I. A. R. Wylie

“ At that moment Sandy McGrab offered Miss Eliot the potatoes for the third time in rapid succession.
“You're just grand!” he whispered. “Just grand!”
“And you”—she smiled to herself—“you're the worst waiter in the kingdom, Sandy McGrab. But you look a gentleman, even when you're dressed like one.”
“For Heaven's sake, take these potatoes away!” Hadley burst out, adding, with angry conviction: “The man's drunk!”
Sandy McGrab and the potatoes withdrew. But Mary Eliot felt the Scotsman's presence all through the long and ponderous meal. ”

“ And there's my understudy, Edith Wharton. She thinks I'm doing her out of her big chance—perhaps I am. And Derwent's mad about her. Sometimes I feel them both plotting and scheming against me. If they could get me out of my part for a single night, they think they'd do for me. I'm popular, but I'm not 'established.' Another's triumph would easily swamp mine—and I'd just drop out—forgotten.” She tried to laugh. “I'm fighting for my existence against a dozen unseen enemies,” she said. “And that's why I'm so glad to see you, Sandy McGrab. You seem to me to-night the only one I can trust.” ”

“ The will-o'-the-wisp and the dragon were almost on top of each other—the will-o'-the-wisp faded into the dragon's greater brightness. But the dragon had ceased to snort and roar. It stood still, as if cogitating over its murderous success. Voices came through the darkness. The will-o'-the-wisp reappeared and raced back. A minute later Sandy McGrab and an excited guard were at Mary Eliot's side. The guard looked at the car and then at the lady. ”

“ Sandy McGrab sighed wearily, and tried to find a new place for his aching legs.
“It's Juliet I'm thinking of,” he said.
“You would be,” said the large person, and chuckled. “You young fellows are all for a pretty face, and Mary Eliot's pretty enough; but an old stager like myself wants more than that: He wants Art—Art with a capital A, my boy—and Rolf Derwent is an artist——”
“He's a stick,” said Sandy McGrab. ”

“ Nanette gasped at him. He stood before her, broad of shoulder, splendid in carriage, his head thrown back, a curious, but wholly pleasing, figure of a man. Nanette clutched involuntarily at the douceur hidden in the bosom of her dress. “Ye will tell me,” McGrab went on, “because ye canna do such a mean, dastardly thing as ye are trying to do now. Ye canna do it, lassie. No one with so sweet a face could be so bad at heart. And ye love your mistress—ye maun love her—ye couldna help yourself. If she is not back in time to-night, she is ruined. ”

“ A great many things that usually take days of long consideration and explanation were passed over. She uttered a low explanation of incredulous relief, and flung herself into his arms. Sandy McGrab kissed her. The chauffeur stared at them both in anxious curiosity. But not for long. Sandy McGrab put Miss Eliot gently to one side. He came across the road and took the uneasy mechanician by the neck and shook him backward and forward as a mastiff shakes a rat. ”

“ A very stout gentleman, with the appearance of a retired greengrocer, was the only one who, by sheer weight and ruthless self-importance, was able to applaud comfortably as the curtain fell on the fourth act.
“Well, I've seen Shakespeare in what you might call his prime,” he was saying largely to his neighbor. “I've seen Irving and Ellen Terry, but I say give me Rolf Derwent as Romeo, and I'll not regret the past. A marvel, that man—a real marvel!” ”

“ She recognizes his genius, and announces herself as a fellow professional. Sandy's denial that he is an actor leads her to think that be is the “laird,” while he takes her for a famous actress who is expected in the neighborhood. When the truth finally comes out, it serves only to deepen their growing love. Sandy sells his shop to enable her to get to London to keep an engagement upon which her future depends, promising to meet her there to play Romeo to her Juliet. ”

“ It's not all fun—this life, Sandy McGrab. It's not easy for a woman who springs suddenly to the top of the tree, as I did. She has so much to fight—and sometimes I'm afraid—— You don't understand all the jealousy, and spite, and hatred——”
“Hatred?” he interrupted almost roughly. “Who dares hate you?” ”

“ Hadley nodded at her, still sulky, but with an appreciative eye that no amount of personal prejudice could dim. Mary Eliot was a beautiful woman and a great actress, and these things meant packed theaters, dearer to his soul even than his vanity.
“I dare say you're right,” he said. “We're all tired out, and to-morrow night we have the German emperor to cater for. You'd better get all the sleep you can, ladies.”
Mary Eliot smiled.
“I prefer fresh air,” she said lightly. “A friend has lent me a car for the day, and I shall see what a breath from the sea will do for me.” ”

“ The Waybons' car stood against the curb of a quiet West End street, and Nanette, laden with furs, stood on the curb and talked to the Waybon chauffeur. She was looking very pretty that morning, and the chauffeur's attitude was confidential, his expression tender.
“You can just go ahead and name the day, Nan,” he was saying; “just as soon as you can fix it up. You might do worse, my-girl.”
“Mon Dieu, marry an Englishman!” exclaimed Nanette, with coquettish disgust.
“Well, why not? I can drive a car as well as any bloomin' froggie. And, look 'ere!” ”

“ Waybon's car is going to have a breakdown ten miles from anywhere. At seven o'clock Hadley will be foaming at the mouth; at eight, Miss Edith Wharton steps into the breach; at eleven London is talking of the new star; and the next morning Miss Mary Eliot gets her congé——”
“You daren't do it——”
“Yes, I dare. And if you're wise, you'll look up Nanette to-morrow morning early. You'll give her a large douceur, and see that she has everything ready for you to-morrow night. Take her into your confidence, if needs must. ”

“ She shrugged her shoulders at him.
“She wipes the earth with both of us,” she flared out. “You, being a man, seem to enjoy the process. It amuses you to be laughed at, to be walked over, by her serene highness. ”

“ He wore no wig and practically no make-up, and Hadley's' jaw dropped.
“Who the devil——” he began, “and what the devil——”
McGrab pushed him firmly to one side.
“If ye want the devil, ye'll find him behind there in the dressing room, but I advise ye to get to the front, sir. Ye're going to see 'Romeo and Juliet' for the first time.”
Two minutes later the audience of the Avonia caught its breath. They had seen many Romeos—melancholy Romeos, romantic Romeos, handsome and plain Romeos—but never a one with red hair and a figure that must have measured six feet one if it measured an inch. ”

“ At the last moment the waiters—scélérats, all of zem—had refused to work. Zey had asked impossibilities, and zey 'ad gone. At this very moment he, Monsieur Géraud, was engaging fresh forces; rough hands, no doubt, but monsieur would excuse? Ze chef remained, as monsieur knew, ze best chef in London——
Hadley laughed.
“As long as your cook hasn't bolted, I don't care,” he said. “We'll do the serving ourselves, if the worst comes to the worst. See that your new forces don't bolt with our belongings, though; that's all.”
There was a general laugh, and in the midst of it Mary Eliot entered. ”

“ The man or woman who helps Hadley to glory on such an occasion is made. It may be Mary Eliot, or it may be your humble servant—or it might be you.”
“Still I don't follow. Mary Eliot will play to-morrow night if she's alive—if it's only to spite me.”
“No, she won't.”
“Who's to prevent her?”
“I am. I'm going to try, anyhow. It flashed across my mind this evening. I know whose car she's using to-morrow. It's Mrs. Waybon's, and Mrs. Waybon's chauffeur used to drive me. I've given him seats for the theater, and we're rather good friends. Aren't you beginning to see? Mrs. ”