The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-02

-AAOL I'LL
Wen. well. Well" exclaimed the Ma
( Jor as he held out his hand for a shake.
Mrs. Stubbins.I am thrice glad to see
you only yesterday I sent out to Da-
kota to try and find where you were
located You don't know how often I
nave thought OF you and your kindness
20 me. For months and months yoiz
We're Ike mother to me. And you
nave gust come on from the west?''
blafney. she answered. as she drew
herseH IN and pointed a finger at him
Il am no longer d trusting. confding
laundress, but have gone on the stage
ana got my eyes opened. am no
longer Mrs. Nancy Stubbins but Miss
fosalle Cathcart. Caitiff come down
Win the shekeis or 1 viii make it tor
And so you have gone on the stage
b$ george, but what coincidence
what a coincidence. 1 have a three-act
piayF right there in my desk and vvas
wondering where I could find q =
70 take the leading part. You have iusS
the right Hgure-you look the mart
your fortune IS made. Right here. With
out gong any. further offer Won SION
per week to take the role A raz
Aidl F.eu before, what a coincidence
Mercurlo, tlInkest not to deceive me
with honeyed speech artfully replied
MIS- Stubbins, as she balanced on one
1901. II am here for the oof Produce
or get ready for a duh thudn
by George but what taIent-vl1af
acung, whispered the Major. as he
gazed ia admiration. Sarah Bernhard
ISM within forty rods of you. I've got
Szv.veO ready 10 put my play on the
road and make you the brightest star
IN America If yOu'll come in this ar
ternoon III have a contract ready for
you to sign. You'll carry the country
by storm
"Mercurio, hast thou the rhfno-rnv
little S4s02 I call upon thee to hand it
over, and if thou dost not then may
the consequences be upon thine own
head"
You mean that little balance2 Yes.
III pay, Of course, but that will come
later l think I can make your salary
$l25 per week, and I'd like to begin the
rehearsals at once I'm also willing to
advance you $500 for any stage ward
robe you may need Can you come in
at . o'clock o.
Al two Of the clock. Mercurio
Wouldst engage me, - unused Mrs. Stub
bins with her finger on her nose, but
know the artfulness of man and can
not be bamboozled Let him stand
forth like a. man and pay me that
which he Owest, and later on 1 will an
swer him"
Perhaps could make it $3.50 per
week, said the Major, as he toyed
with his watch chain You grow bet
ter and better. ] don't want to make
you egotistica1. but Mary Anderson
couldnt hold a candle to you. I'll have
your name from Kalamazoo to Handy
within q year. Your role is tragedy
and you want to stick to it. Shall we
say 2 o'clock2 I want to get the con
tract signed and hire 4 hall"
My answer to thee, Mercurio, is
this" hcarsely Whispered ~Rosalia -
as she reached out and seized the
Majors coat collar and almost broke
his neck, as she gave a sudden yank.
"FIere-hofd on You are becoming
little too strenuous AS I said before,
the trifing balance between us will be
paid but let US"
sMercurio thou must cough up now and
here. Canst thou not realize-.iost thou not
sec-that I am no longer the humble
( laundress Of the washboard ard the fiat
! iron but an actress who has Travelled and
met M with the artful dodger2 With one
4 hand grasp thy coat collar. and with the
other thy luxvriant locks, ana prithee.
and what do you want2"
My cot thou man of tricks
You shall have it this afternoon"
Talk not to me Of time. Nfercurio but
place the ducats in my hand without de-
sAnd you'd sacrifice an engagement al
/ $50 per to get $3.50" he indignantly de-
handed as Mrs. Stubbins held him with
an iron grip
Il wouldn't. Mercurio therefore. let us
waste no mere time. Shouldst I clutch my
other hand in thy locks thou mayest be
numbered with the baldheads.
The major paid It took the last cent
/ he had but he handed it over and heaNed
sigh Of relief as Mrs. stuboins loosened
s'-Tfs v-all she said. as she counted the
sum. TITS well Mercurio. and now &c
4 hence 10 my playfellows and tell them that
the Artful Dodger is happy no more. Fare
well-agafn farewell"
The major stood and looked after nef
with rneful countenanee. When the echo
Of her footsteps had died away he said te
'adercurio was blamed fool and J an
otto"