Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-15

Until Nettie joined the Moonlight
Maiden company Dick Grantley had
never given Il dcrogatory thought to
his padded stomach and his chin beard
They were simply parts of his funny
makeup, like the great grease paint
and the long haired wig which com
pleted his resem blance to the German
character type found only upon the
stage.
In fact. Grantley had been rather
proud of his makeup. There were Ger.
tain little tricks and articles whicii
the other comedians did not seem to
know and which completed his ludi.
crous appearance. Grantiey rarely left
the dressing room without taking a
self satisfied glance at himself in the
mirror.
But Nettie's coming had changed al,
that. A score of chorus girls had
come aud gone since the company had
had not affected Grantley at all. As
the comedian he was not called fol
the rehearsals held for the benefit OF
the new girls. The stage manager
drilled them in their songs and dances
and it was not always that Grantley
noted q new face in the chorus ranks.
But Nettie Bladen was different
from the rest. She was an ambitious
girl, with a desire to take her place
some day among the principals. Her
FRESH young voice rang true to key
and she did not go through her work
with the mechanical dullness displayed
by the other girls. Grantley, coming
on the stage for his first entrance
glanced up and down the chorus line
TO discover the identity of the CIR
whose clear soprano held the Others
together.
AS they were waiting for the next
big entrance Grantley spoke to Nettie
He uttered only a few words OF sell
introduction and bald remark IL
| praise of her voice, but in so doing he
stammered like schoolboy. glad thai
, the heavy coat of paint hid his bushes
Even in that brief moment he, had
fallen in love, and love was new sen
sation to the comedian.
Nettie smiled her thanks and hcn
rushed off with the other girls, leaving
Grantley to follow more slowly, as his
| part demanded.
Even the other members of the cast
who usually were intent only upon
| their own work, noticed that Grantley
| tonight was exerting himself to do his
| best, and various were the speculations
as 10 the cause Perhaps he had {
| friend "out front" This was the east
est and therefore the accepted solution
But Grantley knew he was playing tc
| the new chorus girl, while Nettie was
| spending every moment she could spare
| from her changes of'costume in watch
! ing the show that she never would see
| in its entirety. Once or twice sup
| pressed laugh from the wings mean
more to Grantley than the roar OF ap
plause from the audience, and as they
were all waiting for the last act cur
tain he turned to the new girl.
What do you think of the show?
he demanded.
Its splendid" was the enthusiastic
response. Il think you ought to be OF
Broadway with theater of your own
Thinking. that has spoiled a lot o
good men," answered Grantley, with ;
J shake of the head, but he was none ths
less pleased with her praise, and there
was warm glow about his heart tn,
rest of the evening.
/ After that Grantlev saw much o
"the newest GIRL as the others Gale,
her. There We're several moments II
the play when they stood on the sam,
side of the stage waiting for cues, ant
| 1t was always to Nettie that Granite,
| directed his conversation. though TIL
other actors crowded around. enjoying
the fun. Grantley. for all he heade,
a cheap company, was comedian a
heart as well as by training. and b
could give a humorous twist to. tn
most serious Of statements.