she looked eagerly through the heavy glass of the window for the first
glimpse of her father and mother.
She saw them on the ramp, gazing anxiously at the plane as it wheeled up
to the concrete slab.
Janet, the first out of the plane, ran to greet them. Her mother
embraced her affectionately and her father gave her a hearty hug.
"My, but it's good to see you!" he declared. "We've missed you so much."
"And I've missed you, but I've had a grand time," replied Janet, locking
her arms in theirs.
The Thornes came up and there were greetings all around. Then Henry
Thorne and Janet's father supervised the loading of the luggage into the
Hardy sedan.
The car was crowded, but they had so much to talk about and were so
eager to say it that the inconvenience of short space mattered little.
Taking turns, Janet and Helen, rather breathlessly, told the story of
their summer in Hollywood while John Hardy whirled them smoothly and
safely along the ribbon of concrete that led from Rubio to Clarion.
They stopped at the Thorne home and unloaded most of the luggage there.
"You're coming over to dinner," Mrs. Hardy told them. "Is six-thirty all
right?"
"We'll be there," promised Mrs. Thorne, who was anxious for all of the
news of her friends in Clarion.
When they were home, Janet and her father and mother sat down in the
comfortable living room and she told them more in detail of her
adventures in the west, of the making of the western films and of their
narrow escape from death in the fire.
"We were greatly worried by the radio report," said her father, "but the
call from the Thornes reassured us."
Janet's mother spoke up.
"Are you going on to New York City?"
"Yes, mother. We'll only have a few days at home. Then Helen and I are
to go on to New York for a few days for a promotional broadcast on Mr.
Thorne's new picture, 'Kings of the Air.' You know, we had minor roles
in it and some members of the cast are being sent east to take part in
this promotion work. I think it will be great fun."
"But how about college?" her father wanted to know.
"That's one of the things I'll have to see about while I'm home this
time. Maybe you would drive Helen and me over to Corn Belt U. some time
tomorrow or the next day so we could see about registration? We'll have
to arrange to enter classes late."
"We can go tomorrow," nodded her father. "I've arranged to spend most of
the rest of the week at home. Mother and I want to hear _all_ about
Hollywood."
"I didn't see it all," smiled Janet. "But it's a grand place, at least
in which to spend one summer."
The Thornes arrived promptly at the dinner hour and they visited at
length over a leisurely meal. At eight o'clock Henry Thorne glanced at
his watch.
"The manager of the Pastime telephoned just before dinner to say that he
had received a print of 'Water Hole,' a new western, and would add it to
his regular program tonight. Think you'd like to go?"
"Why, Janet, isn't that the picture you and Helen were in?" asked her
mother.
Janet nodded and turned to Henry Thorne, who was smiling.
"I believe you had that print of the film shipped east on the plane with
us," she accused.
"What of it?" he parried.
"Of course we'll go," said Janet's mother. "We'll leave the dishes right
on the table. It isn't every day that I get such an opportunity."
Helen slipped away from the table and Janet could hear her at the phone
calling for Pete Benda, the city editor of the _Times_.
"Pete? This is Helen Thorne. Yes, I'm back in town. Drop in at the
Pastime this evening if you'd like to see the parts that Cora Dean and
Margie Blake took in that western picture they wrote you about. No,
never mind a story about us now. We've had plenty of publicity."
Helen hung up the receiver and turned to face Janet.
"Do you think that was nice?" asked Janet, but there was an upward twist
of her lips.
"Maybe it wasn't exactly nice, but it was a lot of fun," conceded Helen.
There was just a tang of fall in the air and they slipped on light
jackets, deciding to walk to the theater, which was less than half a
dozen blocks away.
Janet's father insisted on buying the tickets for the party and they had
excellent seats well down in the front of the theater. Janet thought she
saw Pete Benda slide into a seat ahead of them, but she couldn't be
sure.
The regular feature came to an end and the western, which had been
added, flashed on the screen. Janet felt her pulse quicken as the title
and the cast of characters, with her own name under Curt Newsom's. The
action started and she glanced at her father and mother. They were
completely absorbed in the picture.
Janet enjoyed it thoroughly. After all, it _was_ a pretty good picture
for a western and the clothes Roddy had designed for Helen and her added
just the right touch of smartness.
