The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

THE OTHER SIDE “Perhaps we had better go back to the house. Miss Townsend and Ralph might be looking for us.” Anne nodded, and in silence they started back. VI. THE following afternoon Anne was sit- ting in Williams’s office opposite the man- ager. ‘We're starting in sooner than we ex- pected, Miss Travis,” Williams explained. “Luckily I am using some of the cast of ‘The Man Rules’ for the new play.” Anne nodded. ‘And do we start re- hearsals to-day?” ‘“‘ Perhaps not rehearsals,” Williams an- swered, ‘“‘ but Mr. Hale is over at the the- ater and wants to see you.” “Ts it the Shakespeare?” “Yes,” Williams smiled. ‘I had it on my hands and have to use it.” Ten minutes later she was shaking hands with the playwright back stage. Several members of the company who had played in “The Man Rules,” were standing about; and all of them greeted her cordially. Hale, looking over her head, smiled. “Your new leading man, Miss Travis.” Anne turned, and her heart almost stopped beating. There stood Arden Chase! For a second she looked at him, para- lyzed with astonishment. Then she turned to where Hale had been standing, but he had vanished. “I hope I didn’t frighten you,” Chase smiled, as Anne continued to stare at him, wonderingly. ‘But Ar—Mr. Chase!” she stammered. ‘* Not here,” he said in low tones. ‘ This is no place for explanations.” And willingly she allowed him to take her by the arm as he walked her down the. hall- way to her old dressing-room. “Well,” he began, after she had seated herself, ‘I hope you do not still hate ac- tors, Anne.” “‘'Why did you deceive me?” she replied in injured tones. Chase looked at her for a second, then knitted his brows. “Because circumstances compelled it,” OF THE CURTAIN, 187 he answered. “I did aspire to write when I met Ralph Bayne in Los Angeles four years ago. I told him I was doing a little of it, but didn’t have the heart to confess that I was but a poor amateur, who always got his manuscripts returned. ‘I always knew I had temperament,” he continued, ‘and when it refused to come out in my literary efforts, I suddenly turned to the stage. I played three years in stock and one on the road, and met with fair success.” Anne, who was not over the shock yet, sat watching his earnest, sincere expres- sion. “I came to New York several days ago to get an engagement. I went to Don Hale, whom I knew when. we were both kids, and he fixed it to givé me a chance in his new play.. He and Manager Williams swore me to secrecy, so I could say nothing about it. Later I met Ralph Bayne in the Knickerbocker, and when he asked me what I was doing in the city, I said I want- ed atmosphere for writing.” Chase threw back his head and laughed. Anne watched him, the shadow of a smile playing about the corners of her sweet mouth. “Ralph insisted that I get some atmos- phere in Tuxedo,” he continued, “so I ar- ranged with Don to let me know when I was wanted, and accepted.” “But how is it you are here so soon?” Anne asked, with a puzzled look on her face. Chase smiled. ‘The day you came to Tuxedo I slipped into the house and phoned Don. Of course he had spoken about you, and I explained that you had come to the same place where I was visiting. He said that Williams ex- pected to send you a telegram any minute, and that when it came it would be the sig- nal for me to leave for New York, too.” Anne shook her head. “You certainly are a man of mystery,” she smiled. ‘ But the funniest part,’ Chase laughed, “is, that after I had seen you to the train, I swung aboard the same car and went into the smoker.” ‘And you came in on the same train,” oO Comicbooe S CO