The Topeka state journal., 1921-03-04
Epening Story
Marcia's Opinion.
BY II. LOUIS RAYBOLD.


sleeved, pounding his typewriter. The
machine was disgracefully dusty and
had two caps missing from the letter
board, but for all that it gave forth a
steady click-cIack which competed sue
cessfully with a couple of mosquitoes
Suddenly Bill paused, ran his fingers
wildly thru his mop of hair and gaZed
dejectedly out into the velvety dark
ness. 'Confound it," he groaned
audibly. How can I write this
drivel? Here's a play I think per-
of actors, and I'm patting it on the
back and giving it a good sendoff
Yet what else can 1 do, after cussine
odt every play in that house for a
month? If 1 gave my honest opinion
again, the old man would think me a
confirmed pessimist and get somebody
else to hold down this picayune job,
which. heaven knows, I can't afford
to lose, punk as it is!'' Once,more he
bent to his work resignedly and
pounded on.
You see, it was Bills seventh job
engaged to Marcia Stebbings-en-
gagged, that is, on the condition i'm
posed by her cautious father. that
he make good enough at something
to show what was in him. Bill
knew what was in him. Marcia said
she did. But Marcia's father was
coldly skeptical.
For the moment Bill was dramatic
critic of the Saunderville Evening
Telegram, a position more munificent
in title than in remuneration. But it
provided him with sufficient cash for
board and lodging and allowed him
enough spare time for odd bits of free
lancing, the returns from which pur-
chased cigars for himself and flowers
for Marcia. /Also, the job meant a
pass to the theater, good for twoi
On that pass, this very evening, he
had taken her to see Never Mind,
Janet" and altho he had gone de-
termined to comment favorably, he
had, in spite of himself, been bored
to death. Nor was he particularly
pleased that Marcia enjoyed the play
immensely.
II always enjoy plays in which the
women wear evening Clothes" she had
told him complacently, land I thought
the leading womans hair was done
just wonderfully"
had exclaimed irritably as they
trailed out of the theater after the
final curtain, "the plot is poorly con-
structed, the third act drags, the de-
nouement isn't logical, the villains
long winded and the hero's a lunatic.''
Yet now, three hours later, he
mopped his perspiring brow and
viewed what he had written-"a little
ragged, but shows promise-clever
plot-excelleht support by entire cast
Malcolm Blaine in his usual good
FORM
81 suppose that would satisfy even
Marcia" he told himself Grossly.
'Marcia's the best girl there is in the
world, but what she doesn't know
about criticism of the drama would
run correspondence school"
Next morning. feeling like a man
Vxyt0 1a a6 1nysiI1 hi I,s-
skin, Bill turned in his column on
Never Mine, Janet" Furthermore,
he was resolved thereafter to write
nothing but the truth, job or no job,
Marcia or no Marcia. Thank fortune,
he'd had the sense to hold privately to
his own views, by the way, and not be
influenced by her views on the sub
ject- That noon, in a wlnte-t tiled
lunch room, he ran into Simmons, his
boss, editor of the Telegram.
Il see," said that gentleman, with a
glance that Bill took to be rather su-
perior, that you and I don't agree
about Never Mind, Jane! I took my
wife to it last evening, and of all the
poor shows! He continued elabcr-
ately to express his opinion while Bill,
groanfng inwardly, yearned to say,
''Them's my sentiments tooi" Unfor-
tunately, Simmons held proof to the
contrary, 1egibly .typewritten.
1t was some months later, after Bill
had investigated in vain one opening
after another, ranging from jobs as
shoe clerk and apprentice cigarmaker
to positions as factory inspector and
ppstoffice employe, hoping to discover
something promising future on
which one could marry the daughter
oil a cautious father, that the blow
fell.
The old man wants to see you!"
sam, the office boy, advertised the
fact loudly to Bill, who was getting out
copy at desk in the corner. Bill rose
and with an abnormalIy cheerful ex-
preston assumed for the benefit of
two girl reporters, strolled to the edi-
torial door.
"Sit down, Evans" Simmons, within.
invited him cordially. And Bill sat But
he sat gingerly, on the thin edge of
the chair. Personally, he would have
preferred to take standing what was
coming.
DO you know" began his inuuis-
ltor, this town is too small for you ?''
simmons had the reputation of being
a sarcastic devil, but Bill refused to
writhe.
"It is-in a way" he admitted
Ithoughtfully, as one to whom the truth
has just been brought home.
You remember that play you wrote
up?" went on Simmons pointedly,
Never Mind Something or Other"
Bill nodded. He certainly did re-
IHeinDer InaI play. FOr one th1ng, 1t
had brought his first difference of
opinion with Marcia. It had furnished
subject for argument quite recently.
Well continued Simmons, 'I did
int, personally, think a whole lot of
lit, but it seems your intuition was
right. You said it showed some prom
Use. That promise was fulfilled. I see
that it returns to New York after
| tremendous success on the road and
lis predicted to become the hit of the
season."
Bill all but whistled. Then he set
tied back comfortably, crossed his
knees and waited.
NOW, we've got to cut the size OF
| the telegram" Simmons went on
| ''and I regret to say that our review
of plays has to go. But and he
paused impressively, then continued
T happen to know of an opening
on a certain paper'-he mentioned
| the name-"and 1 think I can say
that it is yours if you want it"