Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-16

nv mind / had other fish to fry. Straight
down to Mother Douty l went Win my
basket.
"A fool GIRL mother. on her way up to
Sing Sing, lost her basket, and Nance
Olden found it; 1t ought to be worth
good deal
Douty believe that the Lord himself
wouldn't steal if He got a chance. And
she knows the chances that come buttins
up against Nancy Olden.
Why did I lie to her? Not for pract1ce'
I assure you. Shed have beaten me down
to the last cent If she thought II was
mine, but she always thinks therell be
find for her in something that's stolen. 80
l let her think I'd stolen it in the railway
station. and we came to terms.
With what she gave me I bought wig.
Mag, 1 want you some day. when you can
get off,, to come and see that wig. l
shouldn't wonder but you'd recognize it.
It's red, Of very coarse hair. but Won
derful color. and so long it-yes. 1t might
be your own Mag Monahan, it's SO much
like it. l went to the theater and got my
charity rig. took 1t home. and sat for hours
there just looking at 'em both. When
evening came l was ready to earn 1t
now
You see, Obermuller had given me the
whole day to be away. and neither Gray
nor the other three charities expected me
back. l had to do it on the sly, you sassy
Mag! Yes, 1t was partly because love to
cheat, but NOR. because was bound to have
my chance once whether anybody else en-
joyed IL or not
1 came to the theater N my charity rig
and tho wig. 1t looked as Il I'd slept in 1t.
and it came down to the dcagged hem OF
the skirt. All the way there l walked like
you. Mag. Once. when a newsboy grinned
at me and shouted Carrots" l grinned
back-your own. old cruelty grin. Mag; l
vow fel- SO much like you-as you used to
be-that when 1 lurched out on the stage
a. last, stumbling over my shoe laces and
trying to push the hair out of my eyes,
you'd have sworn it was little Mag Mona
han making her debut in tie cruelty board
room.
Oh. Mag Mag. you darling Mag! Did you
ever hea. whole house, great big theater
full of 4 peevish vaudeville audience. just
rise at you, give one roar OF laughter they
hadn't expected at al! to give. and then set
tie down to giggling at every move you
made?
Girl alive just had EN-! They couldn't
take ;hc,r eyes off me. If l squirmad. they
Eowleu. If / stood on one foot, scratching
the torn leg of ny stocking with the other
you know. Mag-they yelled. II 1 grinned.
they just roared.
oh. Mag. can't you see? Don't you under
stand? l was it. The center of the stage
1 carried round with met was just Nancy
Oldea. And for ten minutes Nancy mad
nothing &c do but 20 play with EN-. Pom
my life, Mag it's just like stealing; tho
old graft exactly; it's so fascinating, SO
busy. and risky, except that they play the
game with you and Fay you and love you
10 IOol CHI
When tie curtain fell it was different.
Gray followed by the Charities. all clean
and spiclS-and-span and-not in 1t; not even
On the edge of it-5tor.ned up to Obernluller
standing at the winSs.
..Ill Gait the show here and now, she
squawked. It's shame, a beastly shame.
How dare you play me sucn i trick, FRED
Obermuler? | never was treated SO Ill my
life-to lave that dirty little wretch come
tumbling on like that. without even so
much as your telling me you'd made up all
this aew business for he. It's indecent,
anyway Why; lost my s cue: ,o mere cf was was
such a gaastly failure that /
That you'd better so out now, ana make
your prettiest bow, Gray. Phew! Listen to
the house roar. That's what l call APP
plause. Go on now.
She went.
Me? I didn't say word. I looked at
Obermul.er and-and 1 just did like this.
Yes. winked. Mag Monsian. l was so
crafty happy l had to. didn't II
But 10 you know what ne d1dI DO you
know what he did?
Well, 7 suppose 1 am screaming anu the
1royons will put me out. but-he just
winked-back.
And then Gray came trailing back into the
wings, md the shrieking AMI humping ana
wins ding out in front just went on-anc on
and on-and on. UNI just listened ana
loved lt-every thlmr of ii. And l stood
there like a denure little kitten; or more
like Mag Monahan after she'd had a good
licking. and was good ana quiet. And
rever 50 much as Judged TIL Opefmuiier
said: . r
We'll. Nance. you have earned It. Inc
sail of you'll But it only proves that FREQ
Obermul;er never yet bought gold br1ck.
only LET me in on your racket next time
There, 20 on-take it. It's yours.
Oh, u have Fred Obermuiier say things
Ike that to you.
He gave me bit of a push. Twas just
a Ioye-pat l stumbled out on to the stage
Go be continued MondayD