Evening star., 1942-01-20

and promised to let her know should
the store require her services.
Livia tried three other big stores
with the same procedure and result.
They promised to inform her when
we have a vacancy"
Hope thinned with the day. Livia,
tired and discouraged, returned to
Hollywood House. In the sitting
room were some of the extras she
had known. One inquired sympa-
thetically:
ANY luck?" Livia shook her head
and hurried up to her room.
For a week Livia called on the
stores, big and little. Once she
almost got the job. The man who
hired the dress models seemed fa-
vorably impressed and went with
her to the dress department.
A fashion parade was in progress
There were several famous stars in
the audience.
During a lull in the mannequin
parade, Livia turned away abruptly
when the executive said pleasantly:
"Oh. how do you do. Miss Dela-
ware?" The film star nodded lam
guidly. She is one of our biggest
buyers" he whispered to Livia.
Bad Luck Continues.
Alice Delaware left early. and
Livia congratulated herself that the
actress had not recognized her
until she received letter from the
store informing her they would not
require her services at this particu-
lar time There was no proof that
Alice Delaware was responsible.
But. I hate her Livia stormed
angrily.
Livia tried for a sales job.
Il can sell anything" she told
them in the shoe stores. in the
cheap iewelry shops. But she lost
conviction with each rebuff.
A month passed-six weeks. She
was now in debt to Hollywood
House.
Don't worry" Mrs. Sayles told
her, IF we can't carry you for a
few weeks. then we'd better close
up the place"
1t was about this time that Livia
saw the announcement Of Terry
Davidson's engagement to Elizabeth
Nolan-Bruce's sister. She was sur
prised, remembering Bruces dislike
of Davidson.
There were two boarders at Holly
wood House whom Livia liked. Joe
Sullivan had played bits Ted
Curtiss worked as an extra for a
year before deciding he would never
be a Clark Gable Ted had blond,
curly hair. blue eyes and an ire
sistible smile, he was now super
visor of a "drive-in." Joe. who had
played football for U. C. L. A. and
weighed 2l0 pounds. was working
for an aviation company They
shared the only suite of rooms in
Hollywood House.
First. Joe had taken Livia out.
Then Ted And now the three went
to movies together and drove in
Ted's car to the beach.
Ted OherS Help.
Ted was the first to realize the
deep trouble behind Livias surface
gayety. One day he glimpsed Livia's
face, wet with tears, when she re-
turned from her usual futile search
for a job.
That evening he knocked at Livia's
door.
Come in" she called. She was
lying on her bed.
You're beautiful" Ted said, star
ing at the tangled mass Of bronze
hair on the pillow. Livia smiled and
indicated a chair. The door was
left open. This was an unwrltten
rule of Hollywood House.
It was some time before Ted came
to the point of his visit. Finally
he blurted:
There's a vacancy for waitress
at the drive-in. If you've nothing
better in mind-how about it?"
A waitress in drive-in! Had she
fallen so low in the career scale
that she must carry a tray in
drive-in? And wear a fancy dress
uniform?
ITS sweet of YOU" she said. flip
PANTY. But I think I have good
job coming up this week" He was
embarrassed.
Sure" he said. Il didn't offend
you. did -"
.'Of course not. III be ready to
20 out in 10 minutes
But Livia was to change her mind
within the next 48 hours. Something
happened, so horrible, that she
would accept any job-any honor
able job.
Continued tomorrow
Copyright, 1871, by Sheila Graham.)