Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1919 — Page 2

The Thirteenth Commandment

THANKS TO DUANE, DAPHNE GETS THE CHANCE TO BECOME AN ACTRESS-—IF SHE CAN MAKE GOOD.

Synopsis-Clay Wimburn. a young New Yorker on a yis.t-to Cloveland. meets pretty Daphne Kip, S !«.<.• brother is m t.m SUUC office i... Clav in Wall street! ciuv buvs an engagement ring on Credit and returns to New b.rk, Danhno' agrees tn ran early marriage. nhd after -extracting tram Ifc monevo/orried father what she regards as a sufficient sum Of money fnr the ournose she gorerTo New York with her mother to buy her tr.m- ---~ seau Daphne’s brother.'lD yard, has jSstjuarried am] h-i f TbrEufOp.with hD bride, Leila. Daphne and her mother install tlwmselves in BavardS. flatXHmbura Introduces Daphne and her mother to luxurious New York life. Daphne meets Tom. Duane, man-about-town, who seems greatlv attracted th her. Daphne accidentally disem-ers that. Clay is penniless, ■e'xT^tTbr-Tirs - s?nnryT' Bxynnrd' rmd -his-wirw-rattrnr frp-New--York unexpectedly. The three women set our on a shopping excursion and-the two vounger Women Ihi y' expensive gffwns, having them charged to Bavarffi J Bayard .is fu/m'D■ • the expense, soflng Irnnt: times, ahead. Daphne, indignant, she will earn her own living and breaks her engagement. with'-Gl**.-

r ?:..' CHAPTER IX. Daphne bent her head so quickly, that his pressed; lips roublied he* hair:. She flung backward and thrust him away and broke from his hold. “Ash!” she groaned. “T suppose T deserve the insult —for trusting you.-’ i •*I didn't intend <t f or an Insult.’’ i He followed her with pleading She hocked nway and found herself ; in a flushed, furious, at bay. . “How dare y.m'r" she stormed, and , thought with nausea how often the | phrase had been used and wita what . hypocrisy. It seemed to fall familiarly on his , ear, for he laughed comfortably. “How , can I help ItT* J “If you touch me I’ll —I'll hit .you.-, , He paused, stared deep into her eyes. “Do you mean it?" “Of course I mean it." “I'm -sorry.” heslghed, “But wan t you let me. explain?" “You don't have to. It’s all my fault for inviting you here." “Oh. no, I beg you not to think that I'm such a cad." . “Please go!” “All right!" he murmured, and left the room. She heard his stick rattle as he took it from the umbrella Jar. She thought: “There goes my opportunity—iny.cnreer! Well, let it go! It wasn't worth the price!" Duane appeared at the door again to say: “Oh. by the way. that duction to Mr. Reben. Do you still want it?” “No, thank you. not from you. Goodby.” He bowed farewell, then changed his mind, entered the ijoom and sat <lown. and motioned Iler to a seat as if it were his house. 1 —"Miss Kip. may T say one wr»rrt~te you? I don't pretend to understand you women people. I'm not sure now Just how sincere you are. Just how much of a ninny you may think me for Iteing rebuffed so easily.- Experience is no guide. But —well —anyway— hardly any man that would ev<n bother a woman unwilling to be bothered if he could only be ceitain that he was really bothering her. Do I make myself Clear?” “Not in the least.” - “Well, then. I give up. But I must leave yoti a bit of Advice. You say you want to earn money. If you do,

And May I Arrange for You to Meet Reben?"

on the stage or in any other business, you wifi meet a rot e? men who will feel ft their duty to try to kiss you at the first opportunity. It’s not only bettiuse you are so pretty, for T really believe the homeliest girls get the most kisses. Perhaps jt’s because They’re nnr s<r T>nrtr(-uHr*-trut. anyway, it’s not because men are villains that they try to kiss women, but be"Sse «Fre-WgTngr rr.rre'ir un' old superstition—l don’t know how

