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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
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