Evening star., 1922-06-11
30 YOUR STUFF


will. as sculptor fashions clay. She
could and did do most of the things
that are done on vaudeville stage.
The main feature of her act was her
work on the tight rope, but she was
also a comedienne of sorts, and could
even have stayed at the top of the
theatrical heap on the strength of
either her singing or her dancing.
Intimate acquaintance with life haA
made her thrifty to the point of mis-
crliness with her money, her health
and her friendship. She was wise.
wholesome. heart-hungry little SOL
dier. who knew all the ways of the
warfare that a girl on her own in the
professions must fight, and who nursed
pathetically intense longing for
the peace of happy marriage. with
love to stand guard.
She fell for Speed Gallag
quick and hard She was tired of
smooth, fiat, little dancing men;
pompous. strutting actors and posing
acrobats. Speed attracted her because
he was rough and awkward. bashful.
deferential To her he was a man
from d far country-a champion in a
strange and thrilling game.
She had watched him on the dia-
mond. tall and slouchily confident. his
cap pulled cockily over one eye. wind
ing himself slowly INTO an intricate
knot on the mound and uncoiiing
suddenly like released steel spring
to smoke the ball past the bewil-
dered batter and stand erect. grin
ming. his thumbs hooked into his belt.
She had seen him in tight spots. cool.
unhurried down there on the field
while hostile thousands shrieked and
howled in a futile attempt to disturb
his triumphant poise; seen him pitch
his way slowly, methodically. brill
iantly out of the hole and win seen
him pitch also brilliantly. methodi-
cally and lose without disturbance
of the calm, dominant, masterful at
titude that was his on the ball field.
CHE was a creature OF the sham
~ world-the world of canvas
houses. paper flowers, fake fights,
blank cartridges, brilliant sunshine
and soft moonlight that came out of
a machine. To her he was a citizen
of the world of reality; conqueror
whose power was daily tried. tested
and proved: conqueror who fought
and won with the harsh implements
of reality.
Jack Reilly, the house manager in
Chicago. introduced them after the
show on the second night.
II saw you in all of the games you
r,f
Mr. Gallagher" she said. you GER
tainIy did have them eating out of
your hand
"Aw, that was nothin' much" CAL
lagher mumbled. Have you watched
me act YETI?
She nodded Il always come down
in the winks when they strike the set
and you start to pitch" she said
"Oh, that" Speed exclaimed. that's
nothin.' Have you seen the rest OF
it,
She admitted she had not.
I'D like to have you watch it some
night" Speed said. I'D like to have
YOU tell me what you think it,
Seems to be going pretty we'll
III watch it at the matinee to-
morrow"
Wish you would. I've seen you on
the stage lots of times. You certainly
can sing and dance"
She made a little grimace. "Oh,
we'll, we've all got to do something
for living" she said lightly.
"Oh. sure" said Speed. vaguely
grinning He shufied his big feet
and blushed II suppose there's a
lot of guys askin' you out to dinner
amt there?'
"Oh-Johns" she exclaimed scorn-
fully. Sure, They're always around.
Lots of good it does them. Home and
to bed for mine"
Gallagher nodded and gulped. Il
don't suppose you'd go out with me-
he said
Go out with you? Man, you didn't
ask me to go out with you
Didn't T." he muttered. Il thought
1 did"
NO" she said, you didn't"
Speed shuffled and wriggled We'll,
you wouldn't If did. would you?"
Sure 1 would if you did; but you
haven't
Speed grinned Well, will you?" he
blurted
You bet I WILL she agreed heart
lily. Lets so"
X = x x
WITH three weeks after starting
w west from Chicago Gallagher
proposed and was accepted. The en-
gagement was brief and stormy. 1t
had scarcely had time to begin, in
fact, before Gallagher said:
"I'll cut out this base ball stuff for
good now and we'll do an act to-
gether, eh? You and me?"
"Oh, but, Speed. you mustn't give up
base ball." she protested.
Why not? Any roughneck can,
play base ball"
But, Speed. That's your game"
We'll. actin's my game, too. amt
it," he said resentfully. I'm gettin'
more money for actin than 1 ever got
for playin' base ball. With you and
me together-
But, Speed. you get paid SO much
for acting simply because you're such
wonderful base ball player
We'll. of course. I did at first" he
admitted reluctantly. Since I've
learned the business like l have. it's
different I'm going pretty good, amt
II"
why, yes" she agreed hesitating-