Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-03-04
StarHgh Z
BY the Noted Author
IDAH M'GLoNE GIBSON
Julian Thorndyke

through that act and I will give
Julian Thorndyke credit for, had
1t not been for him, 1 never would
have finished. / was stunned.
II didn't even know l was
dancing except when Julian
would say: Good girl. Listen to
them out there. They like us,
child
I'll play the accompaniment
for your song, he said just as
the music for our dance number
stopped. I've heard it enough
this week to be able to play it.
And leaving me In the middle OF
the stage he seated himself at the
piano and played the first chord.
Twice he played them over.
And then, turning his face to the
audience: Well, are you ready.
Yes. Then let's go.'
ut seemed to be another's
voice that issued from my throat
remember to this minute just
how / felt when I came to the
part OF the song, where, in our
act, my mother came forward and
took me in her arms and kissed
me.
ST Just crumpled up in little
heap on the stage and cried.
"There was a great round OF
applause for the audience thought
was acting the pathetic words
which told'of the sorrow OF a
young girl whose lover had left
her.
with a crash OF the piano JUL
ian came forward, lifted me and
said: But I'm here, grille, I'm
here, and he sang the chorus to
the end.
"The audience nearly raised
the roof and we were called out
again and again. Julian fairly
lifted me off and on the stage.
after that came my mothers
burial and naturally doubling
of my act with Julian. 1t SEEM
ed a matter of course.
"There was nothing else for
me to do. My mothers funeral
had absorbed all our little savings
and Julian was kind-oh, SO
kind-then.
81 do not think that he meant
ever to be unklnd but drink and
dope got hold of him and he be-
gan to go with bad company
more and more and leave me
alone. Many a night on the
stage he could hardly walk be-
cause he was so intoxicated and
yet, when he was sober, he was
very sweet to me.
"Virgie, l loved him, and grad
ually our lives drifted into that
relationship that one sees so Of
ten among people Of the stage.
1--WE were playing the big time
and I will say for Julian that he
made no objection when we di-
yided on money $3.50.
at was in Chicago that the
manager came to me and said:
IF l were you, kiddie, l would
hook up with some other partner
Thorndyke is queering your act.
1t isn't going as we'll as when you
were here before and it isn't your
fault. There are plenty OF likely
young men who would be glad to
go out with you
"That night I found Julians
dope in the box where he kept
his collars as l was packing them
in the trunk. The whole terrible
situation stared me in the face.
realized that could not work
much longer and did not dare
tell Julian the truth,
"Just as l was about to give
up to despair, he came in. Kit
ty,' he said, have you got any
money? I'm in a fix. A man,
in a saloon, called me an ugly
name-a name that makes man
before I knew 1t had
pulled this-and he drew the
queer stiletto that he used In our
act from his pocket-and poked
1t between his ribs
"Is he dead2' l asked fear
stricken.
"'No, but have got to leave
enough money to pay for his ex-
penses at the hospital. And he
will bleed me some more beside.
at didn't mean to do it, Kitty
indeed didn't mean to do 1t. l
was full of whisky and dope. Give
me the money you have and l will
turn over a new leaf
But I haven't any money,
Julian I protested.
"'Oh, come off. OF course you
have money. You haven't been
buying any new clothes and you
can't spend any money when you
spend most of your time In your
hotel room as you have been do
ing lately
az haven't any money re-
lterated stubbornly.
"Look here. girl, give me
that money He came forward
threateningly. Don't you know
that it is either the money or
prison for me? What will you do
Tor the act?'
"T am not going to able to act
.ong, Julian
"He looked at me stupidity.
"And then with a snarl, he