The Washington times., 1938-06-21
CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER VIII
There's nothing the matter,
Mr.. Dorsey" Biff said, turning
his eyes away, when I ques-
toned him concerning the
cnange l noticed in him.
The men were arranged on
chairs in a glass,enclosed, sound
proof room, waiting for the
session to start. AS soon as
the red bulb in the back lit it
would indicate the recording
apparatus had begun to func-
ton.
Outside the room through the
glass, we could see Eli Ober-
stein, Victor recording director,
and the sound engineers chat
ting earnestly. Mr.. Oberstein
had picked some oldies for us to
wax today.
You know" I said, trying not
to be too severe, that you were =,
supposed to be here at 10, Biff."
Yes" he replied. his face
flushing.
THE MATTERS PERSONAL
ITS not the first time you've
been stalling on the job, Biff.
And I don't think you're the
type to act this way without a
reason. Two nights ago you for
got to sing with the boys in our
arrangement of Marie Biff,
something is obviously the mat
ter. Let's straighten it out"
There is" he admitted,
fumbling with his tie. but it's
personal"
Not if it affects the bands
welfare. You haven't been do
ing your best work, kid. I know
it and you know it, so let's not
Kid ourselves. If you're in a
tough spot financially I'll be
tickled to let you have an ad-
vance,"
He smiled thankfully. Gee,
no, you pay me more than
deserve"
At this point, Mr.. Oberstein
raised his hand to me. I told
Biff to sit down. The light came
and we started recording. Re-
cording is always a tense propo-
sition and, in Biff's present state
of mind, it only frightened him
into more knots.
I paid special attention to his
playing. He was working with
the same lack of spirit and bore
dom that had recently charac-
terized his music. He was hit
ting one clinker after another.
Either I had been mistaken in
his musical ability, or this was
just a temporary lull after the
high spots he'd been hitting.
Would he be able to straighten
himself out? And just what
was wrong?
THE GIRL BACK HOME
After we cut two sides, the
band took a respite while they
ran the playbacks off. I de-
cided to test theory that had
just occurred to me. Biff and
I went into an anteroom where
we could be alone. Advertising
hangers of current records hung
all over the walls.
Don't be mad at what I'm
going to say, kid" I began, but
ever since you sat in with the
band that night at school I've
had a feeling of guardianship
over you. Is it that little girl
at school back home"
He raised his eyebrows. Gee,
Mr.. Dorsey, how did you guess?"
I chuckled. "I didn't have to
be a psychic to figure that one
out. I wasn't born the father of
two kids, remember that, Biff."
Then I resumed Are you
feeling lonesome for her?"
He nodded his red head shyly.
Why don't you write to her?"
I suggested.
That's just the trouble. We
are writing. When I left Har-
riet, she said we mustn't write
to each other or have the least
contact. I tried that. But after
a while I just had to know how
she was feeling, what she was
doing, who 1he was seeing :.
And 7 found out she feels the
same way about me. AS long
as we never mention music in
our letters. everything is swell" ;"
LETTERS NOT ENOUGH
He paused, his brows knitting
anXiously. But letters aren't
enough. We're hungry for each