1933-02-14 — Page 15

4

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

SPOTLIGHT

CHAPTER 1

Shella. She herself had selected | the name "Shayne."

Watching thought

Most stories of chorus girls begin

Lor *dance, one at the dressing room mirror. Alas

of blackberries and for poor Sheila Shayne! Sheila hada't boon inaldo a dressing room cream, marble and ebony. Shelia's for works. Waiting for a cue was eyes wero set in with the pro- junt a phrane. She hadn't worked Vorbial Booty finger. She had inst week, nor the week before, upcurviving lashes and Nor for four weeks before that!

H.W.CORLEY

1933

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1933.

quired, Dyrt was in the discard. I'm supposed to have talent. 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 have to be a topliner to get any at- homo," Myrt went on. "Before I got stage struck. You know how tention at all. And then they soon It is. People telling you that you ton! The hit of the town two 805- forget you. Look at Marion Marl- should be on the stage. Going around with a mechanic, I was, sona ago-and where is she now?" "Maybe she married and went Movies, dances, and all that. It was a nice little town. Bill had home," suggested Myrt. a nice little car, too. Not any sitting in some rooming house this "And maybe she didn't. Sho's thing elegant, understand, but a

minute or out looking for a job. car. It would take you places.

And Marion could really dance, "Mother and I lived in a pretty Mryti Sho's still

young, too. s proud and flat purec, Myrt announced nice house, too. It wasn't any What'll it be when you're old?”

thing like this life! But rooms.

"You can open a lingerie shop the way everyone else docs," suggested No longer did Shein call this forced proprietress Leisure being "at liberty" or "rent boarding house, naid would take sunny. Spring was in its warn theat in the dining room, sleep up- Myrt practically: Sheila laughed

and in the voices of hucksters stairs. We weren't cooped up in In spite of her self. ing. She called it the very worst her before royalty.

shouting their wares a block ono room all the time the way we

"I'm not going to open up a shop kind of luck.

Her clothes were becoming beyond. Job or no job, it was are hore." Myrt sighed heavily, for anything," she said vehemently. Sheila really wasn't chorga

her eyes fixed on a distant object. "I'm going to get married and xirl, though she would have been shabby, even though they had good to be alive.

And yet you wouldn't give this settle down and have n home in a "But spring isn't the best time glad indeed for a place in the been well cut good clothes In

their time. However, her blouse to get booked, either," Myrt re-up for all that," remarked Sholla, small town where there are neigh- eharus just then. Born in dreas-

bours and lawas and red geraniums ing room 18 years ago, she had was frothy and an white as care-minded her companion as Shella omiling.

"You're right. I

in the kitchen windows. I lived in the theatre almost all of ul laundering could make it: remarked on the beauties of the

Myrt straightened.. "A cati of checked gingham curtains and cop- hor short life. She had been born Hor gloves were worn too, but her day.

beans heated over the gas jat may per pots and paus! in a dressing room and cradled in feet were neat and trim. Sheila's

"Maybe not, but I love it." They sented themselves at a be all 1 have for dinner to

"We never had a house you know at trunk tray because Dolly Des- fcut always were neat and trim.

lmowa? But 1 little white tiled table in the morrow. Who

-my mother and father and I. I mond, her mother, just couldn't They were her fortune.

Coffee Shop. Sheila nodded to an wouldn't go back. Jim owns the remember my mother carrying stay behind at the hotel while

things around with her in her Johnny, went on with the act

acquaintance or two and Byrt filling station now, too!" Afterward tho

"Why don't you write to him?"trunk to fix the dressing room up parents firmly

bowed once or twice mournfully. declined the suggestion of Johnny's

"Somebody leave you a for-suggested Sheila. Perhaps going pretty. Pumpkins and witches at mother (Dolly was an orphan) Come on, Myrt, r'il blow youtuno 7" Myrt asked Sheila home would be the very best thing Hallowelen, wreaths and holly ordered fruit, cereal, coffee, toast for her. But Myrt, shook her head. coloured paper at Christmas. We that the baby should stay behind into breakfast. I'm lonesome."

Myrt'a door opened cautiously, and eggs for both. She demurred I couldn't. I'd rather eat once never had a home. Ottumwa, while they finished the

Just trunks. a day and be near Broadway, hop-Myrt. Everything had to Оло

out and the no further, however. oye peered

break, than at home right back sooner or late into a So from the first Sheila was a crack widened to admit Sheila. "You're out of a job, Sheila," ing for

richest man In trunk! stage baby-educated in day "Oh, it's you." Myrt said rather Myrt reminded her, nevertheless married to the

"1 used to look out the coaches during jumps, carried on in unnecessarily. Within the room attacking the golden eggs when town."

