Mexico Missouri message., 1910-04-28
eoeNeIGI1T /oo1 or <;/ZHeIo/v CRAWFORD

Aou WIN Z lOoC w H. III pAGk-
ty sure"
II fancy mott" Margaret's eyes
were wide open, her hands were
clasped tightly on her knee, and she
was leaning forward a little. BE
Sides" she went on, 1T would not be
the money that l should care aboutl
I can earn more money than l want,
and have a little fortune of my own
the hundred thousand / offered you.
oh, no! 1t would be the splendid
power to have the most beautiful
music in the world given as it could
be given nowhere else! The Joy of
singing myself-the parts / can sing
in the most perfect surroundings
An orchestra picked from the whole
world of orchestras, the greatest liv-
ing leaders, the most faultless chorus!
And the scenery, and the costumes
everything as everything could be, il
it were really, really the best that
can be had! Do you believe It is pos
sible to have all that?"
"Oh, yes, and with your name to it,
too. Well have everything on earth
that money can buy to make a perfect
opera, and I'll guarantee it'll pay after
the first two seasons. That is, if you'll
work at it as hard as / will. But
you've got to work, Miss Dome, you've
got to work, or it's 20 use thinking Of
it. That's my opinion"
"Ill work like Troian!" cried Mar.
garet enthusiastically.
She had enough experience in her
self, and enough knowledge of the
conditions to believe that her own
hard work, combined with Van Torp's
unlimited capital, could and certainly
would produce such an opera house,
and bring to it such artists as had
never been seen and heard, except
perhaps in Bayreuth, during it's first
great days, now long past.
Then, too, he had put the matter
before her so skillfully that she could
look upon it honestly as a business
partnership, in which her voice, her
judgment, and her experience would
bear no contemplate proportion to his
money, and in which she herself was
to invest money Of her own, thereby
sharing the risk according to her for.
tune as well as giving the greater part
of the labor. She felt for some weak
place in the scheme, cropping as if she
! were dazzled, but she could find none.
Il don't think l shall need time to
think this over" she said, controlling
/ her voice better, now that she had
made up her mind. "As I understand
II, l am to put in what I can in the
way of ready money, and l am to give
my time in all ways, as you need it,
| and my voice, when it is wanted. Is
that it?"
Except that, when you choose to
sing, the company will allow you your
usual price for each appearance" an.
swered Van Torp in a business-like
| manner. You will pay yourself, or
we both shall pay you, just as much
as we would pay any other first-class
/ soprano, or as much more as you
would get in London or New York il
/ you signed an engagement"
as that fair?" Margaret asked.
/ why, certainly. But the company,
which is you and I, will probably
rule that you mustn't sing in grand
opera anywhere in the states east of
the rockies. They've got to come to
New York to hear you. Naturally,
you'll be free to do anything you like
in Europe outside of our season, when
you can spare the time"
"Of course"
I well, now, ! suppose we might as
we'll note that down right away, as a
preliminary agreement. What do you
say?"
II say that I simply cannot refuse
such an offer!" Margaret answered.
Your consent is all that's neces-
sary," he said, in a matter-of.fact
tone.
He produced from an inner pocket
a folded sheet of foolscap, which he
spread on the corner of the table be-
side him. He took out a fountain pen
and began to write quickly. The terms
and forms were as familiar to him as
the alphabet and he lost no time; be-
sides, as he had told the prima donna,
he had thought out the whole matter
before hand.
What if Mrs. Rushmore comes in
just as we are signing it?" asked Mar
garet.
Wen tell her, and ask her to wit
ness our signatures" replied Van
Torp without looking up. Il judge
Mrs. Rushmore to have quite a knowl.
ledge of business"
you seem able to write and talk
at the same time" Margaret said,
smiling.
Business talk, yes" The pen ran
on swiftly. There. That's about all
l should say Do you think you can
read my writing? 1 don't suppose
you've ever seen it"
CTO BE CONTINUED)
"Tea with Children"
"Tea," says the London Chronicle
/. Gin the garden is one of the hest