Chapter Fourteen
CLOTHES BY RODDY
Janet felt her pulse pounding. Acceptance of the story would mean agreat deal toward swelling her college fund and she leaned forwardeagerly.
"You mean you'll accept it?" she asked.
"If your final chapters are as good as these, we'll take it," repliedMr. Fenstow. "Of course we won't be able to pay a whole lot since thestudio staff will have to whip it into shape, but we'll make it worthyour while."
"How much do you think it will be?" this was from Helen, whose interestin the sale of the story was almost as great as Janet's.
Billy Fenstow mopped his forehead.
"That will be up to Mr. Rexler. I'd say that it wouldn't be more than athousand dollars."
"Really!" gasped Janet, who had visions of her college fund mounting inone great jump.
"Well, maybe not that much, but I'll get all I can for you. Now youfinish it up as rapidly as possible."
"It will be ready tomorrow noon," promised Janet.
Billy Fenstow left a short time later and after he had gone, HenryThorne spoke to them about the journey back to Clarion.
"Now that Janet is practically assured the sale of her story, we'dbetter make our plans. Can you be ready to start home next Monday?"
The girls looked blankly at each other. Of course they had known thattheir stay in Hollywood was near an end, but to put the date so soon wassomething of a shock.
Mrs. Thorne spoke first.
"I'm sure we can, Henry. But we'll almost need a truck to take back allof the things we've accumulated."
"I'll have some professional packers come out and make whatever boxesare needed," her husband assured her.
"But we've got to get clothes," wailed Helen. "We want to wear Hollywoodstyles when we go to college."
Her father bit the end of his cigar and looked at it thoughtfully.
"Why don't you call on Roddy?"
"But he wouldn't do clothes for us; we couldn't afford it," said Helen.
"He might do it for you as a special favor to me," grinned her father."As a matter of fact, I think he mentioned something about it the otherday. Wanted to know when you were leaving and said he might be able todo something for you."
"We'll see him the first thing in the morning," said Helen.
"I won't," spoke up Janet. "I've got to finish the story whether I haveclothes made by Roddy or not."
"That's the fight, Janet," said Henry Thorne.
"When do we go on to Radio City?" asked Helen.
"You'll have only a couple of days at home. Then you'll have to go on toNew York."
"How long will we be there?" Janet wanted to know.
"I'm not sure. At least ten days; perhaps more."
"Which means we'll have to hurry back home and start in to school assoon as our work at Radio City is over," put in Helen. "I wonder how itwill seem to be before a microphone?"
"Not any worse than before a camera," said Janet.
They talked on at length of plans for their college days and although itwas late when they went to bed, Janet was up early and working at hertypewriter. The final two chapters of her story unrolled easily andrapidly and at eleven o'clock she leaned back in her chair. The job wasdone.
Helen had gone on to the studio to talk with Roddy and Janet was to joinher after lunch. Janet stood up and stretched. Her back ached from thestrain of bending over her typewriter and she went into the house andchanged into her trim swimming suit. Fifteen minutes in the pool washedaway the aches and when she emerged she felt greatly refreshed.
Janet dressed carefully for she wanted to look well when she talked toRoddy. Mrs. Thorne was the only other one at home for lunch and theyenjoyed a pleasant meal.
Janet picked up the finished manuscript and took it with her to thestudio. She left it at Billy Fenstow's office and went on to thebuilding where Roddy had his office and where the wizard of designcreated the gorgeous fashions that were worn by the stars in the bigproductions at the Ace studio.
Helen was in Roddy's own fitting room and Janet joined her there. Roddyappeared in a few minutes and after greeting her warmly, set about thetask of providing her with a new outfit.
"Tell me just what you want," he smiled.
"Honestly, I don't know. I'm going to college," said Janet.
"Then let me decide," he begged and Janet agreed.
The next hours passed in a swirl of fittings and cloth which was drapedthis way and that around them, and when they were through neither girlknew exactly what had happened.
"That's all," said the little designer. "I'll send them to your home. Itwill be a week before they're ready."
"Thanks so much," said the girls as Roddy waved them out of the office.
"What do you suppose he's going to make?" asked Janet.
"Well, I know there'll be a sport outfit and an afternoon dress; perhapssomething for the classroom; about three apiece."
"But how will we ever pay for them? The materials alone will be morethan we can afford."
"Let's not worry about that. I have a hunch that there will never be abill for them."
They met Helen's father near the studio entrance and they all drove hometogether.
"I've had a long talk with the general manager," he said. "You've got tobe in Radio City in about ten days."
"That won't mean much time at home," said Janet.
"Nor much to get to Corn Belt U. and get our late registrations fixedup," added Helen.
"Don't worry about that. All those details can be taken care of," saidher father. "Just plan to have a good time in Radio City when you getthere."
Both girls knew that they would enjoy their broadcasting experience inNew York to the utmost. There might be a little fear of the microphonebut they knew that facing a camera couldn't be any harder than one ofthe silent "Mikes."
At dinner that night they told of their hours with Roddy and speculatedagain at the creations which his fertile mind would turn out for them.
"No use to try and guess," warned Helen's father. "You never can predictwhat Roddy will do."
On the following day Janet received a telephone call from Billy Fenstow.
"Can you come over to the studio?" he asked.
"Just as soon as a taxi can get me there," she promised.
Helen and her mother were down town shopping and Janet phoned for ataxi. She slipped into a fresh dress while she was waiting and then waswhirled away to the studio. Envious eyes watched her go through thegates which were shut to so many.
Janet found the little director in his office back at stage nine, herpile of manuscript in front of him.
"I've finished the story and Mr. Rexler has gone over it," said thedirector, after greeting Janet and waving her toward a chair.
She waited breathlessly for his next words.
"We both think it will do. Mind, it isn't anything sensational, but itdoes have a new twist or two and can be made into a Curt Newsom featurevery well."
He paused and picked up a check which was on his desk.
"There will have to be a great deal done to the story by our own writingstaff, so we felt seven hundred and fifty dollars would be a fair priceto offer for the story," he said handing the check to Janet.
She took it mechanically and turned it over. Then looked at the name onthe face of the check. It was payable to Janet Hardy.
"Thanks so much, Mr. Fenstow. It's very satisfactory."
"Too bad you won't stay on. I'd give you the lead," he urged.
"I'm sorry, but I've made up my mind. Perhaps when college days areover, I'll come back and apply for a job."
"You'll get one if I'm still on the lot grinding out westerns," hepromised.
Janet left the little office and walked across the sprawling motionpicture plant. It was probably her last visit for the hours left beforetheir departure would be filled with thoughts of packing. It was a dulltime at the studio, with only one or two pictures in production, butwith the coming weeks every sound
stage would be humming with activityas new celluloid dramas were rushed to completion for the entertainmentof millions of movie fans. Janet knew that she would not be a part ofit, but there was a tremendous satisfaction in recalling the experiencesof the past weeks and looking forward to the new ones that were bound tocome at Radio City.
Janet Hardy in Radio City Page 14
