Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-04
bade. them good. night at their doors and
sought his own.

q hand, and turned the light button,
He made two important discoveries.
First. that the contract with the Great
Adventure Company was no longer in
the bureau drawer; second. that his
trunk lock had been broken and that
man and the synopsis Of his adven-
lures had vanished along with the con.
tract!
i First blood, Bancroft admitted srimly.
Stewart---for the purloiner could be
none other-taking advantage Of his
regular absences at night, had struck
with unexpected swiftness and from an
unsuspected angle, almost as II he had
been assured Of his, Bancroft's inten.
bank on the morrow and had nntici.
patcd the possibility Of such a move.
30 here he was. without line to prove
that he had entered into any agreement
with the Great Adventure Company,
with nothing to prove that such con.
cern even existed.
| Stewart must not find the copy Of
that affidavit in which he, Bancroft, I,
had sworn that IL he signed any docu.
ment It would be through physical or
moral coercion, and yet he must keep
It about his person, handily. At length
he found an excellent hiding plnce be.
tween the ribbon and the felt Of his hat.
He had a feeling that this document
was the only trump he held. How he
would come to the use of 1t lay In the
future.
Bancroft went to bed and fell into a
series Of troubled dreams. Whenever
his fathers face intruded there was
calm; whenever Stewnrt's, stress and
storm, with Nancy's face and Jenny's
and Craig's oddly cutting in.
Promptly at 2 o'clock that afternoon
Nancy appeared before the door to Sor.
rentino's apartment. She did not press
the bell at once, but stared with iron.
ical speculation at the dark panels, as
If she expected that there would ap.
pear, summoned by the sheer force Of
her will, some handwriting touching
upon the immediate future.
Of what breed was shea thorough
in there, would she come forth stand
ing or crushed?
T.s door opened. She did not remcm-
bcr having touched the bell.
II am Miss Bowman" she managed
to say. have an appointment"
| The italian manservant bowed and
gestured for her to enter. He led her
toward the music room, and Sorren.
tno himself met her warmly ut the
threshold.
"Ah! A young lady who is prompt"
he said. He spoke English fucntly.
His rowing professional glance took in
dy hair. and the golden skin. the splen.
did hazel eyes u young Violetta. That
she could act .vivaciously, that she
was lively and bewitching, he already
knew. What he particularly admired
wns the lack Of theatrical assurance.
She was not fustered. but she was
evidently. anxious. where is your
music-the. compositions you wish to
sing to me?'
II am going to leave that to you.
signor,' She answered In excellent
Italian.
| - Signorina, you please me-" he said
piano."
The top Of the piano was Uttered with
the scores Of all the famous operas, and
out OF this medley Sorrentino selected
two songs which he was tOlerably Ger.
tain she would know--from Martha"
and LINDA di Chamouni." lie tried
her in comedy and tragedy he gave her
is more he gave her full hour.
| "E 'fnito!' he cried Mt last, dismiss
ing the nccompanist. My friend. the
SignOr Craig.--who should be famous
| pianist--told me that you would want
the truth, slgnorina. DO you!"
Not a Grand Opera voico
eyes. II my endeavors are being
wasted I ought to be made aware Of
Your voice Is wonderful for the
work to which YOU now apply it. 1t
Is clear, true and sweet: You are a
born comedienne, signorina. just as a
grand opera singer is born. All the
study and application IN the world will
not make Of you what YOU are not.
First of all, endurance, an iron will
and IN iron body. In little time you
will be ricl, and famous. Make them
give you light opera with real music"
1.-THE truth, signor!" she interrupt
cd. not understanding whittier these
compliments were leading.
But Sorrentino continued screnely. |
II am giving you the benefit Of my |
observation and experience, signorina.
repeat, in light opera you will be-
come irresistible. You are now the lark |
In the meadows. wholly free. Why1
seek to become the nightingale and live |
cternally In cage, in fear Of drafts,
the rain. the snow, the temperature Of ]
rooms, the pleasant little vices OF the |
table? To study always. to he sub.
iected to implacable jealousies! All.
believe one who knows, the diva is |
never 80 happy and carefree as the
soubrette."
Tell me what I lack, signor."
"Your voice Is beautiful, but weak.
There arc many beautiful voices, but
only few thronts which can meet
the tremendous calls made upon them.
The grand opera throat Is peculiarly
gift from heaven; 1t cannot be fish.
loned by study. You might 90 a little
way, In minor parts. but In the end !
your courage would ebb and your heart
break. How many women are con-
spicuously grent in grand opera? You
can count them on the fingers Of one
hand. Five out Of an army of half
million! 1t is easy to lie, 1t is diff.
cult to tell the truth; but I am what
l am because ] have always told the
truth. Had I not seen you last night
I would have told you the truth after
the first song, perhaps roughly. But
you made me laugh last night. and ! |
owed You something for that. But |
you He laughed pleasantly. "Ah!
To sing as you do, and to make your |
audience laugh! What more do YOU
wish?" Then. grnvely: "Who set you
upon this path? You interest me-"
My adopted father"
"Hs was a musician?'
"YeS, q vocal teacher"
"What other teachers?"
She named them.
Good" he said. "You have been
well instructed in the cultivation Of
your voice, but you have been mis-.
directed aS to its possibilities" "