The San Francisco call., 1904-07-17
VII.

And that's why, Marguerite de Mon
ahan, I want you to buy in with the
madam here. Let 'em keep on calling
1t Troyon's as much as they want, but
you're to be a partner on the money
I'll give you. II this fairy story lasts
it'll be your own, Mag-a sort OF COM
mission you get on my take-of OF you
But If anything happens to the world
If 1t should go crazy, or get sane and
not love Nancy Olden any more, Why
heren be a place for me, too.
Does it look that way? Divil a bit.
you croaker! 1t looks-it looks-listen
and I'll tell you how it looks.
1t looks as though Gray and the
great Gray rose diamond and the three
Charities had all become bit OF back
ground for Nance Olden to play upon.
1t looks as though the audience likes
the sound OF my voice as much almost
as do myself; anyway. as much as it
does the sight OF me.
It looks as though the press. II you
please. had discovered a new stage
star. for down comes little reporter
to interview meme, Nance OldenI
Think Of It. MagI I receive him all IN
my Charity rig. and in Obermuller's s
and tell him lot Of nonsense, but
some truths, too, about the Cruelty.
Fancy. he didn't know what the Cru
city wasl 8. p. c. c.. he calls It And
all the time we talked q long-haired
German artist he had brought with him
was sketching Nance Olden in different
poses. Isn't that the limit?
What dye think Tom Dorgan'd say
- T.,
the X-Rayf Wouldn't his eyes pop?
Poor old Toni - No danger
they won't let him have the papers.
Ny old Tommy
What Is It. Mag7 Oh. what was I
saying7 Yes-yes. how 1t looks.
Well, It looks as though the Trust
yes, the big and mighty T. T.-short
for Theatrical Trust. you innocent
had heard Of that same Nance Olden
you read about in the papers. For one
night last week, when I'd just come
off and the house was yelling and
shouting behind me, Obermuller meets
me in the wings and trots me off to
his private office.
what for7" I asked him on the
way.
You'll find out in a minute. Come
on"
pulled up my stocking and followed.
You know wear 1t in that act without
a garter, and it's always coming down
the way yours used to. Mag. Even
when it doesn't come down pull 1t up.
I'm so in the habit OF doing it.
A little bit Of man, -bald-headed,
with a dyspeptic little black mustache
turned down at the corners, watched
me come in. He grinned at my make
up, and then at me.
Clever little girl" he says through
his nose. How much do you stick
Obermuller for?"
Clever little man" say I, bold as
brass and through my own nose; none
of your business
"Hi-you, Olden!" roared Obermuller.
as though I'd run away and hs was
trying to get the bit from between my
teeth. Answer the gentleman prettily.
Don't you know a representative Of the
mighty T. T. when you see him? Can't
you see the Syndicate aureole about his
noble brow? This gentleman, Nance,
is the great and only Max Tausig He
humbleth the exalted and uplifteth the
lowly-or, If there's more money in it,
he gives to him that hath and steals
from him that hasn't, but would mighty
well like to have. He has no con-
science, no bowels, no heart. But he
has got tin and nerve and power to
beat the band. In short, and for all
practical purposes for one in your pro-
fession, Nancy Olden, he's just God.
Down on your knees and lick his boots
Trust gods wear boots. patent leath-
ers-and thank him for permitting IT.,
you lucky baggage!"
I looked at the little man; the angry
red was just fading from the top Of
his cocoanut-shaped bald head.
"You always were a fool Obermul-
ler," he said cordially. And you were
always over-fond Of your low-comedian
Jokes. If you hadn't been so smart with
your tongue you'd had more friends
and not so many enemies in"
"In the heavenly Syndicate. Ell? Well,
have lived without"
you have lived. but
"But where do 1 expect to go when
I die? Good theatrical managers.
Nance, when they die as individuals go
to heaven-they get into the Trust.
After that they just touch buttons; the
Trust does the rest. Bad ones-the
hckers-the Fred Obermullers go to
place where salaries cease from
troubling and royalties are at rest It's
a slow place where-where. In short,
there's nothing doing. And only one
things done-the kicker. It's that
place Mr.. Tausig thinks I'm bound for.
And it's that place he's come to rescue
you from, from sheer goodness of heart
and a wary eye for all there's in it.
Cinch him, Olden, for all the traffic
! will bear!"
| I looked from one to the other-Ober-
muller, big and savage underneath all
his gay talk, I knew him we'll enough
: to see that; the little man, his mouth
turned down at the corners and a sneer
! IN his eve for the fellow that wasn't
? clever enough to get in with the push.
: eYou must not give the young woman
: the big head. Obermuller. Her own is
? big enough, I'll bet, as 1T is. 1 amt
prepared to make any startling offer