The action came to a driving climax and then the picture was over and
people around them started to leave. As they walked down the aisle Pete
Benda joined them.
"Congratulations, girls. That was a nice show. Say, where were Cora and
Margie?"
"Didn't you see them?" asked Helen naively.
"Don't kid me," growled Pete. "Where were they?"
"If you had been looking closely at the crowd in one of the scenes in
the town you would have seen them," smiled Helen. "Better come tomorrow
night and look again."
"Maybe I will," admitted Pete, "but if I do it will be to look at Janet
and you. Say, what's this I hear about you going on to Radio City?"
"That's something that will keep," said Helen. "See you later."
On the way home Janet's father and mother told her how proud they were
of her work and she felt a real sense of elation, for compliments from
them meant more than from anyone else.
It was well after midnight when she finally went to sleep in the bed in
her own attractive room. Tomorrow there would be the trip to Corn Belt
U. and then on to New York in a few days.
Chapter Sixteen
GORGEOUS GOWNS
The next morning both the Hardy and the Thorne households were up early
for it had been decided to make the trip to Newton, the seat of Corn
Belt U., during the morning. The girls could complete their plans for
registration during the afternoon and in the evening they could return
home in good time.
Janet was nearly through breakfast when an express messenger called at
the door.
"Package for Miss Janet Hardy," he announced. "Air express, too."
Janet signed for the package. It was long and unusually well wrapped and
when she saw the return address, "Ace Motion Picture Corp., Costume
Department," she tingled all over, for she knew that inside were the
dresses George Roddy, or Adoree as he was know professionally, had
created for her.
Janet's mother helped her rip aside the heavy brown paper with which the
cardboard box was wrapped. Inside were layers of tissue and then they
gazed upon the first dress, a sport outfit of green wool in lines so
plain that its daring was startling. The jacket fitted snugly with a tie
about the throat and the ends extended over Janet's shoulders.
After that came an afternoon dress, a rich brown velvet that caught and
threw back at them the morning light. The skirt was plain with the upper
half of the dress in a Russian blouse design with the plain roll collar
of cloth of gold.
"Why, it's the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen," exclaimed Janet's
mother. "How did this all happen?"
Briefly, Janet told how Roddy had taken an interest in them and in
seeing that they had attractive and striking clothes.
There was one more dress, a garment designed for classroom wear. This
was a corduroy--a deep blue that was dazzling in its intensity.
Before Janet could get it completely out of its heavy tissue wrappings
the telephone rang and when she answered Helen's excited voice came
tumbling over the wire. She, too, had received her box from Roddy--a
sports outfit, an afternoon dress and another dress for classroom wear.
"Let's wear one of our new dresses when we go to the university to
register," said Helen, and Janet agreed. Each of them had corduroys and
they decided to wear these.
Janet took the last garment, the corduroy one, from its wrappings and
hurried upstairs to try it on. Her mother hastened after her, as eager
as Janet to see how the new dress fitted and looked.
Janet wriggled into the cool, smooth garment and whirled to face her
mother. Her hair was a bit touseled and her cheeks flushed from the
excitement and the vivid blue of the dress only heightened her youthful
charm.
"You look beautiful, dear," breathed her mother. "I've never seen
anything more lovely."
Janet turned back to her mirror and gazed at the dress Roddy's agile
mind had conceived for her. It _was_ striking.
The blue corduroy hung well, fitting closely around her slim hips and
opening at the throat with a semi-military cut. A neat little pocket was
placed just above her heart. The sleeves were wrist length, rather full
at the shoulders and tapering to a close fit just above her hands where
they were caught and tied with two silver bands.
Someone came pounding up the stairs. It was Helen, who burst into the
room like a young hurricane. Like Janet, she was attired in one of her
new dresses. It was corduroy, but of an umber hue that was set off to
perfection by Helen's dark hair and the olive coloring of her face.
There was just enough difference in the two dresses to make them varied,
yet at a glance an observer could tell that they had been created by the
same master hand.
Helen even had on brown hose and shoes that matched her dress.
"Where are your new shoes?" she demanded.
