Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-17
CHAPTER X-Continued.

Il got couple on me stan. declered
Patsy rubbing the side of her nose with
her finger and taking another sidelong
glance at Simpson.
Milly caught sight of the letter lyine
on the toilet table. Her curiosity got the
better of her discretion.
WHO'S your letter from. Patsy? Is
ii your gentleman friend you told me
about-you know. DAMP
Patsy her mind diverted by her bout
with the show girl. had forgotten all
about the letter.
Sure she replied. tearing it open.
He writes me every day. sometimes
twicet'
She gave a start, and her eye lighted
up with glad excitement as she perused
the note.
Hes got a surprise for me-somethin'
swell. Milly.'' she said. Hes goin' to
| be out in front tonight. Fancy that!
| must go an tell Nora
Fifteen minutes! Fifteen minutes!
Fifteen minutes.' shouted the call boy
outside.
Gee. must get to work" CALCULATED late
Patsy. changing her mind c,., Ev ', s,,c
went on, as she slipped into decollete
costume of white satin trimmed with
| beads of pearls and threads of silver.
who d'you think l seen today? Leslie
close to her an rubbered to beat the
band Don't you just love Carter? Hon.
est. think that woman's got The most
emotional hair in this business.
I've seen her in everything she plays
said Evelyn.
$50 have l. You know Carriers whole
| lot on my style affirmed Patsy. I'm
really cut out to be one of them emo
tional all-over-the-place actresses
II know. an wear spangled dresses an
smoke cigarettes said Milly.
Evelyn intimated that she would not
care what the role might be If she could
only wear pale blue tights
I'm just wasted In Skirts she de-
clared.
Patsy dissented:
Nix for the tights gag. Not that I
couldn't wear en- Simpson" she said.
as that lady sniggered: Il hate to talk
de Milo look like May Irwin. I'm only
in musical Comedy to learn to be grace
full. 1 bet I could get hacker to star
me if I could get the play; but. gee. IT
course I could get one from Charlie Froh-
man. but l don't want to take 1t away
from Maude Adams or Ethel Barrymore.
can always dance for my Twin.
You're hit with yourself. amt you:
sneered Simpson. who never could see a
joke unless 1t was accompanied by dia-
gram.
Girls. I'm no knocker. an you never
hear me leadin' no anvil chorus" re-
torted Patsy. but II certain parties was
where they belong they'd be maxim
beds"
What Simpson may have intended to
reply to this was never heard. for there
was a loud banging at the door. with the
stentorian intimation that the person
making the noise was the laundryman.
Hold on. I'm lookin' for that guy
exclaimed Patsy. going to the door
which she flung open.
"She here" she said. sharply. you
got a fine nerve comm to this place for
washn'! You kept mine whole week
last time. 1 didn't have stitch to my
back
"That so? Must have been a mistake,
Miss O'Brien." said the man. suavely.
trying to placate her "How many pieces
did you have?
Lets see. There was four-a skirt. a
shirt waist a Looka here, fresh Ike. v
she broke of. Its none of your business
And she slammed the door Indignantly,
while Simpson Uttered.
Overture! Overture." came the warn
ing call.
son and Patsy remained alone. The lat
ter was about to follow the others when
there was the sound of scufhe outside,
and Morals voice was heard raised In en-
treaty:
"Oh. don't-stop. please STOP"
Before Patsy could reach the door Nora,
greatly agitated. came into the room.
what is it, honey lamb" inquired
Patsy. 49,,
patsy ran out and shouted after the
man:
SAY. you beast-yes. you-you leave
my sister alone! D'you hear?'
ct
the tenor. Simpson rose belligerently.
you're speaking about friend of
mine.' she said.
WELL" returned Patsy. 'if you want
to associate with him that's your affair:
but he can't get busy around my sister. y
All Simpsons hatred of Patsy. the pent
up resentment that had been accumulat-
Ing from day to day as Patsy's verbal
rapfer thrusts struck home and mad
reached the outbreak point through the
pin pricks and ridfcule the chorus leader
had subjected her to that evening" had
broken loose. Simpson was on the war
path. and she was bent upon crushing
and humbling her enemy by foul means.
seeing that she could not do 1t by fair
means.
How dare YOU" she Missed. white with
rage.
ordered Patsy, who, reused at the &C
tions of the tenor. was In no humor to
waste words upon her.
Simpson lunged for the only vulnerable
point in the girls armor
II suppose you're insinuating your Sis
ter's so much better than l ann" she
said
well. 1 should hope So" replied the
unsuspecting Patsy. with emphasis.
Nora's heart almost ceased to beat.
She understood the turn the quarrel was
taking. and as Simpsons eyes wandered
from one sister to the other the terrified
girl met her gaze with an implOring look.
Your sisters much better than l
am-that's the best lan I've had this
season.!
She laughed. but it was without mirth.
"Oh. Miss Simpson" Nora began TO
plead.
But the woman was not to be deferred.
Her poinard found the Vulnerable spot
and the stab was deep.
Don't Miss Simpson me- she almost
screamed. I'm sick of your giving your
self airs and pretending to be so good and
virtuous You're a little sneak. Do you
think I'm going to put up with your sis
ter's impudence and me knowing what l
do about you?"
Patsy went pale.
What do you mean?" she demanded.
What do I mean? Ask her about her
friend Crawford!'
"Crawford!'
Yes, your sweet little sister. who's too
good to associate with me, is carrying on
with Dick Crawford. going out to lunch
with him. making dates after the show,
playing his tips. We're all playing the
tips he gives her"
Its lie
The words came hoarsely. raucously, as
though she were choking.
Ask any of the girls. Look at her and