The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-09
CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE
"You certainly invited the town
to this a%udition," Bob Lane ale
when he saw the mob that sWarmed
into the studio at 2 o'clock.
"Only six to a part" Delacarte
shrugged. LET 'em work. 1t won't
hurt 'em!"
Romany and Baxter listened quiet
" from their corner. Lane had the
faintest touch of irritation IN MS
voice when he replied:
Maybe some Of them AVE
passed up other chances to come
I'D here this afternoon. When we're
only going to use eight charac-
ters-"
Forget it," The director picked
I'D a script. II always like to make
'em think I've got a hard time
maxim up my mind. But I can tell
you right now who's going to get
the parts"
And who, may I ask" Lanes
Jaw was a trifle set. It was damna-
BILE, being in charge of radio for
Byrd.C Cromwell, 10 have things so
completely taken out of his hands.
"Myra Noyes for the feminine lead,
Bill Bartner for the lawyer hero
"You could find two people just
as good who aren't so busy"
HELL" Delacarte exploded. Il
don't have to make out their IN
come tax. I take the ones you don't
have to work with. Amateurs are
a waste of time"
Romany felt a little sinking sem
sation, and a very definite dislike
for the swarthy director. She hoped
all directors didn't feel the same
way. Lane, she decided. was rather
nice. And she wondered why he
didn't speak up and put the sar-
castle Delacarte in his proper place.
Bax nudged her signing, and she
knew he was deeply worried.
Just then Brent Nelson opened
the door. Romany was pleasantly
surprised when he walked over to
her corner, smiling.
Hello, indiana! Nice to see you
sitting in"
Thanks to Baxter Tree" She
gave the announcer her incest
smile. "Have you metz"
They hadn't; and when they had
been introduced and had shaken
hands, Nelson informed Baxter:
"Tve been fortunate enough to
get your announcing spot. Now we'll
hope the show sells right away. Nice
break for both of u.s."
There's many a slip" sighed Bax,
Dbetween the cutting and the CAKE
Maybe" Brent grinned, Green
Eyes here will bring us luck"
Quiet" yelled Delacarte, look
ing over at the trio, much annoyed.
"What is this? II you're goin' to
stay in here, you'll have to keep
your mouths shut"
Brent Nelson had nothing to fear
from the strutting director. He
grinned indifferently.
you'd better lay of the bottle
and go on a diet of that breakfast
food you've been dishing out to the
kids, Delacarte. You sound as
though you might have a touch OF
indigestion"
Delacarte's face grew red, but he
did not answer. Lane could have
patted Nelson on the back. Instead,
he motioned to Baxter to come and
take the seat beside him.
That gave Brent his chance to in
wife Romany to have dinner with
him. She hesitated a second, re-
membering her promise to dine
with Bax. But she decided Brent
could do so much for her it was
foolishness to turn him down.
Surely Bax would understand how
necessary it was to take advantage
of every opportunity that present
cd itself.
Bax seemed merely stunned as he
listened to the selecting Of the cast
and heard the way his show had
been butchered. There were Whole
pages he scarcely recognized.
Five of radios leading women
had read the part of Sylvia, the her
oine of paradise Is Here" when
Myra Noyes sauntered in.
You try it, Myra," Delacarte said
to her, opening a switch from the
control room.
The other girls looked at each
other knowingly, fully aware that
it was all cut and dried. So, Romany
thought to herself, that is the great
tifty-thousand-a.year Myra Noyes
She was a small blonde, thin faced,
with scarlet lips and heavily blue
Swallowed eyes, matching the sky
blue Of her stunning childish gown
It was close fitting, revealing the
traditionally thin fashionable figure
Romany decided she was entirely toe
heavily made up; theatrical. But
with it all, striking.
Myra had read but a. few lines ir
her dramatic school voice wher
Delacarte called enthusiastically:
THAT does it! Thanks, Myra. AL
you other girls may run along now
Better luck next time"
There was a slight stir Of unrest
In the studio as the crowd Of hang
ers-on began to feel certain the!
were lust wasting their breath. I
was more or less a closed corpora
ton they surmised, knowing Della
carte. They were all surprised tt
find 1t wasn't a child show, since
the call had been from him.
Romany watched silently, ant
was unaware of the comedy ant
drama of the situation because i
was all so new to her. But once
when Baxter turned and looked a
her, she could see that he was very