Evening star., 1923-10-28

plIOIeQ Dy lIVeTleQ CHduueuF, CIcpt
to the curb In front of the offices of
Shanklin & Sproul. theatrical man
ayers. and deferentially discharged a
languid princess. When Miss Mallory
was announced 1t chanced that Mr..
Morris Streamer was in the office Of
Shanklin & Sproul.
The managers. on the point of Offer
ing $50 a week. sustained a shock
when Miss Mallory swept regally in.
Shanklin. setting out q chair for
Iher. presented his partner, remarking:
"You know Mr.. Streamer already,
believe"
mo, I think not" she murmured.
"Accourse you do, Miss Mallory"
protested the impressed Streamer.
"Dontcha remember"
"Oh," returned the girl. ''I didn't
recognize you with your hat OF. How
d'you dor" This last with an effect of
extreme languor.
Sproul took no pains to stifie q
chuckle as Mr.. ssreamer took his
departure.
Now we'll talk terms" said Shank
lin. "We're prepared to offer $50 for
the part of propriety."s
Couldn't think Of It," said Bertine
promptly.
Consider the opportunity" urged
Sproul. "On Broadway-"
Consider the cost OF living" re-
torted Bertine, pettins the white fox.
We'll. we might 60 to sixty" said
Shanklin dubiously.
Bertine yawned.
Really It wouldn't be worth my
while"
Now. what Is your figure. Miss
Mallory"
Possibly might consider a hun
dred and twenty-five II nothing bet
ter turns up in the next few days"
The partners looked at each other.
The part was an important one: the
girl exactly the right type. But to
lpay q newcomer what the part was
actually worth!
They retired for private confer
ence. At Its close the senior partner
announced the decision.
"Seventy-five Is the limit of our
possibility. And we really ought to
consult Mr.. Rankine about that"
Bertine began to giggle. linked
again. she thought desperately.
Aloud she said between snickers: I'm
afraid you can't make it worth my
while" Then, recovering herself and
her tone: Can I set you down some-
where. Mr.. sproul? I've my car here"
Thank you" answered Sproul after
to the Manhattan"
"The Manhattan, Albert" she d.
rected the impeccable chauffeur when
| hox ho6 Ln 81 As~
"Yes, Miss Mallory" returned Al
bert in the perfect manner.
On the way down Sproul showed
that he was thinking with concentra-
tion.
Out Of his intellectual efforts came
his first remark not connected with
the weather as the car turned into
43rd street: Lets go back"
HALF an hours later the contract
II was signed and Bertine was sent
up to see Mr.. Rankine in his offioe.
The young playwright regarded her
> with twinkling eyes.
IT understand from an old friend
that you're made to order for the
. part" said he. You must think so,
too. from the way you've held US up"
Back pay" giggled Bertine. You
owed me that"
Did 1? For what?'
balm to wounded feelings" She
, opened her purse and displayed the
blue paper square. Rankine regarded
. 1t uncomprehendingly.
whats that?''
That's q hate. A long-cherished ed
hate"
Rankine shook his head. TEAR 1t
up. ZEN do you no good"
, 80 my frineds tell me. Do you be-
. lieve in hoodoos and jinxes and
, things. too?'
'T believe you can't carry q hate
around In your pocket or your soul
, and do your best work" He was
serious now. It'll get into your
acting. 1t isn't fair to your part.
, Try it on my scrap basket" He
, pushed that repository enticingly
! forward.
|, Bertine reflected rapidly. "All
right" she assented, II will II you'll
? solve its mystery for me-"
Mystery"
This was originally part OF q let
. ter to you" She held out the paper
to him.
"oh, I remember now." said te after
. scanning It. "You played the Shifty
Kid in Collars and Cuffs You were
pretty bad. you know"
. T expect I was. But what's a
fopeT
, "a fopef Oh. that's your mystery,
Is it?" He smiled. TITS a short for
faux pas. One Of my classmates in
, the French B course got ratified one
| day over some fool mistake and
apoIogized to the professor by say
: ing: Sorry. professor. I sure did
, pull q fope that time" We adopted
1t as a kind of class slang. But what
have you been carrying 1t for all this
time7"
I Some day when was famous I
Thought I'd give 1t back to the brute
that wrote 1t and ask him what he
| thought Of himself for losing q poor
, girls job that she needed"
t "You can't do that"
t why notf
. "Ie's dead"
l "Dead"
"Died last week. Operation"
, Bertine began to giggle. And the
big, hot tears ran down her cheeks,
, and she bowed herself over the scrap
basket and crumpled the blue square
t Of paper to her lips. The amazed
playwright laid q kindly hand on her
t shoulder: whats the matter. with
the child! One moment shes hating q
l ~ ~Axx&