Show v I Dance Little Lady By Barbara Webb CHAPTER 37 In that moment of hesitation while standing there under the brilliant brillian blinding glare of the spotlight Jan had felt for a n fleeting f instant as it if she were paralyzed Th Then n all aU he her nervousness was gone She forgot that tha she was dancing before a a theater crowded people who had come com expecting to see the best in a sophisticated sophis sophis- revue She forgot that Tc Ted was wI watching her Forgot that Collins was wao watching her with wIlh anxious eyes Forgot that Bob and Francine were out front watching her every move move- ment Forgot that critics were out ou front waiting walting to tear her to pieces piece should she prove rove a failure Jan fo forgot forgot for for- got everything and danced Around and around the darkened stage she went Gracefully she slipped In and out of the figures of the dance Then before she even knew it sh shwas she was dancing back through the wings her number ended From the audience there came a I burst of applause It was long an and loud Jan looked at Collins Take a abow abow bow he said aid Jan stepped back o on onstage onstage stage and stood bowing in the spot spot- light Then back again Still SUll came th the I applause What shall I do dol she asked I Collins Take another bow She did die I but it wasn't bows the audience wan want want- ed They wanted dancing No encore had been rehearsed Collins Col Co fins lins seeing what was happening seeS see seeing sei ing lug that Jan had stopped the show sent a boy scurrying to the orchestra to tell the conductor t to repeat the whole number The pr producer producer pro pro- ducer rushed up Dont you hear hea that out there he shouted Give them more morel Give them morel Collins Collin smiled to himself ignoring the man maa Jan stepped back from another bow Give them the whole whole number over ove again Miss Day Collins said The Th orchestra went into action and once one again Jan was on dancing This time she was thrilled This time sh she knew what she was doing She was dancing for people who had insisted that she dance And her dance if it could be was even better than at first When she had finished there was wa again the insistent demand for an encore encore en cn core but this time Jan only bowed Jan z a Success As she danced off olf stage the first firs person she ran into and this literally was Ted He stood blocking her path threw his arms around her and lifted her high in the air Collins came up Look out jut Barry Have to be care caree ful Dont Don't drop her Jan smiled down at him him You were all ail right Miss Day he said Jan her arm through Teds Ted's started start start- stared start star started ed up to her dressing room but her he progress was halted came cam rushing up Mis Day Can you be a athe at atthe atthe the theater for Interviews and pictures pictures pic pic- tures 10 Jan nodded Ill send a car for you What's What your address Jan told him and of off he dashed They pro proceeded another few steps and and again again were halted haIled This time b by Collins and the producer You were wonderful Miss Day the producer produce said a a sensation Collins smiled Can you be here tomorrow at 10 Miss Day Collins said I 1 I want tc to rehearse some new numbers for you Certainly better be on hand too Barry Didn't you tell teU me me that yo you ou two once did a number together We sure did Ted answered We might do something like that tha now Well We'll see in n the morning Again Ted and Jan started off an and again they were stopped This time tim by the wardrobe director Miss Day can you be here re tomorrow for fi filings fit fil- ings logs Jan nodded When the woman asked MAt HAt 10 Ted answered answered Ja Jim Jan laughed Ted turned to her Miss Day he said can I have llave a moment momen with wilh you sometime after the show Jan nodded Ive got a question to ask you you Jan bent toward him brushed hi his cheek hastily with her lips and ra raup ran up the stairway to her dressing room Her dresser was waiting smiling broadly I 1 saw you dearie Yo You were very good goods Thank you Jan answered Wed better get you dressed th the woman went on you go on again agal for a short number Just before th the first act curtain You only have ha on one dance in the last act act Jan was dressed and again slUing sitting waiting for the callboys callboy's voice Buthis But Bu this time there was no trace of ner ner- She was happy She Sh couldn't c think coherently It W was lS all aU so sudden It meant too much to try to think about it Ev Everything she had dreamed of had suddenly been thrown right into her lap and now the long hard struggle seemed ful fully y worthwhile worth while Again came the voice of the callboy Miss Day saying Your number B Bursts Burst of Applause This Thos second dance although very short was a repetition in its it success of the first dance Again as as an encore encore encore en en- core she gave the dance danco in its it en en- and again came cam great bursts of applause Then it was was over and Jan was standing in the wings watching watching watch watch- ing the final skit before the first ac act curtain Everyone goes on on for lor a bow at th the curtain Collins told her And then she was back In he her dressing room A boy came In with witha vitha a note It was from Francine anc and Bob Francine had written but on one word swell and signed her name Under this w was Bobs Bob's message Bet Bel Better Better ter cr than that that he had written The second act was shorter than the he first by almost half but tonight tonight It t r ran longer as Jan again stopped the he show with her dance and was again forced to give it over in n its entirety en en- Then had hud come the final curtain curtain cur cur- tain ain the whole company standing stand stand- ins ing n to the applause of the audience Jan was back in her dressing room flushed excited and happy Ted was there Collins was there A telegram was wu brought in For you Miss Day the boy said Jan o opened ned and read Can I see you some time tomorrow and W was lS signed Warren Park Avenue club Jan handed the telegram telegram tele tele- gram to Ted What does this mean she asked Ted read it Mean It me means that Warren wants you to dance for hini hint That's Thal's one of the best clubs in New I York By Bythe the way Miss Day Collins CollID said Ill Til want you to sign a contract tomorrow Dont Don't go signing any others others others oth oth- ers until then I wont won't Jan said Ted watched the door close behind Collins waited until he be was sure Col Col- lu lins s was gone then turning to Jan said And now Miss Day can 1 I have havea a moment You can Mr Barry But he wasn't to have it then for there mere was a knock and in rushed Fran Francine ine and Bob Francine rushed over eri threw he her arms around Jan Jan- r i lifted her from her chair and started dancing around Bob joined in Jan Jt it w was simply too wonderful n Jan you were great Best ever everl A uA hill hI U No Bob a sensation Jan laughed Thanks Thank you two I Say Bob cut in tai how about a al celebration Like we had for young Mr Barry I Why certainly certaInty Francine said I We must have one All AU right Jan Sure but you people better get out of here while I dress Ill I'll hurry Bob and Francine started out Come on on Ted they called Be with you in a minute He turned to io Jan And now now Miss Day Day- And now Mr f Barry Jan an an- Ive got got got- Youve Youve got a question Jan said So So what's whal's the answer Ted said So So what's the question The question is Lets Let's you OU and me get gel married Jan smiled reached out and took Teds Ted's hand The answer Is Is Mr Barry lets The end |