The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-08-20


walled Cora. give knowed long time.
and KEEP it from him. And now Tn gettin
mine"
But it's not too late" urged Gussie.
" He's still there, singing They're keeping
him at it. It's the excitement of the morn
ing. And he hasn't yet heard about his
contract. Can't you do something to put
him wise? Make him ask only for his
rights Make him ask for seventy-fve a
week anyhow. He'll get it quick enough
and they'll respect him more. A voice like
that's not thing to be kicked around like
a pony ballet"
"But surely he'll be well treated7'
"On the stage, as a rule, things aren't
treated especially well, under fifty week,
Gnyk0ls," explained Griselda.
"And him so easy goin', too" walled
Cora.
"That's his trouble" agreed Griselda.
Cora made a despairing gesture. 1t
signifed unacceptable duty Of cakes and
country sausage. Already Wilson'S under
study was staggering pell-mell on the trail
of rush orders.
Il see" GriseIda took it all in. "Well
i guess it's up to me then. You're both
of you mighty white"
Don't let EN- do him, begged Cora.
Griselda was rejecting. "I stand in
pretty good with Bill just now-and my
butting in may spoil all that. All tEesame.
I'm going to do it. I'm going to 90 back
and prevent that poor guy from signing the
contract, until he knows just what's coming
to him-unt1 he knows it down 30 the
ground" -
He amt no poor guy I'll have you
know!" 'blazed Cora from nerves strained
to the breaking point. He's as honest
and good lad as ever walked--but-ah,
Miss Montawdry, he's homely as sin, and
easy imposed on, and-oh, Miss Montaw-
dry, he's such fool"
The collapse was complete. Cora wept
copiously on her new friends shoulder.
Miss Montawdry accepted it all with
patience. I'm going to risk my popular
ity, maybe my job itself, making Bill do the
right thing by him, she announced, gently
extricating herself. you can hardly ask
more of me than that"
As the actress vanished trippingly behind
the screen, Cora wondered whether, indeed,
she had any right to ask so much. Remorse
added itself to the tumult in her bosom.
Fortunately, it was the busy hour. -.
By three O'Clock the rush had subsidized.
Cora had dismissed the boy Wilson had sent.
Now she sat alone amid the pile Of dishes,
her face buried in her apron, prey to
fugitive tears and direct foreboding. Why
hadn't Wilson returned? Maybe he meant
never to return Why had the actress
taken such an interest? Maybe all that
Qo4far,v he El,a tr-ae n met blt4H On
her part Maybe the actress liked Wilson
herself-afteT all, what woman couldn't like
Wilson? For all his nose and bantam legs,
there was something about him-Cora
couldn't define it-but it was irresistible.
And, after all, who could tell, when it was
an actress?
The sound Of footsteps, out front, aroused
her: customers, probably; but no-a little
procession was filing on out behind the
screen, and Miss Montawdry headed the
quartette.
"We've brought him" she exclaimed. !.
"All O. K" echoed the Music Director
sometimes known professionally as William,
Smith.
Il must explain that my services were
required as referee began Professor T
-, Westerton. 81 discovered Mr.. Finny- anC
you recall"
oh, cut that out, said Griselda
: you're the fifth wheel on this deal, Tim
! But Bills going to pay him seventy-hve
J week to begin on.
: And more if make good" broke il
!, Wilson eagerly, and in some anxiety for hi
! Cora's shadowy visage. Amt it great
! kid? Amt you glad for me?"
: Perhaps 1 ought to add, announced tn
u Music Director, " that I've agreed to secur
that salary to Mr. Finny solely on conditio
!. that he marries and takes his wife alon
y with him The salary viii be enough t
i enable them both to live at least in the styl
= to which they've been accustomed-an
with far less labor"
IS And non what dye think of it, kid,
pleaded Wilson, holding fast to bis swee
hearts limp and lifeless hand.
Still Cora's face remained unresponsiv
q Indeed it heightened perceptibly. Tea
ii came easily to her, these days, and wit
Or tears, at last, came also speech. }
to ooh, " she wept, g feel SO dirt mean
a can't even be thankful She's done all th;
a for me, Just out of her goodness OF hesz
Oh And the FIRST day she came in flleS
d. omelette chuck full o. soda An
ng worse, stood by, and matched
e, dosVni"