Arizona republican., 1905-05-28

We'll the business fell off in Eng land, so we took passage in sailing ship for California around the Horn. That voyage was the happiest time of my life, for I had nothing to do but practice my steps one or two hours a day, when the sea was calm enough. There was a very nice old lady aboard who taught me how to sew, and gave me some flannel to make myself some underwear, for had never worn any thing but what showed before, and didn't even know that anyone else ever did. She taught me to read, too, and tried to help me with arithmetic, but mercy, I never could get figures into my head.
 We'll, we got to San Francisco, fin ally-that was about ten years ago. BeIl-ringing didn't seem to take very well; it was out of date, or other peo- pie did it better, because, you know, speciality people have to keep improv- ing their act, and play on their heads, or while they're tumbling through the air, or some novelty, nowadays, or 1t doesn't go and its hard to get booked. But my act drew we'll, and it always saved our turn. I made up new steps all the time and invented pretty cos- tunes. and, of course, old Max watched me like grim death to see that did not get away from him. We travelled all over the West, and all the time I was a drudge, did most of the work and got none of the money. They used to lock me into the house when they went out, and old Maxs wife would give me so much work to do she'd know wheth- CT I'd been idle a moment. You would not think a girl in a fix like that had much chance to get married, would you
 We'll, am married-or rather l was. I don't know just how stand now. Let me tell you about it.
 There was man used to hang about the Star Variety Theater in Los Ange- les, who did small parts sometimes, when they wanted a policeman in a sketch, or things like that, but he most Iy helped with the sceneshifters. never had more than a few words with him, but he kind of took a fancy to me and he used to bring me candy and leave it behind the flats where the others wouldn't see it. l don't believe, now, he ever cared very much for me, but I was silly and had never had any l attention, and I thought he was in love with me, and I imagined l was with | him. He tried to make up to Max, but the old man wouldn't have any thing to do with him.
 One day when all my people were out and had locked me in the house, with | a lot of dishes to wash, Harry-His name was Harry Maidslow-came down the street and saw me at the kitchen window. I raised the sash and | he came into the yard, and without waiting for much talk first, for we were l afraid the old man would catch us, | Harry asked me if I wanted to leave the show, and if I wouldn't run away 1 with him.
 l I believe I told him I'd run away l with an orangoutapg if got the chance. Remember, I was only F, and
 I had never been alone with man in
 my life before. In all my life-if you can call such slavery as that living. So he told me not to appear to notice | him, but to be ready for him and to watch out, and when heard a certain
 whistle he taught me, wherever was,
 to jump and run for him, and he'd dc
 the rest.
 You can imagine if I wasn't excited
 for the next few days. I would have
 jumped off the roof to get to him, Ii
 nescessary. And just waited from
 hour to hour, expecting to hear his call