Evening star., 1932-09-19
CHAPTER 1.

neeQ 10 redQ eltDer OI tIltLi
i again. She knew every word
by heart. Miss Allison: Report
at WAOA tomorrow at 10 for an au-
dition. Beauty Builders. Just talking.
You ought to get it. Best luck. DICK
MASON"
That was one of the messages. That
was why she was on the Sheridan
road bus now, going downtown in the
bright, cold morning, wearing the new
brown wool crepe dress, the tan lapin
jacket, the new brown hat with the
brown and tan bow. Wishing. Think
ing about Dick Mason. Wishing.
And thinking about the other mes
sage The telegram.
Judy: l am not going to send you
any more money You have been in
Chicago six months without getting
anywhere. Now come home.
FATHER"
That message had come first. 1t
came about 3 o'clock the afternoon
before and for a long time after that
Judy had Just sat looking at the mes
sage, thinking now how she would have
to go home; how this had been the
one chance of her life and she had
failed
She had gone downstairs to the tea
4OSIl DiIC Sdt dlOllt dl Il IllllG wall
table until Mrs Malone. who owned
the tea room, said DO you mind
letting some one share your table? It's
so crowded tonight"
No. Judy said, not looking up. "Of
course. no."
A young man sat down. She noticed
he had very strong hands, tanned,
and that he wore a small ring on his
inaeX finger.
She went on looking at her fathers
telegram, net looking up, until at last
she heard the man say, May have
the sugar, please?"
She passed the sugar bowl. Some
hcW it slipped suddenly from her hand,
tunbled upside down on the cloth,
spiliing sugar everywhere.
OH" She felt her cheeks flaming
She looked straight at the young man.
He was smiling, chuckling. He had
thick hair, brushed smooth. Nice eyes.
I'm - nervous" she explained.
Sorry
You look worried about something.
Could I help?"
no. No. It's nothing Nothing at
Al
The telegram lay before her Quickly
She picked it up, crumpled it, stuffed
1t into her jacket pocket.
she looked down now and tried to
ea,. She couldn't eat. She kept think
Ing what it would be like to have to
go home failure. She COUNT think
OF anything else.
Pardon me- the young man said,
alter a long time Il know this is all
wrong. But-I've seen you often here.
I live here, too you know. On the
fifth floor"
oh, l 1--we on the third 8"
My name is Dick Mason
Mine Is" She paused. This
wasn't the thing one does. Of course
not. But he had a nice smile. He
1ooked-nice. That was the only word
All right. Mine is Miss Allison"
He got up, made an exaggerated
bow.
Charmed, Miss Allison. Charmed,
ir5eed!"
Then they both laughed, because
they both wanted to laugh, and after
all. it was an Autumn evening, and
alter all. After while they talk
ed. About Chicago. About how nice
1t WaS to be in Chicago.
I'm going home Tuesday" she said,
disInally
"Ycu shouldn't
Il have to-
But Why?"
Afterw2rd it seemed like terrible
thing 10 have done: but size handed
hin the telegram from her father, not
saying anything about it. He hasitated
moment. Then he read the message
That's-bad. Can't you do anything
t. keep from going?"
How can l? I'm an organist.
There's nothing for organiSts"
Isn't there ANYTHING else?"
L can sing-a little-I used to act
in school plays. That's all I can't
run typewriter or take dictation. I
can't run an adding machine. I don't
know how to sell shoes or silk or-or
anything"
You have nice voice"
He added, quickly, You see, voices
are my job. I'm a-dont laugh, now
I'm radio announcer
Obj Judy remembered all the times
she had listened to the radio back in
Hiawatha; heard music coming from
Chicago, from New York; heard pomp-
Gus. cultured voices intoning the an
nouncementS-heard, now and then,
warm, friendly. real voice Like this
voice.
I'm on the staff at WAOA. Chief
announcer" he said, with a touch of
native pride. And l thought
thought-Wait!" His eyes sparkled. He
was nice, Judy thought Wait a min
Ute! I've an idea! You have a lovely
voice. Really And good diction.
Gosh!" He stared at his wrist watch
in obvious surprise. Il had no idea it
was 7:20. I'm on the air in Is minutes.
Got to run. But-Ill leave a note in
your mailbox tonight. About a job.
A job you can get, I think. And
You won't throw me DOWN"
Throw you down?"
you'll try for it?"
"Of course. Oh, of course But"
She ought to protest She oughtn't
to take help from man she didn't
know. Not even from such nice man.
Net even from Dick Mason. T.
He was already halfway to the door.
II wouldn't DO any good to argue.
She could see what it was about later
"Femember!" he said. I'm counting
on youl By"
by" Judy had said, in small
voice. AND the young man had gone
and now Judy, riding on the bus, re-
membered that Mrs. Malone had been
smiling, had said: Mice, isn't he?
young men. A really fine young man,
Miss Allison" Matchmaking again,
Judy had thought. The one thing
Mrs Malone loved was to see her
young people"-she called them all
my young people"-to see her young
people going places together. She was
proud of three marriages she person.
ally had caused by careful introduc-
tionS.
Judy had put the telegram back into
her pocket, got up hastily, paid her
check, gone TO her room. She went
out later, alone, to the arty little movie
around the corner and saw q German
film, and she couldn't understand Ger
man and the hero was homely. So she
went home, and to bed and tried to
sleep, and tried to believe she wasn't
going back to Hiawatha after all.
Sleepily she remembered that Dick
Ma snn'S hair WAS thick and brown and