Show annice wheatley strolled to the window and gazed idly out this was strictly in accordance with the in conveyed in the little blue covered book of typewriting which read and I 1 will explain it all to you gertrude walks to window R and gatej idly out considering that this was the time she had done this the view from the window had lost somewhat of its novelty she knew exactly what she would see there at her right would be a huge electric calcium pouring its green rays upon her white dress it had been decided that green would be better than blue the moon had been green ever since the night when the stage manager had arrived at this decision there were also a couple of stage braces holding up the scenery and sometimes a couple of stage hands in very dirty shirt sleeves lent anima alon to the view to night the men were absent and annice was able to give her whole attention to the floor on which some one had chalked I 1 love you in a clear print she rendered idly who might have done this some stage hand ably considering it a good joke surely no one would make such an open confession and expect to be taken seriously she was still wondering when she heard the cue which was her signal to turn with a cry ot horror to per ceide lady gwendolin prostrate upon the flor struck down by hugh de malt avers who in private life was a most villain after that it was a busy time until the fall of the curtain when she had to run for the dressing room tor a change for the third act costume she gave the chalk marks no further thought until the following evening there again were the eloquent words neatly chalked for her inspect alon she was the only one required to use the window she could not suppose that the message was meant tor any one else gradually the legend began to an noy her every evening the same words appeared only to disappear be tore it came time to make the change for the next act she complained to the stage mana ger but that official could offer no practical suggestion he was certain it was none of the stage boys and that was all the satisfaction she could obtain the matter both annoyed and inter ested her it takes but little to make talk in a company and she wisely held her peace but she kept a sharp eye out in the hope of discovering the offender she even made a practice of run ning to the window the moment the curtain tell in the hope of discovering the writer erasing the lines but by that time the marks had been ob gazes idly out soured and she could only wait tor time to unravel the mystery on the performance agnes carleton celebrated the event by in traducing a new gown in place ot the white satin which was beginning to show the marks of wear and tear she appeared in a handsome black satin which caused every woman la the audience a pang of jealously and incidentally got be several newspaper items As usual annice stood by the win dow wondering who her unknown ad might be lady gwendolin gave her customary shriek and annice turned with a scream of terror to behold the villain s wicked work tonight she supplemented her stae horror with a cry more natural lad G en bolln fell with her face to the 11 aice that they might mar el at t her facial espres sion as she slowly died from the effects of mattravers Mal travers cruel blow there on the back of the black batin were ohp marl s of a man s fingers clearly outlined in white in a flash it all came to her hugh cameron who played mattravers Mal travers was the only person who left the stage he made his exit from the very win dow out of which she had been look ing all of the other characters were supposed to enter from the castle on the opposite side of the stage it was an easy matter to chalk the legend while she was having her scene with miss carleton then when he fled from the consequence of his believe me he said earnestly it was no prank murderous assault he could rub out the chalk marks only the black satin dress had been out of his calculations when he had grappled giap pled with lady owen dolln the chalk from his imperfectly cleaned fingers had left their mark on the old white dress they had not been noticeable all through the last act the tad dent kept running through her head she liked cameron very much bet ter than anyone else in the company ele had been so kind to her in many little ways so deferential she could not believe that he had sought to insult her she could not even am agine him doing such a thing even for a joke he was not that sort of a man it hurt her to think that he had a hand in this joke just as the curtain ell at the close of the act she turned 0 cameron I 1 should like to speak to you itter you have changed she said sim ly he bowed but it was with no easy beart that he awaited her coming on he dark stage she broached the subject directly mr cameron she demanded why lo 10 you annay me by chalking such absurd sentiments underneath the window in the second act how did you knowd he countered you left chalk marks on miss car leton s black dress this evening she explained now I 1 want to know why you played such an absurd prank I 1 he colored like a guilty school boy believe me he said earnestly it was no prank I 1 meant it every word one night I 1 stood by the window the stage hands were all busy with a card game at the rear and I 1 knew no one would see it before I 1 off after the murder I 1 picked a piece of chalk off the call board and wrote the words you see while I 1 play vil lain on the stage I 1 am anything but a bold man off just as I 1 was going to sign them I 1 heard the cue that brought you to the window and I 1 had just time to whisk around the corner I 1 have been trying every night since then to get the courage to sign my name but it it been for that blessed dress never should have done so I 1 mean it every word of it miss wheatley wont you believe me by special request miss carleton will wear her black dress at the wedding |