ws why, we are to open at the Palace
next Monday. Some big act is canceled owing to illness and they have
to have a sketch. We play two more performances downtown and then
rehearse day and night to smooth over the rough places. I ought to be
bubbling with thankful joy--the Palace! But I'm not. I doubt if I go
on with vaudeville work after this.

Jadedly,

JANE.

_Friday._

DEAR S.,

Something made me think of that girl I fed the other day and I looked
her up. She was actually starving and her room rent long overdue and
her landlady a regular story-book demon, so I fed her up and brought
her home and coaxed Mrs. Hills to put a cot in my room for her. Her
Burne-Jones jaw is sharper than ever and she has the mournfully
grateful eyes of a setter. She's sleeping now as if she could never
have enough,--just thirstily drinking up sleep.

Performance no better to-day. Terrific rehearsing starts early
to-morrow morning.

Hastily,

JANE.

_Sunday Morning._

DEAREST SALLY,

Rehearsal was called for nine sharp yesterday. BROTHER and his
brother were waiting. GIRL and MAN appeared at ten-ten. She said--

"Dearie, I hate to tell you, but I got bad news for you." Then,
turning to him, she said, compassionately, "Say, hon', you tell her!
I haven't got the heart."

"Why," said the bandit, regretfully, "what she means is this: she's
got a swell chance to go on tour with 'Kiss and Tell,' and she feels
like she hadn't ought to turn it down. It's more her line than this
kind of thing, you know."

I counted ten to myself, slowly, and then I said:

"Very well. I daresay you know of some girl who is a quick study and
can get up in the part by Monday, with your help."

She stared and then began to giggle. "Say, girlie, I'm the limit.
Didn't I tell you? I _married_ the boy!" At my gasp she went on,
confidentially, linking her arm in mine. "Yes, dearie. You see, it's
like this. I gotter have somebody, anyhow, to look after luggage, and
you know what this life is. A girl's gotter have protection."

When they were gone I turned to look at BROTHER. I almost thought he
was going to cry, and he began to cough, just as he does in the
sketch.

"Oh, please," I said, "don't keep doing that! We aren't rehearsing
now."

And he stopped and said, "That