The Detroit times., 1914-02-10
CHAPTER ~.

Morley the stage-managcr. ana any
members OF the company that, she
happened TO know There were doz.
ems OF girls standing about the cleared
stage Ia groups or sitting Ia long
lines on rough wooden benches MOI
ley was al little table with long
list OF names before him and beside
him sat Ben Tolliver, the manager and
nominal owner Of the show. Doris
led Fay up 10 the table and intro
duced her 10 the two men, who, with
their cigars clenched closely between
their teeth, nodded az her and then
with calm scrutiny looked her over
from head 10 foot. Morley glanced
at his list. and turned to Tolliyer.
"She's the girl Harberg sent" he
whispered; shell do. won't she2"
you bet she'll do" Tdlliver grunt-
ed. Come TO my office between three
and four this afternoon, Miss Clayton,
/ and I'll give you a contract"
Once more the two men nodded to
her, and as Fay turned away she
heard Tolliver say "Will sho dor
only wish we had a few more like
! her.
Doris led Fay about the stage, In
PRODUCING her TO several OF the girls,
10 whom she explained that her friend
was-a beginner, and that they must
look after her and tell her how to
make up, and be dressed In time for
her cues. Belle Gordon left group
? OF particularly we'll dressed and good
looking women, who, Doris explained
under her breath, were the show-girls,
and gave Fay most genial welcome.
Il won't introduce you TO that
bunch over there she said. until
tomorrow. There's no hurry and
you'll see all you want of them and
more too before the seasons over. /
just heard what Toliiver said to Nor
ley about you. You start strong with
the management, anyhow. By-by."
At the door that led from the street
they came TO another group OF three
girls who We're standing apart from
the others and whom Doris greeted
with tic most friendly interest
Were here just on the chance,
one of them explained, but don
suppose we've got ghost, do you?"
From where she stood Fay glanced
at their poor clothes and their hot
tired faces and understood. but Doris
laughed aloud and patted the girl on
the shoulder
why, Maize she said, "of course
you've got a great chance. | don't
think this crowd Is such a mucn Do
you know Toliver?'
The girl shook her head. NO.
don't, but | worked for Morley once"
Come along with me-" Doris said
and Fay watched her, followed by the
oil. q -
crowd to the managers table. The
two men with amused faces listened
TO Doris excited earnest talk. and
after whispered conversation, Nor
ley made a note OF the girls names
and then laughingly waved them
away. A moment later Doris joined
Fay and they went out Of the stage
door and the dark gloomy theater into
the hot sunshine OF the street
THAT was mighty nice OF you, Dor
is" Fay said.
But Doris only blushed and plunged
into long dissertation on the vag-
aries OF her profession: how success
depended so largely on opportunity
and influence. and how seldom II came
as a reward for intrinsic worth and
virtue and hard painstaking effort
how the favorites Of the manager and
the stage-manager got the occasional
lines TO read. and the small bits" 20
play, and were given the special"
dresses 10 wear, which gave them az
least certain pictorial prominence.
while the girl without friends re-
NAMED season after season in the last
row OF the chorus.
That afternoon Fay signed a con-
tract that called for salary OF TWEEN
ty-five dollars a week. She ran down
the dusty stairs from the managers
ONCE and out into the glare OF the hot
sun clasping the piece OF paper tight.
ly in her hand, and for the moment
she was supremacy happy in the
thought that she had proved her abil.
ity to earn her own living and had
taken the first step up the ladder
OF fame. With her pretty head held
high, her lips and eyes smiling with
the happiness that was in her heart.
she swung proudly along Broadway,
and in the security OF her new posi-.
ton, she even felt a real pang of pity
for the little groups OF unemployed
seedy-iooking actors and poorly
dressed soubrettes who crowded the
sidewalk. These were the members
OF her chosen profession who had
been tried and found wanting and
failure was written large In their
wan tired faces. At a glance one
could see the sterility OF their lives.
and that they and hope and ambition
had long since parted company But
she had youth and health and super.
lative beauty and a joyousness in her
very walk that brought smiles 30
even the lane OF wan faces through
which she passed And. besides all
this, In her hand she held a contract
that guaranteed her a living income
and the right 10 show her beauty on
Broadway stage.
The next day Fay began her re.
hearsals and sat on one of the many
long benches, az did all the other
girls, and sang the choruses of sev.
eral songs from little typewritten
slips OF paper. This she did every
morning and afternoon for a week.
and then Morley took her and the
other seven show-girls In hand and
drilled them In few simple dancing
steps apd in waikinp In unison up
and down and across Nthe stage. N
was all very easy and while the stage.
manager frequently lost his temper
and swore at the chorus girls. espc-
cially those who did the more difficult
dances. he always treated .he eight
ebow-Eirls with much respect and the
greater consideration.
When the chorus was rehearsing
Fay sat IN the deserted orchestra
seats. or In stage-box and chatted
With some OF her seven coworkers.