The Cairo bulletin., 1905-08-21
I
S 5.

TO my collection of take-offs.
She's a fat leading lady. very fair
and nearly SO. guess. But she's got
a rollicking. husky voice in her fat
throat that's sung the dollars down
deep into her pockets They say she's
planted them deeper still-in the
of apartment houses-and
that now she's the richest roly-poly
on the Rialto.
DO you know. Maggie darlin' what
I was saying to myself there in the
box. while | watched the stage and
waited for Obermuller? He said he'd
drop in later, perhaps.
Nance | said. II kind of fancy
that apartment sort of idea myself.
They tell you, Nancy. that when
you've got the artistic temperament
hat that's all you'll ever have. But
there's a ehance-one in hundred
for body to get that temperament
mixed with a business instinct. II
doesn't often happen. But when ii
does the result is-dollars. 1t may
be. NanceI shrewdly suspect 1t is a
tact that you've got that marvellous
mixture. Your early successes. Miss
0lden, in another profession that ]
needn't name. would encourage the
idea that you're not. all heart and no
head. think, Nance, shall have
you mimic the artists during working
hours and the business men when
you're at play | fancy apartment
houses. They appeal to me. Wen
call one The Nancy and another
Olden Hall and another.
'Whatll | call the third apartment
house, Mr. OF" | asked aloud, as
heard the rings on the portiere behind
me click.
He didn't answer.
Without turning my head I repeated
the question.
And NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he could
have answered, knew something was
wrong.
turned And in that moment a
man took the seat beside me and an
other stood facing me, with his back
against the portieres
Miss Olden?" the man beside me
asked.
yes"
Nance olden, the mimic, who en-.
tertains at private houses?"
nodded.
"You--yon were at Mrs. Paul Gates
just week ago and you gave your
specialties there?"
"Yes--yes, what Is II you want2e
He was little man, but very mus
cular could note the play Of his
muscles even in the slight motion ne
made as he turned his body so as to
get between me and the audience,
while he leaned toward me. watching
me intently with his small, quick,
blue eyes.
I'VE don't want to make any scene
here" he said, very low. Eve want
to do 1t 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
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 bit farther forward
then, and pulling his coat partly open
| he showed me detectives badge
And the other man quickly did the
| same.
sat back In my chair The fa
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
| III never mimic that song, Mag, al
| though | can see her and hear 1t a!
plain as though I'd listened ant
watched her all my life. But there's
! no fun In 1t for me. hate the yer.
4 bars the orchestra plays before sh
begins to sing. | can't bear even ii
| think Of the words. The whole of |
| Is full of horrible things--it smells 0
the jallit looks like stripes 1T.
You're not going TO faint?" aske,
the man. moving closer to me.
ME? | never tainted in my life
4. Where is he now--Tom Dorgan?
tom Dorgan!"
yes was sure saw him sal
but. Of course, ! was mistaken. III
has sent you after me, has he? cal
hardly believe it OF Tom-even--evel
| yet"
| Il don't know anything that con
meets you with Dorgan. II he was Il
| with you on this, you'd better remem
Der. before you say anything more
that it'll all be used against youp
| The curtain had gone down AM
gone up again. was watching tn
star She has such boyish way o
nodding her head. instead Of bowina
after she waddles out to the center
and every time she wipes her lips wit
iher lace handkerchief as though She
lust taken one Of the cocktails sh
makes IN the play with all the, ski
Of bartender found myself dom
the same thing-wiping my lips wit
that very some gesture. as though
had fat, bare forearm like rolling
pin--when all at once the though
came to me: You needn't bothel
Nancy. It's all up. You won't hay
any use for y ALL"