“And I forgot to look at the papers this morning,” mused Compton regretfully.
“I did not forget, but I haven’t had time. Wait a minute; there may be something about it.”
Moore returned shortly, wearing a smile and waving the Los Angeles Times.
“Say, that old thing of yours, ‘You Hardly Can Tell,’ has scored a tremendous hit. Look at these headlines!” And Compton looked and gasped. These were the headlines:
Who Is the Star of “You Hardly Can Tell?”
Bobby Compton the New Juvenile Star or John Compton the Comedian? You Hardly Can Tell.
“Say,” exclaimed Compton, running his eyes down the review itself, “that’s good stuff! I’m a little jealous of my reputation, but there are a few persons in the world who may outshine me, and I’m glad of it; and Bobby is first of all.”
“I think,” said Moore, “that you’ll have plenty of chance to be glad, then.”
“The boy comes by his gifts honestly,” continued Compton. “His father was an actor, and as for his mother, though she never appeared upon the regular stage, she was a wonder, both at the convent school and later in society, as an amateur actress. Nothing could persuade her to go on the stage, though she received before her marriage most tempting offers.”
“You know a lot about her,” said Moore incredulously.