Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-18

both of EN-: the little nan with vexation.
the big one with surprise.
A contract Me?-Nance Oldeni Why,
Mag. you innocent. of course L hadn't
Managers don't give siX-year contracts to
girl burglars who've never set foot on the
stage
When the little man gone. Obermuller
cornered me.
what's your game, Olden?" he cried.
| You're too deep for me: l throw up my
hands Come: what've you got in that
smart little head of yours? Are you hold
ing out for higher stakes? Do you expect
him to buy that great six-year contract and
divvy the proceeds with me? Because he
will-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. Eut 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 offer from the T. T. and
sit Matching your schemes on your little old
'steen dollars week. It'll have to
be twice 'steen. now, l SUPPOSE
"All right, just as you say" l laughed
But why aren't you in the trust Fred
Obermuller?"
! why aren't you in society. Nance?"
"Um.-well. because societys prejudiced
against lifting, but the trust isn't. Do you
know that's great graft. Mr.. ObermulIer
lifting wholesale? Why don't you get
in?"
Because trust is lot of sailors on
raft who keep their places by kicking off
the browning ndDQS tflaI ClUtCn at IL. can
you fancy a fellow like Tausig STOPPING
down to help me tenderly on board to d.
vide the pickfngs?"
No, but fancy you graphing with him
till he'd be glad to take you on rather than
be pulled off himself"
You'd be in with the push would you.
Olden, II you were managing" he asked
with a grin.
Then why the deuce didn't you jump at
Tausig's offer? Were you really crafty
. enough"
II am artistic. Monsieur Obermuller."
guttuEaled like Mademoisellsr Picotte who
dances on the wire. Il moost have about
me those who arre-who ARE congeniaIe-"
You monkey he laughed Then. when
Tausig comes to buy your contract"
Wen tell him to go to thunder
He laughed. Say. Mag, that big fellow is
like boy when he's pleased 1 guess that's
what makes 1t such fun to please him.
And /, who admired your business sa-
gacity in holding Off. Nancen' he said
Il thought you admired my take-or of
Mademoiselle Picotte"
"Well?"
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
mt into theirs. But you"
But me! You think you can wind me
round your finger?"
He chuckled 1 thought I had him going.
saw Nance Olden spending her evenings
at the big Broadway theaters, when. lust
at that minute, Ginger, the calIboy. burst
in with note.
Say, Mag, wouldn't like to get that man
Obermuller hopping mad at me- and Nancy
Olden's no coward, either. But the way
ne gr1tted 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.
got up to go. He'd forgotten me but
he looked up then.
THAT was great suggestion Of yours
Olden. to put Lord Gray on to act himself
great" His voice shook he was so angry
"Well!' l snapped. l wasn't going to let
him see that big man raging could bluff
Nance Olden.
What did he mean? Why-just this:
there was Lord Harold Gray, the real lord,
behind the scenes. bringing the lady who
was really only 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
admiringly' while she was on the stage;
looking after her like tame bear. He's
q funny fellow, that Lord Harold. He's q
Tom Dorgan, with the brains and the graft
and--and the brute. too. Mag. washed out
of him: 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 1t. When I'd sean