“Then there was a ceaseless round of rehearsals; during the day and in the evening after a general mix up of legs, bare arms, slippers and tights, in the main dressing-room, the call boy would summon us to appear in the first act. The music, the lights and the favors which men heaped upon me did much to keep the excitement at a fever heat. How well I remember the first pay day, I paid my little bills with the importance of a king of Wall street. Flowers filled my room each day, and if I became a favorite it was simply because I worked with a desire to please. One day the musical director stopped me as I was going out of the theater; we had quite a talk, all in an undertone and all in regard to my work. He was simply advising me; as I started away, Dollie Squires stepped from behind a wing. “‘It’s a wonder you wouldn’t talk to that country girl all day,’ she said to the Prof. “I was too intensely exercised at the remark to reply; I went to my room and related the incident to Bertha Walls, my room-mate. She laughed loud and long. “‘That is good,’ she finally said, as she struggled for breath. “‘Why?’ said I. “‘Because, you see, she is jealous and I am glad of it. Go in, little country girl, and show her a thing or two.’ “‘Nothing to be gained by that,’ said I. “‘Yes there is, she is as mean as the old scratch, not a girl likes her, and if she doesn’t make you trouble, I’ll lose my guess.’ “‘How can she make me trouble?’ “‘Easy enough. If she wants you put out of the company, out you go. You see, she is a pet of the Prof’s, and if he kicks on your work, Althy, your time is up.’ “‘But she won’t do that, will she?’ “‘Sure she will; she has put lots of girls out of business in this house.’ “Next night as I left the stage door a hand was laid on my arm, and, looking up, I saw Leon. I was glad, yet sorry to see him. “‘Althea,’ said he, ‘I bring you bad news.’ “‘What can it be?’ I asked. “‘Your mother is very ill.’ “I questioned him closely and learned that my mother had been sick abed for ten days. He had set out to find me, and if possible, persuade me to return home, but I could not do that, much as I wished to, for I was now a bread-winner and the support of an afflicted mother. My argument won, and he finally left me; it was not long until I needed him, for the second day after that I received notice that my contract would be canceled at the end of the week. “What was I to do? I told some of the girls, and one of them, a little brunette, said to me, ‘Well, I am leaving the company this week, anyway, and I don’t mind telling you where your trouble started.’ “‘Tell me please,’ said I. “‘Dollie Squires, of course.’ “‘But I have never harmed Dollie; tell me some way that I can become reinstated.’ “‘Go to the musical director, he is the power behind the throne.’