false it is. or how true.; .n» .mtti-i can know —but then* is a tradition teat every woman 'expects every man she ; meets to offer her, an insult—Tl git’s: the tochnicar term—as soon as they aio alone. “That feeling is what women are going to run into every time they’ try to force their way into business. It will die out, I suppose, to rr certain ex- j tenfTTis ~ybu cr o - Ollr 1!el<1. tr - will be one ■'L'Uie - last privttrges - you'll lose. You’re already permitted to stand up in street cars and go out after dark alone. By and by you will have to make your advances to the men yourselves in the frankest manner. instead of subtly as now." Dapline broke in coldly. “Tha_t will be a very welcome day to most of u<' Somehow it did not sound convincing to her. There was grave conviction, however, in his response: “It will.be a mighty welcome day to us po<TT~mcn. Miss Kip. For most men haven’t the faintest desire to spoon with women. It’s hard enough for some of -Htein-4o ke«q» their -own sweethearts and wives sufficiently caressed. Then there’s another thing—if I'm not boring you—l haven't made as long a speech since I was a schoolboy and recited ,'Spariacus to the Gladiators.’ ” “Go on, please." sard Daphne. “A woman doesn’t often get the chance of hearing" a man tell the truth about these things.” Her sarcasm chilled him a little, but he went on: “I just want to say this—it’s an old man's advice to a young woman going into business: when a man asks for a job he brings references, and they are investigated; or he answers a lot-of questions, and he is given a trial. Or when;two men meet in a club -or elsewhele they shake hands. ;’l'lmt handshake is a lyind investigation off character! —They learn each oiher’s politicsSnd religion and prejudices as soon as they can. "So when a man meets a woman he is' apt to be thrown with a good deal he is apt to say. ‘What sort is ■■she?!..... But the thing that atntovs—ai.mn most abioit liming to do business with a wom:.h~Ts~~the~Ti~ar that TFe vTTI either - compromise—lnU’—or. disappoint her. That's the first problem to get out of the way: and there's nothing easier’for a woman to do /han. to convince a man that she doesn’t want him to try to flirt with her—if she doesn't” Daphne cried. "In heaven's name,tell me Low it's done.” “The way to convince him is to be convinced yourself. If you’re sincere he'll know it." ‘ — "But I was sincere with you, and you didn’t know itfl* . \,“I didn't know it at first, but I soon did—l think—and tio-w that’s what I'm driving at all this long/ while. If you're going into business coihpetitioil with men, play fair. Every now’and then 6ne of them, as soon as he finds himself alone with you, will be polite’ enough to insult you. But the average map will let .you alone if you'll ICt him alone. Suppose he does make a mistaken advance, if you could be sensible enough not to gtT not to feel besmirched, but just take it as a matter of course and 5 sqv frankly: •No, thunks. I’m hot interesfe'd. I understand you perfes‘tly, but you needn't ’><-;Lir.' or something like that, and, say it honestly, the rest would be plain sai 1 ing. . w’: --- “And now. if you'll forgive me for mlkingj’our Arm off and if you’ll prove it by jetting nfe help you, I’ll promise never to kiss you or try to till —till you b-k me to/raw-J— .--wv-----? Daphne . laughed refreshedly at his impudence, and he laughed, as well as he might. And they shook lmmls with, coinradesliip. "Ami may I arrange for you to meet Reben?" - -• > . , “i hate_ to ask yon. nnw. I’ve no: right fb trouble you- But Tm terribly anxious to get a job.” . j "And I'm terribly anxious to get’you "one.” ~■** ' '’'2 '■ fA't» - “You’re awfully kind,” she said, and led ’tetttf to the telephone. I, ' » □, r _ ■Sfle felt that itAjvould be indelicateto listen, and.wem back into the living room .of the apartment. There T&iiftne jbinedner in a few moments with the terrifying news that Reben

THE EVBNTJfG REPUBLICAN-. RENSSELAER, IND.

thatTie mTgflt have a chance to place her at once if she could come to ids office wiilmut delay. Opportunity* bouncing out at her like a - jack-in-the-box—ahtrhied- her. llul she faced ft Tducktlyr—-She-pttf--on her hat with trembling hahds phd went .down in the elevator with Duane. 4 := aii elevator at one side <.f the Ibbby iff tlie t!ieater and stelfi>e«l out at Itelem's m'lcedoor. A T num ber’ of scmb<-r an'-l despond ent, ! persons of ul tli‘-atrv al complexym i were waiting there also, the wretched I T,azaruse's of’ art. .. . . ’ , 1 ' Dmwte spoke to a respectful bffice boy, who disappeared through a door and returned to b-'-ekotr Mtn Im With heart bounding high and bubbling at her throat Daphne entered the theat-ri«-:t! Worid-’-by—one of its.most gilded portals. ’ . -

