Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-21
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eAAS NA~~~~N N agement, come to listen to 1EEE the leading lady sing coon
 IVY songs, that I might add her to my collection of take-offs.
 She's fat leading lady. very fair and nearly 50, guess. But she's got ra rollicking, husky voice in her fat sAhroat that's sung the dollars down sdeep into her pockets. They say she's planted them deeper still-in the foundations of apartment houses-and that now she's the richest roly-poly on the Rialto. .f .
 Do you know. Maggie darlin', what I was saying to myself there in the box, while I watched the stage and waited for Obermuller? He said he'd drop in later, perhaps. +
 Nance" I said, "I kind of fancy that apartment sort of idea myself. They tell you, Nancy, that when you've got the artistic temperament, s <hat that's all you'll ever have. But a there's a chance-one in hundred for body to get that temperament < mixed with business instinct. It { doesn't often happen. But when it ! does the result is-dollars. It may be, NanceI shrewdly suspect it is a ! fact that you've got that marvellous { mixture. Your early success, Miss ! Olden, in another profession that < needn't name, would encourage the < idea that you're not all heart and no ' head. l think, Nance, l shall have < you mimic the artists during working ' hours and the business men when you're at play. I fancy apartment houses They appeal to me. We'll call one The Nancy and another Holden Hall and another. -. "
 ''What'll I call the third apartment house Mr. O." I asked aloud, as I heard the rings on the portiere behind me click.
 He didn't answer.
 Without turning my head I repeated :. the question. And -suddenly-before he could 2 have answered, knew something was <. wrong. I turned. And in that moment a man took the seat beside me and an- other stood facing me, with his back z against the portieres. ... Miss Olden?" the man beside me asked.
 I "Yes."
 { "Nance Olden, the mimic, who en- tertains at private houses?"
 nodded.
 "You-you were at Mrs. Paul Gates just a week ago. and you gave your I; specialties there?'
 s "Yes-yes, what is it you want?i' He was a little man, but very mus 2 cular. I could note the play of his muscles even in the slight motion he made as he turned his body so as to g get between me and the audience, while he leaned toward me- watching me intently with his small, quick, blue eyes.
 We don't want to make any scene bere," he said, very low. We want i, to do it up as quietly as we can. $ There might be some mistake, you !, know. and then you'd be sorry. So { should we. hope you'll be reason q able and it'll be all the better for you :. because"
 'What are you talk-what-" looked from him to the other fellow !. behind us.
 - He leaned a bit farther forward then. and pulling his coat partly open 2 he showed me a detectives badge. And the other man quickly did the same.
 g sat back in my chair. The fat star on the stage with her big mouth and big baby-face. was doing a cake walk up and down close to the foot lights, yelling the chorus of her song I'll never mimic that song. Mag, al ]. though I can see her and hear it as plain as though I'd listened and D. watched her all my life But there's r no fun in 1t for me. I hate the very bars the orchestra plays before she E begins to sing I can't bear even to think of the words. The whole of it
 is full of horrible things-it smells of
 the jail-it looks like stripes-it You're not going to faint?" asked
 the man. moving closer to ne. Me? I never fainted iu my life. Where is he now-Tom Dorgan?" ~Tom Dorsan!'
 "Yes. was rure saw e.m gail.
 but, of course. was mistaken. He D has sent you after me, has he? l can
 hardly believe it of Tom-even-eyen
 yet"
 "T don't know anything that con-
 nects you with D0rgan If he was in s with you on this, you'd better remem-
 ger. before you say anything more, that it'll all be ssed against you"
 The curtain had gone down and
 gone up again. was watching the
 star. She has such a boyish way Of
 nodding her head instead of lowing.
 after she waddles out to the center:
 and every time she wipes her lips with
 her lace handkerchief. as though she'd
 just taken one of the cocktails she
 makes in the play with all the skill of 8 bartender. I found myself doing
 the same thing-viping my lips with
 that very some gesture. as though I
 had a fat. bare forearm like a rolling
 pin-when all at once tn- thought
 came to me: You needn't bother.
 Nancy. It's all up- You won't have
 any use for fl all-''
 ~Just what is the charga?" I asked
 turning to the man beside me
 stealing a purse containing s519
 l~.