The Detroit times., 1912-04-23
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SINGER 81
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Copyright. 1911. The Besh~AssrM

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phone every morning and evening.
Nest unreasonable. Mr.. Straker was,
He said there wasn't a singer in town
he could get 10 I'll your engagements.
and he was losing a hundred dollars
a day. He's very much put out. Miss
Redmond"
Wen. | was, too" said Agatha, but
somehow her tone failed ito satisfy
the maid 10 Agatha the thought of
the dictatorial manager fiuttering
about New York In quest of vanish
ed singer-well, the picture had its
humorous side. IL had its serious
side too. for Agatha. of course, but
for the moment she put of thinking
about that. Lizzie. however, had
borne. the brunt of Mr.. Stakers vexa-
ton, and in that lumberbox she call
ed her mind she regarded the matter
solely as her personal cue 10 come
more prominently upon the stage.
Then your accompanist came every
morning. as YOU had directed, Miss
Redmond; and Madame Florio sent
word dozen times about those new
gowns Lizzie, with the memory OF
her sudden importance, almost took
up the role OF baffled innocence. Il
declare, Miss Redmond. didn't know
what 10 do or say TO those people.
The whole thing seemed so irregular
with YOU not leaving any word OF eX.
PLANTATION with me-
THAT Is true. Lizzie, il was irreg.
ular. and certainly very inconvenienl
| And IL is serious enough, SO far IS
| breaking my engagements is concern
ed. But the circumstances were very
unusual and-presging. Some one
else gave the message at the hotel
and as you know, | had no time even
TO get a satchel"
That's what | said when the re-
norters came-that you were so wor-
RED over your sick relative that you
did not wait for anything"
Agatha groaned "Did-did the pa
! pers have much TO say about my leav-
ing town."
They had columns. Miss Redmond,
I and some OF them had your picture on
the front page with an announcement
OF your elopeilent But Mr.. Straker
contradicted that; he told them he
had heard from you. and that You
twere at the bedside of a dying rela-
tive Besides that, Miss Redmond,
the difficulty in getting up an elope-
nent story vas the lack OF probable
man, Your manager and your accom-
PIANIST were both found and interview
ed. and there wasn't anybody else In
New York except me who knew you.
Your discretion, Hiss Redmond, has
always been remarkable
Agatha was suddenly tired of Liz
zie.
Very well. Lizzie, that will do.
You may go and get your own things
unpacked We shan't return to New
York for several days yet.
You've heard from Mr.. Straker, OF
course, Miss Redmond"
mo, but have written TO him, ex-
planning everything. Why"
"Oh. nothing; only when sent
him word that / had heard from you,
he said at first that he was coming
here with me Some business pre-
vented him, but he must have tele-
graphed
Maybe he has: but il takes some
time. evidently for a hidden person
10 be discovered in Ilion."
AS soon as the words were Off her
lips, Agatha realized that she had
made a slip One has to look sharp
when talking TO a sophisticated maid.
: But were you hiding. Miss Red
mond?" Lizzie artlessly inquired.
: "Oh, no. Lizzie; don't be silly. The
telegram probably went wrong; tele-
grams often do"
mot when Mr.. Straker sends them.
proffered Lizzie. But IL his tele-
grams have gone wrong, you may
count on his coming down here him.
self He is much worried over the re-
; hearsals which begin early in the
month. he said. And he got the full
' directions you sent me for coming
here he would have them
Agatha kne heI managers per-
4 tinacity when once on the track Of an
object Moreover the humor of the
situation passed from her mind. leav-
/ ing only vivid impression Of the
D trouble and worry which were cure
y 10 follow such serious breaking up
5 of we'll established plans. She was
! rarely capricious, even under vexa
: lion. but she yielded to a caprice n
this moment, and one. moreover, that
c was very unjust toward her much
2 tired manager The thought of that
e man bursting in upon her In the home
= that had been the fastidious Hercules
: Thayer's, in the midst OF her anxiety
= and sorrow over James Hambleton
Q was intolerable.
8 Ito BE contlnued)
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