"WHAT'S HIS NAME"

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 207, 6 October 1914, Page 2

"WHAT'S HIS NAME"

8717.0PSXS. 0 HE reader is ushered at once without tiresome passages into the story. What's-His-Name, the incongruous husband of a popular actress, is thrown upon the canjff y"* Tshort, snappy twist of the author's wrist as is also his little daughter, Phoebe, with whom he lives in the suburbs while his wife occupies ' ■ sumptuous apartments in town. ■■ ■ Nellie Duluth, What's-His-Name's **»«»• -wife, leads him a merry life. She literally fell '"' an early age. Realizing that the legsfeatbrought her into the limelight cannot last forever, she uses her keen brain to feather her nest, '" with the resulTthat her little> of ber and Broadway a great deal. She astMtthM Fairfax, her latest admirer, with the Inf orma- " lion, cruelly imparted, that she is married. Nellie's diminutive husband, whom delights in calling Harvey, is tat€d incompany with Butler, his suburban neighbor, lie meets with a sound rebuke while seeking gratuitous admission tc the theatrfi in whic& Sis wife is the star. Butler, who is married -• man, is not interested in the show, deeply: bitten by the charms of »Jlrs. What's-His- . Name." . . - . „A~u- -- . Harvey, with Butler, manages to ■ «fa»- aoMaxrtance to the back of the stage, and ta amazement appears at her dressing ™onvdoor. Tairfax, the other admirer, joins them. *gj™' barrassing situation is presented, bot_ Nellie, recovering her wits, emerges triumphant. J±ar vey returns to his homo in' the country, where he finds his daughter, Phoebe, 8e « 3Te nurses her for several weeks, and, fearmg the effect of the news on Nellie, keeps itfwm her. At length Fairfax calls. He hasbeensent - •*v Nellie to propose the child be sent con- .- vLfhi Montreal while Nellie shall ga to Europe. Harvev demurs. T „, _ ■ ,„_ ' his patience exhausted,vcalls Harvey a leech, a loaf er.j* laughing stock, and him 825,000, with a drug store in Blakeyille, ' his native town, if he will grant a separa^on -to Nellie. Stung into a throws himself upon the* big man, who thrashes him soundly.V*Xt takes sever^ * tays to recover.from his, bruises* and J^fg^ ' there dawns upon him a realization that Neine is tired of ■■;■•»« -■ - ' •;-^U^-' ; > ; L '.■■

CHAPTER IV. (d6 J ntin^||). ' tent; ; updttf in the . y ' iV ''' lv pair moved on>§; Out of the i,; m»xM*m"M, :«g?;^f he mo-er- •> ifTeneh. ■■■-' ■--* ■ ...-.»;*. - , -.-..: ,gj ;:. ■ ,.^ : Thebig green.'carJ* home thaftg around hftn, %e-ftoirid see ejse, c «t nothing else. Wbig green eai»§ : That evening he got from Bfj|get the address of her brother, Professor flaherty, the physical trainer and%6Wbui|dej| , In the morning he examinei Jlpmself in the •• mirror, a fever of restlessnes|a||l impatience afflicting him .with presentable' to ."the? world. 'He- Bad been encouraged by the fact that Butler had offered ' no comment, on the black rims around his eyes. They must be disappearing. With his chin in his hands he sat across the room staring at reflection in the glass, a gloomy, desolate figure. "It wouldn't be wise to apply for a. job until these eyes are all right .again/' he was saying to himself bitterly. c "Nobody would hire a inan with a pair of black eyes and aT busted ; lip—especially a druggist. I'll simply have to " wait a few-days longer. Heigho! To-morrow's C Sunday again. I—l wonder if Nellie will .be out to see.us." But Nollie did not come out. She journeyed Ut and fast in aJbig green car, but it was in smother direction. .".." ThiV&day of the next week witnessed-::tla ' of What's His same, moved to energy by a long dormant and niournv ' fully acquired ambition. The delay had been . ' irksome./ ''■-*• Nellie's check for the month's expenses had arrived in the mail that morning. He folded it carefully and put it away in his pocketbook, firmly resolved not to present it at the bank. He intended to return it to her with the announcement that he had secured aposition and hereafter would do the providing. Spick and span in his best checked suit, his hat tilted airily over one ear, he stepped briskly down the street You wouldn't have known him, I am sure, with his walking stick in one hand, his light spring overcoat over the other arm. A freshly cleaned pair of gray gloves, smelling of gasolene, covered his hands. On the lapel of his coat loomed a splendid yellow chrysanthemum. Regular football weather, he had said.

