Blue-grass and Broadway

, while I was coming up from Kentucky on the train, and I

by telling her the truth, because, with her very beautiful and candid eyes beaming into his, showing both interest

l happened, and it will be such a help to them!" Miss Adair exclaimed with great business acumen shining in her eyes. Mr. Vandeford g

and about to turn into Forty-second Str

hid away in an old brass-nailed leather trunk in your garret?" h

ne blush rivaled the one in the northeast corner of the bouquet at th

" questioned Mr. Vandeford

tremor at the corner of her curved mouth that rivaled a ro

Mr. Corbett, who is to design the costumes, and then hop right back home in a day or two, as soon as you are rested and we've ha

ipper" that would keep the author thereof busy and contented in Adairville, Kentucky, out of th

in which it all happened?" he went on. Vaguely he felt p

adition had told him, whether truly or not, that at a certain crucial moment in the butchering and rehearsal of "The Great Divide" the poet-author, Moody, had been sent West to hun

huckle at the thought of the trick on the great poet, which froze in his heart as he observ

lds of Adairville, Kentucky. "You'd only be gone a few days, and everything could wait until you came

anybody cared how I look; and the play-" The soft little slurs stopped and the beautiful old-blue-silk-clad shoulder trembled slightly against his shoulde

me, child! It doesn'

n wonderful in that dinner dress my grandmother wore, and I-I've had two made ou

y girl with her mixture of hay-seeds and patrician airs. He directed Valentine to Central Park and made a clean breast of it. It is a pleasure to record that at the Moody Indian story Patr

oducer. "I don't want to be in anybody's way. I thought I had to come and spend all my money. I want to see the Metropolitan and the Aquarium and Brooklyn Bridge and Trinity Church,

playwright shut up until Friday rewriting 'The Purple Slipper'; then I'm going to work at it myself and let Miss Hawtry write in all the things she wants to say, and cut out all the things she doesn't. After that, I'm going to turn it over to Bill Rooney, who was born in a barrel down on the wharf and educated in the gutter, but who is the best and highest-priced stage director in New York. He'll do innumerable things to it while he's 'setting it,' as he calls getting it ready for rehearsals. All the actors and actresses will

spoke she offered him her slim, long-fingered, white little hand that his completely engulfed as, answering a signal, Valentine turn

n he was really obliged to, though he himself could not have said why he did it. He felt like a grown

hat time, could not have been duplicated on Broadway and perhaps never will be, though the resul

sultation with me. Please take her in and see that she is made at home while I run through my mail. Yes, Mr. Corbett, I will be ready for you in a few minutes. Sorry to detain you, all of you," with which apology to the body of assembled experts Mr. Vandeford bowed, went into his sanctum, and firmly closed

xtreme interest, when Mr. Vandeford's buzzer sounded and Mr. Meyers wa

Mr. Vandeford pal

chief trembled, "I'm in the devil of a fix, and you have got to throw me a line

of you, Mr. Vandeford, sir," the faithful h

lly handed out to the authors of plays, and then to stop her wails, offered to let her sit in and watch her play baby hacked up. Her office-hours here and at rehearsals will be from ten mornings

ng lady has the look of a horse on which I won seven hundred at the last Gravesend. Besides, we have not time for play-a

n over the fate he was about to mete out to Miss Adair, Mr. Vandeford dismissed Mr. Meyers and opened the door

ed in the height of fascination, loo

" she exclaimed with both horror and joy. "I star

e killed." He reassured her about neglecting to share the excitement wi

tell him-about

but trepidation of heart, he led her into his office and seated her in a chair beside his at the far side of the desk,-the very chair in which had sa

y Mr. Corb

Mr. Vandeford made no pause in which to allow Mr. Corbett to acknowledge his introduction to the author, and Mr. Corbett seemed to bea

red, looking carefull

in exactly the same crisp tone in which he wa

Miss Adair was beginning to say with a delighted smile t

person fully informed. "Styles were distinctive. I dressed 'Lovers' Ends' for E. and K. in 1789,

