The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-01
If only Tod could hear that"
breathed the accompaniSt,

r Mallory Baker did not reply. Sh
d now was angry over this visit t
e the directors office. KoW-toWing
n 1t was not the proper reception
: for one of her fame. Not that sh
: would have minded walking a fey
steps over thick rugs to greet tn
man. But this was too much! Ant
he, no doubt, was sitting comfort
: ably in his office chair trying tt
, figure out some method of being
, two hours late for an appointment
. merely to keep up the custom O.
that Latin representation.
She was wrong The director was
back of d wo-k-filled desk, from
where he leaped to bestow an at
tentive greeting in expert English
Latham and Roberts, the Ameri
can reporters, were there also, ane
with them a third fellow, carrying
a camera. All weer staring, as
were the three stenographers back
of typewrite-s.
Mallory nodded toward the di.
rector's desk, with it's photographs,
miniature stage sets, music. press
clippings, letters and telegram.
Looks like New York.
Yes" he answered. I'VE are
having an exceptionally busy sea-
son."
That. in keeping with so many
other things in Mexico, had no
connection with the girls previous
opinions. If she'd thought at all
concerning her appearance in the
city she had been largely conde-
scending. She would be sensation
al, naturally. But she also had
figured she would be the only at
traction. To be crowded in with
many attractions, not with her
name and drawing power perhaps,
but with enough importance to
keep a director and three ener-
getic stenographers busy, was a
definite jolt to Mallory Baker.
The theatrical director did not
even accompany them. He gave
instructions and a key to Amman
do. Again the singer began to
march, this time with Latham and
Roberts and Lopez, the camera
man added to he. encourage.
Latham said, as they walked
along, Lopez wants some art for
Hoy. Similar to your better week.
ly picture magazines in the States.
The group dissolved into single
file to squeeze past stage back
drop lying flat on the floor. Paint
ers were putting on the sky in
large wet splashes of blue. NAL
lory and her retinue came togeth-
e. again.
mot too strong on dignity"
specified Latham. This is for the
masses"
"And we want story" added
Roberts. Hope you've been doing
something exciting. This story
must have some life"
Armando was fitting the key into
the lock with a great show of inn
portance.
The singer finally answered the
American reporters. well, boys,
outside of having spotted a couple
of murde-ers and fallen in love
with the best looking man I've
ever seen in my life, I've had
little excitement in Mexico" She
knew they would not believe her.
They chuckled politely and said
in unison, seriously, Miss Bak-
er!"
Armando stepped back proudly
and motioned all the others into
the rehearsal room. It was a cav
ernous hall, barren except for a
few iron chairs and an extremely
old upright piano. Mallory was an
cry all over again.
She flounced to the aged instru-
ment and quickly plunked half
dozen keys. Needs tuning" she
announced viciously. She pounded
few more, SO incensed over dis
cordant tones that she did not
know Lopez had snapped her.
Sandy pushed her aside, sat
down and began experimenting
with the keyboard himself. And
with pedals. There we're two more
than usual. One of the five pro-
duced strident banjo effect, the
second extra offered a tinkling
mandolin. Sandy began playing
grand opera, added the beer tav-
ern effects of those initiated in
struments and convulsed Mallory.
Hilarious goodhhumor replaced the
sullenness on her face. Lopez
snapped another picture.
The longer Mallory practiced, the
more she realized she needed prac-
tee. Not that she sounded bad.
Even at her poorest Mallory Ba-
ker was good. But she did not like
being at her poorest. Whe nshe
opened her mouth she wanted the
sounds to delight her as well as her
listeners.
There was no doubt of her lis
teners being delighted. Latham,
Il G b e rts, Lopez, Armando. oil
course, even Sandy-all were in
tent Even the warm1ng-up exer.
clses, the two little slow opening
numbers to "oil the voice. as if it |
were a motor-they had not bored
her small audience. The two Amer
lean reporters seemed to have for.
gotten another appointment that
they had mentioned to Mallory.
Ihey now were two hours and five