The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-03-22
Bv Mel]a Russell McCa]1unn

mother, you're wonderful" she chanted.
Rod added: Looks like a million dol
lars"
Between them they made her go.
Rod took them in a taxi. A nursery
rhyme whirled in Nellie's head. Lord
have mercy on me. This is none Of I"
It seemed as if they were being swept
along by a power outside themselves.
But where? To further muddles Of mis-
understanding?
The Castle was a second class thea
ter, but it was gay and colorful, 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 amrses
herself with a married nan At the
same time she falls for a charming
elderly bachelor. She does not know
that the bachelor is really a one-time
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. On 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
W brothers humiliation?
But to her establishment he did not
let her down. He was still Forrest
and he a also another person, a
competent stranger. 1t 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.
Eyes, he is"
How do you like it, Uncle Rod?"
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
~ ~ 4SouAO VI O41C Ody . SGu0y. VI.
rest had been IN the stage 10 years
and she was just finding it out. Eigh-
teen years of a different world, a world
she knew nothing Of, yet Just as i'm
portant, perhaps, as her world.
During the last intermission an usher
brought Rod a note from Forrest, ask
ing them to come backstage after the
show. well, we might as well do it
IN hrnUvn u,hi1o yrrosro Of 81 coiI D1J
They found themselves in a big bare
place that must be the stage. Workmen
! were rushing about with unrelated
objects and sections of scenery. And
there was Forrest and the vamp and
the straying husband, with a lot Of
funny stuff daubed on their faces, all
chatting harmlessly together.
"Oh, here's my family broke off
Forrest. Miss Courtney, Mr.. Gladwin
may I introduce my sister, Nellie,
and" His voice trailed in a blur. The
siren nodded pleasantly to them all,
and soon hurried away. Merton Glad
win stayed and shook hands all around.
"You people will never know how
grateful I I'm to your brother" Merton
Gladwin had bright blue eyes and he
laughed when he talked. you know
We AAoSS q u u U14C oCdSC, 41lC
play must go on I wonder if you'll
give me the pleasure of taking you to
supper. Ardmore and I are hungry.
We've been working. Would you mind
waiting while we take off this grease
paint? Perhaps you'd like to see the
dressing rooms"
Forrest was sharing a dressing room
with the comedian, so they went with
Merton Gladwin through a door with a
star on it. Gladwin gave them chairs,
then removed his coat and collar, put
a towel around his neck, and proceeded
to cold cream his face, talking all the
time. It seemed an odd procedure, vet
Nellie couldn't help liking him. She
glanced at Rod. Rod wasn't missing
anything, but she couldn't tell what
he thought.
Gladwin took them to a large, bright
restaurant, and presently they were
seated five strong at a table we'll back
from the dancing floor. Nellie had
never been in such a place before, but
mas fur coat gave her confidence.
Their host ordered supper, and remi-
nisced with Forrest about the days
when they were hooters together. 1t
was clear that Gladwin thought well
of Forrest. And why not thought Nellie
suddenly. People had thought well of
Daddy Belts, and Daddy Belts had
never been a money maker.
"Your brother did remarkable work
tonight dovetailing in without rehears-
al" said Gladwin to Nellie and Rod.
Tn inclined to think that his per-
Torrance equaled anything he's ever
done. Don't you think SOP" There was
an embarrassing silence.
1T wasn't Sc hard. I'd played the
part BEFORE" said Forrest.
That was nice Of Forrey to shield
us, thought Nellie. But Rod didn't
choose to be shielded. "This is the first
time we ever saw our brother act" He
looked squarely at Gladwin. II nevr
realized until tonight how much there
is to this acting game. I see now that