Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-20
copwsaAt, 1907, BY Thon.as y. Mckee.

THr assistant Stass-man's'r was already on
his rounds giving the "hfteen minutes call
at the dressing-rooms.
aoh. Lii" called a feminine voice across to
the next room, ''lend me your spoon?"
..what do you want it for?' demanded LII
thought you had become aristocrat and bought
yourself real, gilt-edged thirty-hve cent stewpan
to boil your greasepant I'M"
$50 did yesterday" admitted Vie meekly But
tbs little woman borrowed it to heat the babys milk
in last night and I'VE not had time to get it back
.wbat little woman, grumbled Lii, tying her
wigband as though she were strangling an enemy
@rhat little mother-woman thing" answered Vic,
.Her name is Norris" called out another of the
girls "Wife Of Jack Norris, who manages the
lights. You know--the with the baby
LII gave up the tis sroon. grSdsinsly. She was
having hard tine with her lips; they would smudge.
"Hurry up with it, that's all" she warned This
beastly cold weather makes it such job to get any
makeup on at ALL There goes Gusses sixth 'eyelash.
oh. dear know that Lemuel will be grouchy as
blazes tonight You'd better look out for him.
Regina. You've hardly made up at all
"you know how much care what he thinks OF
NV ,na,euD don't you?" remarked Regina, omnously.
Her eyes we're particularly leonine She was one OF
those rare women who show emotion about six times
in their lives but set the river fire and stir up
-.---loz,- -v,,a, thav do n
astser clear Of the empress of China said Lii
..She's got a Crouch
Regina adjusted pin with superb indifference
to all dersion She not only did not object to being
called the Empress Of China, but did not notice it.
She was TAIL pale blonde, with smoldering eyes
and tragic gift of reticence. She was married to
Sandy Cairns, a good-looking scotchman who had
rather large part in the present piece. Regina.
however, was merely of the extras. except for
short song she sang behind the scenes in the first
act. She and Sandy were understood to be on
speaking terms only
Overture please!" called the assistant stage-man-
ager, just outside. 'Is everyone here?"
everyone called Vic.
mo" added Lii, impertinently Regina Cairns, the
Empress of China is several miles away and Miss
Lillian Leeds has not been heard from at ALL we
are afraid she has been kidnapped"
"a little less noise Miss Leeds said the assistant
stage-manager tolerantly, and passed on. Lii was
a fayorite of his Twice he had told the stageman-
ager that she was in the theater when she was really
out of town at house party.
awful rot of that little mother-woman thing to
keep the baby in the theater resumed Lii, when the
assistant stage manager had gone down to the next
landing. bad atmosphere for kid to be brought
up inl"
"she's not old enough to be hurt by the atmos-
nbere." remarked Vic, considering that she's only
six months Of age. And she hasn't money enough for
nurse to take care of the kid at home"
.who isn't old enough to be hurt by the atmosphere
the little mother-woman?" demanded Lii
"You think you're smart don't your said our
tough girl, Bird Latin. Anyway, the kids sweet
kid bless her heart.'
II hate children!" said Regina with venom.
They were all silent for a moment. There
certain locked and removed hoies in the souls even
OF extra ladies' Not another of the five girls in the
room would have said such thing. A sort of chill
manifested Itself in their attitude toward Regina, by
far the best bred and best educated Of them ALL
Hurry up. girls" exclaimed Vic. THE overture's
on Get down on the floor in hurry" And she
lid out of the room and went down the little hallway
toward the stairs, softly hummng to herself the
air the orchestra playing.
"Im done.' announced Lii, with open pride. Man
aged it in seven minutes this time. whoopee!"