Evening star., 1927-04-14

n rev strolled on to the stage
wv of the Orpheum, only the
v pilot lights were glowing ir
the battens. for Van Campo
was an economist, and there was
urgent need for economy, as she was
to learn.
''The Girl From Fez" had run for \
fortnight. There had been seven
weeks rehearsal, and on the notice
board had appeared a typewriter slip
She had seen ''the notice" before, but
at the end of a long and successful
run. Now this intimation that the
play would be taken off in two weeks
time brought little heartache. The
last lines of the notice were even
more alarming:
THE provisional notice given to ar.
tistes on the first night will operate
as stated"
Does that include me, Mr.. Tillett?'
size asked, recalling this ominous
warning.
I'm afraid it does, Miss Carew.'
B~i1 the assistant stage manager,
''The governor knew he had a f1ivver
before he read the criticisms IN the
morning papers-he dashed in and got
himself on the safe side. La Florette'
isn't friend of yours, is he?"
Betty shook her head. La Florette.
LuC tHlH-iiPpEU EICtCn uCb|Sis WuS
not in the cast. Van Campo seldom
played her, but she sat by his side at
. rehearsalS and in her strange French
criticized and sneered and laughed
derisively, and told Van Campo how
much better these things were done
in France; and Van Campo, who was
her slave, cut and pruned until au-
thors were in despair and the cast in
q state of mutiny.
"Well-''
TiIlett opened his mouth to speak
when the pass door connecting the
stage with the front of the house
opened and a fluffy figure floated
through; from the crown of her waved
and henna'd hair to the tips of her
jeweled shoes she was a triumph Of
the human dollmaker's art.
She picked her dainty way through
the debris of the stage, and stood be-
fore the girl, surveying her through a
pair of unnecessary lorgnettes. Under
her makeup Betty grew red at the
insolent scrutiny.
"Ah, you are Carew, yes? I wanted
to speak to you. 'Ow do you do your
'air? 1t is not peroxide, no? I ave
admire it. You are a bad actress, and
your voice. mon Dieu! it is awful, but
your air is lovelyl You ave puzzle
me, so promised Charles ! would
ask"
''And now you have kept your
promise, Miss Florette," said Betty,
striving to tune out the anger from
her voice.
''You tell me-no?'
There is nothing to tell you. My
ha is as the Lord made it." Betty
smiled in spite of her annoyance. 81
thought I had told you that before. =
La Florette shrugged her thin
shoulders
But that is what you would call
lie, eh? A little story?"
Betty's eyes snapped fire.
''It is what you would call a lie, too,
think she said with ominous calm;
'for if you are not pure unadulterated
LimehouSe, / have never met lady
from that district! Your broken Eng
lish may sound pretty to a Dutchman
or a Greek. but unfortunately ! speak
the language rather well, and ] know
that, beyond a smattering Of Mont
martre argot, you are as ignorant of
French as am of Chinese!"
"Oh, am, am I?''
La Florette, shocked out Of her
pose, dropped her hands to her hips
and her shriil voice rose to a scream.
I'm teach you to insult an artistic
of my standing, you-you chorus girl!
Limehouse, am /? Bah! Red Head!'
T'he flow of expletive which followed
supplied the answer to her question.
q" and I'll have you fired out
of this theater, miss, before you're a
minute older. I've got an interna.
tional reputation to keep UP, have.
/ don't allow no gutter-bred -
Mr.. Van Campo appeared, an agi'
tated and rotund man, whose hands
flashed gay lights as he waved them
in expostulation and protest
Put her understudy on" he roared
sPay her her salary and throw her
outr'
Betty went up to her dressing room
angry but triumphant. She had prayed
for the courage to say all that she had
said to Florette. She would go to De
Fell-the urbane young manager who
had offered her part il his new pro
duction. She grew cheerful at the
thought. 1t was at that moment that
her dresser knocked at the door.
''Dr. Latin, miss" she said.
Betty sighed heavily. Here was q
shadow not so easily dispelled.