The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-04-24
Miss
SOMEBODY
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Reporters and movie scouts
waited outside Studio B. Steve
took Hilda's arm and hurried her
through the crowd. At the curb
they stepped inside a Limousine
with drawn curtains.
A taxi double-parked Just be-
yond. The limousine moved away
and reporters followed. At a ga
rage it was discovered to be
empty. In the alley behind Hilds's
hotel she ran lightly from the
taxi.
During the ensuing week Steve
and the Colonel were bombarded
with questions. Both denied any
knowledge of Miss Somebody from
Somewhere. Figuratively, at least
they rubbed their hands and
gloated. Thousands of ticket re-
quests for the coming broadcast
were refused.
The next Tuesday night Hilda
convulsed the seen and unseen
audience with Ler skillful and mis-.
chievous questioning of the Colonel.
Where did he live and where
was that? She had never heard
of it. And why did he live there
and what was his ambition ?" She
and the audience laughed at his
stammering replies.
Hilda ended by describing him
to the unseen listeners. "A leetle
nervous ISIS re Colonel" she said
into the microphone. HE bass
two. three cheens. He would be
YER young eff he had not leeved
so long. YER theen if he had not
eat so much. He hass nice person.
ailtee, re Colonel. You weel like
heem, yes -
Whose program is this ?" the
Colonel shouted above the laugh
ter. Sing or I'll have you put
out"
Again the tinkle of the piano,
again the throb of Hilda's voice.
Il see your face before me, filling
my every dream" Again the
enraptured silence.
With her cunning mannerisms
and nonsense she delighted and
amused the listeners, with her
singing she made them feel,
brought tears to their eyes, made
them her own.
That night. as Steve took her
away from the studio. cameras
flared and her picture appeared
in every paper the following
morning.
In the pictures her lips smiled
her crisp curls seemed to bob, the
little mask defied Identification
Who was Miss Somebody? The
question was discussed in bars and
beauty parlors and drawing rooms
and across back fences.
A check up was made of the
movie colony, voice training
schools and theatrical agencies
Girls were found with golden
curls, but they could not sing.
No one in southern California
could sing like Miss Somebody
Rumors were started, clues were
dug up and followed The battling
mystery of Miss Somebody's iden-
tity remained unsolved.
The Colonel was approached by
movie scouts and advertising
agencies. He was swamped by
mail. At last one day in early
October Hilda signed a contract
with the Golden Cord Tire Com
pany at secret meeting in
Steve's office. Signing she wore
a black satin mask.
Three times a week she was 10
engage in idle chatter and sing
two songs on the Golden hour
Steve wangled a fabulous amount
for her services. Her first per-
Torrance was advertised in every
paper in the country.
There were drawbacks. For
three months Hilda must play a
role, that of a petite and allur-
ing little miss who spoke with a
fascinating accent. Never must
she appear except by arrange
ment.
1t meant days and weeks of Sc
clusion, it meant hiding and
trickery and subterfuge when she
left her apartment. No reporter
must learn where she lived Steve
and the Colonel took devious
means of accomplishing this.
OF social engagements she had
many, all of them approved by
Steve. She was the current rage
and, as such. was in demand at
civic dinners. at picture pre-
mieres, at balls and private
parties.
Hilda grew little weary of the
spotlight. Of candid cameras and
too noticeable favor. In spite Of
her popularity sh, was more lone
ly than she had ever been.
Her days were much the same.
Hours spent in voice training in
learning new songs. in rehearsing
her patter. And many hours were
spent in acquiring a wardrobe.
For when Miss Somebody stepped
out she was smart. she was def
nitely the last word. She had
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