Vandeford questioned her with delight at getting a question to

d Miss Adair. "There are

Miss Adair caught by psychic sympathy the fact that he was asking if the play was to be costumed as one inten

say," answered Mr. Vandeford a

ir, then colored home-made pink

ing the vow gallantly, considering that he felt Mazie Villines to be his

and answer Mr. Corbet

elaide makes the Hawtry lay

sketches, and a week's option,

red Mr. Corbett, just as calmly and firmly. "Have to hunt

he costumes of that period." Miss Adair had learned, and she

questioned

cters about whom t

y for made-up models, Mr. Va

ith a curt firmness that was a combination of that used by both Mr. Van

bett," he said with finality

nswered with equal finality, and for the

s! W

wee

-morning, M

's exit was

I tore anything. They saved us four hundred dollars, didn't they?" Miss Adair said to Mr. Vandefo

sm. Something of relief over the guarding of his author showed in his voice, which second note, however, he sounded too soon as the next t

just a second too soon, or rather just in time, for if Mr. Vandeford had settled Miss Adair

the rest come back at two-thi

ld Heigh

tyr of more advanced age in his yellow-green eyes, which tilted under high black brows that were arched penciled bows across his forehead. His lips were full and red, but chiseled like a youth's on a Greek frieze and they were mobile and tender and hard by turns. His red-gold hair clung to his head in burnished waves, a

ess, and somehow his voice was crisper than usual, for he seemed to get a shock from the radiance of the

poke Mr. Height smiled at Miss Adair with appreciation of herself and got in return a smile of the same d

because he well knew that to see Gerald Height in silk stockings and lace ruffles a quarter of a million women might be counted upon to pay two dollars per capita and so assure at least a fifteen per cent. certainty to the box-of

nce and made them both sit up straight in their chairs. Also they both looked for a long min

he said, with a tentative glance across the table, wh

er Miss Hawtry or Miss Lindsey had been to judge of the home-made color under the gray eyes. Also he was as much,

greater deference than he had ever shown a mere mana

drag if you are willing," answered Mr. Vande

't read the play or heard the layout," he added to the author of "The Purpl

her man has a big picture offered him at a good figure," Mr. Vandeford answe

arts and seems to have lost the manuscript forever. I hope you kept a copy, Miss Adai

r questioned, her candid gray eyes shining with such a sincere desire to be useful in the crisis that Mr. Vandeford could no

ld let you know right away if I thought I

he inner office, which had been conferred upon the author

ely if he is anywhere near, or to come at four if he can't

ord, sir, and I have the wire that Mr. Farraday is on his way he

etters to sign," Mr

e act of setting pen to paper when the door of the inner office opene

se beside his chair, looking down upon him with her beau

d tell him about the play. He's hungry, and so am I. Can

head-first from a six-story window upon that thoroughfare than he ever knew. Then "The Purple Slipp

have done credit to Mr. Height himself when upon the boards with Miss Hawtry. They departed in great spirits, and M

gars he kept in a drawer of his desk for just such crises, and went into communion with himsel

n. It's cooler there. Where is she?" were the words with which Mr. Van

ned tango lizard," was the disturbed and

?" demanded Mr. F

office, and then went out to luncheon with him," wa

consult

ented all r

her if you didn't wan

owny little chicken thrust right under my wing for safe keeping, whether I hatched her or not?" Mr. Vandeford demanded

in a calm voice and manner that we

adway production in which she is directly interested. I don't know what to do. If I spend my time hovering over her, her show will go cold and break her. She's poor. I

own to participate in-in expurgated moments?" asked Mr. Farraday

is over and that'll go a long way to cinch a hit for 'The Purple Slipper.' He's made a fad of not playing costume, and all the women in New York will flock to see him in velvet

er about Height and thing

g a tight rope that the ground sixty feet below

ome," decided Mr. Denni

you ma

planted six feet deep in her soul. Anybod

re married to six respectable women and then I could make 'em all

o have one mighty fine wife," Mr. Farraday said with a straight look into Mr. Vandeford's eyes, which

the straight-out answer he got to his venture, an answer that Miss Hawtry w

derness in his voice that both alarmed and puzzled Mr. Vandeford his big Jonathan close

oe

sion who are not around the corners at the equally cool, white-tiled Childs restaurants. Beside and around the green wicker tables careers of managers, artists, actors, playwrights, electricians, and scenic artists are made and unmade in

azie Villines, as she looked up from a frappéd melon, which a "heavy" moving picture

y knife and fork! Let him eat what he pays for and me the same," growled the hu

; it makes me sick to open for him," was the adored

ad first," was t

end Mr. Dennis Farraday. As they both had to pass directly by the table at which sat Miss Adair and Mr. Heig

ir, as she raised her eyes to Mr. Vandeford's with the adoration still intact after at least three-quarters of an hour assault upon it by Mr. Gerald Height's disturbing personality. "

