"Why," replied Sparkley, "Miss Hollingsworth, who has been playing the part that Mrs. Anderson is billed for, has been here, and has had an interview with her successor, and got her so worked up that she absolutely refuses to appear." "Why, I told the woman that she needn't come at all to-night!" cried Mr. Wattles. "Well, she's here as large as life." "Why did you let her in, Sparkley?" "I couldn't very well refuse her admittance; she is a member of the company." "That's so." "Besides, I had no idea that she was going to raise a row. I think that Farley was at the bottom of the business; I saw him talking to her outside just before she came in." "You did? That explains the whole thing. Well, I'm just going to let things take their course." At this moment Mrs. Anderson came rushing toward them, evidently greatly excited. She was closely followed by a young woman, quite as much agitated as herself. Both women began talking at once, and it was two or three minutes before Mr. Wattles could make himself heard. When at last he succeeded in doing so, he said: "Now, ladies, if you will speak one at a time, and talk slow, I will try to straighten things out. What is the trouble, Mrs. Anderson?" "That woman," sobbed the society belle, indicating the actress, "has grossly insulted me. I cannot, I will not play." "Have you forgotten your promise to me, Mrs. Anderson?" interposed Al. "No, I have not, and I am very sorry that I cannot fulfill it. But it is impossible." "I only told her," snapped Miss Hollingsworth, a fiery-looking, dark-haired, black-eyed woman, "that she was a rank amateur, and so she is. Why, it is an insult to give such a woman my part!" "Yes, that's what she said," cried Mrs. Anderson, in a high-pitched voice. "I would never play the part unless she was discharged." The manager's face lighted up. "Will you play," he asked, "if I discharge her?" "Yes." "That settles it. Miss Hollingsworth, you are discharged." "Wha-a-t?" screamed the actress. "You heard what I said. You are given the usual two weeks' notice." "I am discharged, I, Olga Hollingsworth, on account of this woman?" "No, you are discharged because these exhibitions of bad temper on your part have tired me out. And now, madam," turning to Mrs. Anderson and speaking with the utmost politeness, "will you kindly return to your dressing room and complete your preparations for your appearance? You will have to go on in less than fifteen minutes." "I will do so, sir." And with a withering glance at the actress, the mayor's wife swept away. "You shan't forget this evening's work in a hurry, Mr. Gus Wattles!" hissed the enraged Miss Hollingsworth. "You'll rue the day when you made Dick Farley and me your enemies!" "So Farley is at the bottom of all this, is he?" said the manager. "I thought so."