The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-05-14

wouldn't do a dirty, trick like that.
mean as he is"
"It is already done. Here's the no
tice. Tucker signed IT," The quiet
tones Of the last speaker were In con-
trast to the passionate. strained voice
of the other girl.
"Here comes old Tuck now; I'm
gonna ask him. Mr.. Tucker, Is II true
Mrs. Hansel has been understanding
Frieda and is going TO take the part
tonight?"
"You mind yer own business" The
man turned his back and addressed
the other girl. I'm sorry, Marjorie.
honest | am, but it's Hardy's orders.
He's been sour on you ever since you
wouldn't go on that party"
She was TALL with dark chestnut
hair and a straight, firm profile. Only
a slight glisten in the big, gray eyes
told the half-dozen girls hanging In
the wings that her steady voice was
only bit of stage business.
"It's all right. Mr.. Tucker-it's all
right-its Hardy's show. Then I'll
not need to stay for the understudy's
rehearsal?"
Listen. grille. ! am sorry. and II !
was you, and you'll take an old-timer's
advice"
But the girls head had gone up and
proudly she had walked away.
Presently Sid McLaren became
aware that his solitude had been in
truded upon. BEYOND pile of trunks
some one was sobbing softly. but with
earnest abandon.
until he could command the other side
Of the pile. Though Marjorie Balm
was the tall Diana Of the third act,
curled upon an imitation flight of mar
BILE stairs. her head pillowed In the
cradle Of her arm, she seemed to big
Sid very little and very pathetic
figure.
"Oh, ! say" he said, crawling down
beside her. ~ wouldn't do that. !
don't know what 1t is all about, but II
really can't be so bad. You know
nothing is as bad as you think It is
going TO be. nor so good, either, for
that matter"
The sobbing continued undated
From anybody else it would have been
audacity. But with Sid II came sim.
ply and naturally as going out and
helping Aunt Pliny Flaccus into the
hack. The girl didn't even start nor
look when his hand began to pat her
| shoulder awkwardly.
TELL us about It. Maybe It's good
luck and you haven't discovered II
yet-you know I've just had little
jolt handed to me myself, but pshaw
everything always comes out all right
IL you give 1t a chance"
"But-but ! had worked so hard
and-and now 1t has all fivvered.
guess Hardy was right. / got out OF
the country. but l couldn't get the
country out of me. I didn't seem tC
Then suddenly she found herseli
telling him about It all. More thar
| stranger he was, for she had moi
even looked up at his face, but some
| thing In his voice seemed to make &
right as could be. They had told he
she could sing. Her family had beer
against her going on the stage-so She
had run away. She couldn't 60 bacl
they would never forgive her. The,
were that kind.
| Yes, there was one who did care
But then she hadn't known how rar,
was the unsclfsh love he had offered
1t was all too late now-probably h,
had forgotten her-she had treate,
him heartlessly. She wouldn't blam,
him II he hated her.
"But he doesn't. Oh, my own lit
tie girl. he doesn't. He has been row
ing around over the country trying t.
find you and"
well. Sid McLaren, aren't 70,
ashamed to let me make such foo
of myself?"
| But Sid McI.aren wasn't ashamed
He was glad. and he was happy, an
showed it. He showed it by an old
fashioned method to which time ha
brought no Improvements, and which
where woman is concerned, neve
fails to carry conviction.