The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-07-31
PETER
THE
GREAT
By FANNIE HURST
'-.-~-.-.-.->-.-~.cI2~-.---.-.-.->-.->--

&c BY Mcclure Newspaper syndicatel
tWNU Servicel
-HE thing that broke Peter Tar
bells spirit was a ringing blow
across the right cheek, admins
tered TO him, within full view of
a crowded back-stage. by an eXtrava-
ganza queen then in the full glory of
her monarchistic reign.
As doorkeeper and general guardian
Of the constant runnel of traffic of one
sort or another through the small Of
fee that led TO the wings of the thea
Ter. Peter constituted one-headed
cerberuS who stood guard against
claimants for the attention of the
high-handed musical comedy despot of
the moment. Hilda Taypay.
A riot of cOlOrful naughtinesses,
temperamentaI outbursts, generOsities,
tempers. affabilities and nonsense of
brand that had captivated Broadway,
10 be in her troupe or associated in
any way with her in the theateP, was
as recipient of her repentant favOrs.
Those who played with her, how
ever. feared her more than they loved
her and il could not be said, even in
the indulgent mood of widest charity,
that Hilda was kind to the lesser peo-
pie about her. Impressed by great
ness. she was capable of paying con-
slant homage TO those whose profess
siOnal rank lowered above hers. Lit
tie people she despised because, ap-
parently, to be able to express her
contempt emphasized her sense of
power.
Thus it happened that on spring
morning during a rehearsal, Peter, ad-
hitting TO the wings a young man
whom he had been instructed by the
great Taypay never to deny admission,
found himself suddenly the public vic
tim Of her great wrath.
How dare you" she screamed at
Peter, hurting a distaff which she had
been carrying in a dance number at
him-"how dare you admit that swine
TO my presence? I never want to see
him again :" and there in the full view
of the assembled company, swung out
an arm, full width. and let her hand
bang resoundingly against the young
dOOrkeeper's cheek.
II was one OF those events that can
come TO a sleeper during nightmare;
IL was public humiliation Of sort that
can cause the. throat TO close and the
eyes to fash into blindness. There. in
the presence of at least sixty people,
many of the stage hands his personal
friends. woman, without the slight
est just provocatiOn, had slapped him
in the face.
For an instant his impulse had
been to leap at her and crush his
fingers into her ornamental throat,
bur that impulse died almost as it was
born. Aside from the impregnable sol
idity of her throne and the power of
her slightest word. there was only fur
Their indicnity and humiliation and
ESTABLISHMENT 70 be gained by letting
go Of his wrath.
Peter TarbeIl. then thirty, we'll sal
aired. ambitious. eager for advance
ment. turned without a word on his
heel and walked out. while to the
strain of the interrupted melody, ex-
rravaganza's darling. prancing distaff
in hand. resumed rehearsal of the
dance number she had been practic-
ing.
There were fifty dollars for half
months wages due Peter, which he
never claimed. There were personal
objects, books. papers, small baggage
lying about the office which he never
returned to collect. The one idea was
TO get away securely, permanently.
quickly from the scene of his humili-
alton. TO forget. if possible, the fiend
fish onslaught against his dignity and
his peace of mind.
The theater and everything pertain
ing 70 it became anathema TO the
quiet-faced, unobtrusive young man,
who from that day. for many year
TO come. was to carry the sting from
a womans hand across his face and
heart. and whose fingers. throughout
the years. were TO itch TO throttle the
white neck of Hilda Taypay.
1t is. of course. difficult to hypothe-
cate what would have been the destiny
of Peter Tarbell had he remained in
the atmosphere Of the theater. 1t is.
however, fair to assume he had been
on the way TO higher position, since
his rise had been steady from call-bOy
TO general manager of affairs of rear
stage.
Be that as it may, from the day Pc
ter walked out, his destiny fell along
lesser lines. At forty he was superin-
tendent of huge apartment house on
the residential upper west side of
New York Eleven men worked I'M
der him. electricians, janitors. eleva-
tor boys and furnace-room men, but
in reality. Peters position. while the