Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-03-16
The Magic Fluid

lars"
Between them they made her 60.
/ Rod took them IN 3 taxi. A nursery
rhyme whiried In Nellie's head. Lord
have mercy on me- This Is mona Of /
It seemed as II they were being swept
along By 3 power outside themselves.
But wheres To further muddles OF mis-
understanding
The Castle was second-class thea
ter, but it was gay and colorfui. With
the added excitement Of an s. r. o.
Rod had bought orchestra seats. well
down.
The plot Of the play was as old as
sin, and as popular A siren anuses
herself with a married man. At the
same time she falls for charming
elderly bachelor. She does not know
that the bachelor is really q 0ne-tlme
flouted lover, bent on revenge. he shows
her up In her true colors to the stray
ing husband and the home Is saved.
Forrest was the charming elderly
bachelor.
When Forrest first walked on the
stage, Nellie received a shock, because
he looked just like Forrest. A little
older, that was all. His voice sounded
perfectly natural, his tricks and man
nerisms were the same. Oh dear, why
wasn't he more disguised? The other
people on the stage were actors. But
not Forrest. They would be sure to
make a fool OF him How could she
stand it to sit still and witness her
own brothers humiliation2
1rrrA -. Frr-s
let her down He was still Forrest
and he was also another person, a
competent stranger. It was very curious.
She was profoundly relieved.
"Oh, mother, isn't he grand?" chat
tered Rita at the end Of the first act.
Eyes" said Nellie, with a slow smile.
Yes, he is"
How DO you Ike it, Uncle ROd2"
Rods poker face was still intact. mot
so bad, he admitted.
AS the play progressed Nellie real
lied that the audience liked her broth
er's acting. He had the best male part.
and he made the most Of it. It occurred
TO her that his smooth performance was
not the result Of one days study. For
rest had been on the stage 10 years
and she was Just finding it out. Eigh-
teen years of q different world, world
she knew nothing Of, yet Just as Inn
Dortant, perhaps, as her world.
During the last intermiSsion an usher
brought Rod note from Forrest, ask
ing them TO come backstage after the
show. We'll, we might as well do It
up brown while we're al" said Rod.
They found themselves ia q big bare
place that must be the stage. Workmen
we're rushing about with unrelated
,bjects and sections Of scenery. And
here was Forrest and the vamp and
he straying husband, with lot Of
'unny stuff daubed on their faces, all
chatting harmleSsly together.
@Oh, here's my family, broke or
Forrest Miss Courtney, Mr.. Gladwin (
may introduce my sister, Nellie, /
md His voice trailed IN a blur. The
iren nodded pleasantly to them al
nd soon hurried away. Merton Glad
yin stayed and shook hands all around
You people win never know how I
ratefM / am to your brother" Merton s
sladwin had bright blue eyes and he c
aughed when he talked. "You know J
re have q tradition on the stage, The
lay must 60 on I wonder IL youT
I've AAAS tAAC tSAteo11AG VI sDtAAAAAB JOu W
upper. Ardmore and I are hungry.
We've been working. Would you mind =,
Faittng while we take off this grease
Amt? Perhaps you'd like to see the
ressing rooms"
Forrest was sharing dressing room 2
18th the comedian, so they went with
Ierton Gladwin through q door with q
ar on it. Gladwin gave them chairs,
1en removed his coat and collar, put
towel around his neck, and proceeded
} cold cream his face, talking all the
me. 1t seemed an odd procedure, yet
ellie couldn't help liking him. She
anced at Rod Rod wasn't missing
but she couldn't tell what
e thought.
Gladwin took them to a large, bright
and presently they were
'ated five strong at a table well back
ON the dancing floor. Nellie had
ever been in such q place before, but
las fur coat gave her confidence.
heir host ordered supper, and remi-
seed with Forrest about the days
hen they were hooters together It
rs clear that Gladwin thought wen
Forrest. And why not thought Nellie
ddenly. People had thought well Of
addy Belts, and Daddy Belts had
,ver been money maker.
your brother did remarkable work
night dovetaiIing In without rehears-
!" said Gladwin to Nellie and Rod
m inclined to think that his per-
rmance equaled anything he's ever
ne. Don't you think SOP" There was
embarrassing silence.
1T wasn't so hard. I'd played the
1T before" said Forrest.
That was nice Of Forrey to shield
thought Nellie But Rod didn't
Dose TO be shielded. This Is the first
ne we ever saw our brother act" He
,ked squarely at Gladwin. II never
allied until tonight how much there
to this acting game. see now that
} as much Of o business as mine is
For a quizzical second Gladwin stared
ok at Rod. Then, as If nothing had
opened, he asked what Rods buEi-
IS Was, and they talked about the