The Washington times., 1938-06-24

band could judge, walking the
streets by himself and consoling
his tortured soul.
Loneliness is a sad sickness to
suffer, especially in New York.
because the great crowds Of hur-
rying people only emphasize
your own solitude.
He would stand for hours near
the entrances of the swank
nighteries watching for hop
ing to get glimpse of a certain
one who never appeared
But the trouble with Biff was
not entirely loneliness. Maybe
he was carrying the torch and
maybe he was, what the boys
called, whipped up but there
was another factor that I could
sense in Biff's makeup. It was
the element of ego.
Now every artiSt-and a good
swing musician is an artist
must have this quality Of egoism
to a marked degree. In this case,
Biff's pride, as well as his heart,
had been hurt. And a swingster
is such a peculiar animal Cor
artist) that, for the moment the
blow to his pride outweighed the
hurt to his heart.
BIFF ON REBOUND
Biff had hit bottom and he
was now ready for the in
evitable rebound which came
after we took him back into the
band. That Saturday and the
next night we were scheduled
to play the club date which Hot
Herbert had sold me on.
The spot was one Of those
Grecian mansions that are
killers for architecture. You
know the kind-white outside,
three stories, winding stair
cases, red plush carpets,
obsequious flunkeys and all
that.
The boys didn't like these
society dates. AS we filed in
by the back way-they were
none too happy. Bud Freeman
was murmuring something about
it being a grind job.
"Why?" asked Biff, who was
in the mood where he could
have played for eight hours
straight on the Sahara Desert.
WELL" explained Bud, they
treat you like a sudslinger. No
with the Swishes, don't
you know!! And you can't leave
the stand"
What, no intermissions?"
mo, we play continuously.
And for 10 hours at that. It's
q grind stretch that would down
any band"
But" interjected SkeetS Her.
furth, I'VE get 10 dime notes.
C. apiece-for this one nights
work"
"And we can look at the
celebS," added, laughing.
NOTICES GAIL SINCLAIR
"1t's oke by me-" said Biff,
If they're all like that chick"
"She sure's a looker!" agreed
Mince.
Biff was referring to a tall,
Strikingly attractive girl, with
that grace and self-posSession
that most debS have, who was
coming toward us. It turned
out to be Gail Sinclair who was
throwing the shindig. She was
nicer to us than the velvet stiffS
usually are.
She showed us where to put
our bunnies and instrument
cases. Then she led us to the
stand. We could even have
cokes and other soft drinks once
an hour, she informed us.
Bill was getting a big kick
out Of the swanky room with its
glittering chandeliers and the
enormous group of toffs who
were dancing-out of Step-to
our swing.
To my surprise, Hot Herbert
showed I'D, dOlled out in tails
AMI looking as though he could
almost pass for one Of the
swelS. Usually Herbert is never
around except at payoff time.
He hovered around the band
stand, knocking over orchestra
tions and getting in the way
generally How did we like
it, he kept asking us, and in
particular how did Brown like
it? I couldn't understand his
sudden interest in Biff. He
kept talking to Biff In an under
tone between numbers. Finally
Herbert asked me If it were
alright to borrow" Biff during
one set.
HOT BORROWs BIFF
IT don't get you," I snorted.
Its okay with her." he
winked significantly.
"It still don't make sense,
Hot" I pressed.
"Get hep, Dorsey" he said,
why do you suppose she paid
such a high price? Because she's
nuts about swing? Because she
loves to hear the famous Mr..
Dorsey go to town on his train?
Get yourself another pair Of
cheaters, Dorsey"
"Oh, I see," I remarked
slowly.
Biff was all aglow by this
time, and was only too glad to
follow Herbert to q small salon
off the draWinR-rOOn.