Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-10-01
CHAPTER XVIII,

his way along the crowded Strand
There is never too much room eitherir
the road or on the pavement of thai
famous thoroughtare at any time; but
just before eleven, and from that houl
to midnight, it is perhaps the most
densely thronged of any of the London
streets, and Seth had to shoulder his
way through the usual streams of hu
mainly which emerge from the various
theaters, on their way home or to the
supper-rooms and restaurants.
1t would have been rather difficult
for the casual observer to have rec
ognized Seth the prowler of country
well-worn cords and gaiters-torn by
many midnight poaching expedition
and stained by mud and rain-he wore
a dark-colored suit and a stylishly cut
covert coat, which gave him the ap-
pearance of a decent young farmer up
in London for a meek-and-mild spree:
but though he had changed his attire,
he could not change his swarthy com
plexion and his small black eyes; and
the wary, alert look which the gypsy
acquires, say a month after he is
weaned, was enough to distinguish
him from the crowd of commonplace
countenances by which he was sur
rounded.
Making his way as much by slip
ping in and out like a lurcher as by
force, he threaded the Strand throng,
and, crossing Leicester Square, went
up to the Palace of Amusement, which
stands, glazing with light and gliding,
at the northern end.
For a moment or two Seth looked
up and down, then approached one OF
the boards which hung outside with q
glowing list of the attractions which
awaited the person who should be
fortunate enough to possess the shil-
ling necessary for admission.
He stood looking on for minute,
with the dense, vacant expression of
man who cannot read; then, beckon-
ing to match-boy who was lowering
about him said:
1 don't want no lights, but IN give
you penny if you'll read this ere"
The boy grinned, and, with an air Of
Suppressed pride and pity nicely com
mingled, read down the list of celebri-
ties which made the nights pro-
gramme.
"But what's the use, guvnor," he
said. They've all done their turn
and gone 'cept one or two. There's
only Bella-Bella and the ballet left
Seth's eyes flashed with a momenta-
~ satisfaction.
whats her name?"
"Be.la-Bella," replied the urchin.
She's got to go on; she's prime, she
is! If you amt seen her you ought
to. She's put on near the last, be-
cause the swells drop in late, don't
you know.Look at 'em going in now"
and he jerked his matchbox towards
several men in evening dress who
were then ascending the steps. She's
the great draw, and no wonder! You
should just see her! She's stunning,
that's what she is! Plank down yer
shillin', guvnor, you won t be sorry;
there amt a trapeze artist in London
to beat her"
All right, 1 WILL" said Seth, with
an air of Indifference, and tossing the
boy a penny he went in and paid his
shilling. But the shilling seats were
to far from the stage to please him,
and he changed into the stalls, took a
| nj
water, and cast his keen, cunning eyes
round him.
The Palace of Amusement, as
everyone knows, is perhaps the most
magnifcently decorated place in Lon
don, and it's appointments are palatial
enough to startle and bewilder the
countryman who sees them for the
! first time; but Seth's carefully guard
ed cCuntenance displayed no surprise
or bewilderment, whatever he may
have felt; and he sat and smoked and
listened to the band of forty first
class performers and watched the
mixed audience of "swells," counter
| jumpers and frivolous women with
half-closed eyes.
Several of the gentlemen who had
entered just before him, had
taken seats near his or were lounging
against the deliberately gilded and
painted walls with that air of long
suffering boredom which distinguished
their class, and Seth, while he gave
one sharp ear to the band, kept the
other open to the conversation around
! him.
Gust in time,' yawned one gentle
man. 81 suppose her ladyship's going
to perform tonight" he said, adj
dressing the chairman, fat man in
evening dress with a huge diamond
Or something fairly resembling tin
his vast expanse of shirt-front, and
stones of great value-or none-in hts
wristbands.
"Oh, yes, my lord he replied, with
an oily smile. "Bella's on the spot to-
night"
/ Gin a good hurnor oh ." remarked