he said triumphantly "Our marriage could be kept just as secret as that"
 Just about she laughed.
 Already the atmosphere was so cleared that she was ridiculing him, and he had staked his last coin he had never risked before.
 The door of the cab was opened by the porter of Sheila's hotel With a sharp Good night!" she leaped out and left him.