The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-05
CHAPTER ONE

At last, Chicago! Her amazing
eyes with the black
sweeping laslies were a little deep
err and darker with her inner ex-
citement. A faint tlnge OF PINK
touched the sun tan of her oval
face.
In the suitcase beside her vas
her diploma from Indiana univer-
sity, and in her purse five dollars.
Aside from that, she told herself
whimsically, her assets were NIL.
Unless you took into consideration
the fact that she was beautiful ard
twenty.
Powdering her small, slender
nose, and adding a little more red
to full, tender lips, Romany reached
up and took down the dark green
feathered pancake hat Aunt Cece-
liza had sent from Paris. She sat 1t
upon her sleek, jet black hair with
a flourish. A silly but divine cha
peau!
As she stood up in the closely
fitting gray-green jacket and
matching swing skirt that barely
touched her knees, it could be seer
that she was tall and slender, LONG
limbed and graceful.
Stepping off the train, Romany
selected her bag and hat box from
the porter, waving away a redcap
who reached for the luggage. She
was certain she needed the few pen
MES much more than he did, even
if she didn't look it. The colored
man gave her a disappointed look
and shrugged, turning his attention
to a fat man with two sample cases.
Down the platform Romany
paused at the station door looking
for the familiar face of her best
friend and college room mate,
Charlotte O'Neil. But Cholly did
not seem to be there. At that mo-
ment her eyes fell upon a young
man with a microphone who had
stepped quickly forward and mo-
toned to her
She recognized him at once as
Brent Nelson, announcer and mas
ter Of ceremonies of the Hello
Stranger" program. Romany would
have hurried away, but an assist
ant had his hand on her arm. There
was no escape, without being rude.
Nelson smiled, shaking her dark
green gloved hand:
"Welcome, stranger! Will you
say a few words for use?"
Romany swallowed, quickly get
ting her bearings. Afraid of a
microphone? Ridiculous, That was
what she had come to Chicago for.
The famous announcer was turning
on the full power Of his charm to
put her at ease.
Our first customer this evening,
folk, is a beautiful young lady.
Very, very beautiful. Jack, run
home and get my book of superla-
tives! May we have your name,
please?"
Romany found her voice.
"Romany-Romany Halle"
Lovely name-Romany. Gypsy.
And lovely black hair and a sun
tan to go with it, too. A shame we
IldNEll I SOI lClCN olO oNS1
the station. Where are you from,
Romany?"
"Leeville, Indiana"
Mice little town. I've been
through there. On your way to
school somewhere, I'll bet"
mo, L graduated from Indiana
university this spring"
well bless my old whiskers!"
Nelson beamed and shook her hand
again. "My old alma mater! 1 must
have been getting out Of Indiana u.
just about the time you went IN.
You can take it from me, folk, we
grow the most beautiful goods in
the world out around Indiana. Why
did you come to Chicago, Miss Halle?
To visit?'
Romany by that time was feeling
quite at home. She smiled, wrinkling
her nose, and Brent Nelson's sus-
ceptible heart beat a little faster.
You mustn't laugh at me-"
Romany lowered her voice, land
I'll tell you"
Laugh! I should say not" Brent
assured her. Come on, tell u.s."
well" Romany confided, 81
came to Chicago to get on the
fadio."
The crowd roared.
ct certainly didn't take you
long" Nelson chuckled. us this
your first experience before a
mike?"
The very first"
"Well, Romany, we pause to pre-
dict right here that it won't be your
last. You have a lovely speaking
voice, poise, beauty - everything it
takes, I should say, to break into
radio"
There was applause from the au-
dience.
Thank you," Romany sighed. 'I
hope you're right"
"What branch of radio are you
interested in?"
Romany looked a little self-con-
scious.
Il want to be a dramatic ac-
tress."
Fine! You'll make it," Nelson
assured her. II bet you got that
yen playing in the dramatic. club
at Indiana"
"I'm afraid I did" she admitted.
so did T." the announcer laugh
ed, and was interrupted by an alarm
clock going off in a box beside him.
Romany looking surprised, STEP
ped back.
1.-THE prizer' Nelson reached into
" -.,1-o+ opd took ont an on.