BY GEORGE BARR MtUTCHEON A Remance of the Theatrical World—Story of an Actress, a Star, Who Possesses an Obscure Husband

iCoryrlabt by George Barr.-McCutcTieon.) The first drug store he came to he entered with an air of confidence. No, the proprietor said, he didn't need lan assistant. He went on to the next. The same polite answer, with the additional information, in response to a suggestion by the applicant, that the soda water season was over. -Undaunted, he stopped in at the restaurant in the block below. The proprietor of the place looked so sullen and forbidding that Harvey lost his courage, and instead of asking outright for a position as man-

ager he asked for a cup of coffee and a couple of fried eggs. As the result of this extra and! quite superfluous breakfast he applied for the The man looked him over scornfully. "Fm the manager and the whole works combined," he said. "I need a dishwasher,. com£ to , think of it. Four a week and board. You can go to work to-day if"-—-But Harvey stalked out, swinging his cane , '■manfully.: '..',''' ' ' i "Well, God knows, I've tried hard enough,"j <heisaid;tb himself resignedly as he headed fori the railway station. It was still six minutes of train time.,. "I'll write to Mr. Davis out in >Blakeville |ss; evening. He told me thai nay ;:place would always be: open to me." l\ It was nearly one o'clock when -he appeared at Nellie's apartment. Rachel admitted him: v ,' § ••'■"'' He hung his hat and coat on the rack, dei posited his cane in the corner and sauntered coolly into the little sitting room, the maid looking on in n6 little wonder and uneasiness. "Where's my wife?" he asked, taking up the morning paper from the centre table and\ preparing to make himself at home in the armchair. ,- -\ \ , . » "She's out to lunch, sir." He laid the paper down. "Where?" ' : , ; Kachel mentioned a prominent downtown cafe* affected by the profession. "Will you have lunch here, sir ?" she ■' inquired, i , ,;.: "No," said he; determinedly. "Thank* you just the saine. I*m lunching downtown. I—l though perhaps siie'd like to join nie."

Rachel rang for the elevator and he departed, amiably doffing his hat to her as he dropped to the floor below. At one of the popular corner tables in the big cafe" a party of men and women were seated, seven or eight in all. Nellie Duluth had her back toward the other tables in the room. It was- a bit of modesty that she always affected. She did not like being stared at. Besides, she qould hold her audience to the very end, so to speak, for all in the place knew she was tlfere and were willing to wait until she condescended to face them in the process of departure.

It was a very gay party, comprising a grand opera soprano and a tenor of worldwide repuwell as three or four very well known New Yorkers. Manifestly; it was Fairfax's luncheon. The crowd at his table was ob-

served by all the neck craners in the place. Every one was telling every one else what every one knew:—"That's Nellie! Buluth over there." " "'..'. ■ - As i the place began to clear out a small man in a checked suit appeared in the doorway. An attendant took his hat and coat away from him while he was gazing with kaleidoscopic instability of vision upon the gay scene before him. He had left his walking stick in a street car, a circumstance which delayed him a long time, for, on missing it, he waited at a cornel in the hope of recognizing the motorman on his return trip up Madison avenue. The head waiter was bowing before him and murmuring, "How many, sir?" "How many what ?' ? mumbled Harvey with a start/ ' ' "In your,party?" asked the man, notlialfsc politely and with distance in his attitude. It did not look profitable.; , >ObT.-.. Only one, sir. Just a sandwich and a cup of coffee, I think." There was a little table away over in the corner sandwiched beHwein: the doors pf entrance for. laden waiters and 'bus; boys. Toward this a hastily summoned second- pi third assistant conducted the newcomer. Twice during the process of traversing this illimitable space. Harvey bumped chairs occupied by merry persons who suddenly beeaine crabbed and asked him who the devil he was stumbling over. A blond, flushed woman who sat-opposite Nellie at the table in the corner caught sight of him as he passed. Sh£ stared hard for a moment and then allowed a queer expression to come into her eyes. "For heaven's sake!" she exclaimed with considerable force. "What's the matter? Yonr husbalid?" demanded Nellie Duluth with a laugh. "No," she said, staring harder. "Why, I can't be mistaken. Yes, as I; live, it's Mr.—Mr. What's His Name, your husband, Nellie."

"Don't turn 'round, Nellie," whispered Fairfax, who sat beside her. "I don't believe it!" cried Nellie readily. "Is it he?" she demanded in the same breath, looking over her shoulder. Harvey was getting o\\\ of the way of a 'bus boy and a stack of china ware and in the way of a waiter with a tray of peach Melbas when she espied him. "For the land's sake!" she gasped, going clear back to Blakeville for the expression. "I don't dare look, Carrie. Tell me, has he got a—a fairy with him? Break it gently." "Fairy?" sneered Fairfax, suddenly uncomfortable. "Why, he's lost in the wood. He's alone on a desert isle. What the deuce is he doing, here?"

Harvey gave his order to the disdainful waiter and then settled back in his chair for

the first deliberate look around the room in quest Of his wife.