TTfw srront Tieton -sffDT^rrTltiTv t “l>ohtnd j an m'mtte table-desk and dismissd err sritDitnnyr-onittttr-stenogra pher-with - it nod as he -rose to greet iTuane. Dmrne did~rtro honors: -“Mr. Reben, t want to present you to : Miss Kip; Miss Daplihe Kip." » ■ I ' Reben greeted li'-r with suavity and , Ids < ; yes were evei: more enthusiasti' ‘ than his words. Daphne was at het superlative deghee ami anxiety gave her a wistfulness that was appealing to Reben.Women’s charms and wlst- : fulnesses iua.de up a large part of his I wii res in trmhu.' ... .. .. . ‘.‘Ha vo y< nt had any- experience ?” “None.” ' ~ ~ »“Xfmlied <'! 1 »<•’.!tio'i?" “Never. 1 never spoke it piece in my life.’’ 1 "Good! Amateur theatricals?” “Never. I never seemed to care for 1 lie’ll." “Better yet ! WhnDmnkes you think you want to’iU't nov “Money.' I want to--earn money—get ridi.” -—— “I see." said Reben. and. fell - into a _profuuud~.nivdiuiiiim.- .1 tidying Daphne seiirehingTy. Duane seized the opportunity to rise ; and sav: “Well, I'll leave you two...together to talk terms; It would be indelicate for me to know just how rich Miss Kip is going to be.” - ~s ; He h;td no sooner, gone than Reben’s ' manner changed slightly and Daphne’s courage vanished. Reben . paced the floor as he talked. His path kept slowly closing In :i round her like the walls in Poe’s story. “Yoy look like Miss Kemble,” he said. “You have soipewhat the same temperament, You like her style of play. That may be your line. I can’t tell. Of course-1 don’t know how well you can act. Perhaps you never could. Kemble is great, but she comes of an <>!d tlnatrical family. Of course you have one great capital—your beauty; for yo.u are very beautiful. Miss Kip, very. Let me see your vyes I” ' He had a right to ask if he wore 7 gnnrg - rn""htimMTwf'-eyes.“-bur she-toothed i up cra'venly, for the burly satrap was leaning over her. His left hand was on the arm of the chrrir. his rigtit on the baek-of it. His left hand was gradually enveloping hers. It was a fat, hot hand, inTd: hts'face 'wtis 'so-ciuse that it was blurretj in her vision, Then she remembered . Piwnr’s words; sii,-' controlled;herself enough, to put them to the test. ■“She prefemlfT to Took coldly Into I’.eben's face, and she—said, with a brave show of calm:.“Mr. Reben: I[ didn’t'come here to flirt-with you ami; I don’t intend to. I came here for a ' job as an actress. If this sort of thing is a necessary part of somewhere < ! lse." Reben backed away and stared a/, her. lie vVas Tendered foolish by her rebuff and he stammered, "Why, I I meant no harm.” She went on with the Duane system of treatment: “I know 5 you didn’t. You meant to be polite, but you don't have ito be.so polite to me; 'I don't, expeep it and I don’t like i't.' v "All right, all right!" Reben growled 1 pacing the llpdr again, but in a Cohi stantly receding path, lie did not ■’speak. He felt that he;had made a ■ fool of himself, and he whs embarrassed. ;’ ' .... • -...., DapJme was so frightened with her ■ success that she got to her feet, say--] i ing: “I suppose this means that you TTorPfl"'want me to work f>>r you. it's ; t rue. theu, wliat they say about 7 tlie stage.” “Nonsense I Of course not! Rot! I never see most of my people except at rehearsals or performapces. I’ve never spoken to of ’em. If you w.ilnt a job you can have it, and no concessions are necessary. Y’ou ■ don't h'five io makejo' e to me. You I make hove to- the audience, and if you I can capture that you Can-slap my face, , every time you see me.” • ■I. Daphne was. ast<?uhded. She Ajrfls ~ engaged! She was exultant and thrilled with gratitude to Duane for ; introducing her to this marvelous op-’ portuuity and fpr tlie wisdom of his con'nselT~ ■ x ' ' Reben said: “The'general study of the Kemble company- has grown tired of waiting for a chance to appear inppblic. She’s quitting lire this.week for a'small part in. a road company. You can have her place if you want it. Do you?”

