Bonnie May [Illustration: She assumed a slightly careless air and looked airily at imaginary objects. (_Page 144._)] Bonnie May By Louis Dodge Illustrations by Reginald Birch _A strolling player comes_ New York Charles Scribner’s Sons 1916 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS Published August, 1916 [Illustration] TO THE LITTLE NEW ENGLAND GIRL WHO (IN COMPANY WITH HER MOTHER) MADE FRIENDS WITH AN AMERICAN SOLDIER ON A JUNE DAY IN 1898 IN THE MARKET-PLACE IN HONOLULU AND PROMISED “I SHALL NEVER FORGET YOU” Contents CHAPTER PAGE I. THE INTRUSION OF AN ACTRESS 1 II. A MOMENTOUS DECISION 15 III. MRS. BARON DECIDES 24 IV. A CRISIS 36 V. BONNIE MAY OPENS THE DOOR 46 VI. CONCERNING A FROCK 59 VII. A SUNDAY MORNING 75 VIII. STILL UNCLAIMED 86 IX. A DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE 95 X. THE WHITE ELEPHANT 110 XI. HOW A CONVEYANCE CAME FOR BONNIE MAY--AND HOW IT WENT AWAY 121 XII. RELATES TO THE PLAYING OF PARTS 137 XIII. A MYSTERIOUS SEARCH BEGINS 146 XIV. MR. ADDIS RECEIVES SUPPORT 155 XV. A QUESTION OF RECONSTRUCTION 169 XVI. MRS. THORNBURG REVEALS A SECRET 184 XVII. “A KIND OF DUEL” 193 XVIII. MRS. BARON TAKES UP THE GAUNTLET 202 XIX. BONNIE MAY LOOKS BACK 218 XX. CONCERNING LAUGHTER 230 XXI. AN EXIT AND AN ENTRANCE 244 XXII. BAGGOT’S PLAY 257 XXIII. BARON COMES HOME ON A BEER-DRAY 267 XXIV. BONNIE MAY HIDES SOMETHING 279 XXV. BONNIE MAY SEES TWO FACES AT A WINDOW 289 XXVI. A GATHERING IN THE ATTIC 298 XXVII. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ATTIC 310 XXVIII. AFTER THE CURTAIN WAS LOWERED 321 XXIX. THE MANSION IN SHADOW 331 XXX. “THE BREAK OF DAY” 339 Illustrations She assumed a slightly careless air and looked airily at imaginary objects _Frontispiece_