A Star for a Night

rowds of smartly dressed women and well-groomed men surged to and fro; taxicabs and private limousines darted in every direction; the clanging of the gongs of the street-c

was New York. This was life. At last she, Martha Farnum, an insignificant atom from a remote country town, was on Broadway, actually a part of Broadway life, for she was the se

t the Grand Central Station when she arrived in New York and had taken her to the place, introducing her to Mrs. And

ctly as you direct in all things. She is not to accept dinner invitations from any one, she is

and-easy associations behind the scenes, where even the best behaved girl will talk of the little supper at which she was a guest the night before. In fact, the hard work of rehearsals and the

d just a little regretful that she had to dine in the somewhat gloomy, old-fashioned house, it was not with the greatest p

home after the matiné

y. "There was such a crowded house. A

uch later t

his and Martha that and 'Martha, where have you been?' all

d, and you know whose instr

think he is a little unreasonable? How could a bit of

n asking you to dine with him?"

repeated Martha, blank

d Aunt Jane, bringing the box to Martha, w

I have never spoken to," excla

opened the door from

er boy is here again," she said. "H

s," explained Aunt Jane. "He has a n

cried Martha.

ing his note, he evidently deemed a person of some importance. Martha opened the envelope, and a yellow-backed bill fluttered to the floor

wer, lady?" inqu

e again, then looked at the piece of paper

simply. "Yes-

tha whispered a few words into his

erry whistle and another wink at the excited Aunt Jane, 109 mad

from a man I hav

, grimly, sitting with her

at, Aunt Jane?"

nary scene. Who sent you that money,

aughed at her

u just now, Aunt

rought you to me, he asked me to loo

it's got so I'm the laughing-stock of the entire company. I daren't take a step out o

ton wishe

ast four months. Am I to blame if I wish some innocent amusement? He never thinks of me, and when some one e

for accepting hund

m yet. I haven't been able

here wer

as brought me a note every Saturday. Each

sed on the sofa. "And wasn't ther

ot return the money, for I didn't know his name-until

Jane, confidentially, coming to M

." Martha turned away and put both letter

macy. "This is a very serious thing. If a strange man sends a young girl hundre

ifles-som

ked you to

ed Martha. "He has onl

ecisively. "You know Mr. Clayton wouldn't li

on take me to dinner himsel

has other t

lame me if I dine w

o let you g

o break her covenant with her self-appointed backer, but merely to see what steps he might take i

wn admirer coming here to see you, or did you s

ha, indignantly. "I have no need to meet him

to let you

itiously named. "I'll telephone Mr. Clayton and say I wash my hands of you. If he wants to

or him?" cried

xi can bring him," declared Mrs. Anderson.

rying her face in the fragrant flowers. And t

. "I saw you clear across the street and hurried down the back way," she continued, leading h

his great fur coat and peering curiously at Martha, who busied he

e. "She's at the Casino and that haught

s could be friends," inter

ow, she has a very wealthy admirer who might star he

ht. A ton of money, an ounce of sense, a pretty girl and a lov

well be in the push," added Pinkie, w

veyed Pinki

able to get a good engagement, but I say, there ain't much style about the wa

he company stranded and I haven't had anything to do since. It's very kind of you to be so considerat

I'll tell you what we'll do. Flossie's out and won't know anything about it, so let's you and me jump into a taxicab and

t shouted Pinkie.

ky." "Sure. I've got a taxi w

ear that it might already be time for Flossie to return before she could get into the taxicab, she grabbed

repeated. "W

'm so poor"