Evening Star Newspaper, July 14, 1929, Page 83

~—2 R AACURAN OSRSNerDZITL0S [ ————— - - write_ a play. Elmer Was Cured o f His Romance 4 roar went up from the audience as Elmer fell headlong at Gloria's feet. W ith Arleen, but His Fall for Gloria W as Something Divipe. T HAD been a-delicious dinner. There were lamb chops and buttered potatoes, i vegetable salad, and then for dessert s strawberry shortcake, which gave Elmer a distinct and satisfying thrill. What a pity that the whole delightful effect had to be ruined by his father’s gruff query: “Think it would be a good idea if you worked awhile before college opens, don't you, son?” Elmer put out of his mind the memory of the shortcake he had just finished and replied: “Well—yes, Dad, I think it really would.” Elmer's father sighed, squared his shoulders _ and looked at his mother as much as to say: “A chip off the old block, my dear. He's quite as ambitious as I was at his age.” ‘Then, to the boy who was permitting his fancy to stray in the direction of the kitchen and the remnants of the strawberry shortcake, . he suggested: “There’s an opening right now in my office, it you'd like to try it.” Elmer stared at him. “Now, not too hastily,” his father continued, *“you know you'll have to work hard and make good if you take it. No standing on your father’s reputation, mind.” Elmer's stare became a look of horror. “But, Dad,” he said, trying to make his voice sound natural, “surely you don't expect me to fool around down there with all those dumb file cabinets and things? And as for running errands for all those women"—he laid out his hand in a helpless gesture—“Dad!"” His father explained as gently as he could that those were some of the duties which were expected of the messenger boys in his office. “And in addition to the money you earn,” he added, “you’ll get a knowledge of business that'll come in handy later on.” ELMER. thought that over, tapping gantly with his thumb upon the tablecloth. “Well—Dad,” he said = finally, “I suppose you're right, but you know, I really don’t think I'm the business type, so I don't believe I'll bother with it. I'll stick to my original plan, if you don’t mind.’ Of course Elmer’s father didn't object in the least. He was glad that Elmer had an original lan. % : 4 “Just what is this original plan?” he asked Elmer fidgeted. Parents always managed to get so darned definite, somehow. “Well—something artistic.” ) . His father looked at him first through his glasses, then without his glasses, then through his glasses again, and realizing just what was about to happen, Elmer hastened to avert the crash: “Now, Dad, please don't get all excited about this. I'm not going to paint, because I realize I don't have the knack. I'm merely going to Not a cheap play, you know, Dad, but something fine like Shakespeare's.” “Oh-h!” very sympathetically. from his father. “And if you and Mother don’t mind, I think T'll go up to my room now and dope out the first act.” “Anything at all, dear,” said his mother when he had gone, “just so it keeps his mind off Arleen and all this love stuff until we get him Into college. Personally, I think it will be a good thing for him to write a play. And you can't tell, Harold. Remember the poetry you wrote when you were his age?” "Up in his room, Elmer complimented him- self upon his resourcefulness, and sat down at his desk in front of the window to write the masterpiece. T “Now, let's see,” he pondered. “What sort of play shall I write—mystery, adventure or ro- mance?” . He decided in favor of romance—not that he believed in love particularly. No, he didn’t believe in love at all. Of that he was certain when Arleen came out of the house next door, glanced wistfully at Elmer’s porch swing, and then walked slowly down the street. Why, only a few months ago, Elmer’s heart would have done a foxtrot on a scene like that, but tonight it pounded solemnly on at its customary pace, thereby conclusively proving that there was no love in the world. “Still, it’s what people want when they go to the theater,” he said, “and I can give it to them, all right, if any one can.” Titles are dreadfully hard, and after working for an hour on one and then not being able to decide which one of three to use, Elmer decided to go on with the first act and christen the thing later. - He chewed the end of his pencil, and gazed out of the window. What a heavenly night! After a while, Arleen came back up the street, glanced again at Elmer’s porch swing. “My, but I'm glad I'm all over that affair,” he said with the relief of one from whom a great sorrow has been removed. Arleen wandered about the yard. “DONT see why she can’t stay on the porch,” grumbled Elmer, and went over and sat on the foot of his bed to think about act one. But even there the voice of Arleen, as she hum- med the melody of “Say That You Love Me,” reached his ears. Muttering something about why in the world she had to sing when there were 50 many things she did better, Elmer went into his closet and sat ddwn on s blanket and ' some extra pillows. There, with nothing to divert him, he thought out an. excellent plot. Beautiful scenes, beautiful girls, a few original Jjokes, and a lot of love. No one could ask for more than that. ; g ‘Now, all I've got to do is write it—which at most won't take more than a day, and then get some one to produce it for me.” - - . ' .. He came down to breakfast quite late, the privilege of a playwright, and announced to his mother that he believed he'd “do”.the: theaters and see if he could find some one who be willing to put on his play. . 82 % “Is it all written?” demanded his mother. “Well—no,” said Elmer, “that s, not entire- * ly—but Pve got it completely worked-out in my mind, which is the hardest part, after all,” - On his way downtown, he decided that the best thing to do was to get himself a job as an actor. That would give him a stage background, and bring him into contact with producers and people. Only one’ difficulty presented itself. It was Summer. And while to -Elmer it seemed perfectly silly to think that people didn't care to attend the theater in warm weather, that was the way the managers had doped it out. -~ . He dropped around to the garage where his months, and it was Edgar who told him about - the State Street Theater. “Now, dad, please don’t. get all excited about this. I’m not going to paint, be- cause I realize I haven’t the knack. I'm merely go- . ing to write a play.” . not fallen head over heels in love with “ "Course it’s nothing swell, you understand,” said Edgar, “just a stock company that puts on a different show every week, but the neighbor- hood folks are crazy about it. I take Margie. up every Tuesday evening regular. See, we figure ~ that gives them a chance to correct the mis- . takes they made on Monday, and still they're not as tired of the show as they are at the end of the week.” ki “Well—" said Elmer, “All I can say-is they’ll never get tired ‘of this show of mine. They'll be w&nun'tophyuweekmermk.- - all Summer long, I bet” ~ - - . _With that he marched boldly into the office’ - of the State Street’s manager and asked for a position. They gave him one immediately—as “Not so good,” said Elmer, “but still, I need the atmosphere,” and before the end of the .- first evening - that - atmosphere,‘ which was a . poisonous combination of heat and State street people, would certainly have killed him, had he Gl in Gates. When Giloria hurried onto the i you that writes plays might be able to grab up a little part like that.” : Elmer weighed the matter carefully. “Yes, I think I might be able t0,” he whispered. T == Scventh Pare