By RUPERT HUGHES

”Y6u bt-i ——indeed I do. How jOTten does all undersfufly play?” “As rarely as possible.” . I>;tph!!'»’s joy turned to lead. 7 Reben added : "I’,m we don't pay by performances. I’ll pay you. twentyfive, a week; Yon wanted money. There’S a little of "it for Do you want ~ ~-' :■ . “Will it lead to anything better?” “It might.” “Am I to understudy Miss Kemble?” “Yes, and all the other women roles.” ■ “And when do you suppose I’ll ger a ckance to play Miss Kemble's partj Soon?" ■ “Never, I Impe.” “Th:Ws encouraging!” ... Kemble fell ill we’d ordinarily refund the money,- because shots the star. But sometimes we might Itttve to give- a performance at short notice. Chances in the other parts might come any day.” . “And you’ll give me a better chance wiii-u yon canT 5 - ; —: “Indeed -I will. If ymi have the gift, tlie sooner I find it out and the harder 1 work it the more money I make. The more you earn the more I jnake. IM like to pay you ten thousand a week.” “I’d like to have you. All right, intirjk” . Ile pressed a button on his desk jjice, then twice.—The office boy ap4iC!m:ed.. followeiL by-tlie stenographer. Reben said to the boy: “Is Mr. Battersea here? Send him to me.” To the stenographer he said: “Fill out a 4?ontract for Miss Kip—Miss— What’s the first name? Miss Daphne Kip. Salary, twenty-five. Make it a threeyea r contract.” Relten motioned her absently to her chair and said, rather, for Duane’s sake than for hers, she felt: “Sit down, won’t you, till the- contracts come? and pardon me if I —” ■ Tie finished the phrase by the deed. The office routine went on and Daphne might have been the chair she sat in, lor all the:attention he paid her. She felt rather ungallantly ignored. Sttttr she had asked to be treated on a business., basis. He was taking her at her word. Before she contracts were ready Mr. Batterson appeared. He was one of Reben’s stage managers, a worried, emotional Tittle man, worn to shreds with his task of stimulating and correcting the emotions by which others earned their wages and fame. Reben introduced, him to Daphne and explained her new office. Batterson seemed none too well pleased with the news that Daphne was ignorant of stage work to the last degree. He had found it hard enough to make the experienced actors read their lines as they s must be read and keep on reading them so. To teach this dramatic infant how to walk and talk was an unwelcome labor; He took Daphne into his office anil pulled out a set of parts. When she -stumbled-over them he cast his eyes heavenward in his swift impatience. He explained them' with a vinegary vsmtlem-ss. -He talked t-o her of tin? canons of jnrerpretation. —Tie walfeed througii her scenes-'and spoke her lines for her again and again and yet again. But somehow ,lie”could not tfeacfl her. He trietl everything but beating her. He fluttered her. wheedled her, parodied, satirized, rebuked her. and oecasimmlly he cursed her. She did, not- rebel even against his profanity, because she had no confidence in-her-self to support her resistance. She felt that she was far worse than he said she' was when he said, she was worst. She used all her funds of resolution jit keeping from throwing down tlie part and running- away in tpars. She had none left for asserting her right to politeness. ■Once Daphne was out in the street again and retatsed from the ordeal of pleasing Batterson, youth and ambition brought hope.back again. Broadway at twilight was athrob with enthusiasm and she caught zest from the crowds. She was going home- to study, carrying her little .set of textbooks like a schoolgirl. But she felt the wings of -conquest fledging at her ankles or the wheel of fortune spinning} under Her toes. • Her very-first effort had s "succeeded. She was a woman with a salary. She Avould be no longer a parasite on any man. She had a career and a business us well as the best of them. Her mother was at home alone. Leila had g(jme from that tea to another to which Mrs. Kip was not invited. mother greeted her with relief. She told her news with a gush of enthusiasm. It deft Mrs. Kip very cold. ' She was a pious, church-going woman, Mrs. Kip. She had always looked upon the theater as' fl. trqi.ning school for the still lower regions. ’.She went to plays occasionally, but usually with i.a feeiing Of dissipation and worldlinos?. 'Besides itv-was ons thing-to see and another-tp act them. Daphne tried to her mother out of her backwoods prejudices, bus she only frightened her the more, Mrs. Kip retired to her room to write ran. urgent telegram to her husoanu aenianding tilflt be come on at once and

