Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-11
Passed 10! ' $ $:5 ; III: "a: Il! ::
By ROE ~FuLkERSON

NEAL lhlO
Betty Brown studies dancing 10
attract men and succeeds. But when
both her parents die, Andy Adair,
Harry Ford and Doc Algcr dissp-
pear, while GEORGE Harris, her slox.
stedgy next-door ~nei~hbor. stands by.
Against GEORGES wishes size deter
mines on a dancing career. Her
first experience is with a manager
who supplies talent for local enter
tsinments. who insults her. She
then gets the promise OF a position in
a local moving picture house.
tNON GO ON WITH THE STORY)
CHAPTER xxi
The Orpheur1 was q moving &c
ture thester Of the higher type, Civ
ing four dc luxe shows n day. The
theatrical performance was a pro-
logue for the moving picture which
followed. Rehearsals for the follow
ing weeks show began on the
Thursday previous.
B~tty reported promptly on Thurs
day. The next weeks picture was
to be patriotic in character, % tire
stage band was costumed 81 sailors
and the stage arranged IS the ds-k
OF q bsttleship.
Betty's part required her 10 wear
q sports dress. She and nine other
girls came up the gang plank as
sisitcrs 70 the ship. forming a back
ground for dancers also costumed ~
s%sllort. The dance numbers were
arranged to carry out the hornpipe
motif.
In the finale Betty and three rirls
q her general height and build posed
&c army, navy, marine corps and air
service. The costumes were -
sesnty as possible, and Betty looked
at hers sghast.
She went through the rehearsal in
diligently, however. and was pleased
when the stage manager, after two
ordinations, said 10 her: "Bro-n.
there seems to be something above
your eyebrows besides hair. You've
got the idea; take charge of this
tsblesu. You three do what she
ssvs."
Betty took her three girls out az
the way OF the sweating, swearing.
stage manager, and posed them be-
hind a drop which was to rise al the
right moment TO show the tablesu
10 the audience. The curtain rose,
Y the stage manager exclaimed:
Thank heaven, that's all right"
The curtain went down and the
girls in the tableau broke this posi-
tions. AS il rose again, the stage
manager yelled: "Don't be so darred
modestl There might he an encore,
YOU know. Hold till ] tell you to
break"
He paid no more attention 20 them.
Betty sat on q broken chair to watch
the dancers. Over and over again he
put them through the routines. On.
particularly awkward girl was told:
"You won't do. Beat it,n She left
tho stage in tears. Betty's feet did
the steps as she sat on her chair,
They seemed easy. She left the
~theater, happy in the consciousness
that she could hold this position for
a week at least. and believing she
could make herself valuable and be
continued.
At home that night she amused
herself trying Il combine the stens
Of the sailors hornpipe with some
parts of her acrchatic dance. She
worked cut q short routine which
pleased her.
AAAHN H0AAAi MS NAtc2 tk~
hearsal. The stage manager. FRO
gram in hand. allowed time for the
visiting singer and two dancers who
we're featured in the program. The
time of the picture. plus the stage
show. left life precious minutes un-
occupied. He tore his hair. begging
the girls to do = song 10 fill in. but
he stopped each before they we're
well started.
Scr heavens sake. can none 81 you
do an~ything?" he demanded.
"Let me try" begged Betty.
"Try vhatT" He scowled.
"Plav that sailors hornpipe again
slower." she directed. She had on her
aviator's costume. When the piano
started she came on the stage in q
series of slow csrtwhcels. In ,hs
center she did the h%ornpipe steps
interpreted with hack-overs and
frcnt-ovcrs, remembering this MAJ
admonition 30 do them smoothly and
to keen her feet separated.
You'll have TO change costume Tor
| that" he said. hurriedlv. "Give that
costume 10 the girl IN th- sailor
| clothes and you take hers. There II
no time for ycu 10 make . change
R~esrranEe your picture accordingly