The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-09-12
!, DIE l. MA
IS IT ERS

who knew Turner and bis little ways,
and could SEQ the devil IN Telka's. eyes,
but Rose only smiled and went on loving
them both IN hor frank. t.ue way.
Then one day she woke up.
They we're out IN Montaua-BItte or
Helena. FORGET which-and she had been
married Just three months.
One night she was coming from the
dressing room. The corridor under the
stage was almost dark. but a gas JET
nckerod at the far end near the stair
way and she stopped when she saw two
ngures standing under it
They were Turner and the Hungarian.
He held her closely. one hand lifting her
dark beautiful face upwards aH he kissed
her, ana Rose watched them until the 7
words.
II was Telka who spoke. Turner had
said something 20 her under his breath
and she leaned her head back on his
shoulder with a laugh all her hearts
love In her great. dark ewes.
she cannot hurt u.s." she said lightly.
when we have Eone she viii only cry,
and cry. and break her heart. She is
that kind"
And Rose went back TO her dressing
room aud stood before the mirror, look
Ink curiously al the white. hardened
face that stared back at her. But never
a word or glance betrayed her knowledge
10 the other two when she went uDon
the stage FOR the turn.
Tell1a had never seemed so fun OF life
She stood I'm tho wings. flirting with
some OF the boys and watching Turner
now and then from beneath her long
lnshes. as he lounged over near Rose.
The latter was gentle and tender ne
ever She fiecked a bit OF powder from
his coat with her finger tips. and relSa
moved restiessly and hummed a bar or
SO of the march they were playing.
Turner always tested the traps and
guy ropes before the act, ana tonight
Rose watched every move he made, her
blue eyes sweet and thoughtful
"She'a an nwfully nice little woman. "
some one said at his elbow when he came
on and stood ia the wings TO watch the
act And he nodded absently his gaze
on the slim Frenchy figure IN black and
gold flying back and forth In the changing
Rose saved the lean until the last She
had modernized u and arranged Il sister
jump from the top Of the tent. Il was a
drop from the fles Tor the Hungarian.
with Rose ready 20 catch her wrists as
she hung by her knees IN the rings.
AZ first Rose had dono the leap but
when rcika became the start sho teascd
Tor the fall. too. Maybe Rose was glad
e turn a,5. i over ,9s, efsSr q ye9rg at y and
any rate sho did a. and lately, when Il
was time for the drop. Iurner had walk
ea away 80 as not 10 see IT, He had not
But tonight he forgot 20 turn away
and 30 he had fun View of the whole
horrible thing, Just es Rose meant hs
and Telka poised herself and when shs
saw her falling she folded her arms on
her breast and waited smiling.
She was smiling atili when tho scene
closed In. and the crowd gathered around
the limp dead thing IN tAack ana gold
that lay IN heap Under the rings
smiling when Turner barsi into fooiah
sobs as he raised the limp broken neck
OF Telka on his knee and brushed back
tho thick brown hair.
And when they tried 10 tell her What
she had done she only laughed at them
and they knew she had found revenge IL
her own way.
Dead9 No one knows They burlet
her alive IN some asylum out there n
the mountains She was never violent
only forever smiling ard humm'ng th,
march air they PLAYED when she SEN
Telke 10 her death.
And Turner one sees him on Broad
wav now and then. ife hasn't done hii
snecinity since the Montana affair. ami
thew say be a. drinking himself 20 heatf
to drown the memory OF Rose Dtina
laughter that rings in hiu ears forever