The Arvada enterprise., 1924-01-24
THE BRANDING IRON

| o"S'ASss HNttNSl Tsu oUIpHOSc !
phone him and talk 1t over little
He'll want to wait til toward the end
Of the run. He's keen: has just the
commercial sense Of the born adver
tiser. Let him choose the moment.
Then We can feel sure Of getting the
right one. WIN you, Luck?"
III you advise It. You ought to
know"
"You see. I'm so confoundedly busy,
so many irons in the fre. I might
just miss the psychic moment. think
Melton's the man-Ill call him up to
night before we leave. Then won't
forget 1t 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 an effort. always increas.
ing. he talked to Jasper while Betty
dressed. and kept up his end ut din.
aiVi. AHe lilusClcS TOuIu his mouth
felt tight and drawn. his throat was
dry. He was glad when they got
into the Limousine and started thcater-
ward. II had been 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
| EDl TO .ny,t
at his own intense excitement. II
didn't know l was still such kid"
he said, flashing 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. II
was enhancing to think that in few
moments the words he had written
would come to him clothed in various
voices, the people his brain Ind pic
tured would move before him in flesh
and blood. doing whit he had ordained
that they should do When the cur.
tain rose. ne had forgotten his per.
sonal problem, had forgotten Betty
| IVi "utu, uiS SlDo"b OIl
knees. his chin in his hand.
The scene was OF u tropical island,
palms, n 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
| rnv 4. l. M
and free about her face and neck. Al
the daughter OF 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. dan.
gerous eyes nnd 1.-THE. long body. made
an arresting picture enough against
the setting OF vivid green and blue.
She moved slowly. deliberately. nat.
urnlly. and stood. hands on hips. to
watch n ship sail into the turquoise
harbor. It was not like acting, she
seemed really to look. She threw back
her head and gave call. 1t was tho
name OF her stage brother, but II came
from her deep chest anu through her
long column Of throat like music.
Prosper brought down his hands on
the railing before him. half pushed
himself up. turned q blind look upon
Betty, who laid q restraining hand
upon his arm.
He whispered 4 name, which Bet
~ could not make out. then he sat
!. down. moistened his lips with his
first act and neither moved nor spoke.
As the curtain went down he stood up.
II must go out" he said. and hest.
tinted In the bnck Of the box TIL Jas
per came over TO him with an anxious
question. Then he began to stammes
nervously. Don't tell her. jasper.
don't tell her"
Tell her what. mnn7 Tell whom r
. Jasper gave him shake. Don't you
like Jane7 Isn't she wonderfully"
"Yes. yes. extraordinary
Made for the part?"
"No" Prosper's face twisted into
A smile. mo The part came sec
ond, she was there nrst. Morenn. prom.
ise me you won't tell her who wrote
: the play"
e Look here. Prosper. suppose you
tell me what's wrong. Have you seen
n ghostT'
Prosper Inughed: then. seeing Pet.
: ". her face rigid question. he s'rng-
: glcd to lay hands upon his sclf-control.
"Somc'hn: very astonishing has
happened. Morenn-onc of those
: things not drcamt Of In mnn's phil
osophy.' can't tell you. Have yon
arranged for me 70 meet Jane Wcs'f"
After the show. yes, NJ supper
"But not rs the nufhorT'
NO was waiting yon 10 tell
her that"
"She mustn't know. And-nnd ]
a