The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-01-01

CAST OF CHARACTERS
LINDA BENTON - Heroine.
daughter Of a famous singer.
CAPT. BARRYMORE TRENT
Hero, flying daredevil"
MIRANDA TRENT - Barry
more's grandniotheb a. strong
woman"
Yesterday. Linda learns that
Barry's grandmother. is lonely and
I'll. And then a note in the paper
the next morning changes her en-
tire outlook.
CHAPTER XIV
Reggie Grimes column flour
ished on innuendO.
People are beginning to ask
questions, Linda read now,
"about the mysterious and spirit
uelle little singer who has sudden
~ begun to pack 'em in at Il well
known night club of our fair city.
-. Who, since the issue has been
raised, is Silva? Where did she
come from into the here?
Your commentator is old enough
to remember the nights when
Linda Audubon was standing the
stagedOor Johnnies on their ears
before the scandal of her tragic
end. The resemblance-ni voice,
appearance, and a uniquely eff
fortress gift for putting it across
lis so remarkable as to suggest
something more than mere coinci-
dence. Oh, well, We merely
mention it for what it is worth.
"The one thing" Tony said,
"that spoils Reggie Grimes meals,
is a mystery. But you don't have
to tell him or any Of 'em anything
you don't want to-not me eth
en-" he added.
"She was my mother" Linda
said steadily. 81 have often been
told that | am very much like
her" -.
"Then this is O-kay by me"
Tony tapped the paper. but how
about you?"
why should | mind?" Linda
demanded proudly. 81 never UNI
derstood-what happened to her
until was grown up. Then l
was never ashamed. Only-sorry.
-. This just doesn't matter"
But she knew now that she
would never write to old Miranda
for that key.
Almost over night the legend Of
Silva Star had taken possession
of the city. Everywhere people
were humming or whistling the
quaint, wistful air Tony used for
her entrance cue. OrcheStraS JAZZ
it; radio entertainers crooned 1t.
One afternoon, a day or so aft
er her talk with Tony, Linda went
down town under the wing Of Mrs.
Campagno to shop.
They went for lunch to a fash
ionable tea-room in the shopping
district Of the city. Hardly had
they entered when, in the midst
of a number, the orchestra broke
off, while the leader murmured
with his men. Then, as Linda
walked 10 her table, the leader
turned, and bowling ostentatiously
to her, raised his baton; and the
plaintively sweet strains of Who
Is Silvia" floated through the
room.
People turned to stare. Then
they applauded and whispered
among themselves.
Linda would have reiterated in
confusion; but Mrs. Campagno
steered her competently to a ia
ble., ..-.-..--- 60
."You gotta get used TO this
sort of thing" Mrs. Campagno
almost pured with complacence.
'When the orchestras all over
town begin to cue you, that means
you're q top liner"
"0h," said Linda.
e. This was something shehad not
taken into consideration. All she
had wanted was TO earn n living
and to forget in work-eyen for
a few brief hours each day-that
hireOus suffering that tore her
when she allowed herself to re-
member.
She had a quick mental vision
of old Miranda SreactiOn if she
had been here to see this-of the
fastidious tenSing of her noStrilS,
the aloOf, diSdainful amusement
in her steady eyes. . . The Trent
women, Linda had gathered, did
not run to being "top-linerS."
Whether or not Tony, himself,