Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-10-16

0AAGH lot uAlladlAs
II Chalker wished TO keep up his old &C.
quaintanes with Joe Gallop there must be
some good reason. Now the only reason
which suggested itself to Joe at that mo-
ment was that Chalker had lately drawn 3
new will for the old man, and that he him
self might be In it Here he was wrong.
The only reason OF Mr.. Chalksr's friendly
attitude was curiosity to know what Joe
was doing and how he was living.
LOOK here, Chalker, " Joe whispered, "you
used to pretend to DO a pal What's the
good of being a pal II you won't help a fell
lowi You ses my grandfather once a week
or SO; you shut the door and have long talks
with him. If you know what he's going to
do with his money, why not tell a fellowi
Let's make a business matter OF it."
"How much do you know, Joe, and what
Is your bushes proposal WorthP'
Nothing at all; that's the honest TRUTH
know nothing. The old mans as tight as
wax. But there's other business in the world
besides his. Suppose l know Of something
a precious sight better than his investments,
and suppose-just suppose-that l wanted a
lawyer to manage 1t for me-"
"Well, JoeT'
"Tncorel Bravol Encorel Bravor' Joe
banged his stick on the floor and shouted be-
cause the singer ended her first song. He
looked SO fierce and big that all the by
Etanders made haste to follow his example
Splendid, isn't sheF' he said.
"Hang the singer! What do you mean by
other businessP'
"Perhaps it's nothing. Perhaps there will
be thousands in it. And perhaps l can get
along without you, after all"
Every well, Joe. Get on without me if
you like"
"Look here, Chalker," Joe laid a ~petsua-
sive hand on the others arm, cant we two
be friendlyl Why don't you give n fellow a
lift2 All l want to know is where the old
mans put his money, and how he's left it."
Suppose l do know" Mr.. Chalker re-
piled, wishing a~rdently that he did, 'do you
think l am going to betray trust-a solicitor
betray trust-and for nothingl But if you
want to talk real business, Joe, come to my
office. You know where that is"
Joe knew very well; in fact, there had
been more than ono difficulty which had
been adjusted through Mr.. Chalkor's not
wholly disinterested aid.
Then the singer appeared again nttired in
a new and startling dress, and Joe began
once more to applaud again with voice and
stick. Mr.. Chalker, surprised at this newly
developed enthusiasm for art, left him and
walked up the hall and sat down beside the
chairman, whom he seemed to know. In
fact the chairman vas also the proprietor of
the show, and Mr.. Chalker was acting for
him in his professional capacity, much as
he had acted for Mr.. Emblem.
"Who is your new singerT he asked"
'She calls herself Miss Carlotta Claradine.
She's a woman, let me tell you, Mr.. Chalker,
who will get along, Fine figure, plenty of
cheek, loud voice, filings herself about, and
don't mind a bit when the words are q leetle
strong. That's the kind of singer the people
like. That's her husband, at the far end of
the room-the big, good looking chap with
the light moustache and the cigarette in his
mouth"
"WhewW Mr.. Chalker whistled tho low
note which indicates surprise. ''rnat's hel
husband, is itl The husband Of Miss Car.
lotta Claradine, is it? Ohoi ohol Her hus.
band! Are you sure he is her husbandp'
"Do you know him thenT
eyes, 1 know him. What was the real
name of the grip
OAAtAA AgAAA1AAOA De III 10 llJl IL Do ED4
pearance on any stage-and we made up the
name for her when we first put her on the
posters. / made it myself-out of Chloro-
dyne, you know, which is in the advertise
ments. Sounds well, don't itl-Carlotta
Claradine."
every well, indeed. By Jovel Her hus-
band, is her.
"And, I suppose" said the Chairman,
olives on his wife's salary. Bless you, Mr..
Chalker, there's a whole gang about every
theatre and music hall trying to get hold OF
the promising girls. It's a regular profes.
sion. Them as have nothing but their good
looks may do for the Washers, but these
chaps look out for the girls who'll bring in
the money What's a pretty face to them
compared with the handling Of a big salary
every weekl That's the sort Carlotta's hus.
band belongs to-"
well, the life will suit him down to the
ground"
"And Jealous with it, if you please. He
comes here every night to applaud and takes
her home himself. Keeps himself sober on
purpose"
And then the lady appeared again in a
wonderful costume Of blue silk and tights,
p%ersonating the Lion Washer. 1t was her
third and last song.
In the applause which followed Mr..
Chalker could discern plainly the stick as
we'll as the voice of his old friend. And he
thought how beautiful is the love of hus-
band unto wife, and he smiled, thinking that
when Joe came next to see him he might
perhaps hear truths which he had thought
unknown, and, for certain reasons, wished
to remain unknown.
Presently he saw the singer pass down the
hall and Join her husband, who now, his la
bors ended, was seeking refreshment at the
bar. She was a good looking girl-still only
a girl, and apparently under twenty
quietly dressed, yet looking anything but
quiet. But that might have been due to her
fringe, which was, so to speak, a prominent
feature In her face. She was tall and well
made, with large features, an ample cheek,
q full eye and a wide mouth. A good ma
tured looking girl, and though her mouth
was wide 1t suggested smiles. The husband
was exchanging o little graceful badinage
with the barmaid when she joined him, and
perhaps this made her look a little cross.
'fShe's jealous, too" said Mr.. Chalksr, OBJ
servant; "all the better" Yet a face which,
on the whole, was prepossessing and good
natured, and betokened a disposition tc
make the best Of the world.
Chow long has she been married ~ Mr..
Chalker asked the proprietor.
"Only about a month or So"
"Ahl'
Mr.. Chalker proceeded to talk business,
zuJ ..r,o ~ f..tl.. lit - 49, 49, ..