The Cairo bulletin., 1905-08-16


Mother Douty l went with my basket.
"A fool girl, mother, on her way up
TO Sing Sing, lost her basket. and
Nance olden found it; 1t ought to be
worth good deal"
She grinned. You couldn't make old
Douty believe that the Lord Himself
wouldn't steal If He got chance, And
she knows the chances that come
butting up against Nancy Olden.
Why did lie to her? Not for prac-
tiee, | assure you. She'd have beaten
me down to the last cent IL she thought
1t was mine, but she always thinks
there'll be find for her in something
that's stolen. So I let her think I'd
stolen 1t In the railway station, and
we came to terms.
With what she gave me I bought a
wig. Mag, | want you some day, when
you can get off, to come and see that
wig. / shouldn't wonder but you'd
recognize It, It's red, of very coarse
hair, but a wonderful color, and so
long it--yes, it might be your own,
Mag Monahan, it's so much like it,
went to the theater and got my
Charity rig, took 1t home, and sat for
hours there just looking at em both
When evening came was ready to
earn 1t 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 had to do it on the
SLY. you sassy Mag! Yes, it was part
ly because | love to cheat, but more
because | was bound to have my
chance once whether anybody else en-
joyed 1t or not.
came to the theater in my Charity
rig and the wig. 1t looked as II I'd
olept In 1t, and it came down to the
draggied hem of the skirt. All the
way there | walked like you, Mag,
Once. when a newsboy grinned at me
and shouted "Carrots!" grinned back
your own, old Cruelty grin, Mag.
VOW | felt so much like you-as you
used to he--that when lurched out on
the stage at last, stumbling over my
shoe laces 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 a whole house, a
great big theater full of 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, Just had 'em! They
couldn't take their eyes off me. II !
sauirmed, they howled. If stood on
one foot, scratching the torn leg of my
stocking with She other--you know,
Mag! they yelled. If l grinned, they
Just reared
Oh, Mag, can't you see? Don't you
understand? | was 1t. The center OF
the stage carried round with me
It was just Nancy 0lden. And for ten
minutes Nancy had nothing to do but
to play with EN-. Pom my life, Mag,
it's just like stealing; the old graft
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 EN-.
When the curtain fell it was differ
ent. Gray, followed by the Charities,
all clean and spick-and-span and--not
in At; not even on the edge of it.
stormed up to Obermuller standing at
the wings.
.1tll quit the show here and now"
she squawked tits shame, beast
ly shame. How dare you play me such
a trick. Fred Obermuller? 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 me you'd made UP all this
new business for her! It's indecent,
anyway. Why, ! lost my cue. There
was gap for full minute. The
whole act was such CHASTITY failure
that -
"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? l didn't say word. | looked
at Obermuller and--and just did like
this Yes, winked, Mag Monahan.
was 20 crafty happy had to, didn't |?
But do you know what he did? Do
you know what he did?
Well suppose ! am screaming and
the Troyons will put me out, but--he
winked--back!
And then Gray came trailing back
into the wings, and the shrieking and
humping and whistling ont In front
Just went on--and on--and on. I'm!
! Just listened and loved it---every
thump or It. And stood there like q
demure little kitten; or more like Mag
Monahan after shed had good lick.
ing. and was good and quiet, And
never 80 much as budged till Ober-
muller said: tt
well, Nance, You. have earned II
The gall of you! But II only proves
that Fred Obermuller never yet bough,
gold brick. Only, let me in on your
racket next time There, go on--take
1t. It's yours"
Oh, to have Fred obermuller say
things like that To you!