Evening star., 1952-09-09

| PLuyGtS GHU ctNSh"S 'sso OS~'S
songs at a NetD York night spot.
the Club Tahiti.
The story opened NTH Willie's
introduction to a midShipn,an
school at Columbia University,
and to his ne10 T0ommGteS.
Keggs and Keefer. Then the
action SDung back to Willie'S
night-club lite and hop he tell
in loDe, ,Dhere the story picks
up today.
III.
Willie arrived at the Tahiti one
slushy. drizzly day to play the
piano for additions of new acts
The Club Tahiti was dreary in
all times and weathers, but most
so in the afternoons. Willie loved
this place exactly as it was. Look
ing as it did, and smelling as it
did of stale tobacco, liquor and
cheap deodorant perfume, it was
his domain of power and achieve
ment.
The proprietor, Mr.. Dennis, q
pale fat man with gray stubbly
jowls and a face marked with
deep soured lines. leaned on the
piano, chewing a half = burned
cigar and leaf1ng through a
musical arrangement.
"Okay, here's Princeton. Let's
| CO."
Willie shed his dripping
galoshes by the piano, stripped
off his brown rabbit-lined gloves
and sat at the stool in his over
coat. inspecting the girls with the
horse traders eye of man of %.
A small nondescript girl in a
loose brown raincoat came for
ward. She placed an unusually
thick arrangement on the music
rack in front of Willie.
It was no less ambitious q piece
than Cherubino's love song from
the Marriage of Figaro" with
words in Italian. Midway it broke
into a syncopated parody in
clumsy English. At the end it
returned to Mozart's music and
Da Ponte's words. Haven't you
something else?" Willie said,
noting that the singer had amaz-
ingly bright brown eyes and a
handsome mass of chestnut
colored hair rolled up on her head.
whats the matter? You can
play it,"
"I don't think" said Willie in
a stage whisper. that he'll like it.
Too high class"
well. just for once. for dear old
Princeton. shall we try?"
Willie began to play. The
music Of Mozart was one of the
few things in the world that af-
fected him deeply. He knew the
aria by heart.
Voice With Peculiar Charm.
The girl seemed to be singing
for the pleasure of friends, rather
than for an urgently desired job.
Willie's ear, trained by many years
of opera going, told him at once
that this was no great voice, nor
even a professional one. It was
just such singing as bright girl
who had a love of music and a
pleasant voice could accomplish,
and it had that peculiar charm
denied great performers. the ca
rolling freshness of song for its
own sake.
Mr.. Dennis Office was a green
painted cubicle in the rear of the
cellar. The walls were plastered
with photographs of actors and
singers. The light was a single
bulb dangling from the ceiling.
What do you think about the
red?" he said applying a match
to cigar stump.
well, the blond is no barn
burner"
Guess not. What about the red
head?"
"Ah-what's her name?" Willie
asked.
May Wynn" said the propri-
etor. squirting at Willie, possibly
because of the burning cigar END
an inch from his face.
Occasionally a name is spoken
that sets up a clamor in ones
heart, as though it has beer
shouted in a big empty hall. Often
as not the feeling proves a delu-
sion. In any case, Willie was
shaken by the pronouncing of the
words. MAY Wynn" He said
nothing.
"Why? What did you think of
her?"
whats her figure like?" re-
piled Willie.
The proprietor choked over his
cigar, and f1attened it's meager re-
mains in an ashtray. whats that
got to do with the price of her
ring? I'm asking you about her
singing,
II don't know" Willie said,
Gould be that Mozart thing
would be a delightful novelty
distinction, class, charm. Could
also be that it would clear out the
place like a stink bomb. i. .. Let's
hear how she does something
straight"
May Wynn's Sweet Sue" was
better than her previous jazz
Isinging-possibly because it wasn't
inserted in a framework of Mo-
Zart.
Who's your agent, dear-Bill
Mansf1eld?" said Mr.. Dennis.
Marty Rubin" said May Wynn
little breathlessly.
Can you start Monday?"
"Can II" gasped the girl.
"Okay. Show her around
Princeton" said Mr.. Dennis, ano
vanished into his Office.
Congratulations" said Willie