Chapter Fourteen

CLOTHES BY RODDY

Janet felt her pulse pounding. Acceptance of the story would mean a great deal toward swelling her college fund and she leaned forward eagerly.

"You mean you'll accept it?" she asked.

"If your final chapters are as good as these, we'll take it," replied Mr. Fenstow. "Of course we won't be able to pay a whole lot since the studio staff will have to whip it into shape, but we'll make it worth your while."

"How much do you think it will be?" this was from Helen, whose interest in 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 a thousand dollars."

"Really!" gasped Janet, who had visions of her college fund mounting in one great jump.

"Well, maybe not that much, but I'll get all I can for you. Now you finish 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, Henry Thorne spoke to them about the journey back to Clarion.

"Now that Janet is practically assured the sale of her story, we'd better make our plans. Can you be ready to start home next Monday?"

The girls looked blankly at each other. Of course they had known that their stay in Hollywood was near an end, but to put the date so soon was something of a shock.

Mrs. Thorne spoke first.

"I'm sure we can, Henry. But we'll almost need a truck to take back all of the things we've accumulated."

"I'll have some professional packers come out and make whatever boxes are needed," her husband assured her.

"But we've got to get clothes," wailed Helen. "We want to wear Hollywood styles 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 other day. Wanted to know when you were leaving and said he might be able to do 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 have clothes 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 to New 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 as soon as our work at Radio City is over," put in Helen. "I wonder how it will 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 it was late when they went to bed, Janet was up early and working at her typewriter. The final two chapters of her story unrolled easily and rapidly and at eleven o'clock she leaned back in her chair. The job was done.

Helen had gone on to the studio to talk with Roddy and Janet was to join her after lunch. Janet stood up and stretched. Her back ached from the strain of bending over her typewriter and she went into the house and changed into her trim swimming suit. Fifteen minutes in the pool washed away the aches and when she emerged she felt greatly refreshed.

Janet dressed carefully for she wanted to look well when she talked to Roddy. Mrs. Thorne was the only other one at home for lunch and they enjoyed a pleasant meal.

Janet picked up the finished manuscript and took it with her to the studio. She left it at Billy Fenstow's office and went on to the building where Roddy had his office and where the wizard of design created the gorgeous fashions that were worn by the stars in the big productions at the Ace studio.

Helen was in Roddy's own fitting room and Janet joined her there. Roddy appeared in a few minutes and after greeting her warmly, set about the task 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 draped this way and that around them, and when they were through neither girl knew exactly what had happened.

"That's all," said the little designer. "I'll send them to your home. It will 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; perhaps something for the classroom; about three apiece."

"But how will we ever pay for them? The materials alone will be more than we can afford."

"Let's not worry about that. I have a hunch that there will never be a bill for them."

They met Helen's father near the studio entrance and they all drove home together.

"I've had a long talk with the general manager," he said. "You've got to be 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 fixed up," added Helen.

"Don't worry about that. All those details can be taken care of," said her father. "Just plan to have a good time in Radio City when you get there."

Both girls knew that they would enjoy their broadcasting experience in New York to the utmost. There might be a little fear of the microphone but they knew that facing a camera couldn't be any harder than one of the silent "Mikes."

At dinner that night they told of their hours with Roddy and speculated again 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 predict what 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 a taxi. She slipped into a fresh dress while she was waiting and then was whirled away to the studio. Envious eyes watched her go through the gates which were shut to so many.

Janet found the little director in his office back at stage nine, her pile of manuscript in front of him.

"I've finished the story and Mr. Rexler has gone over it," said the director, 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 it does have a new twist or two and can be made into a Curt Newsom feature very 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 writing staff, so we felt seven hundred and fifty dollars would be a fair price to offer for the story," he said handing the check to Janet.

She took it mechanically and turned it over. Then looked at the name on the 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 are over, I'll come back and apply for a job."

"You'll get one if I'm still on the lot grinding out westerns," he promised.

Janet left the little office and walked across the sprawling motion picture plant. It was probably her last visit for the hours left before their departure would be filled with thoughts of packing. It was a dull time at the studio, with only one or two pictures in production, but with the coming weeks every sound stage would be humming with activity as new celluloid dramas were rushed to completion for the entertainment of millions of movie fans. Janet knew that she would not be a part of it, but there was a tremendous satisfaction in recalling the experiences of the past weeks and looking forward to the new ones that were bound to come at Radio City.