"He was a gay and festive young thing, and though I left town the day we were married I still look upon him as my first husband.
"No, I never have seen him since, but we did a great deal of corresponding especially when he needed money.
"If you could get Clarence—yes, that was his name ain't it a scream?—if you could get Clarence soused he was the boy comic. Honest, I have seen him bring a smile out of a head waiter.
"He was the real spendthrift. Why, every day he was courting me in Racine he would take me down and let me look at the lake for hours at a time, and often he would tell me he was going to take me boat riding. Shows what a piker I was. If I knew what I do now I would have sprung a laugh and told him if he wanted my fair young heart he would have to show me more excitement than a watch meeting.
"My, how I do run on! Here I got to sell a couple more seats for the festival, for it is coming off a week from this coming Thursday, and I want to have all the other girls faded. What, must you go? Say, party, take it from me—break open your bank and count your pennies, for it's the chance of a lifetime. Da-da."
She discusses the advisability of chorus girls charging time for their company like a taxicab. She goes for a sail on the river and the party meets with several accidents before finally having a wreck.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
"Gee, Kid, I can scarce restrain myself," remarked Sabrina, the Show
Girl, as we met her on the street.
"The big show comes off Thursday afternoon, and me! Why, I'll be there dressed up like a circus. Take it from me, it's a bet you don't want to overlook. I seen a guy go up to the managers and wave $10,000 in their faces for the box office receipts, and all he got was the cold, cruel laugh of scorn.
"The clubhouse had its official opening last night, and as yet none of those that were in attendance have appeared upon the scene. I ain't saying a word, but I bet they had an awful time.