Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1908 — Miss Dobson’s Chance. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Miss Dobson’s Chance.

By Katharine Kingsley Crosby.

Her name was Dobson, but she Intended to change it as soon as possible, not in any conventional way, like a process of law or getting married, however, but simply by going upon the stage. In pursuance of this plan she haunted the office of the theatrical manager, Malcom Sturgis, far up on the top floor of one of the older office buildings in that part of thesaity which the casual shopper never seflS.

The elevator boy got to know her very well. Jim was a susceptible youth, and when on one of her ascensions Miss Dobson chanced to drop the circlet of blue ribbon which tied her left sleeve above a dimpled elbow made a love knot of it and decorated the controlling lever. His'passengers, If they noticed it at all, doubtless ascribed it to some bidden aesthetic yearnings. From all this you may guess that Mias Dobson was pretty, which was very true, and, moreover, dainty and girlish, which does not always follow, with wide gray eyes and a glli* of gold in her soft brown hair.

She had a reserve of temperament and dramatic power which her complexion an 4 bearing quite belied, however, and it giay have been this which made it so hard to get a bearing in the office above stairs. Jim bad carried her back and forth now for over a month and noticed that her color was beginning to fade, a fact which proved it to be her own at least, but also suggested that her ambltlou was slowly consuming her with Its white heat. He knew her type, for he had seen It before, and it never gave up. But this girl was younger and fresher and—well, different, Jim thought. He was a chivalrous chap, and be lay awake nights thinking how be might

help her. He wondered if it would do any good to speak to Mr. Sturgis, the manager, about her some morning. Maleom Sturgis bad given the boy a five dollar bill the previous Christmas and always passed the time of day when he was not thinking about something else, but somehow his manner did not liberties. A second month passed while Jim still pondered over the problem, and Miss Dobson's neat %>laek suit _was wearing shiny at the seams in spite of careful brushtngs. Then the end came. It was late In November, when the days are very short and dusk falls early. Miss Dobson had been waiting for the time when the door of the great man’s office should open and she be bidden to enter.

So she had waited all these weary weeks, watching others pass in and out and reading on their faces what their fortunes had been. In spite of the despair which she so often saw her own hope never faltered, for she was sure of herself and her powers. For this reason she was still sitting there, though It was after 6 and everybody had gone except the manager. Suddenly the door opened, and Malcom Sturgis hurried out and crossed the room Into the corridor outside, where the elevator was waiting. The girl sprang up and followed, and the door clanged upon them, the two of them, and Jim. ; If It hadn't been for Jim—well, failure does not make an Interesting story, most people think, for Miss Dobson was just gathering her wits for a third appeal to the august man for a hearing on the morrow when—the car atopped. The boy juggled with the "levers, and the elevator went up a few inches, stopped again, then shot down another story, where It stopped definitely and so suddenly that It fairly bounced. Instead of her speech Miss Dobson ■ exclaimed earnestly, “Gracious!" and the manager Inquired: “Jove! What’s the matter?” To this Jim, not Jove, replied truthfully* enough that “she” had never acted like that before, and he guessed the power must have given out. ’ ' . “Well, open tiie door, can’t you?'’ demanded Sturgts impatiently. “Borry. sir. but we are between

floors,” replied Jim, who had so arranged it “Where is the watchman?” “Doesn’t come till 7, sir.” So there was.no help for it, and Mai com tried to take it philosophically He turned his attention to she girl. Where had he seen her before? Oh, yee, she was dne of those little stage struck things whom he had been try lng to tire out He was In for It now, (hough. “Please, sir,” said Miss Dobson bravely; “please, Mr. fpprgis, may 1 do some of my parts now? It—lt may serve to pass the time while we are wilting.” The manager expected to glower at this bold request but the man in him smiled instead. He, too, noticed a dlf ference, and her pluck appealed tqJilro He would try to let her down gently. "What experience hive yon hud?" be inquired. “Only in college,” she replied, “but listen:” It was a tiny stage, that little car, bung between heaven and earth, with darkness everywhere beyond the [each of its single’ incandescent—a tiny stage, but her audience forgot It in the glamour of the scenes she spread before them.

She recreated old parts so freshly that the great manager conld only wonder how else they' might he played. Ancient and modern, from “She Stoops to Conquer” to “Allee-Sit-by-th#Flre” and the subtleties of “Candida.” trag edy and, comedy and pro’^pi—she forgot her audience completely till an involuntary “Bully!” from Jim. who could contain himself no longer, brought her to herself.

“Where did you learn to do it?” gasped Malcom Sturgis when Miss Dobson stood somewhat abashed in he: own personality. “Why, I’ve always done It," she stammered. “Do you think- do you think I will doT’

“Yes," he answered jjrlefly. “I think you will. Meet me here at 10 tonior row to talk over the contract." • “Do you mean for an engagement?" Her eyes were wide with astonish ment. * “For an engagement," he said, and at the look of gratitude she gave him he suddenly conceived the possibility of a secondary meaning to the phrase. Aloud he only asked. “You haven’t told me your name yet, Miss”— “Dobson,” she replied, adding hurriedly, “but I can change it If you think another would be better.” “I have one lu mind which might do better, I confess, but we will talk that over another time. This has been a very lucky trip for me.” It seemed to Jim that matters had gone far enough, and as though suddenly Inspired he turned his lever In a way which sent the car quickly to the ‘•treet floor. As they passed out Mlsb obson gave his hand a little squeeze ind whispered, “I’ll never forget this, Jim,” and the manager slipped a bill into the same receptacle. Jim grinned. “Shouldn’t wonder If I’d made- a as well as a star,” be thought. “Not a bad day’s work that!"

"WELL, OPEN THE DOOR, CAN’T YOU?” DEMANDED STURGIS.