The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-05-30

NOpl flght' l'V'' by T. T. FaIcels'
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That was what Davis had nlcknamed
her at the first rehearsal Of Film
fium." She was the scrawniest home
liest 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 lie 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 Lack row for
yours"
Everybody turned to take a good
look at Little Rrighteyes before the
back row swallowed her forever. She
was about thirty, slim little woman
with big gray eyes and dark hair. 1t
was a 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 1t into shape with a
home applied curling irou to make her
look professional, and 1t 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
trims and the teasing from the other
girls She said little and worked hard,
but the nickname that Davis had given
of Evan
Jennie Reynolds. the wardrobe wom-
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, Brighteyes"
And Little Brighteyes just laughed
good naturedly, 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 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 a 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 a 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 Brghteyes 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.
Marshall-Nick Marshall that was
the manager, was beside Vida. He
watched the skinny little figure on the
end thoughtfully as the girls went of.
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 sheY
Little Brighteyes," laughed Davis
shortly. That's all she is 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 noun
tain scene in 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 i'll love with
her He had followed the lead Of the
white automobile all over the map and
finally had induced the girl to pay
visit to his own land. She feared possi-
bic banditti. 4Ie 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 - and starye her into
marrying him and filling his stingy lit
tie treasury with OOdles of American
coin. 1t was rehash. but 1t went with
a bang. Even before Nida's entrance
the thing was 4 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 it looked as though it
was going straight over the footllghts.
There were four turns to the run, and
then 1t brought up short right in the
center of the stage in Il self locking
frog and made Il 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.
Not bit ratified, thank you. Let her
60"
There was the seconds pause in the
orchestra. then the crash Of entrance
music and they released the machine.
1t took the incline like boys coaster
smooth and swift and easy Davis
was white but Marshall stroked his
vandyke and frOwned ever so slightly
as he watched the car and It's Occu-
pant 1t was dangerous trick, but 1t
brought down the house.
Marshall stared at Vida Under the
rouge her face was dead white, and he
knew she was scared. When she came
off the stage she sent for him.
Mick, won't go through that again,
not if the whole show goes to pieces.
simply caEt. 1t is terrible Why, II
would be like dying every night!