Evening star., 1922-12-24

|
second glance I saw that one was
Barry Platt. -.
For the love Of soup greens, what
are you doing here, Barry" l de-
mands.
Me-" says he. starting guilty.
"Why-er-nothing much"
"Then why the hang-dog look?' I
goes on. Come. now. spill it. Have
you scuttled a ferry boat, or are you
planning to hold up and rob some
poor bootlegger?
Barry gives a weak imitation OF
a young man trying to smile. and
shrugs his shoulders. Nothing real
ly criminal: honestly. Trilby May
saws he But where are you headed
| for"
I'm starting my career as first
| nighter' says |. land I'm nearly an
| hour late Cant you come along
"Sorry." says he. but IL have an
appointment. What play are you
! going to see
This new piece. The Shadow on
/ the Door," says l.
Eth" says he. squirmins as though
! Id jabbed him with hat pin. "Oh,
| don't go to that. Please.
How do you know it's so awful:
says ].
Barry stared at me for minute
without saying word. and then
glances at the other young chap who
has turned and is listening III.
Might as we'll tell her. advises
the second bird.
II hate to admit 1t. Trilby May.
especially to YOU" says Barry. but
lin one of the authors. This is
the other culprit. Miss Dodge. Mr..
. Levick."
We nodded at each other and l
noted that Mr.. Levick was wearing
a shabby raincoat and was sadly in
need of a shave.
Doesn't sound at all reasonable"
says /. "but. ! suppose I'll have to
take your word for it. You mean to
tell me. do you. that YOU two wrote
The Shadow on the Door. and are
hiding out here half block from
the theater where your play is hav-
ing it's PREMIERE?
Barry nodded his head and Mr..
Levick took his hands out of his
coat pockets long enough to spread
them in the usual Manhattan gesture
/ but why aren't you in there watch
ing how it goeso" 1 insisted. Why
this unusual aloofness?"
! For one" says Barry. Il haven't
the nerve.
Me either says Levick.
ssCAY, this is a new one. says l..
- Il know that authors usually
| sit in the back row. and I've heard
of some that paced the lobby during
! an opening. but I didn't think any of
. them had enough modesty TO shiver
on the outside at Il first night
I'VE don't have to be modest" says
Barry Were scared stiff. that's all
Extraordinary" says /. Il wish you'd
sketch out the details. though
They're simple" says Barry.
We're not only the playwrights. but
we are the producers. If you want
the whole of it. Trilby May. we have
sunk in this thing every dollar. we
owned"
| "Or could borrow" adds Levick.
That's right" says Barry. "Al l
1 had left of what my aunt willed to
me"
! And two thousand I got of my
mother" says Levick.
! II even hooked my watch and a
trunkful of Clothes" puts in Barry.
And if it's a washout-well. were
on the rocks. that's all.
| But why so gloomy before it's had
a chance?" says /. why are YOU so
sure it's going to. be bad?
, Barry shook his head. DO YOU
! know how many manage turned it
: down. says he. Thirteen.
/ Sometimes that's i lucky number,
l suggests.
! Il wish / could think so in this
case" says he. But I can't. They
not only turned it down. but they
they said things about it, Ames
Hunt
! Yes. | know" says L. He men
! toned it to me. L suppose that's why
Il couldn't afford to risk it, says
Barry. "Abey said he didn't mind.
! But then he had lots of faith in the
piece-up to an hour or so ago. 1t
! was his idea that We built the play
! on, YOU see He'd never written any
thing before. barring a few, vaude-
&; Vile sketches. and he hadn't much of
a reputation to lose. ] hadn't. either
| for that matter. but I may have later
on. and if this is-well. as poor as
they said
Look I breaks in. The first act
must be over. The cigarette smokers
are coming out. Let's edgge up and
| get a line on how they're taking it."
"Oh. l couldn't: protests Barry.
\ How silly" says I. You've got
to know the wors: sooner or later.
! Why not buck up and take it like a
/ man: Eth, Mr.. Levick?''
81 expect we'd better and have it
over with" says Abey. 80
There" says I. Come, along,
Barry, old scout. Perhaps some of
'em will like it,
| With that slipped an arm through
his, and with I-evick trailing along,
we walked down to the middle of the
block. where the lobby lights made
a brilliant yellow glare. Perhaps
hundred from the audience. mostly
| men. were struggling out. But there
were a few women. too. We were
not near enough to catch any of their
comments and l was urging Barry
along when he baked suddenly and
stopped in his tracks,
Enough" he groaned That's