Evening star., 1926-05-02


80 Roderick Dory, good wom
en- and bad women every
4 where. II amt, isn't, what
a girl does, it's what
she is.''
His Wis avis, Mr.. James herman
looked up from the bench by the ten
Sais court which the two young men
were stSaddling, and remarked con
temptuously, II don't get any sense
in that. A girls got to be what she
does. amt she?"
isn't" corrected Roderick, with a
sigh Of patience.
Isn't or amt. that amt, isn't. the
point" argued Jimmy. You said
that what a girl does. she isn't. That
don't mean anything"
Doesn't" said Roderick, wearily.
well, doesn't, them" cried Jimmy,
angrily. You give me a pain in the
stomach. Any one would think that
you thought you were a writer"
Roderick's eyebrows lifted super
ciliously. "One doesn't think one Is a
writer: one simply is"
Simple Is right" sneered Jimmy.
You'd have to be pretty simple to
think you could write anything. On
the level, Roddy. what have you writ
temp" He executed the volte-face with
utter lack of self-consciousness.
You wouldn't understand" re-
piled Roderick languidly. Its a
play
rs that what you're writing? What
sort of a play?'
"A drama of sex, answered Rod
erick. It's about an actress that
every one thinks is bad because she
wears tights, and in the last act she
rushes from the theater into the
church where her husband. who is a
minister, is preaching sermon
against actresses. He doesn't know
that she is an actress, and nobody
else in his congregation knows that
she is, but she left the theater in a
hurry because their baby was sick.
She runs down the aisle-it's a night
service the minister is conducting
and she trips, and her coat falls off.
and there she is in tights. She hasn't
had time to change her costume. The
minister is mad as can be. but an old
deacon gets up and hollers, No one
but q good woman would be so wor-
lied about her baby, and you ought
TO be glad, Rev. Jones. that you amt
married to a heartleSS woman Of
fashion,"
Jimmy stared at the playwright:
respectful awe was in his eyes and
hero worship in his voice as he
Easped, That's a whale Of a playi
How on earth did you think of it,"
Roderick shrugged. "One can't ex-
plain these things: one simply feels
them"
What happens them" asked
Jimmy.
why. the minister apologies TO
his wife, and then he helps her on
with her coat, while all the congre-
cation look politely away from her"
Jimmy could make no comment; he
simply sighed in rapt and envious
admiration.
We'll, 1 certainly never thought
you could write play" Roderick
shrugged a modest disclaimer Of the
imputation OF achievement. ut
hasn't been produced yet, you know.
She might not like it when she reads
It,"
'@Who?" demanded Jimmy.
Mildred Darrell
The musical comedy singer"
asked Jimmy. Il didn't know she
played drama"
thing"
when you going to try and get
her to read it?" asked Jimmy.
''Her new play. The Scrub Lady
Will be here next week. I'm going
20 try and see her then"
Jimmy sighed enviously. His own
ambitions suddenly seemed tawdry
and unworthy.
81 dunno that engineering is such
a great career" he said lugubriously.
Il think, maybe, that d business
career might be better for me. Sup
pose I produce the plays you write?
| got too much art in me for bridges"
RoderiCk leaned toward his chum
and addressed him earnestly. 81
hated ever to mention it, Jimmy. But
I've noticed that while you may not
have the creative instinct developed
70 a high degree. you got apprecia-
ton and understanding. I can't
think of any person I'd rather have
produce my plays than you"
That's mighty white Of you. Rod
dy." said Jimmy huskily. For Jimmy
was of the kind that does not lead
but is led. In all the days of their
chumship, dating back half q. dozen
Years, Roderick had been the plan
ner. Jimmy the doer. The planner
impulsively reached forth a. hand;
The doer grasped 1t, f1attered. 1t was
a. moment. Two noble souls were
consecrating their youth to the crea-
ton and furtherance of art. And
into the moment came woman, arts
greatest inspiration; woman. who
cheers on the artist in his hours of
despair, shields him from the con-
ANIMATION of earthly things in his
hours cf success, gives him from the
bounty of her faith, and courage, and
alteration, the stimulus he needs.
x X x X
THIS woman was 16 years of age;
l. she was black haired, and her
eyes were hazel. The hoydenish
period had not vet passed beyond
her; to the esthetic eye her Ianki-
ness of limb promised much. but a
youth of Is would be apt to term
her skinny. She was riding a pony: