The Sorrows of a Show Girl | Page 5

carrier pigeons trained to
rush the growler.

CHAPTER TWO
I was strolling down Broadway the other afternoon with Oscar when
we happened to meet Miss Sabrina, the show girl. I introduced them, of
course, and then retired to the background. This is what followed:
"I am very glad to meet you, Mr. Jenkins. I've heard the party here
speak of you."
"Yes; and I have heard him say several nice things about you."
"Is that so?"
"Sure. But don't take it to heart; he means well."
"Well, I can only say he treats me like a true friend."
"Speaking of treats, I'll buy the beer."
"My goodness! Ain't you afraid of catching cold--taking so much
money out of your clothes all at once?"
"What was that you handed out? Come again, please."
"I merely remarked that it was awful kind of you."
"Oh, that's all right; I always was careless with my money."
"I always like this place; it reminds me so much of the back of the drug
store in Emporia."
"Then you are from the West, Miss De Vear."
"Oh, yes, indeed, I'm a Western girl pure and simple--"
"You said, 'pure and simple,' did you not?"
"I most certainly did, and I'd like to see the party that's got anything on

me. I come from a dead swell family, I do. I may be only a poor chorus
girl, but by gosh! I was brung up right. Did you know that I was
featured for three seasons in the church choir in my home town and
would have had it for life if the stage manag--I mean the choirmaster
hadn't forgot he was a gentleman; so I just quit rather than cause talk.
Why, would you believe it?--my father was mayor of Emporia for
nearly two terms. You'd be surprised if I told you my real name and
some of the people I am related to. Say, what are you going to do with
that book? Trying to dope out whether you can buy another drink, I
suppose."
"No. I'm just keeping track of the girls I met whose fathers are mayors
of towns. I've got forty-seven for Providence, R.I., fifteen for Peoria,
Ill., ten for Atlanta, Ga., and your two makes seven for Emporia. I've
got fifty-three for chief of police, twenty-one fire captains, and eleven
postmas--"
"Excuse me, but are you trying to infer that I am telling an untruth?"
"Oh, forget it! Can't you stand a little jolly without going up in the air?"
"Well, I'll accept your apology, but I don't like to have people casting
slurs on my pa and ma, and beer wont appease my wrath when I feel
like a highball.
"Go as far as you like. I was only ordering what I thought you were
accustomed to."
"Say, Mr. Percival B. Fresh, you certainly are the village wag when it
comes to the Oriental repartee, ain't you?"
"Sure I am, but I have to go to the mat when they commence to dish out
this Emporia humor. Oh. Laza! Do you care for the one in red?"
"Of course I may go wrong, but in my mind no gentleman would make
remarks about another girl when he is with a lady."
"Say, girlie, you're all right--lovely hair, beautiful eyes and all that--but

cut it; drop in your penny and get wise to yourself. That's a great show
you are with."
"When was you out front?"
"Night before last."
"Night before last! My Heavens! Wasn't I a sight? You know the girl I
dress with had been out to a wine supper and she came splashing into
the dressing room lit up like a show window and cried my makeup box
full of tears over the death of her baby sister, and the way I had to put it
on I thought was sure good for a fine, and to make matters worse some
hussy got next to all my toothpicks and I had to use a hairpin for a liner;
but did you notice the way that cat of a soubrette keeps me out of the
spotlight? Professional jealousy, that's all; but it don't do me no good to
kick, because the stage manager sends her silk stockings and that kind
of junk, while the best I get is a chance to hold hands with the
electrician; but, of course, he gets his orders."
"Say, that piece of work that stands on the end opposite you is all to the
berries, ain't she?"
"Her!"
"Surest thing you know. She looks like a night-blooming pippin to me."
"My, gracious, Mr. Jenkins, I never knocked a living soul, but I don't
mind telling you as a friend that I personally would not degrade myself
by speaking to her, and of course you know that