Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-06-05

"Eh! ehr' he said, deIightedly. Doesn't
be bring down the house? An infant
prodigy, and all that, you know. Pom
nv word, it's worth the price of admis-
sion to see him alone.
"Rather a fit subject for the society for
the prevention of cruelty to children, 1
should say remarked Raymond, dry1y.
"For my part hate your infant prodi-
gies. They all ought to be in their beds
at this hour enjoying the sleep of health
full children"
The manager eyed him sharply.
"Stuff and nonsense" he grunted.
Then in a more cheerful tone: s"Just
watch him this next turn. His drunken
man is something wonderful. Pm capa.
BILE of criticising that, you know" And
he hushed the chuckle on his lips as
Little Dot-a complete metamorphosis-
staggered in with high silk hat crushed
over his eyes and white handkerchief
hanging from his coat-ta1 pocket.
The drunken hiccough and thick utter
ance with which he rendered the song
fairly convulsed the audience. When he
was through he was greeted with a ter
rife storm of applause.
"True to life, wasn't it" laughed the
manager. "Well, it ought to be. He's
had plenty of chances to get points,
goodness knows. His fathers Whitley,
of the Stars who are playing at the
Globe this week. Good actor, but bOozes
too much. That is why he and his wife
separated. It's lucky she's got the boy.
| He's worth cool SIS to her every week"
Raymond listened, with his eyes in
tent upon the stage. Little Dot was re-
spending to his second encore. When
he finished he was vociferously re-de-
manded. Again he came out and deliv-
of
evoked fresh applause. Raymond grew
indignant.
"What shame" he muttered an
grily. They'd keep the little fellow
before them the whole night if they
could" .
At this moment Little Dot appeared
from the wings and raised his hand to
his lips. The pink glow on his cheeks
had died out, and in its place was look
| of utter WEAKNESS. The audience must
have noticed it, for the house grew still
and the performance proceeded with the
next act. tt.t
Raymond buttoned up his overcoat
closely and left the theatre. It was a
bitter night and the streets were we'll
nigh deserted. The snow lay deep upon
the ground, and a raw, bleak wind blew
the still falling fakes into his face. In
spite of all his efforts he could not dis
miss the peaked, wan face from his
thoughts. A picture rose before him of
Little Dot, trudging his way back to the
hotel in all the snow at an hour when
other children were costly tucked away
in bed, and his heart was filed with
pity at the contrast.
"Poor little chapp' he said again with
sigh. "Pll give him good notices"
The next night found him at the Varie-
ties behind the scenes. At his request
he was taken by the manager to the
dressing-room that Little Dot occupied,
and introduced to him. The child was
with his mother, waiting to ego on"
Its the gentleman who was kind
enough to write the notice about you,"
she said to him. "You must thank him
for it."
ooh, it was you, was it?" He said,
turning his big blue eyes up at Raymond.
You're an editor, amt your"
The awe with which he asked this
question brouhght smile to Raymond's
face.
"Not exactly" he replied. 81 write for
the newspapers"
"Do your" said the child eagerly.
"How clever you must be! And it was
you who wrote that about me. Thank
you ever so much. You are very, very
good"
He put his hand to his forehead, and
held it there moment. Raymond no.
ticed it, and looked grave.
care you quite well?" he asked kindly.
Quite we'll" the child faltered "Oniy
only I'm little tired, and-my head
aches. Hurry, mamma" as the call-boy
appeared at the door; and, turning to
Raymond, he held out his little hand
Goodbye" he said, cts time for me to
go on"
Little Dot fastened with his mother
through the dark and gloomy passage
leading to the stage, and stood at wing
waiting for his cue. His mother stationed
herself near by to assist him in making
his changes.
Raymond and the manager sought the
front of the house.
"That youngster is going to be sick,
said the journalist, with conviction, when
they parted. "He looks half i'll now. It's
too bad that such a weak, delicate child
should have to be out nights in such bit
ter weather"
"Eh? what was that? Sick. did you
say" cried the manager in alarm. 81
hope mott hope not. 1t might affect
business, you know, if he didn't appear.
He is the strongest card on the bill next
week"
Raymond curled his lip slightly at the
others heartlessness, and walked off,
Somehow Little Dot interested him
strangely. It might have been that he
regarded the tiny favorite of the foot
lights with pitying tenderness for the
sake of his own children.
The next night he returned to the Va
rieties to find the fears he had enter
tanned realized. The manager met him
with note in his hand.
"Read it," he said with a scowl upon
his face.
Thus adiured, Raymond took it, and
glanced hurriedly at the contents. Tt
was to the effect that Little Dot was dan
gerously low with the scarlet fever, and,
as a consequence, could not perform the
rest of the week.
The words he read brought vivid rec
/ nllantinn of the two hahas who had Iain