Their eyes met. She had turned half way round in her chair and.was looking at him wide open, unbelieving eyes. He felt Mmself suddenly tied hand and foot to the chair; Now that he had found her he could do no more than stare at her in utter bewilderment. He had

come tilting at windmills. The flush deepened in her cheek as she turned Her attention to the dessert that had just been, set down before her; She was very quiet, in ; marked contrast to her mood of the moment before. .'*;',

Fairfax made a remark which set the to laughing. She did not smile, But toyed nervously with the dessert fork. Under cover of the laughter he .leaned over and whisan anxious, troubled note in his voice:— "I'll call the head waiter and have him put out before he does anything crazy." * "Put out?" she repeated., "Why, what do you think he'd try to do?" "He's got an ugly look in his eye. I tell you he'll create a scene. That's what he s here for. You remember what: happened"—— Srhe laughed shrilly. "He won't shoot any one," she said in his ear. "Harvey create a scene! Oh, that's rich." "He hasn't forgotten the thrashing I gave; him. He has been brooding oyer it, Nellie." Fairfax was livid about the eyes. "Well, I respect him for trying to thrash you, even though he got the worst,of it." She looked again in Harvey's direction. He was still staring steadily at her. "He's, all alone over there and he's miserable. I can't stand it. I'm going over to' sit with him." As she arose Fairfax reached out and grasped her, arm. "Don't be a fool," he said in dismay. "I won't," she replied sweetly. "Trust me. So loiig, people. I'm going over to have coffee with my husband." * _,_.'-. If the occupants of the big cafe" were surprised to see Nellie Dulutth make her way over to the table and sit down with the queer little person in checks, not so Harvey v He arose to greet her and would have kissed her if she had not restrained-him. He was gratified, overjoyed, but not surprised. "Hello," she said sharply, to cover the inward disquiet that possessed her. She was looking intently into his eyes as if searching for something she dreaded.

"Hello," was his response. He was still.it trifle dazed. She sat down opposite him. Before she could think of anything further to say the head waiter rushed up to inquire if Miss Duluth and her friend wouldn't prefer a table at one of the windows. "No,-.this-will do," she said, thankful for the interruption. "We are doing very nicely," said Harvey, rather pompously, adding in a loud voice of authority:—"Tell that fellow to hustle my luncheon along, will you?" Then, turning to Nellie, he said:—"You don't look as though you'd ever been sick a day in your life, Nellie." She laughed uncomfortably. "How are you, Harvey? And Phoebe?" * "Fine. Never better. Why don't you- come out and see us occasionally?" "May I order a cup of black coffee?" she asked, ignoring the question. She was sorely puzzled. 1 "Have a big one," he urged, signalling a waiter. •• Her curiosity, conquered. "What in heaven's ■3 name brought you here, Harvey?" ~,..*'. He told her of the word Rachel had given him. Nellie made a mental; note o&the inten-' tion to speak plainly to Rachel. "Who are your friends?" he asked.. Just then he caught a glimpse of Fairfax's face. He turned very cold. "Mr. Fairfax is giving a luncheon for two of the grand opera people," she exclaimed. He forced his courage. "I don't want you-to have anything more to do with that man;*-he said. "He's a scoundrel." - ' - ' "Now, don't be silly," she cried. "WhatTtrain are you going out on?" "I .don't know, I'll stay in/ I*ll go up to your flat; I guess, for a couple of' days.Phoebe's all rights t She's the diphtheria HOW ■ .tax n f, boufßitiu ..-ji.ij.. "Diphtheria?" 'ffetffe"wi i de looking his ottfr, de^pi^f by the way, was of t t' "Almost ,': She flared uft'in &» instant. "Why wasn't I told? What .^^jy^'Jfe iitiip fool?" -' ! '•• : .", ' ' " ' *'. -' "If you had taken. 1 ; the trouble to come out to Tarry town, you could.Kave found<out for yourself," he see here, Nellie, I've come in to-see^you l and to have a very plain talk mfy s°s nold y ot * r •horses. Don't 1 fly r >oft I am the head of this famij|^W" f lHn< going -to boss it from this time on." "You" she began, in a furious little shriek, her eyes blazing. She caught herself up in time. Two or three people near by looked up at the sound of her raised voice. She lowered it to a thrill, intense half whisper. "What do you mean by coming here in this way? Everybody is laughing at me. You make me ridiculous. I won't stand for it, do you hear?" lie was colder if possible than before, but he was resolute. "We've got to have an understanding, the sooner the befler," he said quietly. » ' "Yes, you're right," she repeated; "the sooner the better." "We can't talk here," he said, suddenly con scions that the eyes of many were upon them. "Go over and ask that infernal sneak to excuse you, and we'll go up to the flat." , "I'm going motoring this aft" "You do as I tell you!" said he in a strange voice. "Why, Harvey" she stammered, catching her breath. "When you've had your coffee," he'added. She sipped her coffee in silence, in in bitter resentment. He munched the club'sandwich and sucked the coffee through his' thin . mustache with a vehemence that grated on her - nerves terribly. "I've had all I want," she said, suddenly putting %e tfttle CU p down with a, crash; "Then go over and. tell 'em you've got te go home." She crossed the room, red faced and angry. He watched her as she made an announcement to the party, saw them laugh uproariously, and smiled in triumph over tne evidence of annoyance on the part of Fairfax. Nellie was whispering something close to the;big man's ear, and he was shaking his head vigorously. Then she waved her hand to the party and started away. Fairfax arose to follow her; As he did so Harvey came to his feat and advanced.' The big man stopped short, with a look of actual alarm in his eyes, and went back to his seat, hastily motioning to the head waiter. Five minutes later Miss Duluth emerged from the cafe*, followed by the little man in the checked suit. (To Be Continued..)