a a The a —— THE CENTRE By RUPERT HUGHES Copyright by Harper & Brothers THREE RRR RR RERR RRR RARE RRR RATE mmo with his bride, Leila, Bayard’s flat. Wimburn introduces greatly attracted to her. Daphne penniless, except for his salary. York unexpectedly. to Bayard. ahead. breaks her engagement with Clay. Daphne and her mother to luxurious accidentally discovers that Clay is er the expense, seeing hard times CHAPTER IX. an Daphne bent her head so quickly that his pressed lips touched her hair. She flung backward and thrust him away and broke from his hold. “Agh!™ she groaned, deserve the insult—for trusting you." She backed awny and found herself in a corner, flushed, furious, at bay. “How dare yon?’ she stormed, and thought with nausea how often hypoerisy. It seemed to fall familiarly on his can I help it? “If you touch me I'lIlT'11 hit you.” He paused, stared into ayes. “Do you mean it?” “Of course I mean it." “I'm sorry,” he sighed. you let me explain?” “You don't have to. It's 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. deep “But won't all my “There reer! goes my opportunity- y Well, let it go! It wasn't the price!” ca- worth to say: that intro- duction to want it?” “No, thank you, not from you, Good- by.” He bowed farewell, his mind, entered the down, and motioned her if it were his house. “Oh, by Mr. the way, Reben, then changed room and sat “Miss Kip, may I say one word to you? 1 don’t pretend 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 being rebuffed so easily. Experience 1s no guide. what I wanted to say Iz this—there is hardly any man that would even bother a woman unwilling to be both- ered if he could only be certain that he was really bothering her. Do 1 make myself clear?” “Not In the least” “Well, then, I give up. But I must leave you a bit of advice. You say you want to earn money. If you do, to \ "at TNR RNY “Ard May | Arrange for You to Meet Reben?” on the stage or in any other business, you will meet a lot of men who will feel 1t their duty to try to kiss you at the first opportunity. It's not only because you are ss pretty, for I really believe the hommilest girls get the most kisses. Perhaps it's because they're not go particular—but, any- way, it's not because men are villains that they try to kiss women, but be- canze they're obliging. There Is an olé superstdiop--1 don't know how know-—but there is a tradition that every woman expects every man she i i | meets to offer her an Insult—that’s are alone. “That feeling is what women are { going to run into every time they try to force thelr way Into business, It | tent, as you crowd into our fleld. It will be one of the last vou'll lose, f iter n a dark alone, { have to make your advances to the ner, instead of subtly as pow™ Daniine broke (n coldly, “That will be a very welcome day to most of us.” Somehow it did not sound convine- {ing to her. There i tion, however, In his resp : “It will be a mighty welcome | to us poor men, Miss Kip. For most men haven't faintest desire on with for some of was g the women. them to keep their own sweethearts and wives sufficiently eca- Then there's another thing if I'm not boring you—I haven't made | roased, | hoy and recited the '" ‘Spartacus to i Gladiators, “Go on, please,” said Daphne, | woman doesn’t often get the chance " these things." Her sarcasm chilled him a little, but { he went on: | man's advice to a young woman go- into business: when a man asks ing ing they are investigated: or he answers a lot of questions, and he is given a i trial, Or when two men meet in a vestigation of character, They learn each other's politics and religion and prejudices as soon as they can. “So when he is apt to be thrown with a good deal he is apt to say, ‘What sort Is | she? 3ut the thing that annoys a man most about having to do business with a woman is the fear that he wil either compromise her or disappoint her, out of the way: and there's nothing easler for a woman to do than to con- vince 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 how it's done” “The way to convince him is to be convinced yourself, If you're sincére he'll’ know 1t.” “But I was sincere with you, and i you didn’t know it.” “I didn’t know it at first, but I soon did—I think—-and now that's what I'm driving at all this long while, If you're going into business competition with men, play fair. Every now and then bad said that he might have a chance to place her at once If she could come to his office without delay. Opportunity bouncing out at her like a jack-in-the-box alarmed her. But she faced it pluckily. She put on her hat with trembling hands and went down in the elevator with Duane. They went up in an elevator at one gide of the lobby of the theater snd i stepped out at Reben's office door. A number of somber and despondent persons of a theatrical complexion were walting there also, the wretched Lazaruses of art, Duane spoke to a respectful office { boy, who disappeared through a door i and returned to beckon him in. With | heart bounding high and bubbling at her throat Daphne entered the theat- | rical world by one of its most gilded portals, | The great Reben gat bnlkily hehind an ornate table-desk and dismissed a still more ornate stenographer with a nod as he rose to greet Duane, Duane did the honors: “Mr. Reben, I want to present you to Miss Kip, { Miss Daphne Kip.” Reben greeted her with suavity and { his eyes were even more enthusiastic than his words. Daphne was at her superlative degree and anxiety gave to Reben, Women's charms and wist- | wares in trade, “Have you had any experience? “None ™ “Studied elocution? “Never, my life” “Good! “Nove iA i them.” | “Better yet! { you want to act now?” “Money. 