A Star for a Night

ussing the pension for vagrant Thespians which she had conducted for many years, "it's the hom

s. Anderson devoted her entire time to maintaining an establishment which should be unique. Actors as a rule dread boarding-houses. There is something about such institutions which instinctively causes a chill of apprehension to run up and down their backs. Especially is thi

rs. There was no red table-cloth on the table, no gilt-framed chromos on wooden easels, no landscapes in glaring colors on the walls. Instead, on the piano, on the mantel, and even on the walls, one

t modern apartment hotels, in which excellent accommodations can be had for the same price one formerly gave for a hall bedroom, are numbering the days of the old brownstone front boarding-houses in the neighborhood of the New York theatrical district. Mrs. Anderson's was but a stone's

Which explains why, on a certain Saturday afternoon in mid-winter, she was busily engaged in personally superintending the rearrangement of the parlor furniture and the placing of cert

izzie, as Mrs. Anderson turned toward her.

work he does," responde

zzie, astounded. "W

f the remark was passed u

sed, about twenty-two years of age, and very nervous. He twirled his derby in his han

oom," began Mortimer. "

nquired Aunt Jane, motioning t

tic school, but I haven't done much y

ls. And I only want refined people who behave themselves. Of course a little impromptu frivolity makes

re it i

I have one young lady staying here now who is under my special protection. The gentleman who

into this happy family," v

ut of my sight-except, of course, when she's at the theater. And I have to telephone him every day and tell him what sh

he price," stammer

erson a telegram, and stoo

rs front," directed Aunt Jane, tearing open the dispatch. "Oh, by the wa

timer, surprised and flattere

include yours in my collection of

famous-" prot

de Adams, Ethel Barrymore and one or two others. Somewhere in this house I have a photograph of every actor or actress who ever stayed here. Fiftee

ortimer. As he started toward the hall, with Liz

am. "Mr. Lawrence is coming from Boston this evenin

esponded the ub

, beckoning to the slavey. "Go up to the garret and get me that larg

, ma

It's Jimmy Carlton-he's gone to California and won't be back until spring. Put this one away with the others. And se

king at the photographs, sud

ossie Forsythe

exington. Lizzie, show Mr. Mortimer the house-and Lizzie," she added confidentially, "reco

e Mrs. Anderson herself was compelled to answer it. A messenger boy with a large box o

s is the third time since Sunday she's had

ercury gazed up

knows de guy's n

" replied

got a note also fo

e, then, you

and winked again. "Told me to

n give it

. "De gent who give me dis said give it only to her

ne, indignantly. "And you're a rude, disr

hen will her

e peered curiously at the box. It was only an ordinary florist's box, but a big one, and it evidently contained costly,

no right to look, but she concluded that her position as Martha's temporary guardian demanded that she examin

ed, with easy sophistry. "It's my duty to look. Some young

. She read it and threw up her hands in disappointment. The card w

card. "Pinkie, look at the flowers some one sent me," she added, turning to summon the sad-eyed Miss Lexington, who still appeared dejected and deserted

he sofa in disgust. "I wish some guy would slip me a beef

firmly rescued the flower

coldly, taking the box to

lossie. "I never seen a

't had an orchid this s

ofa by her side. "Wait until the new show goes on, an

ith regret. "But what gets me, is how Martha Farnum wins out with the boobs who send h

it ever known in the Casino since I left

miled Pinkie. "But then, of cou

t been in any chorus for two years. It's sextettes or not

coming on?" inquired

yers are sti

this lawsu

ldn't know the name of the town if I told you.

f you

ad an orchid

I guess, unless Mr. Z

yawned Pinkie. "Haven

chum, suspiciously. "You've been askin' too many questions about Mr. Z

sie," she half sobbed, "I don't want Marky. The idea of th

nervously but with a determination strengthened by the memory of many similar occasio

d Flossie, rising haughtily. "I am sorry if I have incon

nderson, with that ever-present doubt that one always has in dunning delinq

We go to the managers' offices every day

ane. "She came here without experience

us in the chorus," rising and glancing admirin

son, warmly. "She began at the bottom, and if I do sa

l bet there's a diamond tiara hidden in those flowers now." She moved toward the box, picked it up curiously, and lifted the top. "American Beaut

the things to herself,"

Aunt Jane-Martha may have been a little wild-flower when she blew into New York from the woods of Indiana o