The evening world., 1911-03-06


heads. which he changed abou. as he
pleased. And. of course, they at once
Imagined that they were in the greatest
danger. once n fireman did not hesitate
to faint. leaders and front-row n
back-row girls alike had plenty of ex-
cuse for tho fright That made them
quicken thc!r pace when passing some
dark corner or delighted corridor.
Sorelli herself, on the day after the
adventure OF the fireman. placed a
horseshoe on the tatle In front OF the
stage door-keeper's box. which every
one who entered tho opera otherwise
than as n spectator must touch before
setting foot on the first tread of the
staircase. This horseshoe was not In
vc!.tcd by mc-any moro than any other
part OF this story. alas'-and may still
be seen On the table In the passage out
side the STAGE door-keeper's box. when
you enter the opera through the court
| known 40 tho Coii- de rNdmiristrnt ton. v
To return to the evening IN question.
'It's tho ghost!" little Jammes had
cried.
An agoniz,ny silence now retgned IN
tho dressing room. Nothing was heard
but the hard breathing of the girls. At
last, Jammos, flinging herself upon the
farthest corner OF the wall. with every
mark Of real terror On her face, This
pered:
, Listen"
Everybody seemed to hear a rrstling
outside the door. There was NJ sound
OF footsteps. 1t was like light SILK sid
ing over the panel. Then II stopped.
Sorelll tried 10 show more pluck than
the Others. She went up TO the door and
in n %quavcring voice. asked:
Who's there"
But nobody answered. Then feeling all
eyes upon her. watching her last move
ment. she made an effort TO show cour-
age. and said very loudly:
as there any n behind the door,"
"Oh. yes. yes. or course there Is"
cried that little dried plum OF n Meg
Giry. heroically holding Sorelll back by
her gauze skirt "Whatever YOU do.
don open the door! oh. Lord. don't
open the door,
, But Sorelli, arneS with a dagger that
never left her. turned the key and drew
back the door, while the ballet girls re-
treated to the inner dressing room and
Meg CRY sighed:
Mother! Mother"
Sorelll looked into the passage brnvely.
II was empty: a gas flame. in its glass
prison, cast n red and suspicious light
into the surrounding darkness. without
succeeding in dispefling 1t. And the
dancer slammed the door again. with q
deep Sigh.
no" she said. there Is no one
there"
"Still. we saw him" Jammes declared.
returnIng with timid little steps to her
place beside Sorelli, "He must be some
whore rowling about. 7 shan't go back
TO dress. We had better all 60 down d
the foyer together At once for tha
'sreech,' and We win come up again
togothe'."
ANA tho child revcrcn'ly touched the
little coral nnger-rln~ which she wore
as a charm against bad luck, while
GOrelli. stealthlly. with the tip OF hey
piDk right thumA nail, made a ~. An
drew's cross on the wooden ring which
adorned the fourth finger Of her left
hand. She said 30 the little ballet girls:
Come, children, pull yourselves to-
geth,r, dare say no n has ever
seen tho ghost
Yes, yes. we saw him-we saw him
tust now" crlei the girls. "IIe had his
death's head and his dress coat, just as
wren he appeared TO Joseph Ruquet''
And Gabriel saw Vim too said
Jammcg. only yesterday! Yesterday
afteraOJn-in broad ,.l.|at-
Gabriel, the chorus-mos;er?'
WHY, yes; didn't you know
And he was wearing his dress
clothes, In broad d~aylisht''
"Who~Gabriel?'
why, no, the rh.7;''
"CertaInly' Galslcl told mo 90 him
self. Tha"s what he know him by. ca
brlel was IN the st1Ee-U anager's Office,
Suddenly the deer opened and the Yer
sian entered. You know the PERSIAN has
the evil eye'-
ron, yes,' answered the little ballet
girls In chorus. ward!ng or Nl-'uck NY