The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-06-17
+ SERIAL Story
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4. PEARS 81 Xl All: sk ISx

Not at high school girls in short
skirts and anklets. She looked out
over dazzling audience in even
ing dress, and there was a mo-
ment of dramatic silence as a big
white spotlight picked her up.
With these dreams in her eyes,
Francie sang. She tilted her head
sideways, the glossy sweep of her
amber hair falling over one slim
shoulder. Her young voice stabbed
the place with an anguished
sweetness and made it still.
"Give the last one hot" Fat
begged.
Francie's voice caught fire; her
shoulder dipped in rhythm. Eyes
shining, she gave her listeners all
she had. The beat was taken up
on spoons, glasses and table tops.
AS she finished, the members of
the Elspeth City Jam Club sat
back and roared their approval.
pretty fair" Gusty said. "1n
buy you coke"
Someone slid up behind them
and took their arms. Have this
one on me, kids"
Francie and Gusty whirled. Be-
hind them stood wiry, little man
in a wrinkled linen suit. He wore q
straw hat with loud band. His
tiny eyes danced excitedly above a
long, sharp nose.
"Over here, kids" he said, ges-
turing toward empty booth.
Gusty scowled. "say, who does
he think he is, anyway"
please don't be horrid, Gusty,"
Francie begged. Lets see what
he wants." She dragged him to
the booth. did - did you mean
us?"
"Bether life honey" the man
said in rapid, staccato tones. "You
kids are good, terrific. Lotsa the
old oomph, too. Ever broadcast?
No, of course not. Wanta couple
of cokes? Nothing stronger, I sup
pose."
Gusty said, "say, who you try
ing to kid mister2"
"Kid? Me?" He stared at Fran
Gle. "You get me right here,
honey, right in the old heart.
Used to have vaudeville partner
like you. Swell kid, Aggie; lotsa
talent" He sighed. Splitting i'm
age, you are"
"This guys nuts" Gusty OBJ
served with characteristic flnesse.
Come on, Francie."
mo, o, don't CO." the little man
pleaded. Look, I'm Matte Koon,
special representative for I. B. G..
and Pegasus Pictures. Been DASH
ing all over the old U. s. A. pick
ing up talent. and you kids are
tops"
Gusty,s laugh drowned out
Koon. Think we're dumb enough
to swallow that gag?"
"FIere, looka this" Koon tipped
a busiess card ON the table. ely
ig back to the old glammer city
right now. Plane got hung up half
an hour. Heard the music and
came over"
Francie said weakly, TT don't
understand"
Look, kids" Koon said, II
amt got much time. Gotta catch
that plane. Pegasus Is making a
super-colossal called Parade OF
American Youth They've tied up
with I. B. g. on this promotion
stunt. grab up one talented kid
from every state In the union.
Three weeks from tomorrow night
these kids do their stuff on big
two-hour broadcast, coast to coast.
Pegasus signs the best ones to play
with Jerry Finney In the picture.
Get it,"
Jerry Finney!; Francie had a
photograph of him to her dress
ing table right next to @ snapshot
Of Gusty. Nightly she compared
them and tried to make herself
believe that Gusty was like Jerry
Finney. 1t was awfully hard. Jerry
had lovely red-gold curls and beau
tiful teeth, and In technicolor his
blue eyes were oh, so blue.
"How wonderful" she breathed.