Evening star., 1940-07-14
Il Short Story Complete in This Issue

~AFE MAsTERsoN laid down his baton There
X fnality his gesture. ubatiOn in his heart. Not
of the players knew he had just conducted the
Carbon City Federal Symphony Orchestra for the last
time.
Not even Gypsy. His glance travelled to the volns
and rested briefly on warm brown eyes Couldn't fool
her with her Gaelic lunches She knew something
was up He'd tell her tonight. He'd tell her something
else too Something he hadn't had the courage to say
until Marshall Motors, Inc, had come through with this
radio offer.
Closing his scores quickly. he stepped down from the
podium In the wings he stopped by Laurence
Creighton the young composer whose symphonic SUITE
Coronado's Mirage, getting first performance
tomorrow night.
That was swell Mr.. Masterson. His face eager
You make my work sound better than it really is
Keep your fingers crossed" Rae cautioned You
know what they say Good dress rehearsal - bum per
formance.
Not with you running the show
The confidence in the boy voice made him uneasy
He wouldn't be running the show tomorrow night
Denton, the concertmaster would be. good man too
Solid enough in Beethoven and Brahms. His mind SHE'D
away from picture of Denton tangled up in abrupt
changes of tempo and the tricky scoring in Creghtons
opus He hated to disappoint the kid He'd like to
duct his music tomorrow night 1t great stuff -
challenge to any conductor But he had to be at that
conference in New York tomorrow. If he weren't there
were seventeen Others waiting to grab the job AS it was
he'd have to fly
He shrugged his big shoulders impatiently. Only
sucker didn't cash in on break when he got 1t. You
didn't make your own breaks That was the bunk. They
made you - or else. He wasn't having any more or
elses He remembered too we'll the eye gouging shin
kicking period of his youth He knew each he
ried not all of them physical from fighting the toughs
in the Ohio mining town where he was born. Sissy,
they called him. because he nuts about music. The
same one never called him that twice he remembered
with satisfaction.
I've got to see Downing, he said Got to find out
if the State Federated Music Clubs going to sponsor
the orchestra before this bunch gets loose to me
ragged with questions l can't answer"
They're worried to DEATH said Creighton sympa-
theticaly since relief orchestras have find private
sponsorship.
|, He was telling him! All the breaks tough in this
kind of music" Masterson said Better join up with the
swingeroos while you're young enough to catch the
beat
liz srALKED down the corridor toward the project
directors Office. sCooting noise on the marble floor
made him turn to see Mary Ellen Conway, one hand
dangling shabby fiddle case the other raised palm out
in Indian salute Howl! she called sliding the last ten
feet to him.
There was puckish humor about her that made him
smile He seaded her with strong hand One of these
fine days. Gypsy, my girl you're going to fall and break
your Stradivarus.
I'm pop button she said mpudenty, If you don't
tell whether Mrs. Pouter pigeon Ponsonby has de-
cided to let her music clubs sponsor Do eat
not?"
That's what I'm going in here to find out. That and
to tell him - The click of the executive door opening
cut him Short and Downing, the pudgy project director
with bland voice and bedside manner, out and
closed the door cautiously behind him.
"Ponsonby is in the Office. he said. She's just assured
me the Federated Clubs will sponsor the symphony as
part of the State Music Project - but there's string
attached"
Such as?"
You won't object" Downing said. But when you
go there be nice the old girl know she's hard to