The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-12-23

said that you wouldn't marry me II
| we're the only man in the world,
that divorced men left you cold"
She laid her hand on his sleeve.
AZ was sorry the moment I said
that. Really l was. Please forget
it."
The maitre d'hotel stopped at the
table He glistened from the top of
his sleek black head to his patent
leather shoes. He looked Italian
with a streak of Turk; he spoke
American with a French accent.
Good evening, Mr.. Trent. Glad
to see you here, sir"
"How are you, Franchot? This
crowd looks like prosperity back to
stay"
business has been good ever
since we opened. We had SO many
reservations for this evening we had
to reinforce the staff Of walters and
bus-boys. | don't like strange help
in jam like this, but what else
eeuld we de7
The lights in the room dirnmed.
The dancers returned to their Ia
bles. The singer in her glittering
sequins stepped to the stage. Tho
orchestra leader nestled his violin
under his chin, laid his fingers on
the strings and drew his bow with
flourishing sweep. The spotlight
travelled about the room, whitening
faces, setting rhinestones on =
shoulder-strap agleam, Frightening
already too bright eyes, striking
rainbow fire from the jewels on tho
breast OF grande dame. 1t lin
gered at table.
Brooke gripped Marks arm. She
leaned close, whispered.
"Quickl Where the light isl The
waiterl He's the man who ran
through my rooml"
Behind the scenes in the Club
House theater, Brooke, as property
woman, checked her list for the last
time. Every article which the char
acters would need to take to the
stage was present and accounted
for. Almost time for the curtain.
II only her heart wouldn't pound
so. 1t shook her body. But hadn't
her body shaken with excitement
whenever she had seen Sam act? he
was coming. He was almost as
white as the shirt-front of his eve
ming clothes, his eyes were like
flames as he stopped beside her.
"Iust had cable from Mother
wishing me luck. It's zero hour,
Brooke. Locate the producer and
manager out front. Watch EN-. II
they go out after the first act and
don't come back, the plays washed
up; if they sit through the second,
it's got a chance; il they come
back for the third, boyl" He turned
| to Jerry Field who was like a stran-
ger in his makeup.
"Gb ON to that stage, Jerry, and
Whang the ball'
Field nodded to Brooke before he
disappeared into the wings. Should
she wish Sam luck, his sister WON
dered? Better not.
The stage was cleared. Lucette,
Daphne and Jerry Field went on
| and took their places. Sam was IN
the wings! Jed was at the switch
boardI The curtain man was wait
| ing for his signal! Sam raised his
hand. The house dimmed. He wig
wagged with two fingers. Jed
brought up his lights. The orchestra
stopped playing. Another motion OF
Sans hand and the curtain rose
slowly. Brooke's heart parked in
her throat. running on high.
| Lucette waited for the greeting of
applause to quiet before, without a
trace of nervousness. she spoke Der
first line. Sam nodded approval,
frowned as Daphne answered shak-
| lily. Brooke couldn't see the stage,
| but she could hear the voices. Jed
| Stewart was red and perspiring un-
der the responsibility of getting the
actors on and off. Once as he
passed her he whispered:
| Get peek at Mrs. Gregory out
front, third row, center. She's blaz-
IL. with jools."
HAS the New York producer
GOMEZ"
| He nodded. Second row, center.
Sleek blond fella, with grand mar.
celle." He caught Sans eyes glar.
ing at them and disappeared.
| Every sentence moved the play
forward, unfalteringly. Jerry Field
had been on and of before Marx
Trent, in his blue lounge coat, ap
peared 70 make his first entrance
AS he approached the wings, hi.
eyes, smiling, disconcertingly in
tent, met and held Brooke's ane
set the blood tingling in her cheeks
The rehearsal last night had beer
so hectic he had had time only Il
tell her that Jed Stewart had lef
the Supper club to report about tn,
waiter to Inspector Harrison. II
the morning paper she had seen |
statement that the bandit in tn,
Hunt filling station case was beini
trailed to Canada. OF course sh
| hopad that he would be caught. bu