Evening star., 1921-09-04

starting to get up.
hope l wasn't rude. but just
had to push him back in the chair.
on him to keep him quiet. I didn't
quite get to that. though. I merely
stood near enough to shove him back
II he made another move. and almost
before he knew 1t I was galloping
Twice he squirmed and I reached for
him, but he didn't escape. The third
time. however, I thought he'd got
away. But he hadn't.
beg pardon" says he. Legs
asleep. Go on"
A ND as he merely settles down
~ comfortably in the chair I was
able to use both hands for the script
and give more time to the reading.
1 did it as well as knew how. too,
and I could see that the humor was
beginning to register. At first he
smiled rather patronizingly. 1t was
a nice smile. though. That Is. he did
it with his eyes as well as his mouth.
And the next thing l knew he was
chuckling. After that I was sure
he was following closely. The chuckles
came oftener and heartier. Once he
was just romping to the finish when
a door at the back of the office swung
open and in trotted this short, thick
set, spectacled person who stopped to
stare at us with his mouth open.
what the devil!" he explodes.
Just a moment" says my nice man.
holding up warning hand. And
then-?"
I went on with the last few lines.
Perfectly ripping! Thank you so
much. young lady," says he:
sI'm SO glad you like it. Mr.. klau-
bert" says l.
Hear that. .Morrie." says he. I've
Doing it much better than you could
have. I'll dare say. even II l was
rather impressed into the service
against my will"
oh" says l. looking from one to
the other. ''Then-then you're not
ALLOW me-" says he. getting out Of
the chair and bowling. This is the
great Morris Klaubert. while well,
you tell her. Morris"
"a loafer. chiefly" says Klaubert,
approaching the desk chair. but at
times the most temperamentn paint
er of weird scenery in the business.
young woman"
s'But you mustn't. Morrie." says Had
ley. "At least, not until you have
heard one of the cleverest little COM
edies 1t has been my privilege to lis
ten to in a long while
do you know about such things?
Crazy interiors and impossible outside
sets with trick lighting. yes. But
plays! Hah."
Hadley shrugs his shoulders. 'T
stagger under your scorn. Morrie." :"
says he. "Of course. mighty and
discriminating intelligence such as
you did turn down Number. Please"
last season, didn't you; and drop fifty
thousand in putting on "Once Upon q
Time? Eh? And here is a delight
full little thing that could be-"
aISart non.t want It, tell % yeI," ,ss. insists
brought back from the other side.
Besides. the public doesn't like one
You could work it into a revue" /"
suggests sNe.! .aSa a1aleY; k,auosrt. .Am.ts1r
stun. isn't IL that's enough
1t looked as II I'd fiivvered again.
Here I'd begun my campaign by hav-
ing row with the wrong brother.
and then had crashed into the right
office only to pick out another wrong
one. I had placed my nice man now.
He was Hadley Hall. who had made
such q hit with his stage settings for
some of the Guild plays. It was kind
Of him to praise Barry's little piece,
OF course. but couldn't see that it
"Aii right" says /. folding up the
manuscript. IF Mr.. Klaubert has
made up his mind there's no use in
my sticking around and being nui-
eance. Sorry I made such q stupid mis-
take, .ast put t I'm aWfuily green at this
Don't you do it." young lady" says
Hadley. You're all right And il
Klaubert here wasn't such a stubborn
old bonehead he'd take my word for
1t that your friends play was worth
'Huh!" sneers Klaubert. you're
at liberty to back your own judgment.
you know. Hadley. Why not put it
on yourself IL it's such q gem?"
I'll tell you what will do. Morrie. -
says he. TN bet you an even five
"Oh, by some settlement house play
What OF it!" asks Hadley. "IIl
add to the terms that It comes uptown
to take the place of one Of your i'm
You're on, Hadley," says KIaubert.
7 suppose you'll hang that much on
your next contract II you lose, though.
How s do you mean to work it,"
i've Just thought" says Hadley.
I'm going to do = perfectly corking
setting for this piece. Have it all
ground. bare and simple; but beyond.
Just over the stone balustrade. an H.
fusion Of space. Do you get It? That
wonderful shimmery blue Of the
Swiss twilight stretching out and
away, miles and miles. to the jung
frau rising majestic and solemn in the
distance. It'll make 'em dizzy just to
glance at it, and It will give exactly
lines. There's an exiled king who's
been recalled but who wants to keep
on playing golf. and an ex-prince
who's having the time of his life as
head waiter. Then there's that de-
lfcious dapper from Buffalo-but why
waste words on you. Morrie?"
You've said it." says Klaubert. IT
don't see anything in it. But II you
could settle down to anything 90
as planning $4,000 set
for the closing number Of oh, Sus-
tomorrow, perhaps." says Hadley.
TIN not in the mood now. Heads
too full Of other things. And IL you'll
excuse us. maybe. Miss-er-"
Dodge" says I.
"Ah, thank you," says he. "Can
you como down to my shop Miss
Dodge? I'd like to have you run
over that again, 20 that I can visualize
the scenes better. and then TIL just
dash or . few sketches while the
are dear. Eh7 Got the
timer
''Tm long on time. says I.
Ana : could hardly va,t-unttl sal