Show ata T The DESTROYING ANGEL I IBy By Lou Louis Louir 3 Joseph Vance i CHAPTER Continued 21 21 She paused again but still he was mute and Immobile So now you know me what me what I am No other man has ever eer known or ever will But I had to tell you the truth It seems that the only thing my career had left was my wy fundamental fundamental fundamental funda funda- mental sense of honesty So I had to come and tell you I And still lie held silence attentive I but with a set face that betrayed nothIng nothing nothing noth noth- ing of the tenor of his thoughts Almost timidly with nervously fum fun hung bUng fingers she extracted from her pocketbook a small ticket envelope I Max was afraid you might upset the performance again as you did on my ray last appearance Hugh she said but I assured him It was Just the shock of ot recognizing you that bowled me over So Ive I've brought you a box for tomorrow night I want you to use It you It-you you and Mr Ember He Hc broke In with a curt monosyllable monosyllable lable Why I Why Why why because because because-because because I want I I you you I suppose Its It's simply my vanity vanity- to See gee me act Perhaps you'll feel teel a little less hardly toward me If you see that I am nm really a great actress that I give you up for something bigger than just love love love- What rot he said with an odd short laugh Besides I harbor no resentment She stared losing a little color eyes darkening with apprehension I did hope you'd come she mur mur- Oh Ill I'll come he said with spirit Wild horses couldn't keep me away Really Hugh 7 And you dont don't mind Oh Im I'm so glad I 1 I I really dont don't mind he assured her with a strange smile But would i you mind excusing me one moment moment moment mo mo- ment Ive I've forgotten something very Important Why certainly He was already at the telephone In Inthe inthe th the haIl hallway way Just beyond the living- living room door It was impossible to escape overhearing his bis words The woman listened perforce with In the beginning beginning begin begin- ning a little visible wonder then with astonishment ultimately with a consternation consternatIon consternation con con- that shook her with violent Hello said Whitaker get me Rector two Hello Rector two two hundred I North German Lloyd This is Mr H. H M. M Whitaker I telephoned you fifteen minutes ago about reservation reservation reservation reser reser- on the George Washington sailing Saturday Yes I Yes Yes I promised to call for Cor the ticket before noon but I now find I shant be able to go Will WUl you yoube yoube yoube be kind enough to tol cancel It If it you please Thank you Goodby But when he turned back Into the living room he found awaiting him a quiet and collected woman Why did you do that she asked evenly Because said Whitaker Ive had my eyes opened Ive I've been watching the finest living actress play a carefully carefully care care- fully rehearsed role one that she had hud given long study and all her heart to to- to but her interpretation didn't ring true Mary I admit at first you got me I believed you meant what you said But only my mind believed belle it my heart beart knew better Just as it has al always always nl al- ways known better all an through this thiH wretched time of doubt and misery r and separation youve you've subjected us both to And that was why I 1 coul couldn't nt trust myself to answer you for if It I had I 1 should have laughed for tor Joy 0 Mary Mary l I he cried his voice I softening my dear dear woman you cant can't lie to love I 1 You betray yourself In every dear word that would be heartless In every adorable gesture that would seem final 1 I And love knows better always Of course 1 I shall be In that box tomorrow night of course I shall shan be there to witness your triumph And after youve you've won I It t dear I shall carry you off wi with th me He opened his arms wide but with witha a smothered cry she backed away placing the table between them No she protested and the words were almost sobs sobs No No 1 I Yes I he exclaimed exultantly Yes I A thousand times yes I 1 It must be so I With a swift movement she seized her muff and scarf from the chair and fled fied to the door There pausing pausin she turned her face white and blazing It is not true she cried You are mistaken Do you hear me You are utterly mistaken I do not love you You rou are mad to think it I have Just told you ou I dont don't love you I am afraid of ot you I stay with you for fear of at you I I-I I I despise you I II II II I dont don't believe it 1 I he cried ing But she sIJe was gone The hall door slammed before he could reach it CHAPTER One Way Out I Toward eight in the evening after a n long day-long search through all his accustomed accustomed accustomed ac ac- haunts Ember ran Whim Whim- I ker her to earth in tho the dining room of the Primordial The young man alone at table was vas in the act of topping off orr an excellent dinner with a