The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-25
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAf LEN I11l41
After Cholly had gone to bed, she
Law wondering because she had al
lowed Dover Hayworth to kiss her
1t had seemed all right at the time
Being of a naturally affectionate ma
ture, she did not look upon kisses
hs seriously as Romany.
To Romany, of a deeply passion
ate disposition, they were for some
pne whom you loved and were serl-
ously interested in. Cholly's IRISH
Temperament made of them some
thing that went with a friendship
as well as love. And she certainly
did like Dover Hayworth better than
any man she'd eve met, except
Terry.
Terry, She turned over restlessly'
fryinc to put him out of her mind.
Where was he? Had the policeman
led him out of the music store TO
q patrol wagon? With a great Ell
fort she forced herself to stop worry
ing about it and to think of Dover.
I. she told herself primly, she
hadn't let him kiss her, he might
not have been so insistent that she
take money from him. He had
seemed so sincerely worried about
the fact that he had so much and
she so little, however.
That's the way she would feel
were their positions reversed. But
she had the very definite belief a
poor girl could not, under any cir
cumstances, accept money from a
rich man without obligating herself
to him dangerously and heading Tor
BORROW.
The next morning Romany was
still asleep when the press depart
ment of Interstate called. She was
amazed when Joe Telling told her
who he was, and that they had de-
cided she was a good bet for the
Miss Television title.
Interstate was going to get be-
hind her. How quickly her JOY
would have faded and anger taken
Its place if she had known of the
check Brent Nelson had written to
Telling for pictures and publicity.
He had done it partly in retaliation
to Myra, whom he knew everyone
in the press department thought had
the best chance of winning the hon
or.
Romany was asked to bring q
ttriking street outfit, evening gown
cocktail dress, evening wrap ano
.urs. Also a selection of hats. Her
hair she was to wear as h had
worn it before, in a long, smooth
page-boy bob, curling on her Shout
aers.
Having received her eighteen dol
ers for the Laurel Soap Flakes
broadcast that morning, Romany
look a. cab down town with her two
bags and a hat box. She WINGED
when she thought how sunk she
would be without Aunt Cissie's ward
robe. If they knew the truth about
her financial state.
The photographer vas in the In
terstate building. Romany had pos.
ed for three hours when Brent
showed up with Hal Trotter. She
was ready to drop with fatigue.
Let the poor girl relax" Brent
took matters into his own hands
when he saw she weaved with weari-
ness trying to stand up in one of
Aunt Cissie's most stunning Pari.
sian creations for the tenth time.
The photographer took n more
before he called it a day.
She's a Knockout" Trotter told
Brent when Romany went back to
undess. boy, can she wear
clothes,"'
"She has a million dollars worth
of EN-" Brent Dragged, swelling
with pride in his protege.
1t wasn't until Romany was dress
ed and replenishing her makeup
that she remembered she'd had a
date to swim with BaX. Frantically
she ran to a phone and tried to get
him. But he was out. She didn't
know that Cholly had remembered
to call Bax and explain that Rom
any had to have pictures taken.
He took it with his usual good ma.
ture.
But Romany wore a worried little
frown when she joined Trotter and
Brent.
"Come down for cocktails" Brent
grinned when she Joined them, cor
= steak if you prefer. Trotter has
some news for you"
Over mint juleps, Trotter leaned
toward her and asked in a low voice,
so that no n around would hear:
"How would you like a part in
Twilight Of Love'?"
Romany sat her ju1ep down, look
ing from one to the other for a sign
of mirth.
"You don't-mean it," she said
u~nbelievingly.
"I do" Trotter nodded. IT never
kid about such things"
Butt" She looked bewildered
''That's Myra Noyes' pet show"
Trotter grinned.
"Yep. But is that any reason you
can't play the part of Celeste, the
new second lead? The younger WON
an supplants her in her fiance's af-
fections. A real, superior, lovely per
son who loves him for himself, not
his money"
Romany looked at Brent uncer-
tainly.
1--WE given my blessing" he nod.
ded with amusement. Il think it's a
perfect setup, myself
Tit wouldn't be reasonable foi
me to turn it down." Romany tolc
them then. But what will Myra
Noyes say?"
Il imagine" Trotter chuckled, 1--WE