THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
SPOTLIGHT
CHAPTER 1
Most storica of chorus girls begin at the dressing room mirror. Alas for poor Sheila Shayne! Shella hadn't been inside dressing room for weeks. Waiting for a cue was just a phrase. She hadn't worked last week, nor the week before Nor for four weeks before that No longer did Sheila call this forced leisure being "at Ilberty" or "rest ing." She called it the very worst kind of luck.
Sheila really wasn't a chorus xirl, though she would have been chorus just then. Born in a dress alad indeed for a place in the
Sheila. She herself had selected the name "Shayac."
H.W.CORLEY
1933
that the
car.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14,
1933.
"Maybe she married and went home," suggested Myrt.
have talent. quired, Myrt was in the discard, I'm supposed to
Sheila shivered a little. Youth Daughter to Johnny and Dolly Des- was so short.
mond, troupers. But there are too "I worked at a soda fountain at many dancers these days. You home," Myrt went on. "Before I have to be a topliner to get any at- Lention at all. And then they soon get alako struck. You know how forget you. Look at Marion Merl 12 iu. People telling you that you ton! The hit of the town two sen- should be on the stage. Going sons ago and where is she now ? around with a mechanic, 1 was, Movies, dances, and all that. It was a nice little town. Bill hnd Watching her dance, ове
"And maybe she didn't. She's Not any- of blackberrien .ond
a nice little car, too. thought cream, marble and ebony. Sheila's
thing elegant, understand, but a sitting in some rooming house this minute or out looking for a job. It would take you places,
And Marlon could really dance, yes were set in with the pro-
"Mother and I lived in a pretty Mryti She's stil
young, too. verbial sooty finger. She had
a proud and flat purse, Myrt announced nice house, too. It wasn't any what'll it be when you're old?!" purviving lanes and
thing like this life! But rooms. "You can open a lingerlo shop the fiing of the head that Ma Lowell, herself rendy.
of the theatrical The air outalde was briak and You know-cook in the kitchen, way everyone else doca," suggested proprietress boarding house; said would take sunny. Spring was in its warmth cat in the dining room, sleep up- Myrt practically. Sheila laughed
and in the voicee of hucksturs stairs. We weren't cooped up in in spite of her self. her before royalty.
Ahouting their wares block one room all the time the way wa
"I'm not going to open up a shop was are here." Myrt sighed heavily for anything," she said vehemently, Her clothes
becoming beyond. Job or no job, it were
her eyes fixed on a distant object. I'm going to get married and shabby, even though they had good to be alive.
"But spring isn't the best time "And yet you wouldn't give this settle down and have a home in a their time. However, her blouse to get booked, alther," Myrt re-up for all that," remarked Shella, small town where there are neigh- been well cut good clothes in
ing room 18 years ago, she hadful laundering could make it:remarked on the beauties of the
was frothy and as white as care-minded her companion as Sheila amiling.
bours and lawns and red geraniuma "You're right. I wouldn't! In the kitchen windows. I want lived in the theatre almost all of
Myrt straightoned. "A con of checked gingham curtains and cop- her short life. She had been born Her gloves were worn too, but her day.
beans heated over the gas jet-may per pots and pans! "Maybe not, but I love it." in a dressing room and cradled in feet were neat and trim. Sheila's
They sented themselves at abe all I'll have for di: ner to We never had a trunk tray because Dolly Des-feet always were neat and trim.
knows? But I mond, her mother, just couldn't They were her fortune,
little white tiled table in the morrow. Who Twinkling,
remember my mother carrying stay behind at the hotel while
tivining, tapping, Coffee Shop. Sheila padded to an wouldn't go back. Jim owns they mother and father and I. T
things around with her In She flew down the acquaintance or two and Myrt filling station now, too!" Johnny went on with the act.dazzling feet! Afterward the
"Why don't you write to him?" trunk to fix the drossing room up parenta Ormly stairs now and paused at Myrt's bowed once or twice mournfully. "declined the suggestion of Johnny's ( door,
"Somebody leave you. for suggested Shella. Perhaps going pretty. Pumpkins and witches at mother (Dolly was an orphan)
"Come on, Myrt, I'll blow youtune?" Myrt asked as Shellu home would be the very best thing Hallowelen, wreatha and holly that the baby should stay behind into breakfast. I'm lonesome." ordered fruit, cereal, coffee, toast for her. But Myrt shook her head. coloured paper at Christmas. We Ottumwa, while they finished the Myrt's door opened cautiously. and eggs for both. She demurred "I couldn't. I'd rather cat once never had a home. Just trunks
One gye poured out and the no further, however.
a day and be near Broadway, hop-Myrt. Everything had to
break, than at home right back sooner or late into a So from the first Shella was a crack widened to admit Shella.
"You're out of a job, Shella."ing for
in trunk! stngo baby-educated in day "Oh, it'a you," Myrt said rather Myrt reminded her, nevertheless married to the richest man
"I used to look out the Cat coaches during Jumps, carried on in unnecessarily. Within the room attacking the golden eggs when town."
"I wouldn't," said Sheila. her first part at
windows when we made jumps and three months, was dark, close, disordered. As they arrived.
