Earl Derr Biggers

“ King greeted the intrusion of Morton Prince into this, the most sacred moment of his life, in no happy spirit. Unwillingly, he felt an unlovely rush of jealousy into his simple but honest heart.
“What you wondering about him for, now?” he asked in a surly tone.
Nina's eyes twinkled.
“Oh—just because,” she remarked.
Mr. King felt that the time had come for the first show of authority.
“See here,” said he, “if you marry me, you got to forget that gold-lace doll. I work for a living, I do. I don't wear no Sunday supplement uniform nor flash no tin sword. ”

“ Prince yawned behind his pearl glove.
“Oh, these women,” he said, adopting what he considered to be an air of extreme boredom. “They bother an actor to death. I assure you I do nothing to encourage them. But they're forever sending me flowers and notes.” He took out a cigaret, and lighted it. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Goldberg.”
Mr. Goldberg grunted, and shifted uneasily in his chair. Mr. Clifton had taken up his novel again. The leading man at Suburban Garden crossed his legs and gazed wearily at the opposite wall, decked with portraits of stage people. ”

“ Prince, and give the hero of Suburban Garden the most complete and successful pummeling of his career. In the presence of Nina he would rumple that lovely hair, rip that lovely tie from its moorings, and write his signature on that handsome face.
“A lady to see you, sir,” said an office boy, at last, sticking a red head inside.
“Surely—show her in,” said Mr. Clifton, laying down his book in pleased anticipation.
Mr. King poised, ready to spring. Oblivious to his danger, the handsome victor in many a make-believe joust, stood up. The door opened, and Mr. King leaped—only to pause midway. ”

“ He knew from past experience that merely to banter him she might claim to have written to the News, whether she had done so or not. He felt that he must know the truth before he went further in dealing with a matter so serious. ”

“ ADMIRER—Practically the same stock company will play at Suburban Garden this year. Leading man not yet announced. Mr. King read this through several times. There was little doubt in his mind as to the identity of “Admirer.” Too often in his presence had Nina wistfully speculated on next year's leading man at Suburban Garden; too often had she expressed a longing for the return of Morton Prince! ”

“ Out of the past flashed another comment; it sounded familiar, but it filled the pause. “It's a swell evening,” he said.
“Well,” said Nina, with the reluctance beloved of women, “I don't know but a walk would do me good. It certainly is hot in the store these days, and the swell dames that come to buy gloves are peevish, like they studied it in a correspondence school. I'll get my hat an' coat.”
She disappeared, and then returned, accompanied by a flood of admonitions from the unseen Mrs. McDermott. Mr. ”

“ King to sit up straight on the bench and regard her with high disapproval.
“I wonder,” she said, “if Morton Prince will be leading man at Suburban Garden again this year.”
The vision of the flat fled from Mr. King's brain. His heart was suddenly heavy. Morton Prince! What a time of times for Nina to recall the handsome, dashing and unconscious rival of the past summer!
No true love lacks stumbling blocks, and to Mr. King the foppish Morton Prince had been a particularly obnoxious obstruction. When first the actor had flashed upon the quiet of Mrs. ”