The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-25
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ton Of Joan's songs, her costumes,
all played a part. And then there
was her lovely voice.
A gossip columnist started the
rumor that the masked cabaret
singer was from the Orient, declar-
ing there was certainly something
oriental in her slender hands and
the wistful melancholy quality in
her voice.
Barney shrewdly was capitaliZing
such speculation. Reports, carefully
circulated, were heard that the
mask hid a SCARED face, the result
Of an accident. There were other
reports that the singer was men,
Der Of an Impoverished family of
Russia. earning living with her
wonderful voice, yet proudly with
holding her identity.
A youthful fan had written to
Joan, Il hear you drive an especially
built, imported car. Is that true?
And do you drink only champagne,
wear your dresses once and battle in
a marble pool?"
Tell her yes Barney laughed.
"And add that your Pekingese has
real diamonds in his collar and
special chef for his food"
Shed be surprised to know how
little it costs me to i've" Joan
said.
They were having dinner to-
gether again. Barney leaned across
the table. Joan" he said, i want
to talk to you about that place
where you're living. I think you
should move"
Joan wouldn't hear to 1t, she
said. She was comfortable. Why
should she move? She explained
about Benny then. He was improv-
ing steadily under a specialist
care. The generous salary Barney
was paying her had made this pos
sible.
ID ARNEY told her then about his
ID stepmother She had been shar-
ing an apartment on Park avenue
with him, but he found it necessary
to move to a hotel near the night
club. It was more convenient and
practicable to be near his business.
He had been racking his brain, Won
dering what he would do about his
mother. She didn't like hotel life.
1T would be doing me a tremen-
dous favor, Joan, if you'd go there to
stay. She's quite a darling and has.
been like my own mother to me.
don't know of anybody I'd rather
have with her than you"
Barney finally won. He explained
that Joan could apply what she
spent on the rental. She must re-
member, too, that it would save him
what otherwise must be spent for a
paid companion He brought his
mother to see Joan, and her cordial
ity and enthusiasm regarding the
plan helped Barney overcome Joan's
objections.
Kate came over to see Joan in her
magnificent new setting.
"Aren'S you the luckiest girl in
the world?" she breathed. Imagine
living on Park avenue!' Say, child.
you are certainly coming up in the
world. The old lady would probably
cramp my style, but you don't have
late dates with the boy friend or
say things that aren't in old
Mr.. Webster's word book. It's Just
lucky break for you'll"
Kate was impressed by the ar
rangement of the elaborate suite of
rooms which provided two living
rooms.
Isn't this hot she exclaimed
almost like having your own
apartment-private sitting room and
private bath"
His mother wanted her quarters
entirely separate. She entertains a
lot" Joan explained. "Yet it's all
one big apartment"
Just swell, if you ask me-" said
Kate, taking in the rich surround
ingS. And the answer to a mod
ernistic marriage for husbands who
object to meeting their wives three
times a day at the table. Joan, do
you know you are lucky?"
"Of course"
mot everybody has such breaks"
Kate said thoughtfully. 81 know a
girl here in New York who came
to make good in the big city and
got a tough deal if any one ever
did. She was a model"
"a model" said Joan. Whenever
she heard the word she thought of
Pat and something frightened about
her heart.
"a little blond blizzard who
worked in a wholesale house and
was taking the place by storm.
Jane Johnson, a model I've known
for years, told me about her. 7
think she came from the south,
too"
=
40 ON" said Joan, trying to
" control her voice.
well, it seems this girl had a
way with men. Just naturally good
looking and wearing her clothes like
nobody's business.