Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-09-27

saw our missing companion shutting
toward US. He came up and met US
and began speaking at once.
"She went into the theatre here.
followed her clear to the steps and
saw her go inside; then l went up and
bought tickets. Come on"
He led us TO wide front and up
some steps to the entrance. A slant
eyed Chinese took our tickets, and we
passed into the barnlike structure
where the native Thespians portray
the Oriental form of drama, the play
running on in an unbroken stretch
from night to night, at times for
weeks before the denouement is
reached.
Before us as we came in stretched
a sea of heads, occupying the pit Of
the house. A low balcony rooted the
rear portion of the auditorium and
stage which reached across the major
one side of the entrance.
Everything was in half light from
the stage illumination, but even SO
could see that there was little at
tempt at ornamentation In the hall.
Evidently with these people gathers1
Before us the play was the thing Of
interest.
And the play was in progress on a
stage which reached across the major
portion of the end of the room. To
the Occidental it would have lacked
in setting. There was a surprising
lack of scenery or stage properties
about it. Things appeared to be indi-
Gated rather than, portrayed in the
presentation.
There appeared to be a sort of SYM
bolism about it, rather than any rep
resentation of actual everyday affairs.
At the same time the costumes were
gaudy and rich at one and the same
time, and made a scintillating bit of
color and life upon which the audience
gazed in rapt attention.
They took their pleasure silently,
but with seemingly sincere relish.
On one side set of wooden steps
led up from side passage running
back along the seats of the pit, and
reached the level of the stage through
a wooden door in the foot of a wall
between the auditorium and that por-
ton of the house usually designated
behind" by actors and stage john
MES.
All this ! saw as my eyes roved
about the place searching for a
glimpse Of heavy-set figure and
feather-crowned hat ! didn't see it,
however, and saw by their faces that
McKabe and Lucille had met with a
similar lack of success.
We had taken places at the back of
the audience, not sitting down, but
standing behind the last row of seats,
from which point we could sweep all
before us.
wait a minute" McKabe counsel
ed and turned away up the balcony
stairs. In a -moment he was back with
a disappointed face.
''She amt up there either, so far as
can see," he announced.
You're sure she came in here" !
suggested.
Sure" he answered shortly.
swat bit. It's just a chance, and
yet it might be-"
He knit his brows and in a moment
began again to speak.
About month ago we raided this
joint on suspicion. / was tellin' you
tonight, if you remember, that there
was a lot of underground runways
under this part of town. Well, when
We come in here we found the start
of one all right. 1t goes down from
back there on the stage, and just
where it goes after that l don't know.
for / didn't see it; but the boys was
tellin' me it didn't seem to end no
where.
Anyway, they said there was a lot
Of little rooms down there and a lot
of passages leadin' by and to 'em.
Now, supposin' this here dame came
in here an ducked straight back onto
the stage an down there. Maybe the
girl might be slowed away in place
like that. 1t would be like them and
by the lord Harry / believe that's the
answer"
"Mr. McKabe," said Dual, II am
inclined to believe that you are
right"
Think so?" McKabe made eager
query. We'll, then, see here - here's
what We'll do: You folks. stay here
an I'll go out an get bunch of the
boys an come back here, an We'll pull
off another raid. If she's down there
an we have luck, We'll get her. I
won't be long,"
"Oh, go to the devil! haven't any
ticket, but I'm coming in. Get out Of
the way"
The sound of a protesting singsong
was followed by an involuntary excla-
nation, and figure came through the
entrance with a rush.
Without pausing, 1t turned and ran
along back of the seats to the side
passage which led forward, turned
again and dashed down this, mounted
the steps and dragged open the door
in the wall, at the end of the stage.
sprang through, and pulled the door
shut.
1t happened quickly - so quickly
that 1t left barely more than fleeting
impression, and that of frantic, an