d then promptly turned her back and became all charming attention to the gentleman with whom she was having luncheon, who was no other than the celebrated Weiner, who had built three theatres in two years and

er?" Miss Hawtry asked, as she turned over an ice

d Mr. Weiner, past a mou

with indifference, though there was a glint under he

er, and he swallowed his herring and ga

Miss Hawtry announced calmly, as she at

. "What are his plans for his new show that

fifteenth until New

ater in N

ooked up and caught a snap in Weiner's small black ey

ow got good

me into it," answere

hy

ant to see Van take the money out of his pocket and get away wi

Farrad

qui

ng for a man, but if he slips the hook come to m

f September, at

be t

ennis Farraday's genial greeting, backed by Mr. Vandeford's more restrained pleas

ich the discreet head waiter had reserved in case of the unexpected and tardy arrival of just such personages as Mr. Godfrey Vandeford

ei

he unfolded his napkin. "It is the coolest place in town, and we might as well let the kid get just one good peep before

his author alone, while he seemed to be always forced to enjoy her company in the presence of others. He looked across the room, met the gray eyes laughing

ided Miss Adair to Mr. Height, with no suspicion of the incitation

ight with great generosity, for in reality Mr. Height had the very poor opinion of Mr. Vandeford that it is the custom of all actors to hold in regard to their respective mana

Slipper" with great interest, and the home-made color rose several

Mr. Height raised his glass of Tom Collins, perfectly contented with the thought that he had enlightened Miss Adair about the private life of Mr. Vandeford. As a matter of fact he had failed utterly to do so, as she had n

uestioned

ad and-but I think I'll stick by 'The Purple Slipper.'" His eyes were so ardent as slightly to disturb Miss Ad

on, for ardor is ardor, whether encountered on Broadway in New York or Ad

for Mr. Corbett," she said calmly, as she began to draw on her gloves and pull down the veil that reefed in the narro

stioned Mr. Height

ple flaunting above the left corner of her mouth. "Will you take me ther

tenderly and heroically, as he held t

of American Producers looked upon them with inter

asked, with a smile under

play," Mr. Height said by way of beginning an answer to the question put to h

way Maximus, "and you are fortunate to have Mr. Height f

see our play and tell us what you think about it?" Miss Adair made her request, which was against the traditions of conventions on Broadway, with the

e great one, and Gerald Height beamed with pride, while Miss Adair

andeford's table and stopped to

ide her. "Mr. Height is going down to the Y. W. C. A. with me, and we'll be right back to the office with those pieces of silk for the costumes. Mr. David wants him for lead, but he's going to be in 'Th

oked at the retreating figures of the pair whose beauty was attracting no li

thed in a smile and everybody carries a rubber stamp with double X on it," answered Mr. Vandeford, with gloom, as he

Mr. Farraday, with a cheerful lack of sympathy with hi

he passed the table where the Miss Villines and the hea

bling," answered

ber, F

your che

oe

ppeared with a neat little parcel in their possession. Also Miss Adair had another, very conventional, corsage bouquet in

she asked Mr. Vandefo

, so get 'em well rested," he answered, and he smiled when he noted that the expression in her eyes that he had begun to look for with desperate eagerness st

dn't go anywhere at night until you could take me," said Miss Adair

" demanded Mr. Vandeford, with yo

es

s he opened the door for her and started out to descend

n," offered Mr. Farraday. "The

as snatched out of Mr.

in two tiny adjoining rooms under the roof of the Y. W. C

st left to the dress. Don't!" pleaded Miss Adair, as

n her mouth, as she snipped away a funny little tucker of common new net with which Miss Elvira Henderson of Adairville, Kentucky, had fo

modest?" dema

d arms except through its meshes. Nobody will think you know you've got 'em, if you show them like everybody else; but they'll think you thi

"I'll just forget about my skin there, as I do about tha

under her hands would go forth a sensation. In the old ivory satin with its woven rosebuds and cream rose-point, above which rose pearly shoulders and a neck bearing a small, proud head, with close waves of hea

gratitude. "I wish you were going, too," she added a

red Miss Lindsey, with a pleased laugh at Miss Adair's sudden clin

," she exclaimed, as Miss Lindsey began to insert her into an evening wrap made of a priceless

napped and then smouldered. "Where did he get in on-where

I went to luncheon with him to-day. I meant to tell you about it, and me

indsey that Mr. Vandeford was waiting for Miss Adair

p the discarded tucker of coarse netting. "The poor kid! I wish she was at ho