Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-23

ing to eat fruit when at last I got fair ly launched on my story.
 He listened to 1t all with never a word of interruption, Sometimes l thought he was so interested that he couldn't bear to miss word l said. And then again I fancied he wasn't listening at all to me; only watching me and listening to something inside of himself
 Can you see him, Mag, sitting oppo- site me there at the pretty little table, off in a private room by ourselves? He looked so big and strong and mas- terful, with his eyes half closed, watching me, that hugged myself with delight to think that Fl, Nancy Olden, had done something for him he couldn't do for himself.
 It made me so proud, so tipsily vain, that as leaned forward eagerly talk ing, I felt that same intoxicating hap piness I get on the stage when the audience is all with me, and the two of us-myself and the many handed, good-natured other fellow over on the other side of the footlights-go ca reering off on jaunt of fun and fancy, like two good playmates.
 He was silent minute when got through. Then he laid his cigar aside and stretched out his hand to me. ' And the reason, Nance-the reason for it all?"
 looked up at him. I'd never heard him speak like that.
 "The reason?" repeated
 Yes, the reason" He had caught my hand.
 '"Why--to down that tiger trust and beat Tausig."
 He laughed.
 And that was all? Nonsense Nance Olden, there was another req son. There are other tiger trusts. Are you going to set up as lady-errant and right all syndicate wrongs? No, there was another, a bigger reason, Nance. I'm going to tell 1t to you what!"
 I pulled my hand from his; but not before that fat waiter who'd come in without our noticing had got some thing to grin about.
 Beg pardon, sir" he said. "This message must be for you, sir It's marked immediate, and no one else"
 Obermuller took it and tore it open. He smiled the oldest smile as he read it, and he threw back his head and laughed a full, hearty below when he got. the end.
 Read it, Nance,' he said, passing 1t over to me. They sent it on from the office"
 read it. "Mr Fred W. Obermuller, Manager vaude-
 vile Theater, New York City, N Y
 Dear Obermu,ler: I have just learned from your. little protegee, Nance Oiden, of a comedy you've written. From what nations of And the Greatest of These your titles great-I judge the thing to be something altogether cut of the common; and my secretary and reader, MT. Mason, agrees with me that properly interpreted the comedy ought to make hit
 Would Miss olden take the leading role. l wonder?
 Cant you drop in this evening and talk the matter over? There's an opening for fellow like you with us that's just de- veloped within the past few days, and-this is strictly corfdentia.-I have succeeded in convincing Braun and Lowenthal that their enmity is foolish personal matter which business men shouldn't let stand in the way of business. After all just what Is there between you and them? mere trife; misunderstanding that half an hours talk over a bottle of wine with a ,eood cigar, would drive away
 '.If you're the man take you for you'll drop in this evening at the Van Twiler and bury the katchet They're good fel- lows, those two, and smart men, even if they are stubborn as sin.
 Counting on seeing you tonight my dear fellow, l am most cordially.
 "I. M. TAUSIG." , dropped the letter and looked over at Obermuller.
 Miss Olden," he said, severely, com- ing over to my side of the table, "have you the heart to harm a generous soul like that?"
 "He--he's very prompt, isn't he, an. most"
 And then we laughed together. |
 You notice the letter as marked personal?" Obermuller said. He wa, still standing beside me.
 "No-was it?" l got up, too, and be gan to pull on my gloves; but my fingers shook so couldn't do a thing with them.
 "Oh, yes, it was That's why