The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-08
CHAPTER
WRITTEN FOR AND RELEASED BY
CENTRAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

SS44 y W. 49,
can't do anything with you."
Kit felt distinctly uncomfortable.
She smiled experimentally and
said. Come on, darling. it's hot
and you've got a crouch on. Didn't
you always say that we were en-
titled to a few good times? And
aren't you having a lot OF dates
with Lars Anderson" Lars was
the drummer who cherished an
honest passion for Fran and her
cookery.
Fran bit her underlip and was
silent. But not for long. She said,
"Look, Kit, we're on the subject
now and we might as well have it
out. Whether I have lots of dates
with Lars is of no importance to
your career, which Is the subject.
I'm not trying to get anywhere.
You are! Or you ought to be-"
Didn't you say that Morris
White may be able to get me on at
the Pond club? And have l not a
contract that is as ironclad as any
can be? Jerry told you himself
that he was doing ever bigger
things next season."
Fran paid no heed to Kits words
and continued, Look here, Kit, use
your head. You can't stay where
you are without working for it.
And unless you work hard y GU
won't ever get any further. Right
now, in case it hasn't occurred to
you, you get paid-overpaid-for
doing practically nothing. 1t may
work for a little while, but sooner
or later you're going to wind up
back of the eight ball."
Kit ran her fingers through her
hair and gave a despairing sigh
it was no use trying to placate
Fran when she was being unrea-
sonable. But she tried again:
After all, Jerry is satisfied.
What else do you want? I study
and work, don't I? Do I have tc
skip everything else in my life te
practice all day to sing a couple
of songs a week? Two songs any
high school kid could '~.rn in al
hour?"
''That'es just it," Fran said slow
ly. That's the way you sing 'em
too. Any kid with an ounce O
brains knows the answer"
Kit was hastily turning thu
pages of a newspaper and, finding
what she wanted, showed the pag'
to Fran triumphantly. Have {
look at this. It's the Crosley rat
ing on the Sembler program ane
it is still tops!"
Fran said YEARLY, ''Wh.
wouldn't it be? Look at the sup
port you've got. Jerry's had ever.
guest star to help you out excep
Toscaninni and Shirley Temple
And when you started, the who'll
credit, the whole darned show
might have been yours, a platinum
setting for a jewel, the jewel being
you"
Kit laughed merrily. you're
pig. Fran. A nice, pretty blonde
n who wants me to grab thu
whole thing and use it for my per
sonal use. I've got some news TO
you. We're going off the air for d;
couple of weeks"
won't that be nice?" Fran salt
with cold %politeness.
1.-TWO whole weeks not to thinl
of a musical note"
"That's certainly going to be
change for you." Fran's voice wa
whitening.
You're a kil-joy and a meanie
Kit told her amiably. 'Have yol
had your supper?"
Eyes, but I'll get something 70,
you"
mo, I'll do it," Kit told her.
Fran brushed her aside brusque
1y. eff I'm getting paid, I nigh
as well earn my salary as a wait
ress, anyway"
Kit caught her and, putting he:
arms around her, laid her cheel
against ner shoulder. Don't b.
this way, Fran. It makes me I'm
happy. You k6W you're all thu
family I've got"
Fran smiled reluctantly, ane
melted as she always did wher
Kit approached her that way
There's chilled soup, CHECKER
sandwiches and iced tea"
Pouring milk into a glass, Fra1
said, Don't you ever think of youl
voice as something to which 20,
owe a responsibility? Something
you have to think of before any
thing else? Back in the old day:
you used to tell me that you want
ed to sing in light opera, to use the
gift of your voice."
81 used to say lots of things il
the old days, but we grow up ane
our ideas change, Fran. After all
that was childish and romantic
dreaming. And I do think abou'
my voice, but I don't worry abou'
it. If I weren't good I wouldn't be
where I am, would II"
Her eyes were so honestly ques
tioning, so confident, and She
looked so young with her face
Scrubbed and her hair tied bach
with a hair ribbon, that Frar
couldn't tell the truth. She said
"Wel, this is n night when III
think about it and pop you into bee
by nine o'clock. Heller will be
here at eight and you're rehears
ing at noon"
From the darkened bedroom, XII
called to Fran, Don't you thinl
it's funny we don't hear fir O n
Vance? He was supposed to ge'
back last night or this morning.
Fran was already lost in a de-
tectiye story in her favorite maya.