The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-09
THE EVENING STORY
ZOe'S Last Call.
(RY Nixon c. RurtonO

slapped a d
ing fly, and Joe laughed softly at her
elbow.
Keep a 'movin,'' a 'movin,'' honey
babe!'' he hu1nmed under his breath.
Whats the trouble, grille? A bit
DOWN."
Let me alone" retorted Zoe
haughtily.
Amt they booking you after
this?''
'I should worryr' La Vaienza shrug-
ged one shoulder. And she meant it.
She could have straight forty weeks of
booking in any vaudeville office in the
country. Out yonder, past the row of
footights, they were waiting for her
with eager eyes and hands swift to
respond to every move. But there was
Stratford's letter.
1t was in her hand, crushed closely.
She had meant to throw it away as
soon as She reached the stage, but it
was still in her hand. And it was Il
whole year since she had played that
dusty, frantic little town out in New
Mexico, Tampico.
She had stayed a week there; then
started on the second, with the .vhole
town at her feet. 1t made her thrill
now to remember the crowd of adoring,
reckless vanquished ranchers and cow
boys who had acclaimed her queen. AT
ter weeks of split time through the
sagebush lands it was glorious to find
a dash of crimson and gold in Gfe's
wool.
She had made more money in those
ten days than in weeks past. Not ner
salary alone, but there had been Of
ferings sent to her-left at her dressing
room door. Little "pokes'' of gold mug
gets that had come from far up the
side of Old Yamagat the mountain
that doomed over toward the California
border like some huge shaggy Titan's
head, himself deep buried in the earch.
1t had all gone east to her mother
and Kit Poor unfortunate Kit, with
her two Riddles and a husband wan
dering blythely somewhere on the
other side of the globe. Nearly every
dollar had gone back. She had been
glad to send it, but it left her unprc-
pared for what had followed.
She had just finished her dance
when the fire broke out. A tram .3led,
half-smothered cigarette left near tho
pile of rubbish near the spotlight, Ind
the whole rickety, gilded pile of
boards had burst into flames. 1t had
fascinated her-watching the great vel
low tongues leap out over that sway
ing dark mob of people that had a no
ment ago teen cheering her. And then
suddenly a back draft had swept the
wave toward her. She had gasped for
breath and stumbled blindly And out
of the black and yellow horror of the
place he had come to her rescue
She didn't know him then. Later
during those long days of lonely
agong when she lay in the little white
room in the sisters hospital watching
the big wasp fight and crawl over the
screen she heard them talk of HIM
when they thought she was asleep. HE
was a Californian-Stanton StratforG
Eight miles from Tampico was his
ranch. He rarely rode in. 1t had only
been chance or fate that had led hirn
that night to the theatre. And vet. out
of a "a ho ho1 +Ie
one to think of the girl back up on the
flaming stage-the only one to go after
her and get her out.
One day she opened her eyes and
asked If he had been to see her. The
sister shook her head.
The senior could not enter, but he
sends to you the flowers, the fruit
the delicacies from the ranchero. His
mother has called
His mother.'' Zoe had gasped faint
ly. How nice of her.
when you are able, you are to go
there to rest and grow strong"
And the queer part was, it had all
come true. She had gone up to the
wonderful ranchero to be their guest
for two weeks. And two things had
happened there that had both con-
spired to send her back to playing
split weeks on the old circuits
"Of course, it's all the way you look
at things" dear, placid old Mrs STRAIT
ford had told her. Stanton says you
dance like an angel, but angels don't
this may be a sort of lesson to you
from a guiding Providence"
Il am sure it will be, Mrs STRAIT
ford" Zoe had said, with a little half
smile.
"Of course, once you're in the life,
you never get rid of its glamor; but
you very nearly lost your life this
time remember, and it may be the
finger of guidance
stage?" Zoe wondered if she could
know of their talk and night before
out in the Inexperienced garden I'M
der the sky of southern stars, when
"Stant" Stratford had thrown caution !
to the winds and demanded the life
he had saved. Do you think it would
be right for me to do that Tiff loved
somebody?
NO, I don't, chiId,'' the old lady had
answered, gently. 1.-The lure of it all
is in your blood, and it wouldn't be
fair to him..
That had been a year back, and
she had returned to the 40 weeks Once
he had written to tell her of his moth f;
er's death. He was alone, and starved !
for her. Would she come back to him, J
to the rose garden and the old stars
that looked gold in the long hot nights
of the southland? She had never even |
answered the letter. She dared not 1t |
was not fair to the man, his mother |
had told her. |
And now, there was his letter in her |
hand, and she was afraid to open it. |
When she came off the stage, after the |
last curtain call, Joe, the manager, |
grinned at her proudly.
You pulled eight on 'em, that time, !