The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1930-11-06
Their Theatrical
Romance
By JOHN FRANCIS

the stage rather than in the aisles.
Nearly every Broadway musical
comedy played the Ebert on its
way into New York, and Ruth
had come to know several Of the
producers and their associates quite
well. Ned Green. whose ''Frivoli-
ties" always are hit" shows. Of
fered her a job several times. But
Ruth never accepted. and every one
wondered why. 1t took Ted Kings
ton, press agent for Ziegburn, to
find that ont.
On the second night Of the pre-
Broadway engagement of sweet
Child" at the Ebert, Ted walked
into the auditorium about q half
hour after the curtain had risen.
Ruth stood at the back of the
house.
"Lo, Blondy." Ted greeted her.
"How do you like the show?'
"Hello. Mr.. Kingston" said Ruth.
1T is a beautiful production"
mo kidding. Ruth, why don't you
go into one of our shows? I've Of
fered you a job dozen times, with
the boss okay. And l hear Ned
Green has asked you to go into
couple of his shows. What's the
matter? Don't you think you would
like it on the stageg'
"Oh. yes. l think I'd like 1t a
lot. But-but I like there"
Just then a dinner party entered
the theater, and as the seats were
in her aisle Ruth had to usher the
members down. While she was do
ing this. Frank Harris. the hand
some young house manager, walked
in.
sit looks like a hit. Ted" he
said
"Sure Does" Kingston replied,
shut it ought to be. The boss
worked hard enough on it."
When the tall blond usher walked
back to her position at the head
of the aisle. Harris smiled tenderly
at her, and said: mice house, isn't
it, Ruth? I'm afraid We'll have to
work you pretty hard all week. The
house is sold out every night"
There wasn't any apparent cause
for a blush just then, but Ruth's
face became prettily suffused with
color as she answered: 81 don't
mind working hard, Mr.. Harris"
'Oh." said Ted knowingly to him
self. Then he added aloud: "You
don't mind. do you, Ruth? You like
it-here, don't your"
rnpIind tbn aot0r
mounting higher.
Out in the managers office a lit
tie while later, Ted said: Listen,
Frank, I'd like to get Ruth into this
show. viii you help me?"
"Of course I will, Ted. What do
you want me to do?'
Fire her. was the press agents
astonishing answer.
81 can't do that" Harris pro-
tested
"Fire her." said Kingston. you'll
be doing something for her own
good and maybe after she is gone
for a while you will wake up to
something you ought to know now
And if you don't wake up, she'd be
better off in our show than she'll
be here"
Having decided to take Ted's ad
vice, Frank called Ruth into his
office when the performance was
over.
I'm sorry, Ruth, he began, "but
I've got to let you go. Here is
your salary for the full week. Yor
need not come back tomorrow
night"
But why am I being discharged
Mr.. Harris?' Ruth pleaded. "Wha
have I done"
"You haven't done anything
Ruth" said Harris, 'but it seems
it will be better for both of us i
you get through. hope you hav,
lots of luck"
Ruth could only murmur "Thanl
you" as she started for the door
She was on the verge of tears wher
Ted Kingston stopped her in from
of the theater.
"What's the matter, Blondy?" HI
asked innocently.
"Mr. Harris just fired me-"
"YeahY said Ted. what {
dumb cluck he is"
Defending her former employer
almost violently, Ruth cried: TIT
is not"
"Well," said the press agent calm
ly, maybe he isn't, but now tina
you're out Of job, how about go
ing into this shown
"All right" Ruth agreed list
lessly.
When "Sweet Child" opened OF
Broadway two weeks later, Franz
Harris was at the Premier. Ted me-
him nervOusly pacing the lobb.
after the first act
Great show, isn't it, Frank?'
asked Ted. at looks a thousand
times better than it did over al
your house"
ayes, it does," Frank agreed alb
sently. Then he asked quickly
'Ted, how soon can see Ruth?"
Ted smiled. Il guess you can SCI
her now if you want to. I'll take
you backstage," he said. "Wakins
up, eh?''
"Say," sputtered Frank, ''is thai
what you meant when you told ms
to fire herr"
"Sure," said Ted. IT knew wha
was the matter with both Of yol
after you had said three words tt
her that night"
Ruth did not even hear the assist
ant stage manager call her for tn,
opening number of the second act
She was too busy talking to Frank
and kissing him between words.
Darling" said Frank, shave yol
really loved me all that time?n