Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-10-20

The man, without moving, picked up
. small red cap with single plume,
from the sofa at his side In another
second Lefty Lane had placed it on
her head of yellow hair, real yellow
hair and not doubt of it, like sun
shine-not the color one gets from in
side bottles. Her arms, her hands
flashed with rings, priceless flashes.
and the little spears pricked Dan like
sharp needles.
Its the incest ever!" she was say
ing. How on earth did you get in
here, though? Have you bought the
Gaiety theater? I'm the most exclu-
sive girl on the stage Who let you
ln?"
Her accent was English, and even
that put her from him AS he looked
ut her he couldn't understand how he
had ever recognized her. If he had
waited for another act he wouldn't
have believed the likeness real. The
girl he remembered had both softened
and hardened; the rounded features
were gone, but all the angles were
gone as well. Her eyes were as gray
as the seas; she was painted and her
lids were darkened. Seen close, she
was not so divine as on the stage,
but there was still a more thrilling
charm about the fact that she was
real.
ITO think of any one from Montana
being here tonight! Staying very long,
Mr.. Blair?" Between each sentence
she directed Higgins, who was getting
her into her bodice. "And how do
you like "Mandalay?" Isn't it great?"
She addressed herself to Dan, but
she smiled on both the men with ex-
treme brilliance.
"You bet your life" he responded.
n should think It was great"
Poniotowsky rose indOlently. He
had not looked toward the new
conner, but had, on the other hand, fol-
lowed every detail of Miss Lanes
dressing.
Better take your scarf, Lefty.
Hand it to Miss Lane" he directed
Higgins. 1T Is so damned drafty in
these beastly wings"
He drew his watch out, gathered up
his long coat, flung 1t over his arm
and picked up his opera hat which
lay folded on Lefty Lanes dressing
table.
The call page for the third time
summoned Miss Lane, Miss
Lane" and she took the scarf Hig-
gins handed her and ran it through
her hands, still beaming on Dan.
Come in to see me at the Savoy on
any day, at two-thirty except on mat
Inee days"
Put on your scarf" Poniotowsky,
taking it from her hands, laid it across
her white shoulders, and she passed
put between the two men, light as a
bird, smiling, nodding, followed by the
prince and the boy from Montana. The
crowds began to fill the lately empty
wings-dancers, chorus girls with
their rustling gowns. Lefty Lane said
to Dan:
Guess you'll like my solo in this
act all right-it's the best thing in
'Mandalay.' Now go along, and clap
me hard"
1t gave him new pleasure, for she
had spoken to him in real American
fashion with the swift mimicry that
showed her talent. Dan went slowly
back to his party. As he took his
seat by the duchess she said to him:
"You went in TO see Lefty Lane. Do
you know herr"
hHOW HcI Anu DIS Odu duSNtIcu,
the sound Of his own voice was queer
to him, and his face flushed holly.
Lord, yes. She used to be in the
drug store in Blairtown. Sold soda
water to me when we were both kids.
Whoever would have thought that she
had that in herr" He nodded toward
the stage, for Lefty Lane had come
on. She sang in our church, too, but
not for long"
Who was with her in her dressing
room?" the duchess asked. Blair
didn't answer. He was looking at
Lefty Lane. She had come to dance
for the rajah, and in her arms she
held four white doses; each dove had
a coral thread around its throat. 1t
was a number that made her famous.