Part 25 (1/2)

”However,” Mr Sachs swept sed to take a company to Europe with 'Forty-Niners' And I was left out! This rattledSo I went to see hied around a bit He did rattle et an answer out of hi cross-exa-room'

”I didn't care what happened then, so I said:

”'And I' me'

”All of a sudden he becaetting on very well, Sachs,' he said 'You've only been at it one year It's taken et where I ary to stand for that sort of talk I said to hireat and enviable man, Mr Florance, but I propose to save fifteen years on your twenty-five I'll equal or better your position in ten years'

”He shoved me out--just shoved me out of the roo Florance wrote his own plays so and his face that saved them And they were too American He never did really well outside America except in one play, and that wasn't his own Noas out after est possible public So I guessed there was nothing for it but the universal appeal I never write a play that won't appeal to England, Ger, but it isn't big enough for ot a one-act play produced at Hannibal, Missouri And the sa the oldthe theatrical critic's article in the Hannibal _Courier-Post_ was headed: 'Rival attractions Archibald Florance's ”Forty-Niners” and new play by Seven Sachs' I cut that heading out and sent it to the old ot in six months'

When he caain What price that, eh?”

Edward Henry could only nod his head The customarily silent Seven Sachs had little by little subdued him to an admiration as mute as it was profound

”Nearly five years after that I got a Christmas card from old Florance It had the usual printed wishes--'Merriest possible Christmas and so on'--but, underneath that, Archibald had written in pencil, 'You've still five years to go' Thatti at the corner of Broadway and Forty-fourth Street, and looking at my own name in electric letters on the Criterion Theatre First time I'd ever seen it in electric letters on Broadway It was the first night of 'Overheard' Florance was playing at the Hudson Theatre, which is a bit higher up Forty-fourth Street, and _his_ name was in electric letters too, but further off Broadway than mine I strolled up, just out of idle curiosity, and there the oldin the porch of the theatre, all alone! 'Hullo, Sachs,' he said, 'I'lad I've seen you It's savedto send you a telegraratulations' He liked me, old Archibald did He still does But I hadn't done with hi Island in the spring

'Excuse me, Mr Florance,' I says to hiot on the road?' He said, 'Oh! I haven't got ot six here in the United States, two in England, three in Austria, and one in Italy' He said, 'Have a cigar, Sachs; you've got the goods on nificent house all alone, with a whole regiment of servants!”

V

”Well,” said Edward Henry, ”you're a great man!”

”No, I'm not,” said Mr Seven Sachs ”ButI'reat man!” Edward Henry repeated Mr Sachs's recital had inspired hireatdelivered himself of his load, had now lapsed coinal silence, and was prepared to listen But Edward Henry, soated past He was absorbed in the greater future

At length he said very distinctly:

”You honestly think I could run a theatre?”

”You were born to run a theatre,” said Seven Sachs

Thrilled, Edward Henry responded:

”Then I'll write to those lawyer people, Slossons, and tell 'em I'll be around with the brass about eleven to-morrow”

Mr Sachs rose A clock had delicately chimed two

”If ever you co for you--” said Mr Sachs, heartily

”Thanks,” said Edward Henry They were shaking hands ”I say,” Edward Henry went on ”There's one thing I want to ask you Why _did_ you promise to back Rose Euclid and her friends? You must surely have known--” He threw up his hands