pescoe his child. She always called on him tn an emergency and he always responded. Leila came home eventually fyl! of gossip and triumph. Her Dutilh gown had made a tremendous success; the other tyomen wanted to mu •der_.<her._ Mrs. Kip broke in on her chronicles with the dismal-- finnowtieemont —exDaphne’s new insanity. Leila was almost as bitter in opposition as Mrs. Kip had been, but from quite another motive. Leila had arlqtocr/.tie impulses and looked forward to social splendors. She would gain no help froiy the fact that her husband's sister was a theatrical struggler. Daphne escaped an odious battle with her by referring to the bribed of close study, and retreated into her own room, locking her mother out. She stayed there, repeating h< r lines over and over and trying to remember the action that went with them as Miss Kemble had played'it. .She had a quick memory, but the intonation of the lines gave her extraordinary difficulty. , She remembered one of Miss Kemble's most delicious effects. She came on the stage unannounced and. pausing in the doorway, sinileibwhimsically 'and said. “How do you do? - ’ That was all—just “How do you do?” But she

The Next Day Batterson Telephoned Her That He Had Called a Rehearsal With the Company.

uttered it so deliciously that a ripple of joy ran throuch the audience. Daphne tried to master the trick of it, but with no success. She said “How do you do?” in dozens of ways, with no result except to render the phrases meaningless gibberish. Daphne flung down the part she was studying and flung away ambition, and went out to tell the family that she agreed with them. She was confronted by Leila in a role of despair. Bayard had telephoned that he could not get home for dinner. He would not be home in time to take Leila to the theater as he had promised. Leila was in a frenzy. She had nothing to do for her man to come and take her somewhere. Daphne understood the tragedy of the modern wife: dowered with freedom, pampered with amusements, deprived of the blessing of toil, unaccustomed to seraglian torpor, she must yet wait on the whims or necessities of her husband. . Daphne reconsidered ■ her decisions. Better all the difficulties and heartaches of the actress-trade than this prison loafing of wifely existence. She had something to do. CHAPTER X. The next day Batterson telephoned her that he had called a .rehearsal with ths company. Daphne went to the then ter in terror. The stage looked utterly forlorn with the actors and actresses standing about in their street clothes. Under the bright lights with the people made up and the'rnudience in full bloom, like a vast garden, there would be impersonality and stimulation; but the present scene was as doleful as the ftineral of an unpopular man. Courage was. largely a matter of her stiperself forcing her reluctant feet forward. A soldier ordered to leave a bombproof shelter for an advance, a playground of shrapnel, has just the struggle with his vaso-motor systfem that Daphne had with hers. With the kindliest smile an amiable wolf ’ever wore Batterson invited the fluttering lamb to come to,, the stream and drink. Daphne cattle forward in ' a trance and heard Batterson say: ! , “Ladies and gentlemen—Miss Kip, our new understudy. Give her allDthe help you can.” Miss Kemble had graciously chosen to be. present for that purpose, though the resultAvaS only to increase Daphne's embarrassment. An imitation in the presence .of the living model was a’-double load to carry. • . 1 Daphne's hopes of befcomihg a great actress receive a rude shock, but she is given a chance to show v?hat she can do, and again it is Duane to whom she owes the chance. She is afraid of the obligation under whiah. , she ts placed; trat Duane assures her that she can • repay him in the end. , I— . i 1 1 ■ (tO BE CONTINUKD.) : hood Of Bookbinders is almost 16,000.

THE BETTER MAN

By MARY PARSONS.