1 want to i get rich.” “1 see” profound 1 never spoke a in piece Amateur theatricals?” I never seemed to cure for sald Reben, + geized the opportunity to r and say: “Well, I'll leave you two to- gether to talk terms, It would be in- delicate for me to know just how rich Miss Kip is going to be” He had no sooner gone than Reben's ner changed slightly and Daphne's courage vanished, Reben paced the floor as he talked. slowly closing in sround her like the walls In Poe's story. “You look like Miss Kemble” he said. "You have somewhat the same tem You lke play. That may be your line. tell, Of course I don't | you ean act. ise peram know how well Perhaps you never could. Kemble is great, but she comes of an old theatrical family, Of course you have one | for you are very beautiful, Miss Kip, very. Let me gee your eyes!” He had a right to ask if he were going to hire her eves, but she looked up cravenly, for the burly satrap was { leaning over her. His left hand was on the arm of the chalr, his right on | the back of it. His left hand was grad- nally enveloping hers, It was a fat, hot hand, and his face was so close that it was blurred In her vision. Then she remembered Duane's i words, She controlled herself enough { to put them to the test. She pretended to look coldly into Reben's face, and she sald, brave show of calm: “Mr. didn't come here to flirt with you and {I don’t intend to. I came here for a job as an actress, If this sort of thing is a necessary part of the job I'll go | Somewhere else” her. He was rendered foolish by her i rebuff and he stammered, “Why, I-— I meant no harm.” She went on with the Duane system i of treatment: “I know you didn't. You { meant to be polite, but you don’t have I don't expect { enough to insult you. {him alone. Suppose he does make a | mistaken advance, If you could be | sensible enough not to get mad, not to feel besmirched, but just take It as ‘an matter of coume and say frankly: ‘No, thanks, I'm fot interested. I un- { derstand you perfectly, but you needn't { bother,” or something like that, and | say it honestly, the rest would be plain | sailing. “And now, If you'll forgive me for talking your arm off and if you'll prove it by letting me help you, I'll promise never to kiss you or try to till—till you ask me to." Daphne laughed refreshedly at his impudence, and he laughed, as well as he might. And they shook hands with comradeship, “And may I arrange for you to meet Reben 7" I've no But I'm terribly “I hate to ask you now. right to trouble you. anxious to get a job.” . “And I'm terribly anxious to get you one." “You're awfully kind,” she sald, and ied him to the telephone, Bhe felt that it would be indelicate to listen, and went back into the lv ing room of the apartment. There Duane joined her In a few moments with the terrifying news that Reben “All right, all right [” Reben growled, pacing the floor again, but in a con: stantly receding path. He did not speak. He felt that he had made a fool of himself, and he was embar- rassed, Daphne was so frightened with her success that she got to her feet, say- ing: “I suppose this means that you don't want me to work for you. It's true, then, what they say about the stage.” “Nonsense! Of course not! Rot! 1 never see most of my people except at rehearsals or performances, I've never spoken to three-quarters of "em. If you want a job you can have it, and no concessions are necessary. You don't have to make love to me. You make Move to the audience, and if you ean capture that you can elap my face every time you sec me.” Daphne was astounded. She was engaged! She was exultant and thrilled with gratitude to Duane for introducing her to this marvelous op- portunity and for the wisdom of his counsel, “You bet—er—indeed I do. often does an understudy play?” “As rarely as possible” Daphne's joy turned to lead, Reben added: “But we don't pay by performances, I'll pay you twenty. five a week. You wanted money, There's a little of it for a start, Do you want it?" “Will it lead to anything better?” “It might" “Am I to understudy Miss Kemble? “Yes, and all the other women roles.” “And chance Soon? “Never, I hope” “That's encouraging! “If Miss Kemble fell {I we'd ordl- narily refund the money, because she's the star. But sometimes we might have to give a performance at short notice, Chances In the other parts might come any day.” “And you'll give me a better chance when you can?” “Indeed I will, If you have the sooner 1 find it out and the harder I work it the more money 1 make. The more you earn the more I make, I'd like to pay you ten thousand a week, ™ “I'd like I'll try." He once, tl How when do you suppose I'll get a to play Miss Kemble's part? the gift, to have you. Al right, am a Put ta pressed a In his desk boy ap- enographer, boy: “Is Mr. Bat- him to me™ said: “F on The ed by the 3 od : Reben aid t the 1 on wen twice office peared, fo terson here?! Bend 3 £11 » ii iss