Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1948-06-18
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FICTION
Corner

mezzanine, sir. The next tour
of Radio City begins in approximate
ly five minutes" piped the charming
hostess as she handed the tour
tickets to Bob Johnson.
Only two days remained of the
week for which Bob had saved all
year. Vacation in New York-gosh!
1t had been wonderful Coney
island, Grants tomb, Statue of Lib
erty, Central park meals in
Greenwich village at the Captains
Bell" and the night in Chinatown.
Only two things remained on Bob's
scheduled night ride on the Staten
island ferry and this tour of Radio
City.
Bob was 25, tall, blond and tagged
as the rugged type by the home
town bobby soxers. After his grad
uation from Mascoutah high school,
he had gone to work at Carl May
heW's filling station and garage.
Everyone in the Illinois town said
that Bob was born mechanic. AL
though Bob had been to nearby ST.
Louis many times, he always had
longcd to come to the big city.
Now his dream visit had blossomed
into reality, but it was drawing
rapidly to an end. In 36 hours, he
would be on the Pcnnsy speeding
westward once again.
"But it sure was worth it," thought
Bob, as he joined the group of IA
or Is people which had gathered in
the mezzarinc foyer of the RCA
building. He only casually noticed
the girl who seemed so deeply en-
crossed in the showcase full of
modelled hands of eminent NBC con-
ductors. He had been looking at the
unusual display only few moments
when the petite tour guide called.
please step forward to the ele-
vator, folks. am Helen Barry.
We're happy to welcome you to
Radio City. In the course of this
tour, we shall visit the studios,
show you the inner workings of
radio and conclude by attending
an actual broadcast of the Fred
Waring show.
"Now think it would be nice to
know your names, and especially
where some of you are from. Well
let you begin, SIR" she said as she
pointed to the portly man in the
vanguard of the little group.
"We're Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Fisher
from Cedar Rapids, Iowa." from the
dignified gentleman.
The others dutifully chimed in.
ELMER Petersen, St. Paul, Mimi"
"Eloise Miller, Altoona, Penn"
Bob Johnson, Mascoutah, ILL.,"
"Mr. and Mrs. Mark Brown and
sons, Gary and John, Chicago"
"Anne Strong, Vandalia, H."
Partly because she came from
nearby Vandalia, but more because
of the soft, resonant quality of her
voice, Bob turned quickly to inspect
the young lady thus identified. AS
he looked into her self-confident,
smiling face, he remembered the
young lady whom he had noticed
while waiting for the tour to begin.
Her round face with its even, pleas
ing features made him think of ILL
nois, somehow. 1t seemed that she
was symbolic of the wide, sweeping
prairies of his home state-almost
a breath of refreshment in the
crowded elevator.
AS the group emerged from the
cage after a rapid ascent, Bob
crowded ahead among the others
until he reached Anne Strong.
miss Strong" he stammered, 81
overheard you say you were from
Vandalia. I'm from Mascoutah, and
I've been to Vandalia lots of times"
eyes, Bob, I heard you say you
were from Mascoutah," answered
Anne casually, as though she and
Bob had been friends for years.
"Are you enjoying your visit here
in New York;" she continued.