The Cairo bulletin., 1905-08-16

You must not give tue YOUNG Nom-
an the big head. Obermuller. Her
own is big enough, IN bet, as it is. l. |
amt prepared TO make any startling
offer 10 a little Girl that's just barely !
got her nose above the wall The
slightest shake might knock her OF
altogether. or she mightn't have
strength enough in herself to hold on.
But well give her a chance. And
because Of what it may lead to. II
she works hard. because of the oppor
tunities we can give her, there amt
so much in 1t in a money way as you
might imagine"
Obermtiiler didn't say anything His
own lips and his own eyes sneered
now, and he winked openly at me,
which made the little man hot. q
Blast it, he twanged II mean
It, II you've got any notion through
my coming down to your dirty little
joint that we've set our hearts on hav-
ing the girl, just get busy thinking
something else. She may be worth
something TO you-measnred up
against the dubs you've got; but TO
US"
ITO you, it's not so much your not
having her as my having her that"
Exactly II Gih't our policy to
leave any doubtful cards in the enc
my's hands. He can have The bad
ones. He couldn't get the good ones.
| And the doubtful ones, like this girl
olden-"
We'll, that's just where you're mis-
taken!" Obermuller thrust his hands
deep in his pockets and put out that
is This girl Olden' is anything but
doubtful. She's a big card right now
If she could be well handled. And
the time isn't so far off when, If you
get her. you people will be-"
Just how much is your interest In
her worth?" the little man sneered.
Obermuller glared at him. and in
the pause l murmured demurely:
only six-year contract"
Mag, you should have seen EN- jump
both OF EN-; the little man with
vexation, the bis one with surprise.
A contract Me?-Nance Olden!
Why, Mag, you innocent, of course ]
hadn't. Managers don't give six-year
contracts to girl-burglars who've never
set foot on the stage.
When the little man was gone, ODER
muller cornered me.
What's your game, Olden" he
cried. You're too deep for me; J
throw up my hands, Come; what've
you got in that smart little head OF
yours? Are You holding out for higher
stakes? Do you expect him TO buy
that great six-year contract and divvy
the proceeds with me? Because he
will--when once they get their eye
on you, they'll have you, and to turn
up your nose at their offer is just the
way to make them itch for you. But
how the deuce did you find it OUT
And where do you get your nerve
from, anyway? A little beggar like
you to refuse an offer from the T. T
and sit Matching your schemes on your
little old 'steen dollars week!
It'll have to be twice 'steen, now,
suppose?"
"All right, just as you say" J
laughed But why aren't you in the
trust Fred Obermuler?"
"Why aren't you In society Nance?"
'Um! well, because society's preju-
diced against lifting, but the trust
isn't Do you know that's great
graft, Mr. Obermuller-lifting whole
sale? Why don't you get in?'
Because trust is lot of sailors on
raft who keep their places by kick
ing off the drowning hands that clutch
at 1t. Can you fancy a fellow like
rausig STOPPING down to help me
tenderly on board to divide the pick
lngs?'
mo. but ! can fancy you graphing
with him till he'd be glad to take YOU
, on rather than be pulled off himself
You'd be in with the push, would
YOU, Olden, IL you were managing
he asked, with a grin.
I'D be at the top, wherever that
was"
Then why the deuce didn't you
jump at Tausig's offer? Were you
really crafty enough
II am artistic. NJ Ohermuler," gut
turaled like Mdlle Picotte, who dances
on the wire Il moost have about me
those who arre-who ARE con,
geniale"
you monkey" he laughed. Then
when Tausig comes to buy your con.
tract"
Wen tell him to 60 to thunder"
He laughed. Say, Mag, that big fel.
low is like boy when he's pleased
I guess that's what makes it such fur
to please him.
"And I, who admired your business
saSacity In holding off, Nance!" he
= said.
81 thought you admired my take-ofl
OF Mdlle Picotte."
"Well?"
well why don't You make use OF
Il? Take me round TO the theaters
, and let me mimic all the swell actors
and nctrpggpa I'ya got mora chance