Norwich bulletin., 1912-06-12

Graves turned to Lee at his side. Graves was rehearsing candidates for his chorus in the musical show, for which Lee had written the music, and so thought ke had right to his opin- ion.
 '.Yes, siri I don't need to hear girl sing to tell whether or not she will do, and l don't need any more than glance to tell whether they can throw their feet little"
 Lee smiled. Your cocl1sureness all ways gets my nerve; but take this one just coming in-what do you say 7 Lee asked.
 Coming in from the wings, where the anxious candidates were kept in suspense, was a slim girl dressed in brown; her eyes to the two men sit ting at the side of the stage seemed abnormally big. She gave her music to the pianist and stood ready to sing.
 she'll never do; her voice will De as thin as watered beer. and her figure thinner than that" Graves anneunc- cd briskly.
 Lee leaned back and watched her. In his mind a slow decision formed If he could only put one over on Graves the girl looked to him as if she had possibilities.
 The girl began to sing; Graves grunted and looked at Lee with wide grin Her voice was thin, Lee admit ted to himself, but something in it attracted him.
 When the song was finished Graves asked her to dance @ few steps. She danced a few steps, lithely. gracefully but-Graves grunted again.
 When the girl was waiting for their decision, Graves leaned over. My ei al iIap CT, but you can't judge girls" She seemed to sway and shiver little, then started for the wings, her face white.
 Lee said sharply. Call her back, Graves. I want to talk with her; and I'll bet you S100 that the next time she comes to you you'll be anxious to take her!"
 Graves started at him. Son, you're crazy; I could cheat you out of that hUndred--''
 "But I know you won't; so how is t?'
 Graves face softened. Billy, it's a go!"
 Graves had halted her with a sharp call near the wings and now called her back. Miss Reddon, this is Billy Lee, who wrote the shouting for the 
 moment"
 Lee drew her a little aside. T have a sort of proposition--' He looked into her face, and what he saw there made him jumF-starying, she surely | looked-"perhaps, if you are willing, we'll go to the restaurant below. We can talk better there. and I'm deucediy l hungry"
 She did not demur, and soon they l were hidden from eyes and out of the reach of tongues in one of the booths. Lee sent in an order that made the waiter, who knew him, look startled | for a moment,
 Pm somewhat of hearty eater, Miss Reddon" he said, smiling, and no one Is a friend of mine who deesnt keep up with me" T think 1 can," sine answered, smii- | ing for the first time. The smile seemed to go eyer the ! thin but giriish face like a ray of sunshine; and a thrill went through Lee; for it showed that there was beauty in the lines eff her face, When the food was spread before l them he began te talk and eat, and l she followed his example as far as the 1 eating was concerned,
 My proposition is this, Miss Red . den, and I hope, toe, you will favor | it; I am interested in another musi- cal show in which there is need of a 1 girl like you-Semebedy with brown 1 hair, brown eyes and-Well, you'll dc, and I can give yeu the position; the wages will be the regular youn play ] once in the evening only, How about
 She was listening as if all her heart l and soul were in the words he was saying. Will accept it--Oh. IT do- 1 do"
 She stopped as if seeking to master l her feelings. Lee switched the con- Versation on to other things; for he | understood. She had been near the ] borderland, and was struggling to keep respectable, yet starving in the at l tempt.
 1 So 1t came about that Billy Lee had talk with the manager of the show 1 T want her to be put on anyway see-paid right on the dot; and, Fred sort of hint to her that she is a little 1 under weight and that she better rest for a week under full pay-PA pay it. l see? I've got bet on and if 1 win you're in for fifty" A week later a note came to him | from Fred. Come over! Presto l change whOop!'
 He waited for Fred's reasons, and l he got them. There's a whacking 1 big change Billy-you wouldn't know l heT-guess she must have been starv- 1 ing-but she's bucked up a little. Shf went into the skirt chorus all right but when l wanted her to go into 1 tights-nein. nein! but she made 8 hit right off the reel. Seeing she
 seemed to be a fsyorite of yours gave her a little tune and she made ] good all right. One of these swel
 college chaps with the big choo- -chol wanted to meet her-nothing came o it. Here she is now; gee, Billy. thost eyes-Fll beat iti'