Janet delved further into the box. At the bottom was a shoe box and she
opened it with shaking fingers. This was more than she had ever dared
imagine. She drew forth a pair of blue kid slippers and tucked in them
were three pairs of blue hose to match her dress and shoes. She changed
shoes and hose and stood up again, whirling in front of the mirror. The
costume now was perfection itself. She ran a comb through her golden
hair and knew the thrill that comes from knowing a costume is perfect.
"Do you suppose we'll be asked to join a sorority at school?" asked
Helen.
"If they see you in these dresses I imagine you can join any or all of
them," smiled Mrs. Hardy. "Come now, we must be ready when the men want
to start."
On the echo of her words a horn sounded below. Janet dabbed a little
powder on her face and joined Helen as they hurried down stairs. Even
their fathers were elated over the new dresses and both girls felt that
their cups of happiness were filled to overflowing.
"Honestly," confided Helen, "I hate to wear this in the car. I'd like to
take it off and then put it on when we get near school."
"I suppose you'd like to ride all of the way wrapped up in a blanket or
something," chided Janet. "But I'll admit that I hate to sit down in
this dress."
It was a beautifully clear morning and John Hardy sent his big car
speeding over the paved road at a fast pace. They were in Newton in
ample time to drive around the university grounds and have a leisurely
lunch before going to the office of the dean of women to take the first
steps in registering.
The campus of Corn Belt U. was lined with stately elms that had watched
over the destiny of the school for more than three quarters of a
century. The main buildings were of Indiana limestone with a few of the
older ones of red-faced brick, now well covered with a rich growth of
English ivy.
Janet knew that she would enjoy going to school here. There was a spirit
of calm and dignity about the campus that appealed to her.
At lunch they talked of plans for school and of what they would take.
"I'm going to get all of the dramatics and English I can absorb,"
declared Helen. "Perhaps a little history, too."
"How about you, Janet?"
"I think my major courses will be journalism, and perhaps just a little
in the way of dramatics."
"Not thinking about going back to Hollywood and joining Billy Fenstow's
company when you're through, are you?" chided the director.
"Well, I might have that idea in mind if no newspaper will take me on as
a reporter," conceded Janet.
Luncheon over they went directly to the administration building where,
after a short wait, they were ushered into the office of the dean of
women.
Mrs. Laird was a pleasant woman of about fifty and Janet saw her keen
eyes take in every inch of their costumes in a glance and she thought
she saw just a trace of suspicion arise in the dean's eyes.
Janet's father explained their mission, pointing out that because of
their coming trip to Radio City they would be late in taking up class
work.
"It's a little unusual to arrange registration in this way," said the
dean, "but I believe you can be accommodated."
For an hour they went over class schedules, the dean advising them on
the courses best suited to what they had in mind. She assisted them in
filling out the final registration cards and paused at one question.
"Do you hope to join a sorority?" she asked.
"We won't be here in time for the rushing parties," replied Janet.
"Perhaps that had better wait until another semester, that is, if any of
the groups should want us for membership."
The dean's cool eyes surveyed the fashionably dressed girls.
"I rather imagine you could take your pick of the sororities right now
if the girls were here," she said.
The registration was over. The girls were to have rooms in Currier Hall,
an old but comfortable dormitory.
"The dean seemed a little cool," said Helen.
"I noticed that, too," Janet said. "Evidently she doesn't think much of
the plans which call for us hurrying away to New York."
"Can't be helped; we're going," said Helen.
When they returned home a telegram was waiting for Henry Thorne.
"This interests you girls more than it does me," he said, handing the
message to his daughter.
Helen read it eagerly.
"Have Janet and Helen report next Monday morning at Radio City at ten
o'clock," she said.
"That means we'll have to leave here Saturday night. Why, that's only
tomorrow night!" gasped Janet.
Chapter Seventeen
HELLO, NEW YORK
They were so busy until after dinner that night that Janet had no time
to scan the evening paper. When she picked up the _Times_ it was with
pleasant surprise for in the middle of the front page was a story by
Pete Benda, reviewing "Water Hole" and describing the roles Janet and
Helen played.
"Miss Hardy gave a most pleasing portrayal in the role of the heroine,"
Pete had written, "and a good many local people will enjoy this picture
to the utmost. It is far above the average western."
