Show 1 r t I Ii i 7 i I gi I In t w lw n r I t tV V f Ir A 0 j I yr a h. h It 4 i. i N r j r t Y r 1 Sr r y l. l S' S M r l v r r y n ir irl l f ft t N r rr r Ji Pw 1 ri j rr t t j 4 rr y f 1 i. i a I aJ t da r fY fYr r rl j ly M 1 1 f s R 9 R L ti i 1 A f ai w t Z r s fi r v r J JI Jp I J Gy 71 p M l h h r y Y v vv v u 0 1 r r rJ J 1 4 r t V t ov r. r f 11 1 i Pit r C 1717 b by bT C CIt ftc CHAPTER PTER L I. I Cowards Fare Tare I the circumstances McHugh would probably I U UNDER have been wiser never to have attempted such a 0 re re- vival Had he cared to open his ears cars he might have heard beard in plenty for Woodfords Woodford's I Theatre had become a tradition in t the c profession an evil one a Q menace in short for the superstitious I It is difficult to trace such beliefs to toa I a a. reasonable source Few along alons attempted it The stock company which fire five years ears ago stOCk had bad opened the house bouse for a a. winters winter's camMen cam- cam Men laign offered sufficient testimony If I there was nothing more than rumor behind the theatres theatre's reputation why People cople asked aske had that company within a 8 week Reek abandoned its Us lease and md forfeited forfeited for- for Us its guaranty Why had its man on the final night rush rushed d from the tho stage his eyes fix fixed d shaken I throughout as if by somo o experience x beyond human comprehension I Such questions remained uns unanswered un un- s answered ann ored while other stories persisted persist persist- ed cd gathering about a black cat which bad ad Jad mysteriously made itself felt and andard beard ard the lb timid puzzling fd tho the controlled better-controlled fitting disturbingly disturbingly disturb disturb- Into tho the sombre history of the place So Broadway accepted as fact Wood Woodfords Woodford's fords Cords unhealthy atmosphere avoiding it discreetly Arthur McHugh was the logical e ex es' An aggressive am ambitious Irishman he had fought his way from tho the hea headquarters quarters detective force torce to a managerial throne from which he wielded a supreme power Ower over many actors and actresses and plays He went his stubborn and successful way untrammelled by the gossip of the pro pro- Therefore when ho conceived conceIved conceived con con- the lies Idea f of reopening Woodford's Woodfords Woodfords Woodford's Woodfords Woodford's Wood- Wood fords ford's with a revival of Cowards Fare he remembered only onh that half halt I i 1 century ago the tho ho play had placed the crown o ol 01 dollars on the theatre and had made its Us old director Bertrand Woodford Woodford Woodford Wood- Wood ford famous He Ho did not bother to recall th that t in the end it had caused causal Woodford's Woodfords death or that during the forty years since prosperity had strangely neglected the house Richard chosen by McHugh t to make a modern version of ot the tho play I l-aused l opposite the theatre ono fall afternoon and appraised It curiously His script was completed Nothing remained remained re re- reI I but the tho arranging of the lease He lie was on his way to McHughs McHugh's office now and that he understood was the purpose of his summons was not of a credulous dis dis- dis- dis position Successful as a 0 playwright t tand and with ith a plentiful income ho he was too completely interested in tho the world about him bim to bother with abstractions But he had heard tho gossip concerning concerning concerning concern concern- ing Woodfords Woodford's and as he stared across the street ho hG wondered at McHughs McHugh's Mc- Mc Hughs Hugh's courage Woodfords Woodford's blind bUnd exterior appeared to repel the tho thought of at Intrusion It bad had an air of asking to be left alone In its decay The anxious northward march of or theatrical prosperity had long Ions deserted it On one side sWe it was flanked by a towering loft building A motion picture house nestled impudently close on the other From such surroundings surroundings surround surround- ings InS's although it was no more mora than sixty years ol old the tho Structure projected project ed ell an atmosphere of or antiquity as lS arresting as that winch which r reaches ono one from a Q mediaeval castle castlo in n some foreign foreign for for- eign countryside From tho the beginning indeed It furnished a plausible setting for th tie tho tragedy which during so long within its dingy walls was to challenge chal chal- lenge lense reason with a serene sereno and provocative provocative pro pro- vocative assurance assurance I II I could not torsee that but ho lie could cud and did dil look Nark lark Then the commencement oC or Woodfords Woodford's evil reputation camo came back to him the him the death forty years ears ago of its director Bertrand Woodford His imagination of an on author contrived contrived contrived con con- an active picture He could see the packed auditorium and tho the curtain rising on Cowards Fare revived to show Woodford do his greatest his favorite favorito role He lie saw the tile actor limp on ill Ul but too jealous and vindictive to resign his part to an understudy He w watched the tho man struggle along with tho the genius of which his bis disability could not entirely strip him But it was on that last destructive moment that mind lingered uncomfortably Ho He