Evening star., 1923-12-16

movements of some OF the
Il chorus girls who had begun
TO undress were quickened.
Amt he the fresh guy" exclaimed
one of the group that gossip had
made dilatory. He tried to kiss me
last night
"Aww! Hes only a kid" eX-
planned Henrietta, who was a bit
mature.
kid nothing" vas the response.
81 slapped his facet!
Come, my dears. get busy" urged
the wardrobe mistress, and soon the
room was in a state OF great activity.
The wardrobe mistress. according
TO tradition, had been a chorus girl
herself, but SO long ago, from ap-
pearances, that something more con-
yincing than tradition would be re
quired to prove it. Her latitudinal
and longitudinal lines were almost
equal, and her face, as frank as a
full moon, glowed with good nature.
where's MyrtIe?'' she asked of
Isabella, who had chummed with the
missing beauty.
Search me-" said Isabella. I'm
And she kissed.her new chum.
What's up?" persisted the ward
robe mistress. "Myrtle'll lose her
job. This is the third time shes
been missing. Bartholomew GrouchlI
be furious" Bartholomew Crouch
was the pet name of the stage-man-
ager. Real name, Bert Grimes.
Fifteen minutes" The call bog
was conscientious enough to put new
venom into each warning as curtain
time came nearer and nearer.
Well" said Isabella, :she went off
last night after the show with that
blonde boy in his battle-cruiser
amt seen her since. A joy ride, any
way!'
Isabella always called fast road
cars battle-cruisers
x
"OH! Oh: Oh! Look at this"
Jeanette. a quiet second-row
girl, who was always dressed in
time, had been indulging her great
passion. the sporting extra and had
made a discovery. "Myrtle's mar
ried"
who's it?" What fellow?" "The
blonde boy?" There were numerous
queries. And yet every mothers
blonde boy.
why. to Reginald Percy Payne
Of course" gloated Jeanette.
II knew something was going TO
happen" said Isabella ~But che
never whispered, And me her chum""
Five minutes!" came raucously from
the corridor.
"It looks nice, my dears," remarke ed
the wardrobe mistress, 'but Reginald
Percy Payne is the son Of Archibald
Payne of Payneville, Dollar county,
in the state of Mazuma. and it won't
last. The old gent'll put up an awful
kick!"
And buy Myrtle off, that's what
suggested Dolores, a pensive daynseI
who commanded general respect. for
she had her city apartment. her
country place. her limousine, and all
that. Dolores had been bought off
twice herself. She danced merely for
love of her art-and applause.
A scurrying followed the bell for
the curtain. and for a time the ward
robe mistress was left to rumination
and her work. During the entr'
acte the girls, gathered in pairs and
groups. after the change. The
largest number in one bunch were
sequently trying on and exciaiming
at Gabrielle's new hat, II was a
sumner, and it ought to be. for 1t
came from Madame Delroy's on the
avenue. The madame and Gabrielle
were sisters, known privately by the
name Of Smith.
y y x X
"You didn't bring back any how-
ers, tonight, dearie," said the
wardrobe mistress with a query in
her remark to Isabella
rNo; and I'm sorry for one thing.
used to give 'em to the doorkeep
for his wife. She's sick. But I had
to put stop to it. Remember
last nightT The wardrobe mistress
nodded. Wen, there was a note.
Said he'd be waiting for me outside
in cab. was nervous. for my
regular fellow was at the stage door.
But walks out. boldly. An the man
in the cab hailed me. Come says
he, and take a little ride, sweetie.'
You could have knocked me down
with featheri He was a regular
old gink! shook my finger in his
face and says, says I, You Better
drive on alone Where to-? says
he, IS though there was some place.
To the Old Mems Home says. as
I give him the laugh"
The wardrobe mistress shook like
great jelly with rnirth. ''You must