"I wouldn't sald Shella. they arrived.

windows when we mado jumps and her året part at three months, was dark, close, disordered. A know. But you never can toddling on in her second part at Sheila dropped

Myrt started in amazement. "You see the lighted houses, the bed- chair, ♫ two years. Then the Gerry Society quickly unburdened for her une, tell. This coffee is good, lan't what?" she asked as if unwilling to rooma, maybe with kids going to

believe her ears. started

hostess raised the shade. ! it?" Interfering. Thereafter har

bed. I used to sea the dining Shella was all composure. "tables set and mothers bustling Sheila's knowledge of the stage was clutching T thin blue cropo "It's the lucky break we're hop- confined to the wings where shekimono about her sparse figure. ing for just around the corner wouldn't rather be here than in a back and forth in aprons. I used watched father and mother go "We can have breakfast here," that keeps all of us in this game, small town married to the richest to see fathers coming home and man there, or even engaged to the children running to the front through the act. Shella knew the Myrt offered listlessly. "I've got Myrt observed reflectively. fines as well as her parents." coffee an' crackers-

"Well, there are breaks. Look second richest one. Even if I was doors to meet them.

born in the theatre I don't like it "Sometimes in the morning. I'd much." She leaned forward. "I'd see express wagons and fire en- gines or doll carriages cluttering give it up now"

fling of the head that Ma Lowell, herself ready.

of the theatrical The air outside was brisk and You know-cook in the kitchen,

ACASON.

Twinkling, twining, tapping, dazzling foct! She flew down the stairs now and paused at Myrt's door.

Into

At 14 she played her first real "Oh, let's go out,"

Shella role. It was nono too soon for answered. "It's my treat and it prosently 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 a cottage nt Rye, N. Y. Johnny and Dolly took their last bow hand in hand, Their daughter was left to make the grade alone.

WAI

"Well, no manager is going to chase you to the corner picture show, either," Myrt returned tart ly. Sheila said nothing. Myrt had been out of a job so long that i no one could remember her last engagement.

at Hazel—”

"For every one who gets a break there are a dazen who don't

The trouble"-the

had

other

warmed to her subjects that none of us know when we're licked."

"But we have to keep trying." "Well, we aren't all like Hazel." Myrt sighed. "Just imagino happening to be there in the office "Going the rounda?" Myrt ven- when the manager got the wire tured, glancing at Sheila's suit that Erna Dresser had clopedi and gloves. "Gee, you look fine. That was luck." No matter how slim the old "It certainly wan." pocketbook gets you always look: "And look at Dean Randolph. like a million dollars. Oh, well-In pictures now! Why, he never had anything but butler parts you're young!"

until this horror thing enme along. Now he's one of the big- gost."

And at 15 Shella was known for what Johnny's and Dolly's friends and guessed all along she to be dancer. Not a "hoofer" but a dancer. A bit of thistledown, a sunbeam with little

Her thin arme, from which the fact nuttering, stamping, clicking, WOLVIER 扣 perfect time. A wide sleeves had fallen, rose in flower in the wind. Many a poct the air as she twisted her faded or composer, pen in hand, could bair into a bun and jabbed it with have done worse than put Sheila's hairpins.

dancing to music.

"Yes, he's a star." -

f

The glow of the warm coffee! From some remote ancestor Dressing Was quick work and the good food had act Myrt Shella had inherited a lovellness Stockings pulled on, then scuffed to thinking of better days. It that far exceeded good-hearted shoes, a dress slid over the head was a little sad. In any other little Dolly's attractiveness. Tall, and jerked smooth about thin sort of work Myrt would still well built, alim as a sickle moon, hips, dark hat shoved down and have been in her prime-this sido with delicately curved, slender scollops of hair pulled out to out of her prime, perhaps. But in threat, dark hair sleek as satin, line the forehead. Reaching for show business, where youth and creamy gardenia skin. That was a polo coat, acizing worn gloves loveliness, co transient, are

re-

wouldn't!"

want

go

car

Myrt eyed her almost in fright, up the front walks. Clothes blow- That would be all right for a ing on the lines on Mondays. Girls "Loofer to eny, Sheila," alie ad- having little parties. The other mitted finally. "But you're agirls in maybe and chocolate and dancer! The real thing!"

cakco-

Shella nodded. "Yes I know.

Police arresting a snapact in Madrid during the anarchist riot- Ing récuatly when who two were killed and many injured (Photo:

-Planet News)..

"It's a lot of bunk," said Myrt

(Continued on Page 10.)

Two little guests fraternising at the Children's Carnival Dance bold at the Portman Rooms, London. (Photo: Planet. Nawa).

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The Frince of Walse' appeal for the formation of occupational cluba for unemployed has mat with an encouraging response. Photo showe a scene at the Hoxton "Scheme of Service" Club, where a man is being

taught tailoring. (Photo: Planet News).

A view of the Radio City Music Hall, which has souting accommodation for 6,200 people and is tho largest in the world. In the lower right hand corner is the Console or control board by means of which the elaborate stage and auditorium lights are operated. (Photos Planet News),

Chairing Miss C., Furnsa, winner of the first cross-country 'championship of the ́Surrey Women's Amateur Athletic Association which took plavi su Xesem Dawna ra

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