The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-10-26

49, So
commercial sense of the born adver-
tiser. Let him choose the moment.
Then we can feel sure of getting the
right one. VIII you. Luck7"
IF you advise 1t. You ought to
know"
"You see. I'm so confoundedly busy,
so many irons in the IRE, l might
just miss the psychic moment. I think
Melons the man-I1l call him up to-
night before we leave. Then / won't
forget IT and I'll be sure to catch him,
too"
Again Prosper vaguely agreed and
promptly forgot that he had given
his permission. Later, there came an
agonIzing moment when he would have
given the world to recall his absent,
careless words.
With an effort Prosper kept his
poise, with al effort, always increas-
ing. he talked TO Jasper while Betty
dressed, and kept up his end at din
ner. The muscles round his mouth
felt tight and drawn, his throat was
dry. He was glad when they got
into the limousine and started theater-
ward. 1t had been a long time since
he had been put through this partic-
ular ordeal and he was out of prac-
tice.
They reached the house Just as the
lights went out. Prosper was amused
at his own intense excitement. II
didn't know l was still such a kid"
he said, flashing a smile, the first spon-
taneous one he had given her, upon
Betty who sat beside him in the pro-
scenium box.
The success Of his novel had had
no such effect upon him as this. 1t
was enhancing to think that in a few
moments the words he had written
would come to him clothed in various
voices, the people his brain had pic
tured would before him In flesh
and blood, doing what he had ordained
that they should do. When the cur
tain rose, he had forgotten his per-
sonal problem, had forgotten Betty.
He leaned forward, his elbows on his
knees. his chin in his hand.
The scene was of a tropical island,
palms, a strip of turquoise sea. A
girl pushed aside the great fronds Of
ferns and stepped down to the beach.
At her appearance the audience broke
into applause. She was a tall girl, her
stained legs and arms bare below her
n free about her face and neck. As
the daughter of a native mother and
an English father, her beauty had
been made to seem both Saxon and
savage. Stained and painted, dark
ened below the great gray eyes,, Joan
with her brows and her classic chin
and throat, Joan with her secret, dam
gerous eyes and 1.-THE, long body, made
an arrestlng picture enough against
the setting of vivid green and blue.
She moved slowly, deliberately, nat
and stood, hands on hips, to
watch a ship sail into the turquoise
1t was not like acting, she
really to look. She threw back
her head and gave a call. 1t was the
of her stage brother, but 1t came
from her deep chest ana through her
long column of q throat like music.
Prosper brought down his hands on
he railing before him, half pushed
himself up, turned a blind look upon
Betty, who laid a restraining hand
Ipon his arm.
He whispered q name, which Bet
v could not make out, then he sat
Town, moistened his lips with his
ongue, and sat through the entire
irst act and neither moved nor spoke
Is the curtain went down he stood up.
II must go out" he said, and hest
ated in the back of the box till Jas
Ter came over to him with an anxious
uestion. Then he began to stammer
lervously. Don't tell her, Jasper,
ont tell her."
TELL her what, man? Tell whom p
asper gave him a shake. Don't you
Ike Jane? Isn't she wonderful?"
Eyes, yes. extraordinary"
"Made for the part?"
mo- Prosper's face twisted into
smile. mo. The part came sec
nd. she was there first, Moreno. prom
;e me you won't tell her who wrote
he play"
Look here, Prosper. suppose you
III me what's wrong. Have you seen
ghostY'
Prosper laughed; then. seeing Bet
:, her face a rigid question, he strug-
ed to lay hands upon his s~elf-control.
"Something very astonishing has
appened, Morena-one Of those
lings not dreamt of In a mans phil
iophy.' I can't tell you. Have you
for me to meet Jane West?"
After the show. yes, at supper"
"But not as the author?"
mo. | was waiting ( you TO tell
r that"
"She mustn't know. And-and I
MT meet her that way. at supper"
rain he made visible efforts at self
ntrol. Don't tell Betty what a fool
am. III go out a minute. I'll be
right"
Betty was coming toward them. He
We a painful smile and fed.
CTO BE CONTINUED)