The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-09-07
Jimmy Wallace Throws a Bomb.
CHAPTER XXI.

Jimmy Wallace Throws Bomb.
1t was about eleven months after
Rose had watched Rodney walking de-
iectedly away into the rain that Jimmy
Wallace threw his bomb.
Every year he made two profess
sional visits to New York; one in au-
rumn, one in the spring, in order that
he might have interesting matters to
write about when the local theatrical
1oings had been exhausted. From
his first spring pilgrimage after
Roses disappearance he came back
wearing a deep-lying and contented
smile, and a few days later, after a
talk over the telephone with Rod
ney, he headed a column of gossip
about the theater with the following
paragraph:
'Come On H." as the latest of the New
York revues is called, is much like all the
others. 1t contains the same procession
Of speciality mongers, the same cacophony
Of rag-time, the same gangway out into
the audience which refreshes tired bust
ness men with a thrilling worms-eye view
Of dancing girls knees au naturel. And
up and down this straight and narrow
pathway of the chorus there is the custo-
mary parade of the same naughty beau
ties of Broadway. Only in one item is
here a deviation from the usual formula:
The costumes. For several years past the
revues at the theater Ghe Columbian
have been caparisoned with the decadent
colors and bizarre designs of the exotic
Mr.. Granville Melton. 1 knew there had
been a change for the better as soon as
saw the first number, for these dresses
have the stimulating quality of healthy
and vigorous imagination, as well as a
vivid decorative value They are exceed
lngly smart, of course, or else they would
never do for Broadway revue. but they
are also alive, while those of Mr.. Melton
were invariably sickly. Curiously enough
the Sof the new costume designer has
special interest for Chicago. She is
Doris Dane, who participated in 1.-THE /
Girl Upstairs" at the Globe. Miss Danes |
stage experience here was brief, but new |
ertheless her striking success in her new
profession will probably cause the forma-
ton of large and enthusiastic 'I-knew-
her-When" club.
; Jimmy expected to produce an effect |
with it. But what he did produce ex-
ceeded his widest anticipations. The |
thing came out in the three o'clock
edition, and before he left the Office
that afternoon he had received over
the telephone six invitations to din
ner; three of them for that night.
He declined the first two on the ground
of an enormous press of work Incl
dent to his fresh return from a fort
night in New York. But when Violet
Williamson called up and said, with a
reference to previous engagement that
was shamefully fictitious: Jimmy, you
haven't forgotten you're dining with us
tonight, have you? It's just us, SO you
needn't DRESS" he answered:
"Oh, no, I've got it down on my cal
endar all right. Seven-thirty?"
Violet snickered and said: "You
wait Or rather, don't wait. Make it
seven"
Jimmy was glad to be let off that
extra half hour of waiting. He was
impatient for the encounter with Vio-
leu-a state of mind most rare with
him. He meant to wiring all the pleas
ure out of it he could by way of re-
venge for Violet's attitude toward
Rose after her presence in the Globe
chorus had become known-for that
biting contempt which was the typical :
attitude of her class.
Violet said, the moment he ap-
peared in the drawing room doorway:
John made me swear not to let you {
tell me word until he came in. He's
simply burbling. But there's one {
hing he won't mind your telling me, {
md that's her address. Pm simply per- '
shing to write her a note and tell her {
low glad we WERE"
Jimmy made little gesture of re- |
greet. He'd have spoken too, but she t
iidnt give him time. I
"You don't mean," she cried, shat t
you didn't find out where she lived S
while you were right there in New S
York 70 a
John came in just then, and Violet, q
urning to him tragically, repeated, "He
Doesn't even know where she livesI'' t
"Oh, I'm boob, I know" said jim v
ny. But, as told the other five -" ]
Violet frowned as she echoed, ''The b
ther five-what?"
Jimmy turned to John Williamson ii
With a perfectly electric grin. p
1.-THE other five of Rose Aldrich's b
yours" he said, "who
allied me up this afternoon and invited n
he to dinner, and asked for her adj
ress so that they could write her fl
otes and tell her how glad they q
yere." G
John said "Whoosh pail but upset IL
chair, and slammed it out Of the way n
i order to jubilate properly.
Violet stood looking at them o.
A little flush Of color OF
as coming up into her face. et
you two men," she said, "are try m
lg to act as if I weren't in this; as If al
weren't just as glad as you are, and w
admit as good right to be. John w
ere" this was to Jimmy, "has been wi
eating ever since he came home with oy
e paper. And you :. I. Did you mean Al
g by that snippy little thing you said OF
,out tie T-knew-herwhen clubT Well, re