Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-07-02
CHAPTER ONE

the end of the chorus line, painting a
little after the tenth or so repetition
of that strenuous dance number, and
wondered if Moe Feinberg would ever
call an end to the rehearsal and let
her get away to say goodbye to Bud.
1t wasn't every night that she had
chance to go aboard great ship
for dinner and the evening. 1t wasn't
every day her emily brother sailed a.
way for South America to be gone
three years, either. Dixie was decid-
eddy impatient to get away, but Moe
Feinberg had other ideas.
"Sing that last chorus over again."
he commanded, and when the pianist
struck up the tune, he walked from
one end of the chorus line to the 9TH
Ell, listening, and finally picked out
three girls.
"Sing that chorus alone" he or
dered each one. Two of them he
stopped after a line or two. Dixie
Mason he heard through to the end.
"You can move into No. 1 dressing
room tonight, Dixie" he told her
with an indulgent smile and a father
ly pat on the shoulder. "And tomor-
row we'll rehearse everybody, prin-
cipals and chorus"
"You mean" gasped the aston
ished girl.
"Sure," said Moe. you're to sing
the lead"
ooh, Mr.. Feinberg!" she cried hands
over her pounding heart, gray eyes
starry with delight. "Do you really
mean it?"
"Why not?" he asked. "ThiG shows
so good don't need big name in
the lead. All need is voice-and
you've got voice enough, Dixie"
ooh, Pm sure 1 can do it," she told
him eagerly. give been taking vocal
for two years and my teacher says"
"Sure. 1 know" said Moe with
grin. "Well, this show will make
everybody in it. Rehearsal dismiss
ed" -4.-..
Picking a girl out of the chorus
line to sing the lead in show just
about never happens. Dixie knew it.
Every girl in the line knew it. That
made it just that much more wonder
full
No. 1 dressing room! With a big
gold star on the door! Every theater
girls dream. When Dixie moved the
first armload of her possessions from
the chorus room to that big, luxurious
dressing room she stopped to stare
with tear-misted eyes at that gold
star. Dixie Mason! A star!
The first thing she did when she
kicked that door shut behind her was
to drop her armful of possessions onto
the satin chaise lounge and drop to
her knees for a prayer of heartfelt
gratitude. Oh, she would work so
hard to deserve this! She would prove
herself. She would make good.
1t might not have sounded like a
prayer to thoroughly orthodox per-
son, but it was. A prayer of humility
and deepest gratitude.
ooh, God! This makes up for ev-
erything," she breathed. "The min
ute this show opens, I'll be famous.
Noes right. The show is actor-proof.
Oh, thank you, God! After this, I'll
never kick about anything again. I
promise you, God!"
If only the other girls wouldn't be
so jealous. They hadn't worked for
this the way she had. They hadn't
spent every cent beyond board and
room for dancing lessons and singing
lessons. They spent theirs for cloth
es, and Dixie hadn't had a new win
ter coat for four years. But they
were jealous. That dead silence as
she gathered up the second load of
her possessions was ominous. And
a whole company working against the
star, could ruin her best work.
Please, girls" she begged from the
doorway, as she made her final trip.
Don't hate me. Let's go on being
friends just the same. I won't be
bit different just because 1 got nv
break
mo, not very" grudged someone
knowingly "Well, good luck, trouper.
You'll need it. This isn't the first
fast one Moe Feinberg ever pulled"
Jealousy, of course, thought Dixie,
and she really couldn't blame them.
Shed have been simply heart-broken
with disappointment if Moe had Sc
lect someone else. Well she would
always be democratic, always treat the
chorus girls exactly as she treated