Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-08-30
know that it was the highest enco-
MUM he was capable of.
CHAPTER XVII.
Rose Keeps the Path.

| Iau raIner humorous, tnrO0ty little
contralto that contrasted oddly with
the fine. free thrill of her speaking
voice. But nobody had asked her
whether she could sing at oil. She
picked up the tune quickly enough by
ear, but the words she was always q
little uncertain about.
She finally questioned one of her
colleagues in the chorus about this
haphazardness, and was told that back
ut the beginning Of things, they had
had their voices tried by the musical
director. They had never had any
music to sing from; there had been
half dozen mimeograph copies Of
the words to the songs, which the
girls had put their heads together
over, and more or less learned. What
had become Of this dope the girl
didn't know.
She was pale-haired girl, whom
Rose thought she had heard addressed
Us Larson.
Rose made a surprising discovery
when, with friendly pat on the sofa
beside her, for an invitation to sit
down, the girl began answering her
question. She was real beauty. Only
you had to look twice at her to per-
ceive that this was so; and what she
lacked was just the unanalyzable quail
ity that makes one look twice.
II don't know what you should w0r-
~ about any of that stuff for" she
said. "How you sing or what you sing
don't make much difference"
Rose admitted that it didn't seem
to. "But you see." she said (she
hadn't had human soul to talk to
for more than week, and she had to
make friend Of somebody, "you see
I've just got to keep this job. And
If every little helps, as they say, per-
haps that would"
The girl looked at her oddly, almost
suspiciously, as IL for moment she
doubted whether Rose had spoken in
good faith. you've got us good a
chance Of losing your job" she said,
''as Galbraith has Of losing his. Dave
tells me Galbraith's going to put you
with us in the sextette.''
Dave was the thick pianist, whom
Rose had found in the highest degree
obnoxious. His announcement was en-
titled to consideration, even though it
couldn't be banked upon. There were
three mediums and three big girls in
the sextette edna Larson was one Of
the mediums, and SO needn't fear re-
placement by Rose, who was a big
girD. Besides appearing in two num-
bers as a background to one Of the
principals, they had one oil to them.
selves, fact which constituted them
q sort Of super-chorus.
But the intimation that Rose was to
be promoted to this select inner cir.
Gle, didn't, as it first came to her,
give her any pleasure. Somehow, as
Larson told her about 1t, she could
fairly see the knowing, greasy grin
that would have been Dawes comment
on this prophecy. And, in the same
flash, she interpreted the Larson girls
look, half incredulous, half satirical
Il haven't heard anything about be-
ing put in the sextette," she said quick.
ly, land I don't believe will be-
swell, I don't know why not" There
was new warmth in the mediums
voice. Rose had won q victory here
and she knew 1t. you've got the
looks and the shape; you can dance
better than any Of the big girls. or us
mediums, either. And IL he doesn't
put that big Benedict lemon into the
back line where she belongs. and give
you her place in the sextette, It will be
because he's afraid Of her drag"
Rose forebore to inquire into the
nature Of the Benedict girls drag
} Whatever it may have been, Johr
Galbraith was evidently not afraid Of
1t, because as he dismissed that very
rehearsal, calling the rest Of thu
chorus for twelve the following morn
ing, and the sextette for eleven, HI
told Rose to report at the earlier hour
The chorus was probably unanimous
in its view Of this promotion. Wher
Grant came back and ate her humble
pie in vain, and later, when Benedic
was relegated to place in the bacl
line. the natural explanation was thu
Galbraith was crazy about the new
: girl. The only way she had Of refut
> ing the assumption would be by max
ing good so intensely that they't
be compelled to see that her promo
ton had been inevitable.
It was in this spirit, with blazing
, cheeks and eyes. that she attacked
3 the next mornings rehearsal. At it
end Galbraith said to her: you're do
, ing very well indeed, Dane. II coul,
t have caught you ten years ago coul,
t have made q dancer of you"
It was o very real, unqualified com
{ pliment. and ~ such RISE understoo,
it. Because. b. . dancer. he mean