Beth Norvell

"But see here, Bob, at least give me the straight of all this. What 's

happening? What is it you are stacking me up against?"

"Box party at the Grand. Here, have a cigar. Just a family affair,

you know. First night; certain to be a swell crowd there; everything

sold out in advance. Supper afterwards, private dining-room at the

Annex--just ourselves; no guests, except only the Star and her manager."

"The Star? I never heard that you people went in for theatricals?"

"Lord! they never did; but they 've experienced a change of heart. You

see, Lizzie took to it like a duck to water--she was the baby, the kid,

you know--and, by thunder, the little girl made good. She 's got 'em

coming and going, and the pater is so proud of her he wears a smile on

him that won't come off. It 's simply great just to see him beau her

around downtown, shedding real money at every step. Nothing is too

good for Lizzie just now."

"And she is the Star?"

"Sure, and the lassie is going to have an ovation, unless all signs

fail. Society has got a hunch, and that means a gorgeous turnout. The

horse-show will be a back number. Lord, man, you can't afford to miss

it! Why, you 'd never see anything like it in Denver in a thousand

years."

Winston laughed, unable to resist entirely the contagious enthusiasm of

his friend.

"You certainly make a strong bid, Bob; but really if I did remain

overnight I 'd much prefer putting in the hours talking over old times.

With all due respect to your sister, old boy, I confess I have n't very

much heart for the stage. I 've grown away from it; have n't even

looked into a playhouse for years."

"Thought as much; clear over the head in business. Big mistake at your

age. A night such as Lizzie can give you will be a revelation. Say,

Ned, that girl is an actress. I don't say it because she 's my sister,

but she actually is; they 're all raving over her, even the critics.

That's one reason why I want you to stay. I 'm blame proud of my

little sister."

"But I have n't my evening dress within a thousand miles of here."

"What of that? I have no time now to run out to the house and get into

mine. I 'm no lightning change artist. Lizzie won't care; she 's got

good sense, and the others can go hang. Come on, Ned; we 'll run over

to the Chicago Club and have a bite, then a smoke and chat about Alma

Mater; after that, the Grand."

* * * * * * The great opera house was densely crowded from pit to dome, the boxes

and parquet brilliant with color and fashion, the numberless tiers of

seats rising above, black with packed, expectant humanity. Before

eight o'clock late comers had been confronted in the lobby with the

"Standing Room Only" announcement; and now even this had been turned to

the wall, while the man at the ticket window shook his head to

disappointed inquirers. And that was an audience to be remembered, to

be held notable, to be editorially commented upon by the press the next

morning.