The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-14

~ ming, Dan. I'm so sorry, but
I've been having beastly headache
I'm going to lie down and try to
sleep. That's what I was doing
when you called"
"Oh, I'm sorry! Shouldn't have
bothered you. Maybe If you have
some rest you'll feel better"
Il hope So" Instinctively Breu-
da's voice had become the delicate,
family martyreG tone Of the in
valid
Then I won't keep you any
longer. Will it be all right If I
call back early in the evening? I
do want to see you tonight"
Brenda started to say no" hest
tated, and qualified by telling him
that he might telephone. She
couldn't promise to see him, though,
because her head was raging
And, like an imbecile, I keep
you there talking. Forgive mel
Goodby, Brenda. I hope you feel
lot better soon"
She said "goodby'-almost too
cheerfully--and put down the tele-
phone.
Brenda let the gray mask remain
on her face another ten minutes.
Then she applied steaming hot
cloths until the ugly clay was re-
moved.
The identifying began in earnest
now. Lotions and creams and cubes
of ice. Brenda worked with prac-
ticed fingers. She patted and nodded
and smoothed out the tiny lines
about her forehead.
She finished with singing ONT
ment that brought color rushing to
her cheeks. 1t was an hours work,
but when it was completed undeni-
ably the years had dropped away.
Almost Brenda could have passed
for 26 instead Of SO.
She glanced at her watch again.
twenty-five minutes until 4. Well,
that was time enough. Yvonne
would come in time to arrange the
tea table.
There was a desk to the right of
the window and Brenda sat down
before it. Half dozen letters lay
on the desk. All of them had been
opened and in five minutes the con-
tents was strikingly similar.
"On account due from Miss
Brenda Vail most of them began.
One was from the management of
the apartment hotel. Another was
from a New York dress shop. There
was a bank statement, imposing in
its long envelope, but the figures on
that statement were anything but
Impressive.
She passed over all these, picked
up the sixth envelope. 1t was buff
colored. Thick, expensive looking
stationery. The handwriting on the
sheet inside the envelope was mas
culine. 1t read:
Dear Miss Vail will be in
Wellington next Monday on my way
to Hollywood and hope to see you
to discuss screen rights of the sto-
ries about which I wrote before.
my time necessarily will be
limited and I am taking the liberty
to ask if I may call on you at about
4:30. Since I must reach the stu
dio Wednesday, my stop in We'll
lington will be only between trains.
I am hopeful that we may come to
an agreement that will be mutually
satisfactory. With sincerest regards.
M. P. Harris"
That was the note Brenda read.
When she looked up her eyes were
lighted with radiance far more eff
iective than any beauty pack.
Hes coming!" she whispered
aloud. Brenda Vail, you're hav-
ing your chance today. You can't
fail now! You can't!"
CHE was on her feet, suddenly
- transformed into a fame of en-
ergy. There was much to be done
yet. Dozens of things. Why hadn't
Yvonne arrived? What about those
flowers?
The man had promised they would
be delivered early and here it was
nearly At. Yvonne should be pre-
pairing the tea things!
Brenda f1ounced to the dressing
table for last minute touches Of
rouge and powder puff. She ap-
Piled the lip rouge with trembling
fingers.
It smudged, had to be removed
and done over again. She adjusted
dangling gold ear drops, sprayed heI
hair with scent, and got into the
costume spread out on the bed.
1t had been purchased two day;
before Immediately on receipt Of
Mr.. Harris letter-and was exactly
Brenda Wallis idea of attire suit
able in which to receive an impor-
tant figure of the motion picture
world.