The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-02-08
The Adventures
Mr.. Peter Ruff
~ .. eAsLLses ossEMHEsss
The Demand Of the Double
Four
: :. .~sLLs-s o..E~-E.as

miliar. He looked at 1t for several
moments before he opened it. Even as
the paper cutter slid through the top
Of the envelope, he felt that he had
already OWNED the nature of its CON
tents.
Frivolity Theater,
March 10th
Ny dear Mr. Rnf:
I expect that you will be surprised
to hear from me again, but do hope
that you will not be annoyed. / know
that ! behaved very horribly little
time ago, but it was not altogether my
fault, and l have been more sorry for
1t than can tell you-in fact, John
and I have never been the same since.
and for the present, at any rate. have
left him and have gone on the stage.
A lady whom knew got me place in
the chorus here, and so far like it
immensely.
Won't you come and meet me after
the show tomorrow night. and I will
tell you all about it? l should like SO
much to see you again.
Maud
Peter Ruiz placed this letter in ms
hreast-coat pocket, and withheld 1t
from his secretary's notice. He felt,
however, very little pleasure at the
invitation 1t conveyed. He hesitated
for some time, in fact, whether to ac-
cept it or not Finally. after his mod
est dinner that evening, he bought
stall for the Frivolity and watched the
piece. The girl whom he had come t.
see was there in the second row of the
chorus, but she certainly did not LOOT
at her best in the somewhat scar
costume required by the part. She
showed no signs whatever Of any
| special ability-neither her dancing
nor her singing seemed to entitle her,
/ to any consideration. She carried her.
self with a certain amount Of self
! consciousness. and her eyes seemed
I perpetually fixed upon the occupants
( of the stalls. Peter Run laid down his
glasses with something between q sigh
and gToan. There was something to
I him inexpressiblv sad in the sight of
! his old sweetheart 80 transformed, so
utterly changed from the prim, some
I, what genteel young person who had
accepted his modest advances with;
such ladyiike diffidence. She seemed,
indeed, to have lost those very gifts.
/ which had first attracted him. Never,
4 theless, he kept his appointment at
the stage-door
She was amongst the first to come
out, aud she greeted him warmly
almost noisily With her new pro-.
fession, she seemed to have adopted.
different and certainly more fam,
boyant department.
81 thought you'd come tonight"
she declared, with an arch look. II
felt certain saw you in the stalls.
You are going to take me to supper,
aren't you? Shall we go to the
Milan?"
Peter Ruff assented without enthu-
siasm. handed her into hanson, and
took his place beside her. She wore a
very large hat, untidily put on; some
OF the paint seemed still to be upon
her face; her voice, too. seemed to
have become louder, and her manner
more assertive. There were obvious
indications that she no longer consid-
5ered brandy and soda an un1ady1ike
beverage. Peter Run was not pleased
with himself or proud OF his COM
panion.
You'll take some wine?" he sug-
gested, after he had ordered, with a
few hints from her. somewhat ex-
tensive supper.
"Champagne," she answered, decid-
eddy. 1--WE got quite used to it, now
a-days," she went on. could laugh
to think how strange 1t tasted when
. you first took me out.
TELL me" Peter RUIZ said. why
) you have left your hushand?"
She laughed.
Because he was dull and because
he was cross she answered, and
because the life down at Streathan
was simply intolerable. l think it was
= a little your fault, too" she said, max
: ing eyes at him across the table
4 You gave me a taste Of what life wal
). like outside Streatham. and never
d forgot 1t.
Peter Ruff did not respond-he lee
= the conversation. indeed. into otnel
;, channels On the whole, the suppe
y was scarcely success. Maud, wh'
! was growing to consider herself some
! thing OF a Bohemian, and who Ger
tainly looked for some touch of senti
! ment on the part OF her old admirer
q was annoyed by the quiet deferenc
with which he treated her. She re
s preached him with 1t once. bluntly.
d Say" she exclaimed. you don
# seem to want to be so friendly as 70
b did, You haven't forgiven me yet,
SUPPOSE
n Peter Run shook his head.
y 1T is not that" he said. but
& think that you have scarcely done
e wise thing IN leaving your HUSBAND
r. cannot think that this life on tn
G. stage is good for you J"
lie She laughed. scornfuliy.
Well she said. 81 never though
to have you preaching at me-
They finished their supper Mau
Il accepted cigarette and did her bel
he TO change her companions mood. Sf
only alluded once more to her hu
band.
Il don't see how could have stage
with him. anyhow she said. Yo
know. he's been put back-he on
gets two pounds fifteen week no.
He couldn't expect me to live on that
Put back" Peter Run repeated.
ar She nodded
He seemed to have lot OF bf
luck this last year" she said.
lg- his cases went wrong. and they dor
1t think so much OF him at Scotlal
SO Yard as they did. I am not sure tn