Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 178: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

520 him for a long time. Perhaps she figures she can stand him a few minutes.” Later, as Higgins approached the stage door of the Calcium Theater, he beheld two familiar figures conversing there; but, as he neared them, one, the man, lifted his hat to his companion and vanished inside. Hig quickened his steps. “What does this mean, Car’line?” he demanded in as soft a voice as he could summon. Her nose tilted skyward. what mean?” “ Why — er — your gallivanting round with Bughouse Brady.” Her tone became dangerous. “ I’ll have you understand, Mr. Higgins, that what I do outside our act is none of your busi- ness.” “What does He begged her pardon, and she softened. somewhat. “I picked up a morning paper and saw Brady was booked for the Calcium this week, and acting on an odd whim, I called up the box-office. They told me I might find him at the Elfin bar, and I did.” “Oh!” gulped Higgins. ‘‘ But—do you really care for him again, Car’line?”’ She searched his mobile countenance with something akin to amazement. “ Hig, does that make any difference to you!” Balboa spluttered and bowed and scraped and looked anything but comfortable. “Your being legally separated from him, I—I only thought it strange that you’d be taking up with him again,” he stumbled weakly. “ Brady’s all right in some ways.” She watched his face as she spoke. ‘In fact, I think I like him better than I imagined I would.” Higgins thought he’d better conceal his emotions in a coughing spell, but she had known him long enough to see through the subterfuge. Then, in confusion, he seized the tip of his chin and began winding it. She laughed. ‘ You’re so funny, Hig. But isn’t it time we go inside?” He accepted the suggestion with pleasure, and they went to their dressing-rooms. Fifteen minutes before time for their act to go on, Hig stepped to the wings and lis- tened to the delivery of Bughouse Brady’s ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. monologue. The magician with the week- end face could see nothing funny in the big comedian’s remarks, though the audience howled and held its sides. Perhaps Hig paid more attention to the man than to what he said. Balboa longed for a mo- ment’s conversation with the monologist, but realized there would be no chance until. his own act had been presented. Bughouse took three bows and an en- core, and the street scene rose. Ensued ten minutes of magic such as only the dex- terous Higgins could get away with. Then, Miss Humphrey, as Helia, was introduced. She mounted a metal table, and screens standing on its top were drawn about her. Mirrors beneath the table reflected a sur-. face the same color as the rear drapery, and the space under the stand offered plenty of sanctuary for a medium-sized woman. - No sooner had Hig screened Helia from view than she commenced the tortuous task of squirming through the trap-door in the table top. A torch was touched to the sur- rounding screens, and they burned brightly for a few seconds. When they were extinguished, nothing but a heap of ashes and a couple of charred bones remained on the metal stand. Half of Caroline’s day’s work was done. Only once more would she be cremated before Monday—at the evening performance. The curtain fell and rose again. Now Helia, escaped from her cramped posture beneath the table, at Higgins’s side, bowed acknowledgment of the applause. Balboa was in his street clothes first, and dashed from his dressing-room to find Brady. The comedian awaited him. Be- fore Hig could put in a word, Bughouse queried: ‘“‘ How soon will Miss Humphrey be out?”’ Higgins stopped short and took firm hold of his chin tip. ‘“ I—have a heart!” splut- tered the magician contritely. ‘‘ This thing isn’t going as I expected it would. You— you got in ahead of time.” ““Miss Humphrey is a splendid young woman,” Brady strove to calm him. ‘She has promised to dine with me this after- noon.” | Hig’s chin turned red as he released his ELOOO (C(O) S (C(O) mM