Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-17

long it-yes, it might be your own, Mag Monahan, it's 50 much like it. went to the theater and got my Charity rig, took it home, and sat for hours there just looking at 'em both. When evening came l was ready to learn it now"
 You see, Obermuller had given me the whole day to be away, and neither Gray nor the other three Charities ex- pected me back. I had to do it on the sly, you sassy Mag! Yes, it was part ly because I love to cheat, but more because was bound to have my chance once whether anybody else en- joyed it or not.
 came to the theater in my Charity rig and the wig It looked as if I'd slept in it, and it came down to the draggled hem of the skirt. All the way there I walked like you, Mag. Once. when a newsboy grinned at me and shouted "Carrots!" grinned back your own, old Cruelty grin, Mag. l VOW I felt so much like you-as you used to be-that when lurched out on the stage at last, stumbling over my shoe faces and trying to push the hair out of my eyes, you'd have sworn 1t was little Mag Monahan making her debut in the Cruelty board room.
 Oh. Mag, Mag, you darling Mag! Did you ever hear whole house, great big theater full of a peevish vaudeville audience, just rise at you, give one roar of laughter they hadn't expected at all to give, and then settle down to giggle at every move you made.
 Girl alive. I just had 'em! They couldn't take their eyes off me. If l squirmed, they howled. If l stood oy 1 one foot, scratching the torn leg of my stocking with the other-you know, Mag!-they yelled. If I grinned, they | just roared.
 1 Oh. Mag. can't you see? Don't you understand? I was It. The center Of the stage I carried round with me it was just Nancy Olden. And for ten l minutes Nancy had nothing to do but to play with em. 'Pon my life, Mag, | it's just like stealing; the old graft l exactly: it's so fascinating, so busy, and risky, except that they play the game with you and pay you and love you to fool 'em.
 When the curtain fell it was differ ent. Gray, followed by the Charities 1 all clean and spick and-span and-not 1 in it: not even on the edge of it. stormed up to Obermuller standing at | the wings.
 I'll quit the show here and now, she suuawkei. It's shame, beast | ly shame. How dare you play me sucn a trick. Fred Obermuller? l never was treated so in my life-to have that dirty little wretch come tumbling on like that, without even so much as your telling ne you'd made up all this new business for her! It's indecent anyway. Why. lost my cue. There was a gap for a full minute. The whole act was such a ghastly failure | that l."
 That you'd better go out now and make your prettiest bow, Gray. Phew! Listen to the house roar. That's what l call applause. Go on now.' | She went.
 | Me? I didn't say a word. l looked at Obermuller and-and just did like this. Yes. winked Mag Monahan. l was so crazily happy had to. didn't [?
 But do you know what he dld? Do you know what he did?
 We'll suppose am screaming and the Troyons will put me out, but-h9 | -winked-back.
 And then Gray came trailing back | into the wings. and the shrieking and | humping and whistling out in iron; l just went on-and on-and on. Um! just listened and loved it-every thump of it. And I stood there like a demure little kitten; or more like Mag | Monahan after she'd had a good lick ing. and was good and quiet. And l never so much as budged till Ober- 1 muller said:
 Well. Nance, you have earned 1t, The gall of you. But it only proves that Fred Obermuller never yet bought a gold brick Only, let me in on you. racket next time. There, go on-taEe it. It's yours
 Oh. to have Fred Obermuller say things like that to you!
 He gave me bit of push. Twas just a love-pat. I stumbled out on to | the stage.
 CTo be cortmued.J