Evening star., 1928-11-13
New Booking.

LICIA chewed the stub of the
~ pencil. The carving knife
"A wasn't in reach and she firmly
4 "A believed in the landlady's prom
ise to spank her If she got
out of bed. That was the disadvan-
tage of being IL years old and a re-
cent inmate of hospital. People boss
ed you. The pencil stub and a sheet
of heavily scented lavender paper had
been inveigled out of Mrs. Glandon by
a promise of impeccable behavior while
the weeks marketing was being done.
Alicia wrote laboriously and eyed the
result with marked dissatisfaction. but
there was neither time nor paper for
another effort. Chick Ayers would be
along on his bicycle any minute now
and She mustn't keep him waiting.
She hailed the telegraph messenger
from her window, In q thin, high treble
that carried distinctly down into the
street. Chicks head came up and he
waved a hand as he sped by. Alicia
frantically wagged the square envelope,
and Chick nearly ran down flustered
old lady on the crossing. In two min
utes he was up the stairs, painting.
What you want, Alicia? I'm in an
awful hurry"
Alicia held out the envelope. please
NAAACAs dCANCA Az w AAAAAA yOAAoOAAs ~
very portant."
Chick started at the address. "Cun-
ningham Reed!' he whispered in awe.
"Why-why, Alicia, what you doing?"
please hurry!" said Alicia and fell
back on the pillows. She was still very
weak. A three-month siege with ty-
phoid fever doesn't leave much of even
sturdy constitutions and Alicia had
never been exactly husky. But there
was a smile on the little white face
under its mass of dark red hair which
the breeze through the window stirred
gently.
Compton Mel put down the burnt
cork and picked up the lipstick, view
ing the reflection in the mirror with
complete detachment. He could put
on a perfect makeup without giving
conscious thought to the matter. He
was thinking that this was Friday and
that tomorrow night would be his last
appearance at any of the Reed theaterS.
"Reed says you amt got no spring" ;"
the theater manager had brutally told
Mel Brady had said that the first OF
the week and Mel had straightway
sought an interview with Reed Mel
had a new act that he believed would
go over big. If Reed would only listen
to himl But Reed wouldn't. He sent
out word that little new blood
wouldn't do the Reed chain of theaters
any harm, and Mel had gone away
with sinking heart. God knew that
he was aware that there was not any
spring in him! A man couldn't watch
the only being in the world that he
loved make an 8 or 10 week fight
with death and not lose his spring.
Besides, since coming from the hos
pital Alicia had not slept well and
Mel had not been getting his rest.
And, of course, the little imp had
gotten 1t out of him about the failure
to land new contract She always
did. One couldn't lie to her. "And
now," she had remarked gravely. "you
are a gentleman in distress" Through
out her illness. Mel had presented
flowers and picture books and puzzles
with the elaborate ceremony that de-
lighted her and always to LADY in
distress"
There will be a pair of U.S." he an
swered ruefully, 'if I don't get new
booking" He had grinned and joked
good deal. but he was afraid that
he hadn't fooled his small daughter
much. She was an uncanny little piece
She sometimes read his thoughts, as
Daddy Comp. what rent do we have to
pay the hospital?" the day he had