Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25

A BRIEF enough story. The girl wanted
to keep her job. She had come all the
way from Ohio with the troup Just to get to
Los Angeles. And now when she was almost
there and didn't have cent, she had tonsilitis
The manager was q hard-boiled guy. He'd
let her go-she knew he would. She could have
managed this afternoon if it'd just been Q
talking part But she had to sing
"Oh, pull yourself together" said zarie
briskly. you'll be as good as new tomorrow.
You talk as If you had smallpox"
Yeah?' said the girl In resentful croak,
And how about today?"
To-day" Earle laughed and shot a glance
at Jimmy, whom she hoped she was about to
astonish. To-day IN take your part"
You! With is minutes to learn it before
the curtain goes up?" The girl had forgotten
to cry in her ncredulous surprise "You
couldnt!"
"oh. couldn't I? Watch me. I'll fake what
don't remember Come, let's get at it,
Her sense Of drama had carried Earle away
She whisked Jimmy of to lonely seat in the
tent show, and disappeared into the dingy
dressing tent. whirlwind of determination.
After slight wait the manager announced
TO the motley audience of farmers, wives and
held workers that substitute had had to be
found for the leading lady. He apoIogized
He needn't have. Not for Earle. She
fickered onto the stage, throwing in lines which
were cutrageously and plainly not in the story
but with 1t all managing to let the other actors
catch and give enough cues to carry the thing
through. The audience stirred, leaned forward
In their seats. laughed and whistled with en-
joyment.
A TRANSFORMED Earle met Jimmy,s eyes.
Earle who hirted with shameless self
possession through the part obviously taking
with every stage trick in the bag. He couldn't
know she was doing the whole thing for him
1t was what she could do best and it was more
to show him than to help out the forlorn little
actress that she had rushed into the silly
business
Just before the last curtain came the climax.
Earle stopped the show. She stepped miles
out Of the part, and sang with sure, easy reach
"Bonjour Susanna" The tent rocked with ap.
plause-and then Earle made her mistake. She
gave them "Bonjour Susanna" again-but this
time as Maurice Chevalier would have done it.
1t was extremely good. Too good. Behind
Jimmy was quick, excited conversation q
scramble as the two men left their seats and
tore down the aisle. He caught their words
Its Haines all right You can't fool papa
What story this is going to bel"
Jimmy was on their heels. But outside the
dressing tent they had already cornered Earle.
He was surprised to see how scared she looked.
But you must!" he heard one of the men
saying as he came up. Make some statement,
Miss Haines. Aren't you under contract to
Super any more?"
She looked at Jimmy in absolute panic
"Oh Jimmy, whatlI do?"
He gave her a little push in the general
direction of the airplane.
Nothing. I'll do it. Get along"
He had few words with the reporters and
caught her just she reached the plane The
tragedy on the face of the little actress an hour
ago was nothing to the gloom on zarie's now.
SWELL. that's that I've broken my con-
tract, suppose. Will Hays or somebody
win tell Zoller to suspend me-"
Not being a movie parsonage Jimmy was q
trif1e unsVDapathetic about Zaries gloom But
being a young man of sense, and, seeing that
his friends, the reporters, were rapidly APP
preaching the plane, he only said
Come on. We'd better get out ss esera~
No exhibition flyer ever made quicker get.
away They were both silent till they landed
once more on her beach.
And then she'd gotten over being scared ana