Evening star., 1922-12-31

sorry for him, too. II he wasn't 50
pig-headed he might learn to be a
fairly decent actor. Tho funny part
Of it is that or the stage he looks
like an actor and talks like an actor.
Funny. isn't it,
Picard's hands went clammy and
for an instant his world was blank.
Tho voices dwindled OF toward the
1 down-stage entrance; Picard drew a
long, tremulous breath, and began to
think; and it was significant that be-
sequences OF his failure he thought
Of what Miss Carpenter would say
about It. and Of what Benham. in his
moro mature diplomacy, might re-
frain from saying. Then, when he
! visualised tho goal which had eluded
| him the leadership OF the second
company next season and the return
| to Broadway as q star in his own
right: the prestige and the salary and
the infuence-when he visualized all
this. Picard was ghastly white be-
meath his makeup. Automatically he
reused himself at his cue, but he went
on only to butcher the best scene in
the play. and whom he came or he
! was fully as angry az tho girl who
had played opposite him.
He got his notice. but he didn't tell
Benham about It. On Sunday he told
Miss Carpenter. and was strengthen,
ed by her sympathy and concern.
"If I were in your place" she
began. but Picard interrupted her.
please don't!" he said. downcast.
Il don't want any advice: al. want
IL to be near you and feel that can
! talk to you. There's nothing much l
can do now. anyway. It's off-season.
I'll take q rest until next month, when
they begin signing up for tho fall
J productions"
It was a comfort to him during this
interval to be able to spend some Of
his evenings with tho Carpenters. His
worries hadn't softened his character.
but they had made him very much
moro susceptible: so that perhaps his
spirit had never been so restless as
in this period consecrated to rest.
When the calendar was favorable
he went to the best OF the agents.
I and. although the man received him
! we'll enough. he grinned spontane-
ously at the suggestion Of $500 a
week. II can put you in a Middle
mass piece for hundred and seven
ty-fve, all right" he said. THAT is
it's open"
"A good partT'
'-rhe heavy" said his agent IT'S
shop play. Tho heavy's supposed to
be q bad Actor-l guess you can do 1t
all right. If you don't make it too
realistic
Picard WINGED. but he signed his
name to q contract and spent 4 reek-
ing fortnight In rehearsal 1t Bryant
Hall, before the influenza reached
out for him and caught him. When
he was on his feet onoe more-and
this was late in ootober-hs savings
account was out euuarely In half and
an infinitely better man had taken
his place in the Middlemass produc-
tion. Eventually. because no higher
terms were thrust upon him. he con-
sented to receive q hundred and nifty
in another play; which captivated
Stamford on tho try-out. but endured
for precisely six nights In the netrop-
oils before tho mon from Canes
came up to cart away the scenery to
the storehouse.
| Sometimes" he said moodily to
Miss Carpenter. Il wonder II that
isn't where ought to 60, toto
Canes"
u II Il y
nICARD was getting demoraliEed.
/ He was offered q hundred. and
soornfully refused It; offered Q hun
drsd and twenty for stock. and re-
fused it-changed his mind and went
back too late-and knew that Il had
been . double error to 20 back at all.
He was offered ninety. ana snapped
~ n 4uok loQ q Oe0p.g0Da oo4 The