(Copyright, 1918, by McClure Newspaper ■' Syndicate.) _. “Barbara, dear. I’m so mixed up. I don’t know what in the world to do — please help me!” f "Wb.-it's the’ trouble, now, child —is it\Sarn or Charley?” ‘■‘Xeitiier 1 mean lieili. I ‘lon’t know which I'm in love with. I think it’s -Ham till Charley comes to see me, and ffien~Tffe~ Is ~sb good' just like a <-<>ll;>r ad—and lie l->oi;s at me so .deeply-—you know hew-I me :pi—lhatitliink .I'niallwrong a-M.lt) and it miist be he. He’s ever so much more popular with the girls, too. Now, Sam never says any of the nice little things Charley does, and he's ever co blunt sometimes, but smn> lmw T don't know. I'm not sure, but V think Sam is tlie better man. You’re older and wiser than I am, Barbara; tell me why you admire Sam umre. L've_ itLwavs_ thought you did whisiever I talk about them, but you've never said anything. I’lease tell me.” The older girl got up end walked over io the window. For a moment she did not say anything.- Then site sauk..hit<>'a sent vdtii-a little. sigh. _ “Polly, child there isn’t anything in tlie world I—know against Charley —it wouldn't be fair to say there was, for he may care for you even-more Than—■l think he does—but I’m going to tell you a little story, if you hate thne-m listen.” . “Of course, Babs,” assured Polly, settling lier attractive little person into,a perfect nest of cushions. "Once, upon a time.” began-Barbara, “there was a girl—not a beautiful girl —jipit a ' bright, frank, cheerful girl, with a sense of humor nnd lots of friends. She liked men sincerely, hut she was neither very susceptible nor -very-foolish,—and she had seen sorne--thing of life. “There was one than site had -known for a long time, and she always admired ami liked him tremendously. “So they went out together, danced together and talked together, and he was very nice to her. She found that she could talk to him as she had never been able to talk to anyone before, and he always seemed to understand. She began to value his friendship, above all her othei p friends, and to depend on his' help and advice in many little things. He liked to help her, and as the months passed they grew to be better ami better friends, with a'clearer understanding of each other than they had ever had. “Then, she went away for a lons visit. And he almost made, her believe that he would really miss Her badly—and she was very glad. “And she wrote to him naturally, as 3 child would write to a very favorite unde or a dear kind friend who w,o older and wiser than she, long, newsy letters about all the daily happenings—and she dearly loved to write to him. “He wrote to her twice; then there was q long lapse. Then, a third letter came which might have been written to an utter stranger with perfect safety—air and weather being the main topics. This was after she had' impulsively written to him for help and sympathy over what seemed to her a v< ry great trouble, and he had failed her—dismally failed her. She wrote to him once more, but she never sent the letter. She could not thrust her friendship upon him if he did not want it. -= -i‘ATid-fh*>Hghshcw'asbfnm<ltonYeef hinr and did not wish t<> obviously avoid him, she did not need to. for he showed no desire for any sort of a meeting and flitted about among the girls ns he had probably always done Ami she tried always to be fair to him and not to judge him—she liked to remember him rather as a friend who had died than one who had ceased to value her friendship—she simply could r>'t understand. That’s, all I know about Charley and it’s two years ago—, he's probably forgotten all about It l<Xig ago. * . , “That’s till. Polly dear. It isn’t- 3 much of a story, but I thought I’d tell it tc you. Somehow, from my own standards, it doesn't seem to me as if a man w’ho would hurt anyone so cruelly, so blindly and with such utter indifference, could measure up to quite the saiije standard as a man like Sam, who is-fair and square in everything he does. ” , , - Polly sat still for a long time after Barbara “stopped talking. “Thank yoiffor telling me the story,” she said nt last. „ A maid came to the "door with a telegram. Polly glanced at the address, seized it and tore it open hastily. In a moment the paper dropped to tht floor. — . ■ ‘" “It’s from Sam,” she gulped, “and he’s going to the froht, and he wants me to tell him before he goes—they wi.n't let him off to come himself —oh, dear, it's terrible!" “t/hat are you going- to write tc him?” ”» “Write to him!— why. I’m going tc that camp tonight—just as fast as 1 can pack mother’s bag and my own; if they only let me see him for five minutes. I haven't any choice in the jß^tter —there never I it all as plain as the nose on my face—life's the better man. the best man—the very best the world as far as I am concerned, as least, and I ought to have known it all along. Kiss me. Barbara ; I’ll hhve to hurry.' Whes , yop . gee- me agahi - I’ll ■ , .Sanuk, Good-by, dear—l’ll have to break the tifews t© mother—good-by!” »• -