n stillmore still stillmore more excellent cordial and a n superexcellent superexcellent super super- excellent cigar He wore rough tweeds and they were damp and baggy his boots were ruddy muddy bis his hair was a trifle disorder disorder- ly lYe Tho The ensemble made a figure wildly incongruous to the soberly splendid and stately dining hall han of the Primordial Primordial Primordial Primor Primor- dial club with its sparse patronage of members in evening dress Ember himself as ns severely beautiful beautiful beautiful ful In black and white as the ceremonious ceremonious ceremonious livery of ot today permits a man manto manto manto to be was wonder struck at sight of Whitaker in n such unconventional guise at such a time In such a place With neither Invitation nor salutation he slipped sUpped into a chair on the other tide Side of the table and stared Whitaker smiled benignantly upon him and called a waiter walter Ember always abstemious lifted his hand and smiled a negative smile Whitaker dismissed the waiter Well Nell V i he inquired cheer cheer- fully What right have you got to look like that Ember demanded The right of every free-born free American American Amer Amer- ican citizen to make an ass of himself according to the dictates of his con con- science Ive I've been exploring the dark backwards and abysm of the Bronx Bronx- afoot Got caught In the rain on the way home Was late getting back and dropped in here to celebrate Ive been looking for you everywhere everywhere everywhere every every- where since morning I suspected you would be That's why I went walking walking walking-to to be lonesome 1 i v k iy i y d t I 4 r j I Am Afraid of You and thoughtful for once In a way Ember stroked his chin with thoughtful thought thought- ful fingers Youve heard the news then In three ways Whitaker returned re re- turned with calm Hows that three that three ways Through the newspapers the billboards billboards billboards bill bill- boards and from the lips Ups of my wife E Ember ber opened his eyes eyes wide Youve been to see her She called this morning morning- But Ember interrupted thrusting a aready aready arendy ready rendy and generous h hand nd across the table My dear man I am glad I Whitaker took the proffered hand readily and firmly Thank you I was sa saying ing she called this morning mornin morningto to Inform me that though wedded once we must be strangers now now and and evermore I 1 But you you you-of of course you course you argued that nonsense out of her head To the contrary contrary again But But my my dear man you I-you you said you were celebrating you permitted me meto meto meto to congratulate you OU just now now now- Is said Whitaker with witha The point er a bland and confident grin Ive succeeded succeeded succeeded suc suc- in arguing that nonsense out of my head not head not hers hers mine Ember gave a helpless gesture Im afraid this is one of my stupid nights I I 1 mean that though Mary ran away from me wouldn't listen to reason 1 have In the course of an afternoons afternoon's hard tramping come to the conclusion conclusion sion that there is nothing under the sun buu which binds me to sit back buck and accept whatever er treatment she purposes purposes purposes pur pur- poses according me by courtesy of ot Jules Max lax Whitaker bent forward his countenance countenance countenance coun coun- discovering a phase of ot seriousness seriousness seriousness seri seri- hitherto masked by his twisted twisted twisted twist twist- ed smile I mean Im I'm tired of all this poppy poppy- cock Unless Im I'm an infatuated ass Mary loves me with all her heart She has made up her mind to renounce me IDe partly because Max has worked upon her ber feelings by painting some lurid picture of his imminent artistic and financial damnation if she leaves him partly because she believes or has bas been led to believe In this destroying destroy ing angel moonshine Now she's got gotto gotto gotto to listen to reason So likewise Max Mao Youre becoming more humal word by word commented Ember with wills open approval Continue elucidate I 1 can understand how a n fairly resolute lover with the tho gift of gab can talk a weak-minded weak fond female Into den denying deny ing her pet superstition but how youre you're going to get around Max passes my comprehension The man unquestionably unquestionably unquestionably has her under contract contract- But you forgot his god Is Mammon Mammon Mam Mam- Max Mar will do mon Whitaker put In anything In the world for tor money Therein resides the kernel of my plan Its It's simplicity itself Im I'm going to buy him Buy Max I Body Body artistic artistic soul and soul and breeches Whitaker affirmed confidently Impossible 1 I You forget how well wen fixed I am nm What's the use of my owning half the gold in New Guinea If it wont won't buy me what I already own by every moral and legal right He wont won't listen to you you dont don't know Max Im willing to lay