he pursuing and long visible
disaster finally overtook the company in Centropolis, Illinois (this is
not the real name of the city, but it is no more flagrant a misnomer
than the one it boasts). They played a matinee here and an evening
performance, to two almost empty houses; that gave them the _coup de
grace_.

There was no call posted on the bulletin board that night, and the next
day, after a brisk exchange of telegrams with Chicago, the manager
called the company together in one of the sample-rooms of the hotel and
announced that the tour was off. He also announced, with a magnanimity
that put far into the background the fact that he owed them all at least
two weeks' salary, that everybody in the company would be provided with
a first-class ticket for Chicago. There was nothing, except his
scrupulous sense of honor, he managed to imply without saying it in so
many words, to prevent his going off to Chicago all by himself and
leaving them stranded here. But, though this might be good business, he
was incapable of it. If they would all come down to the station at
eleven o'clock, and sign a receipt discharging him from further
obligations, he would see that their transportation was arranged for.

It was just after this that Rose caught a glimpse of Dolly shivering in
a corner, weeping into a soiled pocket-handkerchief. The fat girl with a
cold supplied her with the explanation.

Dolly's chorus-man, it seemed, had already departed on an earlier train
to St. Louis, where he lived, without taking any leave of her at all.

Rose wanted to go over and try to comfort the child, but somehow she
couldn't manage to. Sentimentalizing over her grief and disillusionment
wouldn't do any good. The grief probably wasn't more than an inch deep
anyway, and the illusions had been too tawdry to regret. As for doing
anything, what was there one could do?

There wasn't much that Rose could do at any rate. Because after weeks of
drifting, she'd come to a resolution.

She didn't go to the railway station to sign her receipt and get her
ticket to Chicago. What was there in Chicago for her? She meant to stay,
for the present, at any rate, in Centropolis. She checked her suit-case
in the coat-room and, with a sensation of relief, watched the mournful
company file away.

She had three dollars and some small change, and the day before her.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE CONQUEST OF CENTROPOLIS

Centropolis wasn't a very big town, but it