Kip Be Kip ity-five., Make it a three - } A baphne HEI to He treated on a contracts were nal shireds with his t recting the emotion earned their we Reben | and explained her nes 800 BO9 the news that of stage wor to k of and fame. troduced office, Batter. med none ith Daphne too well ple ared y wae ik to the last degree, He they must be read and keep on read ing them To teach this dramatic infant how to walk and talk was unwelcome labor, He took Daphne into his office and pulled out of parts, stumbled over them he cast heavenward in his swift He expigined t gentiencas, He canons of ty through her s es and n and yet age iid not set h impatien hem with vi talked to her of He poke her tation wil Mit somehow he tent flattered her, w : gatirized, rebuked 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 wag far worse than he gaid she was when he said she was worst, She used all her funds of res. olution in keeping from throwing down the part and running away in tears. She had none left for asserting her right to politeness, Once Daphne was out in the street again and released from the ordeal of pleasing Batterson, youth and ambi. tion brought hope back again. Broad way at twilight was athrob with en- thusiasm and she eaught 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 succeeded. She was a woman with a salary. She would be no longer a parasite on any man. She had a career and a business as well as the best of them, Her mother was at home alone. Lella had gone from that tem party to another to which Mra. Kip was not invited. Daphne's mother greeted her with relief. She told her news with a gush of enthusiasm, It left Mrs, Kip cold, very cold, She was a pious, church-going wom- an, Mra. Kip. She had always looked upon the theater as a traluing school for the still lower regions. She went to plays occasionally, but usually with a feeling of dissipation and worldli- ness, Besides it was one thing to see plays and another to act them. Daphne tried to reason her mother her. He parodied, heedied she only frightened her the more. Mrs, Kip retired to her room to write an urgent telegram to her husband de- manding that he come on at once and en es 5 8 him in an efdergency and he always responded, Leila came home eventually full of gossip and triumph, Her Dutilh gown had made a tremendous success; the other women wanted to murder her. Mrs. Kip broke in on her chronicles with the dismal Daphne's new Insanity. Leila was al- most as bitter in opposition as Mrs, Kip had been, but from quite another motive, Leila had aristocratic im- splendors, She would gain no was a theatrical struggler. Daphne escaped an odions battle with her by referring to the need of close study, and retreated into her own room, locking her mother out. She stayed there, repeating her lines over and over and trying to remember the action that went with them as Miss Kemble had played it. She had culty. ble's most delicious effects, and sald. "How do you do?" all—just “How do you do? we The Next Day Batterson Telephoned Her That He Had Called a Rehear. sal With the Company. i it 80 deliciously that s ripple gh the audience. er the trick of it, She sald “H ne of ow ways n the part she wa r ambition, an wilt take her S00 : the . # ¥w i the trage the bless) io seraglian torpor ne Oo HE on the whims or ne band Danke onsidered her difficulties decisions, and heart this actress-trade than fing of wifely existence, She nething to do, CHAPTER X. The that the hon heater next day he had company. in terror. called a rehearsal Daphne went to The stage her with the looked ulte street clothes, ular man. Courage was largely a matter of her superself forcing her reluctant feet forward, A soldier ordered to a playground of shrapnel, has just the struggle with his vaso-motor system that Daphne had with hers, With the kindliest smile an amiable fluttering lamb to come to the stream and drink. Daphne came forward in a trance and heard Batterson say: “Ladies and gentiemen-—Mise Kip, our pew understudy. Give her all the help you can.” Miss Kemble had graciously chosen to be present for that purpose, though the result was only to increase Daph- ne's embarrassment. An imitation in the presence of the living model was a double load to carry. Total membership of the Brother bood of Bookbinders is almost 16,000. * GAVE UP Had Lost Twenty - Five Pounds From Kidney Trouble. Doan’s Restored His Health. Jd. B. Ragless, carpenter, 210 W, 80th 8t., Chicago, lll, says: y back gave out completely and 1 bad to quit work, | could hardly endure the pain in my back and nights | tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Often in morn my back was as . stiff as a board, so that I couldn't stoo to dress myself When i did manpage to bend over, everything before me turned black. My bead seemed to be whirling and some times 1 was so dizzy 1 had to grasp something to keep from falling The kidney secretions \ were irregular in pas. sage, getting me up at Mr. night and they burned eruelly. 1 lost my appetite, wis weak and hstless and went down twenty-five i m weight, After 1 had given up hope I was persuaded to use Doan's Kid ney Pills and cured after, 1 passed an examinats insurance and I'm glad t has lasted.” Buworn io before me GEO. W. DEMPS Notary Public. Get Doan's at Avy Store, 60¢c a Box DOAN’S