The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 188: what you’re looking at

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182 THE “You surely showed your contempt,” Williams remarked. ‘I don’t know what to make of it yet, Miss Travis.” “You don’t seem to be terribly enraged with me,” she replied timidly. “ Really, Mr. Williams, I am sorry as I said, for your sake.” “No use crying over spilt milk,” Wil- liams answered. ‘It’s the first time, though, in my whole experience that such a thing has happened. Sinclair is wild and, of course, it means a loss of money for me.”’ Anne did not answer. Instead, she sat staring ahead at a trunk on the other side of the room. “Even if you had consented to go on,” Williams continued, “ the mischief would have been done. Miss Marshall, unfortu- nately, had left. I had to tell the audience to go home.” Suddenly Hale appeared in the doorway. “ Frank,” he called, “‘ may I come in?” Williams nodded, and the playwright en- tered the room. For a second he looked at Anne with wistful eyes, and then in a gentle voice he put the same question that Williams had asked: ‘“ Why did you do it, Miss Travis?” “She explained it all to me, Don,” said Williams. “It was on account of the lines being cut.” The shadow of a smile played over Hale’s features. ‘“T knew,” he said, ‘‘ that no good would come of it.” “T suppose I had better resign,’ Anne remarked. ‘ Under the circumstances T could not think of going back.” Williams knit his brows, and looked at the playwright. “Tm afraid it’s the only thing to do,” he said, turning to the girl. ‘“‘ The under- study will have to jump in.” The back-doorman appeared in the hall- way. “Mr. Williams,” he said, “there are several newspaper men want to see you and Miss Travis.” For a second Williams frowned. Then suddenly his face lighted up, and he grabbed Hale by the arm. “ We must give an explanation, Don, and I have a great idea. Send them in,” he ARGOSY. ordered, turning to the back-doorman, who immediately disappeared. “Miss Travis,” Williams began, “if I didn’t know Sinclair had no right to force my hand by having your lines cut, I’d be terribly angry with you.” Anne looked up and smiled. It was a grateful smile, and it seemed to please the manager. ‘“‘ But,” he continued, ‘‘ I want you to do as I ask. Tell the newspapermen the true story. There is no harm in it, and it cer- tainly is-not being malicious. It is up to you to explain your strange action.” Anne was about to object, but Williams held up his hand. ‘It is the only way you can repay me,” he said. For a second Anne looked at him, then nodded her head in assent. ‘‘And now, Don,” Williams finished, turning to the playwright, ‘“ to-morrow morning the papers will have stories and pictures about Miss Travis. The publicity will make her famous.”’ Hale looked at the girl, who suddenly seemed excited over what Williams had said, and for a second their eyes met. ‘“That’s true,” he replied, facing the manager. ‘“ But she won’t play with Sin- clair again.” “Not with Sinclair,” broke in Williams, “but in that new play you’ve just finished. The part is for a young girl, and I’m ready to gamble and make Miss Travis a star.”’ Anne looked up, her eyes flashing. What she had heard she could hardly believe. But her ears had not deceived her, for Hale enthusiastically remarked, ‘‘ She’s ideal for the part and I don’t want anybody else to have it.” Several men now appeared. ‘The reporters, sir,” came the an- nouncement. ‘Show them in,” Williams ordered, as he reached in his vest pocket for cigars. IV. THE following morning the newspapers ran front-page stories of the whole affair. Pictures of Anne appeared in all of them and several published Sinclair’s. Broadway was alive with gossip. In hotels, restaurants and bars, members of oO cComicbooe S CO