experienced experienced experienced almost with tho the of Or an actual spectator the clamorous excitement excite excite- e. e excitement cite cite- ment which had filled tho house when Woodford at the height of or his most impassioned scene had bad toppled to the stage had bad lain Jain still stIn had failed for tho the first timo time to respond to the emotions of his audience Details scarcely heard dimly ro- ro from irom tho the mass of at gossip obtruded themselves Tho The black cat too she recalled Woodfords Woodford's constant companion companion companion com com- panion off stage hl had rushed from tho the wings and curled itself on the tho motionless motionless mo mo- mo- mo body It had fought and ter The theatrical profession is is' is proverbially superstitious But here hero is fam famous us old Woodfords Woodford's Theatre New Yorks York's most historic playhouse playhouse play- play house bouse the actual scene of so man many sinister happenings that even eyen the practical real estate men shake boke their heads head and leave the house dark Nevertheless Manager McHugh McHugh Mc Mc- Hugh has leased Woodfords Woodford's to revive revive re re- vive vivo a popular play of its it bygone repertoire and despite every unCAnny uncanny uncanny un un- un- un canny warning persists in in going ahead with his rehearsals rehearsal I I won wont won't t be beaten by shadows I he cries defiantly But the shadow shadows are quickly to assume material form in a way to terrify and baffle the stoutest hearted I scratched when anxious hands had hod tried to snatch it off ott It had remained close to its master master- x until his uis burial shook his his head turned and went on to his appointment Ho found the atmosphere of ot th tho managers manager's office restorative He stepped from the tho elevator Into a hallway crowded oro with the prosperous prosper prosper- ous ns and the unfortunate te many young and a fraction traction old leads character people leople comedians comedians all all seekers seekers seek seok- ers era and all forewarned that in this office success would welcome I only a few tew He nodded at those he ho recognized and passed into the reception room whose I broader spaces were similarly boxed taxed He In marvelled that McHugh could be the lodestone of ot this thie expectant expectant expectant tant multitude the manager in a secluded office forbidden to the many a privilege for the thc elect noticed a man who elbowed his way through the crowd toward the door He Ho w was s slender Blender and tall taU so 50 that above the bobbing head hend Rustle Quane co could ld see his face striking nearly handsome yet a trifle c too pal pal- lid Hello Beno Carlton canton he said Bald Youre In a h hurry y I II I camo came tip to see McHugh Carlton Carlton Carlton Carl- Carl ton answered Cant find out whether hes he's In and Ive I've another appointment Hes He's offered me a contract for tor Woodford's Woodfords Wood- Wood fords ford's part In th this revival 1 o of ot Cowards Fare youre you're putting on In the old barn do it well Quane said Looks like a a. song long winter Sentiment will draw big audiences You dont don't look overjoyed he added dryly Im glad of ot tho the job Carlton an an- Im no fool but its it's curious I ran into a a. girl only last night who played with that stock company company company com com- pany at Woodfords Woodford's five or six elx years ago Actually she tried to argue arguo me mo out of ot accepting the contract Talking Talking Talking Talk Talk- ing about Woodfords Woodford's influence persisting persisting persisting per per- and resenting the presence o othe ot of the living in his theatre Uncomfortable bIo blo feeling about the dressing rooms and all that A lot of rot too about Woodfords Woodford's black cat She said sald Bertrand Bertrand Ber- Ber Woodford had worked himself to death ra rather her than let any man play his part and a a. lot of people felt he never would let any man play It now that ho bo was dead grinned Id back lack Arthur McHugh against the meanest spook th that t ever walked Carlton's laugh irritated It lacked conviction It was prophetic Irm oft the actor said Ill see sea McHugh in the tho morning Good luck to the sentimental engagement turned away facing the reception re room again He glanced about Then his perfunctory interest swayed toward a a. girl who sat near tho the inner door She was bent forward forward forward for for- ward as If eager to p pass watched her for tor some time while his hiB memory stirred And now he know that ho he had seen her more than once on the stage and from time timeto to time casually at dinners or in offices like this tills He held out his hand Youve not forgotten me Miss Morgan t tHer Her smile was vas charming I never nover forget a friend at court Mr McHugh sent for me we He said it had something to do with you The announcement reached Quane I pleasantly Ho He had congenial recollections of ot her ability Moreover her i quiet gray eyes ejes Indicated a serviceable lack of or temperament Its the load then In rather a unique revival Im I'm glad you'll youn be bo with us How long have haye you wafted waited V Since Sinco 4 I Its It's inexcusable Do you think hes he's ever coming Probably h here o now laughed lie Ho has bas as many entrances and exits