Arizona republican., 1909-05-19
THE LURE OF THE MASK
 By Copyright 1909 HAR0LO M'GRATH -H1errW co.
(continued fir om yesterday.)

How are you behaving yourself these days?" asked Merrihew. He drank more coffee and smoked more cigars than were good for him. He was always going to start in next week to reduce the quantity.
 My habits are always exemplary" !" answered Hillard. But yours?"
 Merrihew's face heightened. He pulled the yellow hair out of his eyes and gulped his coffee.
 Kitty Killigrew leaves in two weeks for Europe"
 And who the deuce is Kitty Killi- grew?" demanded Hllard.
 ''What?" reproachfully. You havn't heard of Kitty Killigrew in The Mod ern Maid? Where've you been? Pip pin, Prettiest soubrette that's hit the town in a dogs age"
 ''I say, Dan, don't you ever tire of that sort? l can't recall when there wasn't a Kitty Killigrew. What's the attraction ." Hillard waved aside the big black cigar. No heavy tobacco for me in the morning. Whats the G.ttraction?"
 Merrihew touched off a match, ap piled it to the black cigar, took the cigar from his teeth and inspected the glowing end critically. He never failed to go through this absurd pan tomime; he would miss a train rather than omit it.
 The truth is, Jack, I'm a jackass half the time. I can't get away from the glamour of the footlights. I'm no Johnny; you know that. No hang ing around stage entrances and buy ing wine and diamonds. I might be reckless enough to buy a bunch of roses when I'm not broke. But I like 'em, the bright ones. They keep a fellow amused. Most of 'em speak good English and come from better families than you would suppose. Just good fellowship. you know: maybe rabbit and a bottle of beer after the performance or a little quarter limit at the apartment, singing and good stories. What you've in mind is the chorus lady. Not for minei"
 Hillard laughed, recalling his con versation with the policeman.
 Co on" he said, get it all out of your system, now that you're started
 And then it tickles q fellows van ity to be seen with them at the res taurants. That's the way it begins, you know. I'll be perfectly frank with you. If it wasn't for what the other fellows say. most of the chorus ladies would go hungry. And the girls that you and I know think I'm a devil of a fellow, wicked but inter esting, and all that"
 Hillard's laughter broke forth again. and he leaned back. Merrihew would always be twenty-siX, he would all ways be youthful.
 And this Kitty Killigrew? l be- lieve I've seen posters of her in the windows, now that you speak of it."
 Well, Jack, I've got it bad this trip. I offered to marry her last night"
 What"
 Truth And what do you think? Dropped me very neatly two thousand feet, but softly. And I was serious. too"
 Tt seems to me that your Kitty is not half bad. What would you have done had she accepted you?''
 Married her within twenty-four hours!"
 Come, Dan, be sensible. You are not such an ass as all that"
 "Yes, I am," moOdily. q told you that I was a jackass half the time; this is the half.'
 But she won't have you?"
 Not for love or money
 Are you sure about the money" asked Hillard shrewdly.
 Seven hundred or seven thousand, it wouldn't matter to Kitty if she made up her mind to marry a fel- low. Whats the matter with/me, any how? I'm not so badly set-up; I can whip any man in the club at my weight; I can tell a story well; and I'm not afraid of anything
 Not even of the future!" added Hillard.
 Do you really think it's my money?' pathetically.
 Well, seven thousand doesn't go