The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-06-19
'LittIeBrighteyes
Copyright. 1901, BY E. G. PARCELS.

= Copyright. 1907, by E. g. PARCELS. I
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That was what Davis had nicknamed
her at the first rehearsal of Film
fam" She was the scrawniest, home
Hest girl in the chorus when the girls
lined up for first inspection and hap
pened TO land In the middle at the line
up. Davis spotted her and called out
before everybody in the pleasant, mer-
ry little way he had:
THAT will do for yours, Little Bright.
eyes. Never mind about taking the
center. Wen save the spot light when
you're around. The back row for
yours
Everybody turned to take good
look at Little Brighteyes before the
back row swallowed her forever. She
was about thirty, a slim little woman
with big gray eyes md dark hair. II
was point of beauty in it's own way
that hair, soft and brown and straight
as Minnehaha's ever was, but she had
tried to marcel it into shape with a
home applied curling iron to make heI
look professional, and it was sight
But she took her medicine bravely, and
even Davis recognized the grit in her.
1t was her best asset in the after
days, that grit. 1t carried her through
all of Davis major and minor tan.
trums and the teasing from the Other
girls. She said little and worked hard
but the nickname that Davis had given
her that first day stuck fast. Even
Jennie Reynolds, the wardrobe WON
an, caught it, and when she was hand.
ing out the costumes to the girls she
tossed bunch across the room and
called out cheerfully:
Here you go, Brighteyesv'
And Little Brighteyes just laughed
good naturally, although she had
drawn the least artistic clothes in the
lot. 1t didn't matter when one was
only the fourth girl in the last row
back. She did as Davis had told hel
and kept out of the spot light.
THAT girls an old timer" Davis re.
marked to Vida Lorne as the two stood
in the first entrance the opening night
and watched the girls take big encore
on the "Rattlebang" song There were
sixteen picked out from the little ones
in the crowd, and Brighteyes was one
of them. 1t was jolly, swinging,
drummer boy chorus and took the min
ute it hit the house. The girls were all
in scarlet and black, with snare drums.
and Little Brighteyes was beating hers
for sure, no make believe. The rouge
helped her lots, and SO did the red and
black costume. Her head was held
high, just bit atilt, and her lips were
parted in a smile.
Marshal1-Nick Marshall that was
the manager, was beside Vida. He
watched the skinny little figure on the
end thoughtfully as the girls went off.
She's all right he said. Put heI
on to lead tomorrow night in that cho
rus, Davis. and see how she goes. She's
on to the ropes all right y
Vida leaned forward to get q better
look.
i've seen that girl somewhere.
Nick" she said. ssLOok at her now
with that drum. And the way she
steps! Who is she r
Little Brighteyes," laughed Davis
shortly. That's all she IL now any
way, butshe.s an timer all right
Vida laughed, too, as Marshall walk
ed around with her to the big white
automobile in which she made her FIRST
entrance. The first act showed noun
tain scene in q country anywhere be
tween Italy and China. The beautiful
American heiress was doing the tour
Ing stunt all over Europe. and the
prince of the country was In love with
her. He had followed the lead OF the
white automobile all over the map and
finally had induced the girl to pay a
visit to his own land She feared posi-
BILE banditti. He assured her the red
and black drummer boys and the army
behind them could protect her. And
all the time, OF course, he merely want
ed to get her over the border, abduct
her, shut her up in the castled steep
fortress (act p and starve her into
marrying him and filing his stingy lit
tie treasury with coolies OF American
coin. 1t was rehash, but it went with
a bang. Even before Vida's entrance
the thing was sure success, and Mar
shall was solidly joyous.
BE careful and don't lose your head
when you take that run" he said as he
stood beside the auto while Vida was
helped in. 1t was good trick. that
first entrance Of the American girl.
They had mechanical arrangement
for the auto to scorch down the noun
tain pass, and 1t looked as though It
was going straight over the footlights.
There were four turns to the run. and
then it brought up short right in the
center of the stage in self locking
frog and made mighty effective pic
ture.
There isn't bit Of danger" an
swered Vida. drawing on her white
gauntlets. I'm just as cool as can be.