The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-08-15
BY MIRIAM NICHOLSON

hadn't been worth a penny, but as IL
was | adored it, | slipped the chain
under my collar. and the diamond slid /
down my neck, and | felt It's kiss on
my skin. | few down the black cor
rldor. humping into scenery and near
ly tripping two stage carpenters.
heard Ginger. the call-boy, ahead OF
me and lodged behind some properties |
just in time. He went whistling past |
and | got to the stage door.
pulled It open tendsrly, cautiously,
and turned to shut it after me.
And
And something held it open in spite
of me.
Mono. Mag. 1t wasn't man. II
was a memory. 1t rose up there and
hit me right over the heart-the mem
DRY of Nancy Oldens happiness the
first time she'd come in this very
door, feeling that she actually had
right to use a stage entrance. feeling
that she belonged, Nancy-to this
wonderland of the stage!
You must never tell Tom, Mag,
promise! He wouldn't see. He
couldn't understand. couldn't make
him know what | felt any more than
I'd dare tell him | did.
shut the door.
But not behind me. I shut 1t on
the street Mag, | shut forever
another door too; the old door that
opens out on Crooked street. With
my hand on my heart, that was beat
ing as though 1t would burst, | few
back again through the black corridor,
through the wings and out to ober-
muller's Office With both my hands.
| ripped open the neck Of my dress.
and pulling the chain with that great
diamond hanging to 1t. l broke 1t with
tug. and threw the whole thing down
on the desk In front of him.
For Gods sake!'' yelled. Don't
make 1t SO easy for me to steal!"
don't know what happened for a
minute. could see his face change
half a dozen ways in as many sec
onds, He took 1t up in his fingers at
last. Ii swung there at the end Of the
slender little broken chain like great
drop Of shining water. blushing and
SPARKLING ana lFcmpllHk
His hands trembled. too, and he
looked up at last from the diamond to
my face.
ats worth at least 100000, YOU
know-valued at that"
didn't answer.
He got UP and came over to where
had thrown myself on bench.
whats the matter, Olden? DOM
pay you enoughg'
II want to see Tom" begged. "lt's
80 long since he He's up at--at-ir
the country"
Sing Sing?"
nodded.
"You poor little dewitt"
That finished me I'm not used K
being pitied. | sobEed and sobbed a.
though some dam had broken insid'
OF me. You see, Mag, knew in tina
minute Id been afraid, deathly afrai'
OF Fred Obermuller's face. when IT.
scornful and sarcastic, and OF hi
voice, when it cuts the flesh of self
conceit off your very bones. And tn
contrast--well, IL was too much for me
but SOHleLAfHB OdAiS NuiNh W ~
Der me-
1t was Gray. She stormed In, fol
lowed by Lord Harold and Tophan
and half the company.
THE diamond, the rose diamond!
she shrieked. cts gone! And til
carpenters say that new girl Ode
came flying from the direction Of m
dressing room. III hold you respons
BILE"
;.Hush-sh!" Obermuller lifted b
hands and nodded over toward me.
'Olden." she squealed Grab he
Topham. Ill bet she stole that dii
mond, and she cant have got rid OF
yet"
Topham jumped toward me, b.
Obermuller stopped him.
YOU'D win only half your bet, n
lady" Obermuller said, softly. Isl
did get hold of the Gray rose, Wort
100000, In spite Of all your preca
tons"
The world seemed to fall away fro
me. | looked UP at him. couldr
believe he'd go back on me.
-Auu sue pIuuEht ~ stiaiBht
me- as had asked her to, and prof.
Used to raise her salary II she'd "
out. For knew that unless prov
to you It could be stolen, you'd new
agree to hire a detective to wat
those things, which will get us
into trouble some day. Here! Sex
out O. this. It's nearly time for va
number
He passed the diamond over to h
and they all left the ONCE.
SO did 4; but he held out his ha
as ! passed. 1T goes--that about
raise for you, Olden. Now earn It,
Isn't he white, Mag--white Gle
through, that biz fellow Obermuller
CHAPTER vi.