Mexico Missouri message., 1911-01-12

remember yesterday when Ludlow
volunteered to carry your grlpT
YES" said Dora In amaZement.
"You refused" said Holcomb did
you know. or was that just good luck p
81 don't like him." replied bora,
"and did not wish to be obligated to
him or be obliged 10 put mp with his
company, even with the advantage OF
being relieved OF the grip"
Then you do not know the rule"
said Holcomb "The rule Is ths-it Is
as those of the Modes and the Per
sians-the moment that an actor Is
seen carrying the grip OF a feminine
member OF the same company II is as
sumed"--
81 don't think" said Dora. n little
stiffiy. I'VE need talk about II any
more. I understand You"
But Holcomb's straightforward. man
" attitude toward her. his occasional
" brutal frankness when be suggest
ed something TO her which she knew
was for her'ow good, made her look
more and more toward him for inyisi-
BILE support
! They opened In a small town In New
York state not far from Albany, and.
though every other member Of the
company was downcast at the end of
| the performance, n new world had
been opened up for Dora. The more
experienced and the knowing ones In
the company knew that they had what
they described most peculiarly as a
oliver" They were able to look across
the footlights and see In the crowd
ed house the paucity Of live ones" rs
they denominated those who had paid
for their admission TO the theater. and
they were able to distinguish between
the noise and applause OF the usher
and the half hearted handicap OF the
theater goer. whose judgment was de-
cidedly biased by the fact that II had
cost him $50 10 be where he was.
Dora was very much surprised and
gratifed at one discovery. She had
expected little from the men and had
anticipated the worst from tie wom-
en-. Barring Ludlow's Objectionable
ness and IIolcomb, who held an un-
easy and unsettled place In her estl.
nation, the men made little impress
sion on her But the women did
There were four OF them besides her
self in the company, and the serious,
businessllke way in which they went
at their work enthralled her. As they
travelled along It was impossible to
ignore the fact that one OF them had
Il multicolored and almost multitudi.
nous past, but she, on the other hand.
was the most dignifled OF the whole
troupe and even the most reserved.
In the second act of the play a dance
hall was depicted, and here II was
necessary for thin. attenuated and
also pretty woman of about thirty to
appear as a gay coquctte. Dora was
not on the stage during this act. and
for that she was extremely grateful
Her curiosity was excited from the
very beginning as 10 the caliber OF the
woman who would play this part The
woman was without coarseness. and I'm
addition she did" very good dance.
which made her an additional and
high priced member of the company.
AS they Travelled from town to town
during the first few days Dora watch
ed the women's behavior on the trains
The various members OF the company
broke up into groups during these first
rev days. some reading magazines,
some novels. one-the heavy old man
reading volume of poetry. while the
others played penny ante" mild
form of gambling. solitaire and even
checkers.
The woman who played the coquetts
and the dancer spent her time sewing
or knitting and always alongside OF
the feminine members OF the company.
usually the lady with the multitude
nous and multicolored past
Ii was when they were leaving syria.
cuse one morning that Dora got her
first insight into the business attitude
that these women took toward their
profession. She was sitting In front
of the manager of the company. There
were no parlOr cars on the train. and
they were all IN what was fiamboy
intly advertised as an especially en-
gagged coach" She would have pre-
ferred not TO overhear the converse
don. but afterward she glorIed In 1t.
The dancer. Miss Weston. came up
10 the manager and began:
Can | talk business with you for q
momentf"
Sure" he replied. with the cigar
still In his mouth and his hat at the
proper managerial angle. "Sit down"
That dance OF mine is not getting
over she began earnestly.
"Oh, quit worrying! Wait until we
strike a real town and you'll see that
IT will be all right Don't. for heavens
sake, start changes on me now!'
But ! know" persisted Miss Yves.
toni know that In white my figure
looks awfully large. Now. in black OF
IN red look a great deal thinner, and
II is more becoming to me-"
You are Just nervous" said the
manager.
But my figure IS not nervous" an
swered Miss Weston lsughingly. I'm
serious, MIR. Bleiman. / want to make
a bit 10 this thing. and / know from
my experience IN vaudeville and IN mu.
steal shows that ! don't do my best
and don't look my best In white. Now.
II you won't pay for a black dress
Will pay for 1t myself"
The conversation continued. and Miss
Weston deYoiyed into u discussion IN
which her hgure was intimately con-
| Versad about She Rneculaf ted Az IN