Phillips County herald., 1923-09-13
LIS All in the.
Game
= ~ 49, y = - - = ~ - - - =
Ey MORRIS SCHULTZ
q, ls.s. western Nsw.paper Union, ].

"TTs the old one who sits in the third
! row." said Leslie L'Estrange, the
leading lady Of the company. "Sixty
If he's day, and never takes his eyes
off me. Imagine his sending mash
note to respectable wife and mother.
Listen, Jim: I want to have chat
with you. VIII you meet me at the
stage door and have little dinner
tonightY And unsigned.
"Now don't get sore, Jim, darling"
she added to her husband. "It's all in
the game. Wen have some fun out
of this. I'll suggest Byronlco's for din
,ner, and you be waiting there, and
I'll Introduce you as my husband. But
no roughhouse. I can't afford to figure
in the police news with Mr.. Carson,
that English manager, coming over
here to look things over and maybe
give me swell job in London"
Jim was furlously indignant, but as
Leslie outlined her scheme he began
to see the amusing side Of 1t and
laughed Finally he fell In with his
ullie VILE SuSSSStlOuS.
1t was no wonder the old gentleman
was taken with Leslie, for she was as
pretty as a peach. Leslie and Jim were
devoted to each other and their little
boy. Mash notes were not infrequent,
and until now Leslie had just laughed
and flung them away Now she meant
to teach the old gentleman lesson.
She hurried to her dressing-rOOm as
soon as the play was over. 1t was no
difficult matter for Leslie to transform
her appearance without any too evil
dent aspect of makeup. Under a friz-
zled red toupee, palpably dyed, she
added twenty years to her age. She
rouged her face, after inserting few
dozen wrinkles, and descended to the
stage door, wrinkled old crone, to
meet her admirer.
The old gentleman, waiting with a
bouquet, was staggered at her appear
ance. Leslie looked at least fifty.
"How do you do?" she islmpered.
MY. was delighted to get your let.
ter. 1t amt often the gentlemen write
to me Iow-l'm thirty-nine. you know
but in the good old days-Oh, my,
you should have seen the letters I used
to get.
"where are you going to take me?"
she added. "How about Byronico's?
They do you fine there, and We'll have
loving little chat. Come along. old
dear"
Leslie pitied the old gentleman as,
clInging to his arm. she almost
dragged him toward taxi. The old
gentleman was better than she had
Imagined. His horror at the company
OF this rouged and painted thing with
the false hair was 80 manifest. New
ertheless. she soon had him hustled
Into the taxi. Then. seated beside
him. she slid her hand Into his.
"Pm very lovely disposition" she
confided. MY. I've been thinking
shout that letter you sent me ever
since 1t come. Cnn you love truly?
I believe love should last for ever,
don't your
"My God!~ muttered the old gentle.
man under his breath. This was
worse than anything he had ever I'm
agined.
He tried to think OF some subterfuge
by which to make his escape. II was
simply impossible TO be seen in Byron!'
co.'s with this painted hag. He would
be humiliated Into the ground. And
while he was meditating the taxi
stopped outside the famous restaurant.
Leslie. scanning the sidewalk with
an eager eye. caught sight Of Jim walt.
Ing. He recognised her and tipped
her tho wink. Then his glance fell
on the old gentleman. and queer ex.
preston came over his face. He start
ed forward. ~ t4
Leslie. afrnid that inns jealousy
had overcome him, and that he was
contemplating something rash. skipped
hastily out Of the taxi and moved
toward him to intercept him.
And that was the old genilcman's
cue. Rendered desperate by the pre-
dlcnment In which hc found himself.
he turned 10 the driver.
"Drivc me out OF here!" he whlsp.
cred. "Drive like the dcvll-any.
where. 80 long as you get me away"
II get you. boss" answered the
driver grinnlng.
And the next instant the old gentle
man had slipped Into tho vehicle and
disappeared from the scene for ever.
Leslie. pcrceiving his maneuvcr,
went Into penls OF helpless laughter.
'oh, jim. Jim." she, sobbed. ats
the funniest thing I've Nevcr seen In
my life. His face-Oh. Lord. Jim. II
you could have seenl Say. I've got TO
get somewhere where I can get rid OF
this mnkeup."
"You laundering idlotl" Jim wns
growllng. 4
"why-.wby. Jim. what's the mat.
terf' rIl.-.,
"Mnttcrf Don't you know who that
waa1 II wusn't n mash nOtN mt NIL