Produced by Duncan Harrod  HTML version by Al HainesHalf A RogueByHarold MacGrathTo The Memory Of My MotherHalf A RogueChapter IIt was Warringtons invariable habitwhen no business or socialengagement pressed him to go elsewhereto drop into a certain quaintlittle restaurant just off Broadway for his dinners It was out of theway the throb and rattle of the great commercial artery became likethe faroff murmur of the sea restful rather than annoying He alwaysmade it a point to dine alone undisturbed The proprietor nor hissilentfooted waiters had the slightest idea who Warrington was Tothem he was simply a profitable customer who signified that he dinedthere in order to be alone His table was up stairs Below there wasalways the usual dinner crowd till theater time and the music had thefaculty of luring his thoughts astray being as he was fonder ofmusic than of work As a matter of fact it was in this littlerestaurant that he winnowed the days ideas revamped scenes trimmedthe rough edges of his climaxes revised this epigram or rejected thisor that line all on the backs of envelopes and on the margins ofnewspapers In his den at his bachelor apartments he worked but herehe dreamed usually behind the soothing opalescent veil of MadameNicotineWhat a marvelous thing a good afterdinner cigar is In the smoke ofit the poor man sees his ships come in the poet sees his musebeckoning with hands full of largess the millionaire reverts to hisearly struggles and the lover sees his divinity in a thousandgraceful posesTonight however Warringtons cigar was without magic He was out ofsorts Things had gone wrong at the rehearsal that morning The starhad demanded the removal of certain lines which gave the leading manan opportunity to shine in the climax of the third act He had laboreda whole month over this climax and he revolted at the thought ofchanging it to suit the whim of a capricious womanEverybody had agreed that this climax was the best the young dramatisthad yet constructed A critic who had been invited to a reading haddeclared that it lacked little of being great And at this late hourthe star wanted it changed in order to bring her alone in thelimelight It was preposterous As Warrington was on the first waveof popularity the business manager and the stage manager both agreedto leave the matter wholly in the dramatists hands He resolutelydeclined to make a single alteration in the scene There was a finestorm The star declared that if the change was not made at once shewould leave the company In making this declaration she knew herstrength Her husband was rich a contract was nothing to her Therewas not another actress of her ability to be found the season was toolate There was not another woman available nor would any othermanager lend one As the opening performance was but two weeks henceyou will realize why Warringtons mood this night was anything butamiableHe scowled at his cigar There was always something some sacrifice tomake and seldom for arts sake It is all very well to witness a playfrom the other side of the footlights everything appears to work outso smoothly easily and without effort To this phenomenon is due theamateur dramatistbecause it looks simple A play is not written itis built like a house In most cases the dramatist is simply thearchitect The novelist has comparatively an easy road to travel Thedramatist is beset from all sides now the business managerthat isto say the boxofficenow the stage manager now the star now theleading man or woman Jealousys green eyes peer from behind everyscene The dramatists ideal when finally presented to the publicresembles those mutilated marbles that decorate the museums of Romeand Naples Only there is this difference the public can easilyimagine what the sculptor was about but seldom the dramatistWarrington was a young man tolerably goodlooking noticeably wellset up When they have good features a cleft chin and a generousnose cleanshaven men are good to look at He had fine eyes in thecorners of which always lurked mirth and mischief for he possessedabove all things an inexhaustible fund of dry humor His lines seldomprovoked rough laughter rather silent chucklesWarringtons scowl abated none In business women were generallynuisances they were always taking impossible stands He would findsome way out he was determined not to submit to the imperious fanciesof an actress however famous she might beSir will you aid a lady in distress The voice was tremulous butas rich in tone as the diapason of an organWarrington looked up from his cigar to behold a handsome young womanstanding at the side of his table Her round smooth cheeks wereflushed and on the lower lids of her splendid dark eyes tears ofshame trembled and threatened to fall Behind her stood a waiter ofimpassive countenance who was adding up the figures on a check hismovement full of suggestionThe dramatist understood the situation at once The young lady hadordered dinner and having eaten it found that she could not pay forit It was to say the least a trite situation But what can a man dowhen a pretty woman approaches him and pleads for assistance SoWarrington roseWhat may the trouble be he asked coldly for all that he instantlyrecognized her to be a person of breeding and refinementII have lost my purse and I have no money to pay the waiter Shemade this confession bravely and franklyHe looked about They were alone She interpreted his glance rathershrewdlyThere were no women to appeal to The waiter refused to accept myword and I really cant blame him I had not even the money to send amessenger homeOne of the trembling tears escaped and rolled down the blooming cheekWarrington surrendered He saw that this was an exceptional case Thegirl was truly in distress He knew his New York thoroughly a man orwoman without funds is treated with the finished cruelty with whichthe jovial Romans amused themselves with the Christians Lack of moneyin one person creates incredulity in another A penniless person isinvariably a liar and