The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-08-19
CHAPTER TX.

E5 beginning.
GE,EJ Nobody on earth could
lyyyl have expected 1t less than
i,,tewhens came OF in the afternoon,
don't know what | was thinking of as
fS'eanie into my dressing-room, that
used to be Gray 's--the sight OF him
ceemed to cut me off from myself as
with knife--but Il wasn't of him.
Ii rnay have been that was
ehuekling to myself at the thought of
Nancy olden with dressing-room all
to herself. / cant ever quite get used
to that, you know, though | sail
apound there with all the airs of the
leading lady. Sometimes / see
twinkle In Fred Obermuller's eye
when catch him watching me, and
goodness knows he's been glum enough
of late, but it wasn't
Yes, I'm going to tell you, butts
ratified me bit, Maggie. I'm $3.50
sorry, and a little-oh, just little,
little bit glad!
I'd slammed the door behind me-
the old place is out of repair and the
door won't shut except with a bang
flood to unbutton my high shoes.
when noticed the ehintz curtains In
front. of the high dressing-box wayer,
They must have moved just like that
when | was behind them months-it
seems years-ago But, you see,
Topham had never served an appren-
ticeship behind curtains, so he didn't
suspect.
tLordy, Nancy" ! laughed TO my
self, some one thinks you've got q
rose diamond and
And at that moment he parted the
curtains and came out.
Yes Tom-Torn Dorgan.
My heart came beating up TO my
throat and them Just as thought
should choke, 1t slid down to my
boots, sickening me. didn't say a
word. | sat there, my foot In my lap.
staring at him.
Oh, Maggie-girl II isn't good to get
your frst glimpse after all these
months OF the man you love crouched
like big bull In q small space, polk
ing his ciose-cropped black head out
Ikea turtle that's not sure something
won't be thrown at II, and then drag
ging his big bulk out and standing
over YOU. He used to be trim Tom
and taut, but In those shapeless
things, the old trousers the dirty
white shirt, and the vest too big for
him
We'll" he said, "why don't you say
something
Toms voice Mag, do you remem-
Der. the merry Irish boys voice, with
Its chuckies like brook gurgling as
1t runs?
No--'tisnt the same voice It's
it's changed, Maggie. It's heavy and
and coarse and-brutal That's
what it Is. II sounds like--like the
knout, like
..Nance--what In helrs--"
II think rm-frightened Tom
ooh, the ladyfied airs Of herl Amt
you going to faint. Miss olden?"
Ilgot up.
Memo sit down, Tom. Tell me
about It. How-how did you get
hereg"
He went to the door, opened It q bit
and looked out cautiously. Mag Mag
1t hurt me-that, Why, do you
suppose?
you're sure nobodyli come int" he
asked
turned the key in the lock, for
getting that it didn't really lock.
sssOh, yes, m sure, \ said "WhyT
Why! You have got slow. Just
because didn't say good-hy to them
Fellows up at the nm, and"
oh! You've escaped"
That's what. First jail-break In
rs years. What dye think Of your
Tommy, old girl, Ell? Amt he thu
gamest? Amt you proud Of him?"
My God, Mag! Proud Of him. HI
didn't know-he couldn't see--himself
He. shut In like wild beast, couldnf
see what this year has done for him
Oh, the change-the change in him
My boy Tommy, with the gay, gallu'
manner, and the pretty jolly brogue
and THE laughing mouth under bill
LIpwn mustache. And this man hi
fsce u Did, Mag, old--oh and hare
--end-and tough, cheap and tough
There's something In his eyes nov
and about his shayen mouth--oh
Maggie, Maggie!
Look here, Nance" He caught m
by the shoulders, Knocking up m,
chin 30 that he could look dow
squarely at me. Whats your graft
What's It to be between us? whatv
been doing all this time? Out wit
| want to know
shook myself fra4 and faced him.
f"rve been-Tom Dorgan. rye bee
hear the greatest actors an
tressss In the world say and do tn
lest things In the world. Nv
'atched princcsses and kings--even
aey've only stage ones. I've read
sw book every night-a great pic
.prs book, In Which the pictures NOV
and speak that's the stage Tor
Dorgan. Much OF It wasn't true, bu
girl who's been brought UP by tn
Cruelty doesn 4 have 10 DO told what
true and what's false. I've met thes