Near the end was a line. "Cora Dean and Margie Blake, local girls who
were also in the picture, may be seen in a crowd scene at the village."
Janet smiled as she thought of the humiliation that Cora would feel.
Well, it had been a mean trick of Cora's to write Pete Benda that she
and Margie had leading roles.
Helen's father made complete plans for their trip to New York for the
Ace company was paying all expenses as well as salaries to Janet and
Helen while they were in the east.
Both Janet and Helen packed the new dresses Roddy had sent them in the
large bags which they were taking with them. There might be little
actual opportunity to wear them, but they wanted to be prepared.
Their train for Chicago left at ten o'clock and they arrived at the
station in ample time, Janet's father conveying them there. He had
reserved a drawing room for them and they felt elated over that.
The _Chicago Limited_ was on time to the minute, the puffing locomotive
drawing its long string of Pullmans to an easy stop. The girls had
drawing room A in car fifty-seven. The porter took their bags as they
turned to say good-bye to their parents.
"Got plenty of money?" Janet's father asked in a whisper.
"Plenty, Dad. And I'll get paid while I'm in New York."
But he slipped her a small, black book that resembled a check book.
"Put this in your purse. It will come in handy if you have an
emergency," he said.
Calls of "Bo-o-oard," rang along the train. Final good-byes were said
and the girls stepped into the vestibule of their car. The train started
easily and they waved to their parents. Then they were out of the train
shed, picking up speed rapidly for the remainder of the night run to
Chicago.
They retired to their drawing-room, finished in restful tones of rose
and gray, and slipped into pajamas. Both being tired, they went to bed
at once, Janet in the upper berth and Helen in the lower.
The car was air conditioned and they slept restfully, neither one of
them awakening until they were in the outskirts of Chicago.
"What are you going to wear today?" asked Helen, stretching luxuriously
between the crisp, cool sheets.
"My corduroy dress," said Janet. "It's excellent for travel; comfortable
and it won't muss easily."
"That appeals to me," replied Helen, slipping out of bed and starting to
dress while Janet lowered herself out of the upper.
The train was past Englewood by the time they were dressed and their
porter came in to take their bags.
"Going to wear a hat?" asked Janet.
"Not with this dress; I haven't anything that goes well with it."
Janet tipped the porter and a red cap, waiting on the platform, took
their bags. Their New York train was only four tracks away and would
depart within an hour so their bags were taken directly to the Pullman,
where another drawing room had been reserved for the Chicago-New York
trip.
After making sure that their bags were in the drawing room, Janet and
Helen went into the great, high ceilinged dining room in the station.
They enjoyed a hearty breakfast of delicious country ham and eggs with
crisp toast and a cool glass of milk.
Janet bought several morning papers and they returned to the train shed.
Trains which had been rushing across the plains all night in their dash
for Chicago were still arriving, while on other tracks long strings of
coaches, ready to start carrying passengers away from the city, were
being backed down the tracks.
Re-entering their New York train, they found seats in the luxurious
limousine-lounge car at the rear of the train where the observation
platform was enclosed in glass. A radio was tuned softly and all of the
latest magazines were available.
Travel was light that day and at the start of the trip they were the
only ones in the lounge car as the train rolled smoothly out of the
station.
There was a brief pause at Englewood, then they were off again, picking
up speed as the train skirted the southern edge of Lake Michigan where
great industrial plants were perched along the shore and lake freighters
seemed to spring out of the prairie as the rails crossed canals.
At lunch time they were well into Indiana. Only a few more passengers
had boarded the train and they had the dining car practically to
themselves.
As the afternoon advanced they dipped into Ohio and stops were more
frequent. By late afternoon the train was well filled and space in the
lounge car was almost at a premium.
Janet and Helen went to bed early that night for the coming day promised
to be an unusually busy and exciting one for them--they would have their
first glimpse of New York, visit Radio City, and receive their
assignments for the radio play they were to be in.
"What are you going to wear tomorrow?" asked Helen as she snuggled down
between the crisp sheets.
"I don't know, perhaps the corduroy dress I had on today," replied
Janet. "It's so comfortable and I think it's becoming."
