The Vaudeville Star

Looking at his Mammy, With eyes so shiny blue, Might you think that heaven, Is coming close to you!”

She sang the words quietly and with love as she gazed out over the audience. She caught the eyes of several people and smiled, as she had practiced. She moved gracefully across the stage, and the rhinestones along her bodice sparkled under the spotlight. The cream-colored bodice and orange skirt made her stand out like never before, and the audience was transfixed.

“When he's there sleeping, In his little place, Think I see the angels, Looking through the lace.

When the dark is falling, When the shadows creep, Then they come on tiptoe, To kiss him in his sleep. Sweetest little feller, Everybody knows; Don’t know what to call him, But he’s mighty like a rose!”

When she finished the song, she stood still in the center of the stage amid the silence. She looked backstage and saw Bessie and Archie standing together, Bessie with tears in her eyes. Standing next to them was Zeta, who was also staring at her before she turned away, and in that instant, the theater erupted into applause.

Several people were standing and clapping with others pounding the theater floor with their feet. Ruby curtsied delicately just as the curtain closed, and she slipped behind it.

“My word!” Bessie whispered, taking Ruby’s hand in hers. “I haven’t seen that in a long time!”

“What?” Ruby whispered back.

“You mesmerized an entire audience. They were speechless!” she said quickly before she joined her brother for their next performance.

When the show was finished, everyone crowded around Ruby, congratulating her on a fine performance. Several people had managed to come backstage, including King Parker. She was in her tiny dressing room when a knock sounded on the door.

“Ruby?” He poked his head in as she was changing behind the dressing screen.

“What are you doing here? I’m changing!” she said, horrified.

She watched him take a seat on the small couch, light a cigar and place his cane and top hat beside him, surveying the small room as if he owned it all.

“Calm yourself, Ruby. I only wanted to be the first to congratulate you on a fine performance. You had them eating out of the palm of your little hand.”

Ruby moved from behind the screen, tying the belt of her robe tightly about her.

“Thank you, but it wasn’t all me. Bessie helped me with my posture, and of course there’s the costume—”

“Which is all well and good, but nothing compares to your songbird voice and delicious figure,” he completed.

“King!” she said, embarrassed by his direct words.

“You need to think about the future, Ruby,” he said, puffing on his cigar. “I want to help Vern and the show and back the trip to London. And not just London, but Paris as well. But I want you to have a larger role in the show. That will be my stipulation.”

“I see. And what do I need to do in return?” she asked, clutching at the robe’s ties.

King eyed her body. “Nothing, Ruby. As I said before, I am your admirer. Nothing more.”

Ruby looked at the figure he cut with his expensive evening clothes of the finest quality. He was a man used to getting what he wanted.

“Very well.” She nodded.

“I’m famished!” he said, picking up his hat and cane. “I know a supper club a few blocks from here. Put on a nice gown and I’ll take you to celebrate. I’ll be outside.”

Before Ruby could respond, he was gone. She moved behind the screen again and pulled on the cobalt-blue gown that she had worn to the theater. It was not a fancy evening gown, but if she kept her hair styled as it was with the rhinestone clips, it would have to do.

When a knock sounded again, she bid whoever it was to enter as she threw her robe over the screen, standing in only her chemise and corset.

“Hello, Ruby.”

Ruby glanced over the screen to see Ford standing in the room.

“Ford! Don’t come any closer! I’m only wearing my chemise,” she practically squeaked.

Ford gave her a lopsided