as ac a criminal If It he's hes inside Ill I'll tell him how youve you've suffered With his hand on tho the knob ho turned back He glanced glance at her quizzically By the W way youre you're not afraid of ghosts 1 It Isn't Hamlet she crI cried d gayly Still smiling ho shook his head and went through into the tho presence of a a. asman email ne neat t young oung woman man who attended attend ed to McHughs McHugh's I 1 correspondence and an simultaneously did her cr best for tor tho the chewing bum gum manufacturers kilo Hello Ethel Boss hero yet 1 t He sent for me ri J I r L what they all say the poor I nuts And I have havo to fib until Im I'm ashamed to go to church on Sundays Yep Came In ten minutes ago Does Docs he know Miss Morgan's Morgans out tUt outside side Nope Mope Didn't know myself Say hos ho's expecting her Bring her in here bere said eald and Ill I'll ten tell him hm 1 crossed the zoom room and knocked at a mahogany door The door was flung dung open McHugh stood moM on m tho threshold An unlighted and rold bitterly used cigar depended from rom his thin lips See hero Youre You're five Save minutes minutes min min- utes late QualIe begged By illy the way Ive I've just seen Bliss Morgan organ She SheI I tells me youre you're an hour late According Accord 1 Accord 1 Ing to her youre you're not here at all yet I Too The bad Would rather not see eee her tilt till tomorrow to any way way McHugh raised his voice Biel Step out and toll Miss 1159 Morgan to come back to- to tomorrow to-mor to row row mor IBar Barbara bara Morgan appeared in the doorway Her manner was unruffled ed There was a firmness about her manner which pleased I 1 am not coming back to tomorrow she said Never ever mind min now youre you're here Script will he e read day after ater t morrow to-morrow morrow provIded provided provided pro pro- vided we arrange a lease Quails and andI I are going to see see about that now If we dont don't nothing doing Meet Mr Quails Quane Miss Morgan organ He fixed tho the play up Thought after you looked her over Quane you'd agree shell she'll do Ive met Miss liss Morgan forgan said sald And cADd I I. agree shell she'll do waived wal the girl girt away Rushed Rubbed now I know your terms Contract will willbo bo be ready if the lease goes through Looks like all winter unless this pen pushers pen pushers pusher's hypnotized d mo me into throwing my money down a 3 well Sd long Miss Morgan Go out this way if you like itken She crossed the room laughing And Ive I've an hour for or this minute r Say young lady youre you're engaged What more do y you want Clothes in fn the contract she said seriously and went out glanced a. a at his haggard cigar Clever Clover girl that He thrust the cigar again between his teeth Ive seen tho the agents Theres Thores no hitch 1 asked seriously Were up against a queer proposition proposition tion lion McHugh answered Weve gotto got gotto gotto to deal with that old scoundrel Josiah Bunce Bunco Tho The name was eloquent Bunco's Bunce's ecce eccentricities were notorious He lie was 1 taw rich in n real estate tate to which he be dune dun tenaciously Report credited him with the disposition of a miser yet he lived in an old house just off oft Fifth Avenue and kept next door an empty lot probably probably probably ably worth half haIt a million in order his bis neighbors eald that he ho might take convenient con strolls u undisturbed fey by r. r trama and ond the tho populace Owns ex explained Jointly with hIs bis brother Robert Rob Rob- ert You cant can't tell dell what fat quirks an au old fossil like him bim will WUI have bave They sa say he hasn't been off oft his place for dor or fifteen years wish Swish we had Robert t to dicker with nodded The he slightly brother who shared with Bunce Bunco was less lesa ess terrifying to hl his memory Ive I've made mode an appointment Mo Hugh said eald with disapproval Were Wro to go OV over r there right away away He raised his voice Ethel 4 thelI Tell em em outside Ive I've been called to the country He led the down a a. rear stair staIr- staircase case avoiding the tho suppliants without Stealthily they reached the drawn up in aside street When they had alighted th the Bunco booze the managers manager's attitude borrowed something of the applicants applicant's timidity With at hIs side Bide ia ha climbed the tho steps of the tho rusty brown brown- y stone stono dwelling and rang the beA be bel bell A haired gray servant man o opened the door McHugh pushed past last Mr Bunce Bunco Is expecting me 1 lath am Arthur McHugh The servant conducted them then the length of at the hall han and opened a door McH McHugh gh entered paused on the tho threshold examining tho the interior With a pronounced curiosity One O or or two bookcases gave gape gave the apartment an as a. a academic academia touch A single oil lamp burned on the tho desk radiating a a. subdued sub sub- dued glow on the master df l this economical economical eco eco- and uncommon establishment Bunce Bunco sat t hunched forward In an elliptical pose His voice rose rost In a B. whining nasal tone Youre You're not somebody else elsel Often as rye Ive wanted to w McHugh answered Ive never been able td to tomake make a change Suppose youre you're re in much the same Six fix Mr r. r Josiah Bunce Bunco I gather I |