Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-01-24

network. The event was probably tn
plans to sail soon for service In the
way or the other, except that he took
up the room.
At lunch Irene was rather disap-
pointed that none of her friends were
at the table with her. Still. she was
elated to find that she had been
placed at the captains table. Again
she was singled out for notice. Her
father had written to the steamship
office asking that special care should
be taken of his young daughter on her
first voyage. The captain, on his part,
She was on his left and he began TO
talk to her at once.
As soon as she confided that she
was on her way to Hollywood he
turned to the others and told them,
exclaiming:
IT call it courageous Of young lady
to set out all alone to conquer the film
world, don't you?"
The others agreed and Irene wa,
; thrilled by the interested looks they
gave her.
Besides herself and the captain
there were at the table an army Off
Ger and his wife, the man with the
dark mustache whose name was Fitz-
hugh, and another girl, the daughter
was Blanche Something-or-ot and
, she seemed so Insignificant that Irene
scarcely troubled to speak to her. She
had been visiting relations in Eng
land and was on her return journey
to China. She had fluffy light brown
hair, a chubby face, frilly clothes. and
she talked in good little girl voice
1,,,, nh oil
ately sought out Irene. He asked her
If she had got deck chair When she
confessed that she had forgotten all
about it. he said he had done the
same and suggested that they should
try to get two next to each other
They found the deck steward and
this was done. There was a good
choice of positions as it was an early
spring voyage and the ship was only
half filled They hired rugs and mat
tresses as we'll. Irene began to feel
like an experienced traveller when the
steward tucked up the two of them in
their rugs and Mr.. Fitzhugh offered
her a cigaret from his case. He was
quite superior TO the four younger
men, she decided He spoke and moved
in a different way.
After they had talked in a desultory
fashion for time, he said suddenly
Il am very much interested in what
you said about going to Hollywood. I
am connected with the films myself.
I live in Hollywood. I'm a sort OF
scout, search out fresh talent"
She felt very self-conscious as he
looked into her face. Her lips felt
stiff as she talked. But she forced
herself to smile. She tilted her head
to the most effective angle.
VIII
Joined them. Kraus sat on the foot
Of her chair and McNab drew up an
odd one She introduced them to Mr..
Fitzhugh. The three began at once
to talk shop. Famous names were
banded about. Her brain reeled with
technicalities. She felt like a sponge
absorbing liquid information, with all
its might and main.
But it was firing and, after an hour
of it, she was almost glad when they
went off together. obviously in the
direction Of the bar. Irene Snuggled
into her rug and relaxed.
After while she saw Blanche walk
ing with the ships chaplain. He was
spare elderly man with thin legs.
Blanche had put on a sort OF woolly
little bonnet, obviously homemade.
pity for Blanche. Then her mind went
back to its own affairs.
She had insisted on a proper ward
robe before leaving home. She had a
distinctive dinner dress for each night
of the voyage They had been bought
from the best establishment in Man
chester and they combined a suave
severity of cut with the most fashion,
able materials.
Wearing one of them, she went down
in the lift and was Just going into
the dining room when Mr.. Fitzhugh
overlook her.
Look here" he said, you must wait
for the rest of us. Well go together.
The others are in the lounge"
They found the captain. square and
handsome, and the army officer and
his wife awaiting them. They had
cocktails The music Of the orchestra
floated up to them. Between the cock
tail and the almost reckless gaiety OF
her surroundings, Irene felt little
giddy. She and Mr.. Fftzhugh ex-
changed an amused smile when
Blanche came fluttering In. breathless
and apologize, wearing q baby blue
dress and . Jade NECKLACE quite out
Of keeping with It.
what . lovely necklace" observed
the captain. I've never seen more
beautiful jade."
Lint It marvelousf" she banned