Myrt started in amazement. "You see the lighted houses, the bed- toddling on in her second part at Sholla dropped into chair. "I know. But you never can two years. Then the Gerry Society quickly unburdened for her use, tell. This coffee is good, isn't what?" she asked as if unwilling to rooms, maybe with kids going to
believe her ears. started
bed. I used to sea the dining rnieed the shade, ft?" Thereafter her hostess
Sheila was all composure. "I tables net and mothers bustling Sholla's knowledge of the stage was clutching Д thin blue crepo "It's the lucky break we're hop- confined to the wings where ahe kimono about her sparso figure. ing for just around the comer wouldn't rather be here than in a back and forth in aprone. I used
We can have breakfast here," that keeps all of us in this game." man there, or even engaged to the children running to the watched father and mother go
small town married to the richest to see fathers coming home and front through the act. Sheila knew the Myrt offered listlessly. "I've got Myrt observed reflectively.
Even if I was doors to meet them. lines as well as her parents. coffes an' crackers-"
"Well, there are breaks. Lookecord richest one.
"Sometimes in the mornings 1'd "Oh, let's
born in the theatre 1 don't like it- Shelln at Hazel-" out."
much." She leaned forward. "I'd see express wagons and fire on- "For every ane who gets
gines or doll carriages cluttering break there are a dozen who don't. give it up now"
Myrt eyed her almost in fright. up the front walks. Clothes blow- had "That would be all right for a ing on the linea on Mondays. Girla warmed to her subject "is that hoofer to say, Shella," she ad- having little parties. The other none of us know when wa'remitted finally. "But-you're girls in maybe and chocolate and licked."
dancer! The real thing!"
cakes-"
недов.
interfering.
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Ko
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At 14 she played, her first real role. It was none too noon for answered. "It's my treat and it presently her father and mother, will do you good. You stay here known as "the Dancing Desmonds," all day." died in a train wreck. It happen- ed during the summer when Sheila had been left behind with a friend who had cottage at Rye, N. Y. Johnny and Dolly took their last bow hand in hand, Their daughter was left to make the grade alone.
wns
#1
"Well, no manager in going to chase you to the corner picture show, either," Myrt returned tart ly. Sheila said nothing. Myrt had been out of a job go long that no one could remember her Inst engagement.
The
trouble"-the other
n
"But we have to keep tryins." "Well, we aren't all like Hazel." Myrt sighed. "Just imaginu happening to be there in the office when the manager got the wire that Erna Dresser had eloped! That was luck."
"Going the rounds?" Myrt ven- And at 15 Sheila was known tured, glancing at Sheila's suit for what Johnny's and Dally's and gloves. "Gen, you look fine. friends had guessed all along she No matter how slim the old "It certainly was."
to boa dancer,
pocketbook gets you always look Not
"And look at Dean Randolph.. "hoofer" but a dancer. A bit of like a million dollars. Oh, well-in pictures, now! Why, he never thistledown, a sunbeam with little you're young!"
had anything but butler parts until this horror thing came feet uttering, stamping, clicking. weaving in perfect
time. A
along. Now he's one of the big- flower in the wind. Many a poet
gest." or composer, pen in hand, could have done worse than put Sheila's dancing to music,
Her thin arms, from which the wide sleeves had fallen, rose in the air as she twisted her faded air into a bun and jabbed it with hairpins.
From kome remote ancestor Dressing was quick work. Sheila had inherited a lovellness Stockings pulled on, then scuffed that far exceeded good-hearted shoes, a dress gild over the head little Dolly's attractiveness. Tall, and jerked smooth about thin well built, slim as a sickle moon, hips, dark hat shoved down and with delicately curved, slender scollops of hair pulled out to out throat, dark hair sleek as satin, line the forehead. Reaching for creamy gardenia skin. That was a polo coat, seizing worn gloves
"Yes, he's a star."
4
*
The glow of the warm coffee and the good fond had set Myrt to thinking of botter days. It was a little sad. In any other sort of work Myrt would still have been in her prime-this side of her prime, porhaps. But in show business, where youth and loveliness, ao transient, are
rc-
11
* +
Sheila nodded. "Yes I know.
Police arresting suspect In Madrid during the anarchist riot- ing recently when who two were killed and many injured. (Photor
Planet News).
n house you know
her
go
"It's a lot of bunk,” said Myrt
(Continued on Page, 10.)
Two little guests fraternising at the Children's Carnival Dance held at the Portman Rooms, London. (Photos Planet Naws).
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The Prince of Wales' appost for the formation of occupational cluba for unemployed has met with an uncouraging response. Photo shows a scene at the Hoxton "Scheme of Service" Club, where a man in boing
laught tailoring. (Photo: Planet News).
A view of the Radio City Music Hall, which has seating accommodation for 6,200 people and is the largost in the world. In the lower right hand corner is the Console or control board by means of which the elaborata stage and kuditorium lights are operated. (Photo: Planet News),
Chairing Min C. Furnes, winner of the first cross-country championship of the Surrey Women's Amateur Athletic Association which took place on Epsom Downs ire-
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