The Glenwood post., 1923-10-25
It's All in the
Game
BY MORRIS SCHULTZ
%. 1928. Western Newspaper union.)

"TTs the old one who sits in the third
row" said Leslie L'Estrange, ths
leading lady of the company. Sixty
If he's day, and neve~ takes his eyes
off me. Imagine his sending mash
note to a 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
tonight?' And unsigned.
"Now don't get sore, Jim, darling"
she added to her husband. ITS all in
the game. Well have some fun out
of this. I'll suggest Byronico's for din
ner, and you be waiting there, and
I'll introduce you as my husband. But
no roughhouse. | 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 furiously indignant, but as
Leslie outlined her scheme he began
to see the amusing side Of 1t and
laughed. Finally he fell in with his
little wife's suggestions.
1t was no wonder the old gentleman
was taken with Leslie, for she was as
pretty as a peach. Leslie and Jim We're
devoted to each other and their little
boy. Mash notes We're 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
"a, 7 nE1tn To, t,ny En-
her appearance without any too evil
dent aspect of makeup. Under 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
bouquet, was staggered at her appear
ance. Leslie looked at least fifty.
"How do you dor" she simpered.
MY, I was delighted to get your let
ter. 1t amt often the gentlemen write
to me now-Tm 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
cinging to his arm, she almost
dragged him toward a 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 so manifest. New
ertheless. she soon had him hustled
into the taxi. Then, seated beside
him, she slid her hand into his.
I'm a very lovely disposition" she
confided. MY, I've been thinking
about that letter you sent me ever
since 1t come Can you love trulyf
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. 1t was
simply impossible to be seen in Byroni-
cos with this painted hag. He would
be humllinted into the ground. And
while he was medltating the taxi
stopped outside the famous restaurant.
Leslie, scanning the sidewalk with
an eager eye, caught sight Of Jim wait
ing. He recognized her and tipped
her the wink. Then his glance fell
on the old gentleman, and queer ex-
preston came over his face. He start
ed forward.
Leslie, afraid that Jim's 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 gentlemans
cue. Rendered desperate by the pre-
dlcament In which he found himself.
he turned to the driver.
'Drive me out of here!" he whisp-
cred. Drive like the devil-any
where, so long as you get me away"
~ get you, boss" answered the
driver, grinning.
And the next instant the old gentle
man had slipped into the vehicle and
disappeared from the scene for ever.
Leslie, perceivlng his maneuver,
went into peals of helpless laughter.
ooh, Jim, JIM" she sobbed, ITS
the funniest thing I've ever seen in
my life. His face-Oh, Lord, jim, If
you could have seen! Say, I've got to
get somewhere where can get rid of
this makeup"
"You laundering IDIOT" Jim was
growing.
"Why-why, Jim, what's the mat
terY
Matter? Don't you know who that
was? 1t wasn't mash note at all.
That's Carson, the English manager,
and-you've lost your chance of n
London reputation that's ALL"