The San Francisco call., 1904-07-17

deep in his pockets ana put Oul .IidI
square chin Of his like the hsnter ne Is.
This girl Olden' is anything but
doubtful She's a big card right now
if she could be we'll handled. And the
time isn't so far Off when, II you get
her. you people will be-
Just how much IS your interest In
her WORTH" the little man sneered-
Obermuller glared at him and In the
pause 1 murmured demurely;
"Only a six-year contract
Mag. you should have seen 'em jump
both Of 'em; the little man with NeX-
alton. the big one with surprise.
A contract Me2-Nance Olden! why
Mag, you innocent, OF course 1 hadnt L
Managers don't give six-year contracts
to girl-burglars who've never set loot
on the stage.
When the little man was gone, OOer-
muller cOrnered me.
What's your game. Olden?" he cried
You're too deep for me; throw up
my hands. Come. what've you got IN
that smart little head OF yours? Are
you holding out for higher stakes
Do you expect him to buy that great
six-year contract and divvy the pro-
ceeds with me2 Because he wtll-when
once they get their eye on you. they'll
have you; and to turn up your nose
at their offer is just the way to make
them itch for YOU But how the deuce
did you find 1t out? And where DO
you get your nerve from. anyway A
little beggar like you to refuse an ofrer
from the T. T. and sit Matching your
schemes on your little old 'steen dollars
a week! . It'll have to be twice
'steen. now. suppose?"
"An right. just as you say
laughed. But why aren't you IN the
Trust, Fred Obermuller2''
why aren't you IN society, NanceE
"Uml-weu, because society's preju-
diced against lifting. but the Trust
isn't. Do you know that's great
graft, Mr.. ObermuIler-ifting whole
sale? Why don't you get tn?
because a trust Is a lot OF sailors
on a raft who keep their places BY
kicking OF the drowning hands that
clutch at it. Can you fancy a fellow
like Tausig STOPPING down to help me
tenderly on board to divide the pick
ings?"
mo. but can fancy you graphing
with him till he'd be glad to take you
on rather than be pulled of himself.
you'd be in with the push. would
you, Olden, II you were managingG ne
asked with a grin.
I'D be at the TOD wherever that
was"
Then why the deuce didn't you jump
at Tausigs offer? Were you really
crafty enough
II am artistic. Monsieur Obermuller."
1 gutturaled like Mademoiselle Picotte.
who dances on the wire. Il moost have
about me those who arre-who ARE
cOngeniale-"
You monkey" he laughed. Then.
when Tausig comes to buy your con-
tract
Wen tell him to go to thunder
He laughed. Say, Mag that big fell
low is like boy when he's pleased.
guess that's what makes it such fun to
please him.
And I, who admired your business
sagacity in holding of, Nance!" he
said.
L thought you admired my take-on
Of Mademoiselle Picotte.'
"WeH?"
We'll. why don't you make use OF It?
Take me round to the theaters and
let me mimic all the swell actors and
actresses. I've got more chance with
you than with that Trust gang. They
wouldn't give me room to do my own
stunt; they'd make me fit into theirs.
But you"
But me, You think you can wind
me round your hngerT'
''Not-yet-"
He chuckled. I thought I had him
going. I saw Nance Olden spending
her evenings at the big Broadway
theaters, when, just at that minute.
Ginger, the call-boy. burst In with a
note.
Say, Mag. I wouldn't like to get that
man Obermuller hopping mad at me.
and Nancy Olden's no coward. either.
But the way he gritted his teeth at
that note and the devil in his eyes when
he lifted them from 1t, made me wonder
how I'd ever dared be facetious with
him.
1 got up to go. He'd forgotten me.
but he looked UP then.
THAT was a great suggestion OF
yours, Olden. TO put Lord Gray on to
act himself-great." His voice shook,
he was so angry.
"WeI!" 1 snapped 1 wasn't going to
let him see that a big man raging
could bluff Nance Olden.
What did he mean? Why-iust this:
there was Lord Harold Gray, the real
Lord behind the scenes. bringing the
Lady who was really only a chorus
girl to the show in his automobile;
helping her dress like a maid; holding
her box Of jewels as he tagged after
her like big Newfoundland; smoking
his one cigarette solemnly and admir-
ingly while she was on the stage; pok-
ing after her like a tame bear. He's a
funny fellow, that Lord Harold. He's
Tom Dorgan, with the brains and the
graft and-and the brute, too, Mag,
washed out Of him; a Tom Dorgan
that's been kept dressed in swagger
clothes all his life and living at top
notch-a big. clean, handsome. stupid,
goOd-natured, Overgrown boy.
Yes, I'm coming to II. When I'd seen
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