Putnam patriot., 1915-05-28

brother-in years and years. Then one
night in Omaha, glimmed him sitting
down In the B. II. row. His face just
seemed to rise up at me out of the au-
dience. He recognized me, too. Say.
men are all alike. What they see in
a dingy, half-fed, ignorant bunch like
us, | don't know. But the minute
man goes to Cleveland, or Pittsburgh,
or somewhere on business he'll hunt
up burlcsque show, and what's more,
he'll enjoy It, Funny Well, Len wait
ed for me after the show, and we had
a talk He told me his troubles, and
told him some of mine, and when we
got through | wouldn't have snapped
with him. His wife's a wonder. She's
climbed to the top of the ladder in her
I town. And she's pretty, and young
looking, and regular swell. Len says
their home is one of the kind where
the rubberneck auto stops while the
spieler tells the crowd who lives there,
and how he made his money. But they
haven't any kids, Len told me. He's
crazy about 'em. But his wife don't
want any. l wish you could have
seen Lens face when he was talking
about it"
She dropped the Bingham apron in
circle at her feet, and stepped out of
it, She walked over to where her
own clothes lay in a gaudy heap.
Exit the bingham. But it's been
great" She paused before slipping her
skirt over her head. The silence of
the other two women seemed to anger
her a little.
Il guess you think I'm a bad one,
clear through, don't you? Well, |
amt. | don't hurt anybody but my
self. Lens wife-that's what | call
bad"
But I don't think you're bad clear
through" cried Emma McChesney Il
don't. That's why l made that propo-
sition to you. That's why | want you
to get away from all this, and start
over again"
"Me?" laughed Blanche LeHaye.
Me! In a Office! With ledgers, and
sale bills. and accounts, and all that
stuff! Why, girls. l couldn't hold
down a job in a candy factory. /
amt got any intelligence. | never had.
You don't find women with brains in
burlesque troupe. If they had EN-
they wouldn't be there. Why, we're
the dumbest, most ignorant bunch
there is. Most of us are just hired
girls, dressed up. That's why you find
the Woman's Uplift union having such
blamed hard time savin' souls. The
souls they try to save know just
enough to be wise to the fact that they
couldn't hold down a five-per-week
job. Don't you feel sorry for me. I'm
doing the only thing I'm good for
Emma McChesney put out her hand.
I'm sorry" she said. Il only meant
it for
why, OF course" agreed Blanche
LeHaye, heartily. And you, too" She
turned so that her broad, good-natured
smile included Ethel Morrissey. I've
had a whale of time My fingers are
all stained up with new potatoes. and
my nails is full of strawberry juice.
and | hope it won't come off for
week And / want to thank you both.
I'd like to stay. but I'm going to hump
over to the theater. That Dacre's got
the nerve to swipe the stars dressing
room if / don't get my trunks in first"
They walked with her to the front
porch, making talk as they went. Re
sentiment and discontinue and sort
of admiration all played across the
faces OF the two women. whose kind
ness had met with rebuff At the foot
of the steps Blanche LeHaye, prima
donna Of the Sam Levin Crackeriaek
Bellies turned.
"Oh. say" she called. Il almost for
got. / want to tell yoa that II you
wait until your caramel is OF the
stove, and then add your butter. when
the stufrs hot but not boilin' 1t won't
lump SO. HIN? Don't mention ii"
THE END