"I guess I'll vote that way, too," said Helen, and a minute later both
girls were asleep.
They were up early the next morning, breakfasting as the train sped out
of the Jersey hills and straightened out for its dash across the
tidewater flats to Jersey City. They shot past commuter trains at almost
regular intervals for their limited had the right of way.
As they neared the terminal, the porter took their bags and Helen handed
him a tip. Her father had deliberately routed them over a line which
ended in Jersey City so that they might have their first real glimpse of
the towering New York skyline from a ferryboat.
The passengers poured off the train and onto the nearby ferry. Bells
clanged, smoke rolled from the twin stacks, and the bulky boat nosed out
into the river.
Helen crowded close to Janet as the full majesty of the skyline was
unfolded. To their right was the lower city with its cluster of
skyscrapers while to their left was mid-town with the Empire State
towering almost into the clouds. A little beyond that the sharp spire of
the Chrysler building rose skyward.
On the New York side of the Hudson liners were sandwiched into the docks
and Janet grabbed Helen's arm and pointed to one. It was the _Europa_,
famed speed liner. A little further along was the _Rex_, pride of the
Italian merchant marine.
Then the ferry was nosing into its pier. Gates clanged, their baggage
was loaded aboard a taxi, and almost before they knew it they were
whirling away toward the heart of the city. Helen had given their hotel
address.
Up onto an elevated roadway sped their cab where it rocketed along at
forty-five miles an hour. Then they shot onto an incline and eased down
into a street below. Traffic lights slowed them up now, but in less than
ten minutes after leaving the ferry they were in Times Square, the very
heart of the throbbing city, where Broadway and Seventh Avenue cross to
form a great triangular opening.
At the hotel desk Janet registered for both of them.
"We were to have reservations," she said.
The clerk checked the registration list and marked their names off. Then
they were whisked away to their rooms, high up and on the inside, where
they could sleep in something like quiet. They had two rooms with a
connecting bath.
"Well, what do you think of the city?" asked Helen.
"I'm still a little breathless," admitted Janet. "Los Angeles was
large--but New York--it just seems to swallow you up."
They dressed carefully in preparation for their trip to Radio City and
at nine-thirty o'clock went down stairs and inquired the best way to
reach their destination. The clerk on duty suggested that they walk.
"It's only a short distance. Go one block to Sixth Avenue, turn to the
left, and continue six blocks to Radio City."
The morning air was clear and cool as they set forth, walking briskly
and taking in everything about them. On Sixth Avenue elevated trains
rumbled overhead, but up the street they could see the towering building
which housed Radio City and their steps quickened.
They reached their destination in a few minutes and turned to the right
to the entrance which led to the offices of the World Broadcasting
Company, the chain which was to put their program on the air. The lobby
was of chromium and black and they stepped into a modernistic elevator
that whisked them upward so rapidly they were breathless.
They stepped out at the twenty-seventh floor and into a luxuriously
furnished lobby where there were comfortable chairs and restful lights.
A young woman at the reception desk looked up as the girls advanced.
"We're to join the company from the Ace studios," Janet explained.
"Your names?" The inquiry was purely impersonal.
"Janet Hardy and Helen Thorne."
The young woman checked their names and called a page.
"Take them to studio K," she directed.
Janet and Helen turned and followed the page, who was leading them to a
new chapter of their lives--one more thrilling than they could have
imagined even in their deepest dreams.
Chapter Eighteen
IN RADIO CITY
The page ushered them into the studio and the first person they saw was
Curt Newsom, the tall cowboy star who had also had a part in "Kings of
the Air."
Curt hastened to greet them.
"When did you get in?" he asked.
"This morning," replied Janet. "My, but it's good to see you again. I
didn't know you were going to be in this promotional unit."
The cowboy flushed and grinned somewhat sheepishly.
"Well, to tell the truth, I've always wanted to try broadcasting a
little and I finally pestered the general manager out on the coast until
he sent me along and ordered them to give me a part. Come on and meet
the director of this unit."
Curt led them over to a small group where a rather slender, dark-haired
man was speaking. He turned to face them as they approached and Janet
noted that he wore unusually thick glasses, indicating that his eyes
were in need of heavy correction.