Evening star., 1923-10-07


lights against the Broad
way sky. He was asclean. handsome
hard-working. modest young fellow:
who specialized In impossibly perfect
heroes and did his work with such
Convincing sincerity that men were
not disgusted by, his performances.
He met: Irene Osborne at the be-,
ginning of I. the. rehearsals of THE
Common Game" She was a, slim,
light blond, a. radiant young, person,
In her third year in the profession. to,
which she had come Immediately
after beng graduated from Wellesley
The attention Morton paid her from
the time Of their first meeting would
have been a. matter for comment un-
der any circumstances, and Parker
Jewett, as a fervent rival, made the
affair a constant topic of gossip with
the rest of the company. >.
Parker Jewett was several years
older than Morton. His professional
specially was polished villains He,
was heavy-buiIt man, handsome in
sinister way, and having a conn
manding personality. He had con-
siderable reputation as a bad man
to have for an enemy.
Just before "The Common Game"
was about to go ,on the road for its
trial performances before coming
back to town for the Broadway OPEN
ing Irene Osborne made a finish Of
the race between the two men by
giving her promise to Glenn Morton,
nd hA To- M nf kn 70
hearsal she announced their engage
ment. ..~i4- =
Parker Jewett; approached Morton
after all the rest OF the company had
offered congratulations. -
Il can't say I'm glad, Morton" he
said. I'm not. .E1t's no news to you
that If could have forced events to
my liking 1t would have been Irene's
engagement to me that would have
been announced here" = - -.
II know that" Morton said. SYM
pathetically. I'm sorry. old man."
You're liar" said Jewett, calmly,
"You're not sorry any more than I'd
be sorry if were in your place" ::
Morton flushed angrily, and then
suddenly grew pale under the threat
of Jewett's steady gaze, and turned
away. In his movement there was a
suggestion Of shrinking that by no
means escaped Jewett's attention.
..At least I'm sorry you take it this
way" Morton said over his shoulder.
II choose to overlook your manner. !
understand something Of the depth Of
your Disappointment"
My disappointment is not particu-
larly deep, because I don't expect it
to be permanent" Jewett said, mock
ingly. You're not married to Irene
yet, you know, and a lot of things
may happen to all three Of us before
We hear any wedding bells ringing
for you"
Morton walked away from him
without answering. r.
!: x X x
\ FEW days later Morton and Irene.
"A Osborne stood chatting in the
lobby, of. their hotel in an upstate
New York town where the show was
playing that night. Parker Jewett
stepped from the elevator and ad-
vanced toward them. His heavy face
was flushed and his eyes were blood
shot He walked slowly up to Nor
ton. eyeing him menacingly.
When you get something somebody
else wants." he said. thickly, you've
got to be able to keep it or it don't
belong to you. see? You got some-
thing wanted. and l don't think it
belongs to you, because you're not
man enough to keep it."
BE quiet, Parker" Glenn said,
Glancing around the lobby. You're
attracting attention"
Sure / am," Jewett said, his voice
rising trucu1ently. And Pm going
to attract a lot more before I'm
through" ...-.....
Parker" Irene Osborne exclaimed.
sharply, you've been drinking"
Jewett bowed to her with a bur-
lesque courtesy. II certainly have"
he admitted. I've been drinking, and
I'm drunk; but, drunk or sober, I'm
man enough to take this stuffed doll
apart and let you see the sawdust
run out Of where his blood would be
If he had any, ''
He stepped forward suddenly and
smashed Morton full in the face with
his clenched. right fist.
Morton swayed and collapsed on the
floor, stunned.
Get up Jewett shouted at him.
'If you're a. man, get up and do some-
thing about this
Morton stumbled slowly to his feet.
lie was trembling violently. AS jew
cit advanced threateningly toward
him he backed away. -.
Parker-don.t," he stammered.
"Please don't. -
Jewett smiled and started another
blow at him. Bystanders caught and
nulled him back, before it was de-
1ivered, hut Glenn Morton shrank be-
fore the threat Of 1t.
Irene Osborne, her eyes sdistended
with horror, stood staring at him. 8
OH, Glenn" she said. in small,
fat voice that was miserably express
sive of pain. "oh. Glenn. Glennp
And then she turned away and
walked swiftly. to the elevator. :.
I'll teach you to- take what you
can't keep" Jewett mouthed exult-
antly at Morton.
A half hour later Glenn Morton got
Irene Osborne on the telephone insh her
room. TN desperately sorry, for what
happened, Irene. he said,'with an, at
tempt at a casual manner.
She did not answer thia.;t To the
wretched man In the phone booth the
silence was pregnant. with meaning.
when he spoke again the pretense
was gone from his tome His voice
s ~. a. . knt Ata of- a ofek vrffh