The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-09
CHAPTER FORTY

Old MIR. Merrifield learned OF the
,lans for the new play and was
delighted with them. He had never
heard of any sort of dramatic pre-
,entation in the outdoors; the very
thought was exciting to him.
Mr.. Weems, where are u,
sir?" he called to his secretary who
had lowered near the conference
this morning. The secretary came
forward respectfully. 'Mr. Weems,
how long since our tennis courts
have been reconditioned?"
THE tennis courts, sir?"
Certainly, certainly! The tennis
courts!' The old millionaire glar'
ed, spoke loudly. 1--WE have tennis
courts here at The Oaks, MIR.
Weems, haven't WEI"
"Oh, of course, sir. But it has
been-oh, quite some years-slnce
anyone has used them.'
"Regrettable, MIR. Weems. There
are two courts. I often walk past
them. My daughter used them fire.
quently. I have observed that they
are in poor shape. Holes in them.
Worn out, no doubt. MI. Weems,
see that they are rebuilt immedi-
ately. Rebuilt, sir. You hear?"
"Oh, of course, sir"
THE best of materials, Mr..
Weems. Whatever is needed. And
several hundred seats for guests.
As many as Mr.. Bailey thinks he
may need for his play, sir. Per-
haps, ah-" his old eyes sparkled
with devilment-" perhaps 1 can
use my influence with Mr.. Bailey
and the girls to get you into the
play free, Mr.. Weems."
"Oh, no, sir. I shall, of course,
purchase admission. I do not wish
to"
Tut, tut, Mr.. Weems. When you
can get into a theater free, get in.
You hear me?" :
ooh, of course, sir!" Poor Mr..
Weems was a iteralist. Not until
he had observed the others |
laughing at him did he realize they
had been teasing, and even then
he was slightly confused. He stood
in perpetual awe of the man who
was at the same time is employer
and friend. But when Gayle
squeezed his arm, he smiled hap
PLY.
Both of you old dears scat out
of here" she ordered. "You know
good and well you'll be in the best
possible seats in the front row.
/" She dropped to a stage whis-
per. "I'll slip you in myself"
The play had been written and
rewritten in 'fnal' form, so that
parts could be typed and given
to the various actors. Bill wrote in
at least some parts, as before, for
eacn of the seven girls now in the
Merrifeld household, and arranged
for both himself and Jeremy Tuck
er to play dual roles. Jeremy had
to be a young man in Act I and II,
and a college professor in Act III.
He had more to do than he had had
in the first play.
The new al fresco production,
however, was only a part of the
excitement planned for The Oaks.
Preparation of it soon was going
on apace, but so were preparations
for the magnificent reception and
ball scheduled for that same eve
ming.
The date was less than a month
away. Society editors from the
newspapers, keeping in close touch
with The Oaks now, began early
to mention the preparations, and
Mrs. Molly Van Orsdale learned
first that the play was to be out
doors. On next Sunday morning,
Page One of her society section
carried an ~eight-column headline:
"Al Fresco Drama To Be Re-
vived At Merrifeld Estate"
The sub-heading said that Bril-
liant Reception Included in Plans
for Staging The Wit to Woo"
Mrs. Molly knew that they
would be of major interest to the
high-hat stratum of society life,
and so worded her article with
that in mind. There is a subtle diff
ference in society news beverages
things for the elite can be stated
one way, things for the mass pub
lie another. Mrs. Molly went quite
snooty, with her tongue in h e r
BELLA LANAN-COURT r,
Founded on Act