A Star for a Night Part 22

"Every penny you have spent in this mad scheme must be returned to you.

I don't know how, or when, but I will work to earn the money and repay every cent. I will not be in your debt."

The telephone bell rang. Martha answered it.

"If you are expecting visitors--" Gordon said.

"It is only Mr. Clayton and I want you to see him," she said.

"Clayton again, eh? How long have you been friends?"

"I met him the same day I met you, at French Lick. He took an interest in me, in a business way, and loaned me the money I needed to come here and study for the stage. Every dollar of that debt has been repaid long since, but he is still a friend, tried and true, and one who would never have been guilty of your treachery of last night."

Clayton entered jauntily. He seemed somewhat surprised at seeing Gordon.

"Little business council?" he said easily.

"It happens to be something more," explained Martha. "I have pointed out to Mr. Gordon that there must be a final settlement between us."

"Just what I was going to say," replied Clayton, sitting on the arm of the great chair. "You see, Gordon, it is absolutely necessary that Miss Farnum--or some one else on her behalf--should return to you every dollar you have spent on her. As for what you actually lost in the starring venture--"

"Oh, I see," sneered Gordon. "A change of managers?"

"No," declared Martha. "I have had my chance, and I have failed.

To-night the theater will be closed."

"Well, that's wise, at any rate," said Gordon. "So it's merely a change of angels--with you, Clayton, to pay the bills?"

"Hereafter," said Clayton, calmly, "it will be my pleasure and my privilege to pay all of Miss Farnum's bills for life. She has promised to be my wife."

"What?" cried Martha, in surprise.

"Your wife?" demanded Gordon.

"Precisely," continued Clayton. "I bid higher than anything you can offer, Gordon. My bid includes a wedding ring."

Gordon stepped back, looked from Martha to Clayton, and back again to the girl, who stood, confused and embarra.s.sed, with her eyes turned toward the floor. Then the innate refinement and the result of years of breeding a.s.serted itself in Gordon's pale face. He stepped forward seriously to Martha.

"Miss Farnum," he said, humbly and sincerely, "better men than _I_ have made mistakes. May I wish you every happiness? The same to you, Clayton, with all my heart. Good-bye."

He turned and walked from the room. Not until he had gone did Martha dare to look Clayton squarely in the face.

"I was going to write you this morning," she said, "to tell you that I am going home."

"Without your manager's permission? Not even a two weeks' notice?"

"Do be serious, please," she pleaded. Then with a sudden outburst of pa.s.sion: "I've failed in everything I ever tried."

"You haven't failed in my eyes," declared Clayton, taking her hand, while she turned away from him. "You have merely missed one opportunity you had dreamed of."

"Yesterday I dreamed, but to-day I am awake. I am going home."

Clayton reached over and took her other hand, then swung her around so that she faced him and could not evade his direct glance.

"Didn't I tell Gordon I was going to marry you?" he demanded. "I've run out of all my other fads, and now my latest fad is trying to run away from me."

Martha gazed up at him coquettishly. "You mean you want to marry me just to see what I'll do?" she pouted.

"That's one of the reasons, not to mention loving you," replied Clayton, in a brisk, businesslike tone. "Well?"

Martha paused a moment. "Do you remember," she asked, "once you said the greatest success meant nothing if the right person did not share it with you?"

"Yes."

"You were right. And now I know that the greatest failure also means nothing, if the right person _does_ share it with you."

Clayton held out his arms entreatingly.

"I think I'm going to like my latest fad immensely," he whispered.

"And I shall try to stick longer than any of the others, even the postage stamps," she answered, as she nestled in his arms.

THE END