Evening star., 1936-05-28
INSTALLMENT X.

Jan rushed into the bath room to
get into her new costume. When she
appeared and walked around the room
with her boy stride Shell applauded.
IF there's anybody suspects you're
not q boy It won't be because you
don't look the part. You're perfect"
Patience came in, wiping -four from
her hands. She stopped short, and
surprise fitted across her flushed face.
well, say" she admitted finally,
five got to hand 1t to you, Mr.. PeaSe.
She looks exactly like boy. It's up
to you from now on, Jan. If you
watch your step, you may put it over,
After all"
The two girls scarcely touched their
lunches, and even Shell seemed al
emost too excited to eat. At
o'clock they left the apartment. The
theater was next door, on the corner.
But Shell insisted they take a walk SO
that Jan could partially get over her
kelf elf-consciousness Half block away
Shell met an acquaintance, and
stopped. JAMS heart was beating like
o trip hammer.
Bill" he cleared his throat, you've
heard me speak of my Aunt Minnie
from Kansas, This is her son, Jan
Keats. Jan, this is Mr.. Bernstein"
Mr.. Bernstein held out his hand.
And Jan blessed her lucky stars that
she had remembered to cut her nails
close that morning. She gave him a
frm clasp.
Seem the big city eh, kid?" Bin
winked wisely. Meet any chorus girls
yet?"
JAMS blush was not faxed, and Mr..
Bernstein laughed loud with appre-
citation of his own joke
Hey, lay off," Shell grinned. ''The
kids only 16. If Aunt Minnie
catches him running around with any
chorus girls he'll be back among the
cows and chickens before the sun
sets"
When they moved on, Janen wiped
her brow with trembling hand.
''Whew! You were right about my
getting acclimated. just about
Wed better head for the theater.' ~
Shell turned around. Don't lose your
head now. Keep calm. Don't talk
any more than you have to. Let me
do the talking"
will II" Jan thrust her hands
into her overcoat pockets and tried
to measure her steps to his. She
spent the rest of her time on the way
to the theater studying the way men
walked.
Shell nodded to the old doorman,
looked in his mail box, and hustled
Janell onto the stage. The cast was
in such an uproar of rehearsing that
no one seemed to even see them ar
rive.
Wed better go through the box
over here and sit in the front row.
Shell decided when he saw that II
was full rehearsal. IF we get in
somebody's way we'll catch the devil
JAMS hands were as cold as ice
but there were little beads of per-
spiration on her brow. 1t was the
hour Of which she had always
dreamed-seeing a big show in the
making. But the added thrill Of hel
disguise sent her into cold chills one
minute and heat waves the next.
II feel as though were coming
down with pneumonia" she whispered
with q nervous little laugh, and Shell
looked shocked until she explained.
The stage was a blaze Of color with
partly completed sets, and more than
q hundred girls and men standing
around in their rehearsal clothes.
Shell shook his head dismally
"It's going to take powerful lot Of
work to open this revue in three days
sister-excuse me-brother," Shell
said to Jan.
"Oh" she started. IT didn't know
II was 50 soon."
1T is. And that's why we've got
to work fast. That's the director
He pointed to young man in shirt
sleeves in the center Of all the uproar
Gary Gray. He's white, that guy
Only 80, but one Of the smartest di.
rectors in the business. He had three
hits last year. Every producer in
town Is after him"
Terribly handsome" Jan mused
"He looks awfully serious"
He Is" Shell nodded, grinning
"All the gals are crazy about him, and
he treats them like so many stage
props. No gal will ever get any,
where with him being sweetish to
hold her job. The smoother they are
the better he likes 'em. If they try
to get chummy he runs like a rab-
bit"
Interesting! Is he New Yorker?"
Jan asked.
mo. BoStonian, I think I guess
that's what makes him so long on
dignity and short on whoopee."
He sounds-quite stuffy," Jan de-
cided.
Anything but" Shell came to his
defense. Hes a young man with
worlds Of charm, and really quite
human when you know him. I guess
he doesn't want to go the way Of all
Broadway. And end up behind the
eight ball. because a red-headed
woman was the cause of it ALL"
Jan did not take her eyes of the
stage.
II bet he's the answer to the chorus
Six feet tall, lovely chestnut hair
Nice straight hair, too. I'm tired of
curls"
Thanks" Shell grinned. "I'Il use
some Of your cement"
Jan flushed But she went on sum-
ming up the charms of Mr. Gray.
And such nice kind hazel eyes
Just q wee bit of roman nose to ado
the masculine touch, and a nice Ions
manly face. think he ought to b,
a movie actor. He's the best t-lookinl
thing I've seen since I left Kansas"
Again I thank you" Shell bowed
look me over some day and see i
you can see any possibilities"
ID "A - ~