The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-10-16

Maidie Merrion, she was not Jimmy daughter. He had married her moth CT, who had once been a promi- nent London actress, when Maldie was
 an infant. Mrs. Merrion's professional name was Ada Sinclair, but there ap- peared to be some mystery concerning her first husband, and beyond the fact that he was a MT Douglas nothing was known of him. Mrs. Merrion had been dead some fifteen years, and old Jimmy had been a father to his wife's little or phan ever since.
 We had a long talk. Poor old Jimmy to use his own expression-Was near ly lon his uppers." He was running a tenth-rate trades and cycle exhibition without sufficient capital, and the sleepy town of Norford had not re- sponded to his call.
 I've tried all the wheezes, dear boy" he said dolefully. But it's no good. They won't come in.
 When does the exhibition closer" l asked
 "At the end of next week, We are not taking forty shillings day, in cluding side shows, and the expenses are thirty pounds a week" | What are you going to do?'
 q shall hang on here until the last possible minute" he whispered "and | then we must have bolt for it. I can't pay up, because I haven't flyer left" There was a moments uncomforta- ble silence, and I noticed the look of pain on Maidie's face. It was easy to see how the poor girl detested the life, and how old Jimmy's vulgarities grated on her, and yet she was too good lit tie woman to reproach the man who, with all his faults, had been so good to her.
 "Yes, laddie," said the old man, speaking for once quite naturally, I've had a good many struggles to keep on my feet, but I've always managed to pay my way. It'll be the first time I've had to bolt. I've had my day, We all come to the same thing in the show business. We get swamped at last, I shouldn't care so much if it wasn't for Maidie,' he said. Then, turning to the girl with tears twinkling in his eyes, he said, ''Why don't you leave me? I'm afraid I've got to the end of my tether,"
 T shall never leave you, dad" said Maidie quietly "so don't talk like that. We'll go to London together and make fresh start''
 Tn the meantime an idea had struck me. I was staying with Sir Andrew Stillingtieet at the time, whose place was only a few miles out of Norford. He, too, was something of an old show man, but an aristocratic one, and he and I and a few more were Syndicating a new piece which we were about to send on tour It occurred to me that If I could induce him, out of good na- ture, to pay visit to old Jimmy's ex- hibition the local aristocracy would be certain to follow suit. Besides, I might manage to get Maidie engaged for our new piece. I preached the subject to him when we were having an after-din- ner smoke. The man who is running that exhibition in Norford Is an old pal of mine" I said by way of introduction
 There's never anything worth seeing In Norford," said Sir Andrew, shortly.
 Hes in bit of hole" I continued. "The townspeople won't support him. I wish you would drive over one after noon and look in for half an hour. Everybody would think it good enough to go to- if you led the way"
 What's the name of the man?" he asked.
 It's Jimmy Merrion-not bad old sort in his way"
 Jimmy Merrion!" he said, sharply, and with sudden interest q know him. He was at Oxford with me Ran through his money, and went to the bad. The man was rather a bounder. But there are many worse."
 The following day, after luncheon, the old baronet suggested we should drive into Norford and see the exhibition. I acquiesced readily, as I knew what it would mean to Jimmy. Besides, I was anxious to see Maidie again I believe Sir Andrews visit had the desired ef- feet, and turned the tide in Jimmy's favor, for he told me afterward that he got out of it with a profit. But more Important things followed that visit.
 When the cigars and whiskey were going after dinner that night, to my surprise, Sir Andrew returned to the subject Nice girl that" he said, la conically.
 "Who?" I inquired.
 Jimmy MefIlOn QdugnteT. YOU re a bit smitten, are you not?" he said, giving me a shrewd look.
 Well, I said evasively. "T don't know about being smitten. She is very beautiful and she seems to have a sweet disposition"
 You mean to say she's the best girl you have ever seen in your life, and that you are head over heels in love with her, but don't like to own up" said the old man, dryly.
 I wondered for a moment If he were joking. But curiously enough he was quite In earnest. The old cynic was all most as much struck by her beauty and as I was myself. Would you like her to have part in the new play?" he asked.
 ''Yes, I should" I answered promptly. | And why not let Jimmy be agent in advance? We shall never get better | man.
 Sir Andrew agreed, and then added | careleSsly, q can't understand man like Merrion having such a daughter" "She is not his own daughter" I said. /,
 "Ah! I guessed as much he said, l helping himself to some soda. What | was the name of her mother?'
 Ada Sinclair" I answered. q be- 1 lieve she was fairly well known in her day"
 q remember her name" he said and noticed that as he held his tumbler to bn tirNI,, l,,.4 ,I-,,.