Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-06-01
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CHATTER TAENTY.TWO

DRESS REHEARSAL for the
play "MaiG to Measure" was sched-
uled for 8 p. m.-purposcly late
TO allow time for Bill to RETURN
and at 9:15 everybody except Bill
was IN costume and waiting.
The costumes We're not difficult.
Lola had to be made up as a grand
mother. That meant Il special dress
and shawl which, fortunately, Mr..
Weems unearthed from the Mcrri-
field attic itself. 1t also meant that
Lola's shiny black hair had to be
generously powdered and combed
in a different way, and that 4 deal
of grease paint had to be put on
her youthful face. Bill was to have
done the painting because he had
done some of it in college days and
knew how. But in Bills absence
Jeremy remembered that the Mer-
riheld library and encyclopedia
were likely to be all-inclusive and,
sure enough. there was detailed
treatment of theatrical makeup.
Jeremy and Gayle and some Of the
other girls had deal Of fun aging
pretty Lola.
The other girls all had girl parts.
Jeremy was to be crippled in one
scene, but q fake limp and Mr..
Merrlfields borrowed cane took
care of that. Otherwise costumes
were normal clothing such rs the
girls wore.
At nine-thirty Gayle was dis
tinctly upset. Bill had not come
back, and there was no word from
him. He had expected to be back
by eight, but had given himself an
other hour for leeway. Now he was
80 minutes past that
Lets not wait on him." Gayle
suggested. Il guess he's run of
with some other theatrical troupe.
Jeremy, you'll have to stand in for
him again. Do you mind?"
Jeremy minded, but he didn't
say so.
Taking Bills male lead would re-
quire him to kiss Gayle. Not that
that experience was so forbidding,
but it was definitely disturbing in
prospect because once before he
had gone through it and had been
embarrassed about it ever since.
"All right" he said bravely.
The girls tried their best, and so
did Jeremy, but the play was life
less. Gayle sensed it, but worked
valiantly on.
At 10 o'clock Mr.. Mortified, vino
had been watching them, apollo
sized and said he had to retire. The
hour was already past his bed time.
Nevertheless his departure took
away their audience, and any fur
Their acting was hardly worthy of
the name. At 1880 Gayle called it
off and sent the girls home. Be
cause of the late hour she had the
chauffeur take them in the big
Merrrfeld limousine. She knew that
Mr.. Merrifeld would have wanted
it so.
BY II o'clock she was in a posi-
tive dither-and yet had nothing
definite to go on. That fact made
her stewing all the worse. What
had Bill Bailey in mind when he
left? The stubborn thing wouldn't
tell her! He had just limited. And
promised to tell when he was sure.
1t was something about the stolen
bracelet, she knew. He had some
bunch, or even something better to
go on, but
All at once Gayle remembered
that her maid" Maudie, or Mrs.
Holmquist, was in reality a city
detective on duty in the Merritield
home, but that she had not seen
this person since before dinner.
Could her absence have anything to
do with Bills?
I'm not used to having maid
service enough to miss her. Gayle
told herself, wryly. I'll never
make myself lady"
At 1870 Gayle Gensibly went to
bed. She slept we'll because she was
fatigued and because she was not
one given to foolish worrying, when
worrying could do no good.
She awoke early, though-evi-
dence of her nerves" in the mat
tcr-and got up promptly. Dawn
was still gray, so she walked quiet
ly down onto the broad front porch