"
Nance sat before the mirror and watched Birdie's white fingers roll and
twist her shining hair into the elaborate style approved at the moment.
"Gee! it looks like a horse-collar!" she said, laughing at her
reflection. "What you going to do to me next?"
"Well, I haven't got much to do on," said Birdie, "but you just wait till
I get you over to my room! I could fit you out perfect if you were just a
couple of sizes bigger."
She was putting on a pair of bloomers herself as she spoke, and slipping
her feet into her dancing slippers, and Nance watched every movement with
admiring eyes.
"Come on now," Birdie said hurriedly. "We got to catch Reeser before
rehearsal. He's the main guy in this company. What Reeser says goes."
At the head of the steps they encountered a gaunt, raw-boned man, with an
angular, expressive face, and an apple in his long neck that would have
embarrassed Adam himself.
"Well! Well!" he shouted at them, impatiently, "come on or else go back!
Don't stand there in the way."
"Mr. Reeser, please, just a minute," called Birdie, "It's a new girl
wants to get in the chorus."
The stage-manager paused and looked her over with a critical eye.
"Can she sing?"
"No," said Nance, "but I can dance. Want to see me?"
"Well, I think I can live a few minutes without it," said Reeser dryly.
"Ever been on before?"
"No; but everybody's got to start some time." Then she added with a
smile, "I wish you'd give me a chance.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173