ion! Anything in reason I will be delighted to do for Penrose and
Miss Archer--but you must surely realize that I can't do that!"

"But wait!" said Mrs. Coppered, eagerly, not at all discouraged. "Don't
say no yet! I AM an actress, Mr. Wyatt, or was one. I know the part
thoroughly. And the circumstances--the circumstances are unusual,
aren't they?"

While she was speaking the manager was steadily shaking his head.

"I have no doubt you could play the part," said he, "but I can't upset
my whole company by substituting now. Tomorrow is going to be a big
night. The house is completely sold out to the Masons--their convention
week, you know. As it happens, there couldn't be a more inconvenient
time. No, I can't consider it!"

Mrs. Coppered smiled at him. She had a very winning smile.

"It would mean a rehearsal; I suppose THAT would be inconvenient, to
begin with," she said.

"Exactly," said Wyatt. "Friday night. I can't ask my people to rehearse
to-morrow."

"But suppose you put it to them and they were all willing?" pursued the
lady.

"My dear lady, I tell you it's absolutely--" He made a goaded gesture.
Then, making fierce little dashes and dots on his blotter with his
pencil, and eying each one ferociously as he made it, he added
irritably, but in a quieter tone: "You're an actress, eh? Where'd you
get your experience?"

"With various stock companies on the Pacific Coast," she answered
readily. "My name was Margaret Charteris. I don't suppose you ever
heard it?"

"As it happens, I HAVE," he returned, surprised into interest. "You
knew Joe Pitcher, of course. He spoke of you. I remember the name very
well."

"Professor Pitcher!" she exclaimed radiantly. "Of course I knew
him--dear old man! Where is he--still there?"

"Still there," he assented absently. "You married, I think?"

"I am Mrs. Coppered now--Mrs. Carey Coppered," she said. The man gave
her a suddenly awakened glance.

"Surely," he said thoughtfully. They looked steadily at each other, and
Duncan saw the color come into Margaret's face. There was a little
silence.

Then the manager flung down his pencil, wheeled about in his chair, and
rubbed his hands briskly together.

"Well!" he said. "And you think you can take Miss Archer's place, Mrs.
Coppered?"

"If you will let me."

"Why," he said,--and Duncan would not have believed that the somewhat
heavy face could wear a look so pleasant,--"you are doing so much, Mrs.
Coppered, in stepping