you a n small bet that there will be no first performance at the Theater Max tomorrow night uy never persuade him him him- Ill Til buy the show outright and my wife's wIres freedom to boot boot or or else Max Maxwill Maxwill will begin to accumulate the local color of a hospital ward Ember smiled grimly Youre beginning beginning beginning be be- ginning to convince even me When may I ask do you propose to pull off this sporting proposition 7 Do you know where Max can be found tonight At the theater theater- Then the matter will be arranged at the theater between this hour and midnight I 1 doubt if you succeed In getting the ear of the great man before midnight midnight midnight mid mid- night however Im I'm not disposed to quibble about a few hours But why shouldn't I 17 Because Max Is going to be the busiest young person In town tonight And that is why Ive I've been looking for you Conforming to his custom custom cus cus- tom hes he's been giving an adva advance ce glimpse of ot the production to the crItIcs critics critics crit crIt- ics and a few friends in the form of ofa a final grand dress rehearsal tonight Again n in conformance with his custom custom cus cus- tom hJ ho has honored me with a bid Ive I've been chasing you all day to find out If cared to you go go go- Eight o'clock and a bit after Whitaker Interrupted briskly consulting consulting consulting consul consul- ting his watch Here boy he hailed a passage page call a taxicab for me me And then rising alertly Come along Ive I've got to hustle home and make myself look respectable enough for the occasion but at that with luck I fancy well we'll be there before the fist curtain This mood of ot faith of self reliance and assured optimism held unruffled throughout the dash homeward his hurried change of clothing and the ride to the theater Nothing that Ember Ember Ember Em Em- ber purposely pessimistic could say or do availed to diminish the high buoyancy of his humor He lIe maintained maintained maintained main main- a n serene faith In his star a spirited temper that refused to recognize recognize recognize nize obstacles In the way of ot his de de- sire In the ta taxi taxicab cab en route to the Theater Theater Theater Thea Thea- ter Max he contrived even to distil a good omen from the driving autumnal downpour Itself On such a day as this he told his doubting friend I won her first on such a day I shall win her anew finally finally finally final final- ly and for all time I From Broadway to Sixth avenue sixth Forty-sixth street was bright with the yellow glare of the huge sign In front of the Theater Max But this night unlike that other night when he had approached the stage of his wife's triumphs triumphs tri tri- there was no crawling rank of ot cabs no eager and curious press of ot people in the street but few vehicles disputed their way otherwise the rain and und the hurrying rain coated wayfarers ers had the thoroughfare to them them- themselves And even this he chose to consider a n favorable omen there was not now a public to come between him and his love only love only Maxand Max Maxand and her frightened fancies The man at the door recognized Ember Ember Ember Em Em- ber with a cheerful nod Whitaker he did not know Just In time Mr Ember curtains curtain's been up about ten minutes CHAPTER Black Out The auditorium was in almost total darkness A single voice was audible from the stage that confronted It like lIko some tremendous moonlight canvas in ina a huge frame of tarnished gold They stole silently round the orchestra seats to the stage box the box the same box that Whitaker had on the former occupied In company with Max They succeeded In taking possession without attracting attention either from the owners of that scanty scattering scattering scat scat- of shirt bosoms In the orchestra stra tile me tile critical fraternity and those In Intimates Intimates intimates In- In bidden by the manager to the first glimpse of his new revelation in stagecraft stagecraft stagecraft-or or from those occupying the stage The Tho latter were but two Evidently though the curtain had been up for some minutes the action of the piece had not yet been permitted to bc begin n nto to unfold Whitaker inferred that Marhad Mar Marhad had been dissatisfied with something about the lighting of ot the scene The manager was standing In stage mid staring up at the borders borders n a stout and pompous figure tenacious to every detail detail de de- tail tan of ot that public self which he had hud striven so successfully to make unforgettably unforgettably Individual a u figure quaintly incongruous in his impeccable mornIng morning morning morn morn- ing coat and striped trot sers and fiat fiat- brimmed silk hat perched well back backon on his bis head with his malacca stick sUck and lemon-colored lemon gloves and small and excessively glossy patent leather shoes posed against the counterfeit of ot a moonlit formal garden TO BE DE CONTINUED |