Evening star., 1928-05-13
SHADOWS ON THE MOON

him off and wish him we'll There was
a queer tightness about her heart as
she said good-by.
They talked lightly, but Betty knew
instinctively that this was the moment
of separation. She kissed Jim and
then stood on the platform as the train
vanished into the distance. She stood
gazing after the last coach. She was
tense and dry-eyed. Jim was gone and
some one else would work with him In
the heavy. archaic act that was just
barely good enough for the small time.
Betty had known that 1t was she
who kept the act alive. Jim wasn't
an actor. He was a parrot--a phono-
graph. And audiences were becoming
more critical. 1t was hard shedding for
Hale and Deering. The houses didn't
like them. Spectators greeted their
best efforts indifferently and managers
bookers. "Old stuff" they wrote, "and
entirely dead"
For the first time, Jim Hale--Who was
honest--commenced to understand that
Betty had kept him going for many
seasons-bright, cheerful Betty. with
her radiant personality and engaging
smile. That cut him to the quick--not
that he begrudged his wife any OF the
talents that had been vouchsafed her
by generous Providence--but because
he knew now that he himself was
doomed to oblivion, and that for years
he had been doing the very thing he
refused to consider when she teamed
up with Eddie Hart. Shocked by the
realization of his own lack OF ability
| the situation magnified. and he swore
that never again would he be dependent
on his wife.
| MEANWHILE, Hale and Hart were
AVA blazing across the vaudeville firm
ament like great meteor. Individ-
ually they we're good as team they
we're superb.
And then, on Sunday night, they
were booked at the Castle. Betty wrote
Jim about it--he was playing Richmond
that week-and he dispatched tele-
gram of congratulations. On Saturday
night he climbed aboard a fast train
and went to New York. He did not
tell Betty he was there. But on Sum-
day night he was in the house
He saw them come on the stage. Bet
ty was revelation. She had Big Time
marked all over. He saw her do the
very little tricks she had wanted TO try
III tne olu udyS-Sdiy' SCiioVAcoS' He.AS
things he had always opposed on the
grounds that they were silly--didnt
have any sense to EN-.
A Sunday night audience at the
Castle is wise. 1t is hard-boiled. 1t
dares the actors to amuse 1t. But,
within half minute, 1t had warmed up
to Betty Hale and Eddie Hart. In two
minutes it was rocking with laughter.
Here was freshness. novelty and per-
sonality in great, glorious gobs. The
two youngsters reached across the foot
lights and took the audience TO their
hearts. The house loved 1t and APP
plauded tumultuously. They wanted
Hale and Hart--more and more and
more of them. That minute Hale and
Hart became a great vaudeville team.
And big Jim Hale knew that he had
witnessed a. personal disaster. He had
been privileged to stare across pro-
fessional chasm that could never be
bridged. Betty was established as Big
Time. It Is gap that cannot be
spanned. 1t conveyed a stark message
to him-for all time they were In differ
ent worlds.
that night--rode all night and part OF
the next day to reach the town In time
for the 3 o'clock show. Betty didn't
even know he had seen her. He had
strangled the urge TO 60 to her--he was
oppressed by the knowledge that their
paths had diverged and would never
again come together. and he was man
enough to take his medicine stand
ing UP.
A ND the day-i2 weeks latcr-that
~ Hale and Hart was given feature
SPOT on a regular bill at the Castle,
Jim's act was dissolved.
1--WE are sorry" the main once wrote.
that no further bookings are avail
able"
That marked the end Of the road for
Jim. He went to New York. where ne
knocked fntileiy at the doors OF tne
bookcrs. He was treated politely at
times. and at times curtly-and the
bitter realization was borne home that
he had been existing on Betty's ability.
He didn't begrudge her success--but It
was gall and wormwood to know that
he was no good--in theatrical parlance,
q bust.
During all this time he scrupulously
avoided Betty. Occasionally she was
in New York when he was, and on such
occasions he did not communicate with
her He did spend little of his meager
cash to buy balcony seats In houses
thrilled TO her triumphs, there was
bitterness growing In him at the
thought Of how he had held her down,
Why, only for her courage in separat-
ing from him. she'd have played the
tanks until drudgery or old age, or botn,
had stripped the radiant personality
from her.
The few times she knew his where
| abouts-and. those were the rare occa"
sions when he was far away from her
she wrote, renewing her offer OF man
| agership. The act was drawing two
thousand n week now. she told him.
and she didn't know what 10 do with
all that money. She wished he wouldn't
| be so pridefui-~and she didn't think II
was fair She wanted him To know
| that half of whatever she had was MS
and--"You know always Will love you:
Jim--and always and forever ana ever
| He kept her letters. read and re-
read them until they were worn thin.
| He carried them with him TO cheap.
draughty boarding -house rooms. where
he hungered for the exquisite little
creature who told him that she loved
| him.
There were times when he knew that
| he was unfair TO her. But he harked
back always TO the years when he had
| been more unfair. He visioned MS
position, should he return. He would
| be merely the husband OF the famous
| Betty Hale~~a man living on his wiies
bounty. He would move on the fringes
OF circle that meant more to MIN
than life itseif.~rubbing elbows with
the professional great. And he would
be merely ham actori cheap per"
former! A dull. drab trouper. II was
something he didn't have the courage
10 face.
He sought work 1t was matter
now of earning enough TO keep clothes
on his body and food In his mouth ne
l In the shipping department OF whole
sale hardware house For year he LED
a preearious existence, and then good
FaA-