The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-12-28
She Produced
the Proof
By C. B. BEAL and J. TERRILL
%. 1928. western Newspaper Union,

"YOu are-Miss GrayF" questioned
the rather dignifed, middle-aged bust
ness man.
eyes, am Margery Gray. And
you," glancing at the card she held, i
NsYou're John Stillson?
won't you come up to my dressing
room?"
sam permitted"
ooh, yes. You aren't dangerous
not if 1 vouch for you. It's right this
way"
He followed his guide through the
strange maze into a narrow, unfur-
nished room.
"And now-I suppose it was bust
ness that made you brave the back
stage of a burlesque theaterT
He was oddly i'll at ease. 81 had
no idea that Miss Gray was-the Mar
gerry Gray 1 grew up WITH" he said
at last. "It makes my position diff
cult. You see-it's about my boy. :"
your boy?" she echoed, at a loss.
Eyes, yes-my boy. He's been fol-
lowing you around the past month"
"But really, John-I don't know
your boy"
swell, I dare say you know his
touring car better than you do his
name. They call him Reggie"
Reggie Stillson-why of course!
And what did you want to say to me
about Reggie?"
"Just this, Margie-Pm not one Of
those narrow-minded old chaps who
think all stage people are crooked,
bad, immoral. l know better than
that-please understand me"
81 do, John. But what about the
boyT"
new voice broke in before she
could reply. "Margie-there's a guy
out here waiting to see you"
"Tell him to wait a minute, Bobby
guess that's Reggie now, john
The man was obviously upset
"GoOd heavens He mustn't see me
here"
"Tm afraid you'll have to do the un
dignified ducking act then. Here
hide behind this cretOnne curtain
Possibly can get rid of him withOu
his knowing you're here"
81 say, Margie-am l on the black
list today? I've been waiting out her
for a century or so ago. You can't b.
dressing, because you haven't an,
change now"
A hurried glance in the cracked mil
ror, deft manipulation of a rabbit
foot, and Margie spoke again.
0COnon tn Tgv1o IxysVn
see you, myself. But I've got only
minute for you"
swell, like that. 1 think you ow
me few minutes after this wait"
Lets not talk about what we oW
each other, Reggie. Lies too sho
for that. Tell me how you happen [
be In this town, anyway"
II live here, but that doesn't matte
- I'll always be where you are"
Great, Reggie, great!"
saw, quit kidding me. You kno'
I'm In love with you and I want
marry you"
Gall right, I'll take you serious
this time, and I'll answer you seriou
ly. You couldn't make me happy"
est home and anything you'd wan
'You couldn't, boy-you haven't 8
1t. And you'd never understaI
You've never stood in the wings ba
stage and heard the show go wrOl
heard them rustic their programs G
front, scuffle their feet, and cough
seen your friends come off stage w
the sweat pouring off their fac
wornout with the effort to please
had someone come up to you and S
go to it, grille; make 'em like y
And you shake down your cloth
take one last scrape at the pumice q
you go out there and you fight, q
fight And then you get 'em-a
they laugh, and applaud, and they |
you, and want more Of you. This
living, boy. And you couldn't give
to mel''
Reggie stared at her hopelessly.
do you know how old ann" asl
Margery suddenly.
"Sure-about my age. Eighteen
twenty"
"Pm nearly forty. You're a I
boy, Reggie. Now run back home
forget poor little me. Or-no, d.
forget me. Remember me, and
your children how near you came
marrying an actress, and what a &
sport she was. Goody-by"
He tried to say it, but couldn't q
manage it. When she had closed
door on Reggie's retreating figure,
elder Stillson emerged from behind
curtain. "You know-that's a
thing you did for my son." he sal
bit unsteadily. "But tell me-did
mean all that about the theater?'
She nodded. "It's what keeps
n everlastingly at it, John"
n. "And-and that's the reason
E wouldn't marry my sonY
81 beg your pardon If I'm intrut
ne Marge." a deep voice broke in
of denly, and into the narrow con-
y of the dressing room stepped a !
On groomed if over-painted man in
I'd evening dress.
X 'Oh, that's all right, Joe.
aren't intruding. No, John
~ wasn't the only reason why 1 ref
~ TO marry your so1. The real re
Is my husband here"
4 n