The Argosy for May — page 161: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

348 “J don’t understand,” the dramatist faltered. Suddenly the thought that the pur- chase of his ticket had used up nearly all his money, and that at the present time he did not even have enough to pay for a week’s stay at a good hotel, caused his positive response: ‘IT really couldn’t do it, Dempster. ve got to get to New York on this steamer. Very important.” ‘Important, eh?” the other mimicked. “There is something far more impor- tant to you right here in London; and you will stay at my hotel as my guest, and go back next Saturday with Miss Bailey and myself. I want that play of yours.” “ You want—my play!” cried Walker in a tone of utter astonishment. “Yes, I want it, and I came to Lon- don to get it. WVve had a merry chase after you, and now I want my answer. Poxk pet ith Before the dramatist could overcome his surprise and joy enough to reply, the train beside them pulled slowly out of the station. He had not even heard the guard’s call of “ All aboard!” ‘Come, do I get it?’’ Dempster re- peated. A smile scattered itself over Walker’s countenance, and he broke into a hearty yet nervous laugh. 7 ‘Of course, if you want it.” “Then come with me,” the actor went on. ‘You are my guest for the next week. But, first of all, we'll get your steamer ticket exchanged for next week’s boat. Vl telegraph ahead to hold your luggage until then.” Walker had as yet been unable fully to grasp the import of the good news, and as Dempster returned to his side and led the way to a waiting cab, he queried: ‘ How do you know you want the play? You haven't read it, have you?” “T certainly have,’ was the quick reply. “I chanced upon it in New York. Seldon & Co., the play-brokers, have a cépy, and while there one day they gave it to me to read. I saw im- mediately what I could do with it, and. after going over the seript thoroughly, I put it up to my managers. They had had it some time before, they said, but THE ARGOSY. had passed it up, but were willing I should try it if I saw anything in it. Upon inquiry, I found you had gone to London, so took a trip across, killing two birds with one stone—a short vaca- tion and an endeavor to find you.” ‘“And you succeeded in both,” Walker laughed. : “Yes, but came very near failure,” the other interposed. ‘‘ Ever since I saw you in the express office that morn- ing—” “You!” A look of blank amazement came over the dramatist’s face. He stared at the other, and a look of under- standing showed itself. “Tall American—gray suit,” he mum- bled. ‘And when I went to your hotel, and you had moved without leaving any ad- dress— Say, Walker, what ails you?” ‘ Nothing, really; ”’ but the playwright smiled strangely as he made this reply. “Well, all right, but you look con- foundedly funny; just as if you had seen, a ghost. Then Miss Bailey told me she had seen you, and that you were to be with us at her dinner. But you didn’t show up. I was mighty disappointed ; and as she said you spoke of sailing to- day, I came down to the boat train. Luckily for me, I caught you just as—” “Just as I reached the end of my rope,” Walker interrupted. “What do you mean?” queried. “Nothing. Just a saying of mine, used in connection with theatrical man- agers.” ‘Well, I felt 1 had reached the end of mine, as far as securing a play for Miss Bailey and myself was concerned,” Dempster said; then in a cautious whis- per added: “ it’s a secret, Walker, but I’ll let you in on it. Miss B. and I are engaged to be married, and I guess it’ll take place as soon as we get to New York. Naturally, we would like to play together, and although the majority of managers object to such an arrangement, mine have consented, providing we find the piay.” ‘But mine is a man’s play,” Walker said fearfully. » ‘“T know it; but there is a fine part for Miss Bailey, and we have a new idea regarding it whereby it can be the other COnICLOO© SS CO