The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-11-15

At the same time her appearance in this revue, the score of which he had written, would be public assurance that she was now at one with him in his profession.
 Having made herself up to her complete satisfaction, Rita thought it time to go above. The five minutes warning had ady sounded
 Cheer up, old girl, and wish me luck" she said squeezing Bar bara's arm as she passed out of the door.
 Barbara found the suspense of that first act unbearable Any thing she would have given to have been out in front. How was the audience reacting to it? They must be enjoying it-they must. The mere thought of failure appalled, her She knew the dregs of dis illusion that would then be Rays.
 She could see Ray standing be- fore the public at the final curtain with a stiff upper lip while his soul rocked in agony. It must be a success! Too, added to her fear for him was the sure and sickening knowledge that with the success or failure of "The Knave of zazz" lay the rise or fall of her own hopes. Crushed, defeated, ire trievably she would lose him.
 Suddenly she found herself pray ing, a strangled sort of prayer.
 Make them like this show Please, please Otherwise it will break Rays heart. ="
 She paused abruptly Faintly at first, growing louder, she heard the din of applause-tremendous ap- plause. She wrung her hands and cried, Thank God, thank God" without being in the least aware that tears were streaming down her cheeks.
 The next moment Rita had burst into the dressing room. Rita, spring ing about, shouting in her excite ment and throwing an absurd golli- wog mascot from one end of the dressing room to another.
 "It's a success! It's success. A huge, roaring, bowling success. Did you hear the hand? The first act is our weakest. If that's gone across so big the next is going to be a riot. You wait and see
 Half laughing and half crying in her excitement, she dashed once more for the door.
 I'm off to see them all"
 Along the corridor she rushed, pumping into men and girls.
 Now she had found Ray, stun ned, dazed Ray, as though too much good fortune had turned his brain. lShe put up her arms and shook him by the shoulders.
 Its a success, Ray-We've put 1t across! We've put it acrossp They were in each others arms, rocking to and fro in an ecstasy Of joy.
 "Rita-I've got you to thank for it all-every bit of it. But, oh, girl, to think that we've actually put | it across" : She closed her eyes, something was swelling in her throat, instinc- lively her arms frightened about him. She wanted so badly to feel Ihim close to her for the last Itime for the last time.
 Oh, the temptation in that mo- ment to forget the little wife in the dressing room. Why should she sacrifice her happiness for any lgirl? Why should she?
 If only she could forget Barbara forget that somewhere down deep in his heart Ray loved the poor little rich wife he had de- Iserted.
 For one moment longeY she clung to him, her grease paint rubbing Ioff against his shoulder. Then, set ting her teeth, she wrenched her self free from him.
 "So long, Ray, I want to find IPete."
 While to herself she muttered as she continued her headlong way:
 You've got to be sport, darn lyou. You've got to go through with it now!"
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