The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-10-29
Stage Doors
SHORT STORY By MILDRED WILKES SCOTT


l says. "Im talkin' about no-'count
animal named Rutledge!"
"Stop!" she says. II won't have
you talkin' in such manner about
Maggie's friends! You forget" she
says, real nasty, "all men amt like
the-the class you meet in your pro-
fession!"
NO." says. "Some of ems worse!
1t amt just around the stage door
that mems watchin' for pretty girls!"
"You are insultin'!" she says. 81
guess l can take care of my daugh-
teri"
Cali right" says; "do SOL" And 1
banged the door after me, hard, as
l went out.
l was pretty sore all day lit most
always makes you awful sore, not
havin' your efforts at not mindin' your
your business appreciated, don't it?
But about five-thirty finds me wan
derin' downward again. Maggie was
nice little fool, you know; and Jack
well, Jack was dandy kid!
Just as got to the entrance of the
building l met Jack comm from the
office. "Gee," says. "You look as
cheerful as the worlds greatest ira
gedian playin' a benefit performance
O. Hamlet! What's the matter?
"Play that again!" says. at didn't
take the first time!"
He hesitated. "Well, I'm worried
about Maggie" he finally gets out of
his system. Gle sent me off early to-
tonight, and she's to stay again! l
don't like her stayin' so much, Miss
Bronson!"
"It's mutual" I says. "But you run
along an forget tim goin' up after
her!"
you'll bring her homer" he asks.
Honest, felt right down sorry for the
boy-he was scared stiff. "You see,"
he says, after little pause; "you see
i love her!"
"Well, I'll watch out for her!"
promised, solemn.
ooh, thank you!" he says, tickled.
Gee, thought he was goin' to hug me
right there on Fifth avenue. main
street, it is on the signs).
"Beat it," l says. ''Ill rescue the
unfortunate heroine!"
/ went on up. 1t was still offiCe
hours, so 1 just walked in He was
helpin Maggie on with her coat-and
it seemed to be an awful hard coat
to get on. Maggie was all pink and
wide-eyed like she was the other night,
and he-say, he was more'n pink
when he lamped me-! He was dark
red!
"Well he says crusty, glarin' at
me and "Lillian!" cries Maggie, like
she was sort O. frightened.
ooh, you're just ready to go?" I
says, calm. 81 was just passin' and
i u sup lOI yOu:
"You seem to pass here frequent"
he puts in awful sarcastic.
ooh yes; this is my favorite aprt
O. town." says, just as unruffled. l
can keep my temper perfect when Pm
angry. Ready, Maggie?" l asked her,
KNOWN there was somethin' wrong.
"Oh-I-I can't go with you!" Mag
gle stammers.
And he cuts in again. at is neces-
sary for Mag-Miss Dunning, to &C.
company me into the country, this
evening"" he says. "a matter of-er-
couple of contracts" he says. He
explains it so elaborate that 1 know
right away he's lynn all the time he's
tellin' the truth.
II see!" l says. Then just stuck
around and walked downstairs with
'em! Gee, he was sore on me, but
should have worried!
When we get down on the sidewalk
says, what part O. the country"
real casual, like 1 didn't care about
KNOWN anything!
"Why-out to" Maggie begins, all
excited. But he uts her off. "out
south O. the city, he snaps, short.
"Come Miss Dunning!"
And he leads her right off, without
biddin' me the slightest farewell. l
didn't like his actions so trailed 'em
down the street, lookin' along real
unconcerned at the scenery, but keep
in my eye on 'em all the time.
followed 'em down past the electric
car station; then, they turned into
Fifth street and stared over t'wards
the garage. That puts me wise!
You see, this village I'm tellin' you
about is on the highway between two
real towns and about four miles east
of the burg, there's an inn-Reigel-
mans Tavern, they call it And say
we'll, I've seen things in my yung life