The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-05-30

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 Brghteyes before the
back row swallowed her forever She
was about thirty, a slim little woman
with big gray eyes and dark hair. II
was point of beauty In Its own way,
that hair, soft and brown and straight
as Minnehaha's ever was, but she had
tried to marcel II into shape with u
bone applied curling iron to make her
look professional, and II was n sight
But she took her medicine bravely, and
even Davis recognized the grit In her.
Ii was her best asset in the after
days, that grit II carried her through
all Of Davis major and minor tan
trums and the teasing from the other
girls. She said little aud worked hard.
but the nickname that Davis had given
her that first day stuck fast. Even
Jennie Reynolds. the wardrobe wom-
an, caught 1t. and when she was hand
ing out the costumes to the girls she
tossed a bunch across the room and
called out cheerfully:
"Here you 20. Brighteyes!'
And Little Brighteyes just laughed
good naturedly, although she had
drawn the least artistic clothes in the
lot. IL didn't matter when one was
only the fourth girl in the last row
back. She did as Davis had told her
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 on, from the little ones
in the crowd, and Brighteyes was one
of them. II was jolly, swinging.
drummer boy chorus and took the min
ute 1t hit the house. The girls were all
and Little Brghtcyes was beating hers
for sure. no make believe The rouge
helped her lots. and so did the red ana
black costume. Her head was held
high. Just bit atilt, and her lips were
parted in a smile.
Marshall-Nick Marshall that was
the manager, was beside Vida. He
watched the skinny little figure on the
end thoughtfully as the girls went or.
"Shes all right" he said. Put her
on to lead tomorrow night in that cho.
rus, Davis. and see how she goes. She's
on to the ropes all right"
Vida leaned forward to get better
look.
1--WE seen that girl somewhere,
Nick" she said. Look at her now
with that drum. And the way she
steps! Who is she?"
Little Briehteyes." laughed Davis
shortly. That's all she IL now any
way, but she's an old 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 a noun
tain scene in a 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 banditt. 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, abduc,
her, shut her up in the castled steer
fortress (act p and starve her into
marrying him and filling his stingy lit
tie treasury with oodles Of American
coin. 1t was rehash, but II went with
a bang. Even before vida's entrance
the thing was a sure success, and Mar
shall was solidly joyous.
BE careful and don't lose your heat
when you take that rum" he said as h,
stood beside the auto while Vida wa'
helped In. 1t was good trick, tina
first entrance Of the American girl
They had mechanical arrangement
for the auto to scorch down the noun
tain pass, and II looked as though |
was going straight over the footlights
There were four turns to the run, ant
then II brought up short right in th
center Of the stage in a self locking
frog and made a mighty effective pic
ture.
'"There isn't bit Of danger" an
swered Vida. drawing on her whit
gauntlets. I'm just as cool as can be
Not bit ratified, thank you. Let he
CO."
There was the seconds pause In tn
orchestra, then the crash Of entranc
music, and they released the machine
1t took the incline like boys coaste
--smooth and swift and easy Davi
was white, but Marshall stroked hi
vandyke and frowned ever so slight
as he watched the car and its occr