Show TELEGRAM FICTION FICTION- 1 G GOOD PENNY I By BARBARA WEBB CHAPTER V Judith had time for few rehearsals rehearsal before the opening of at the rated Golden Bubble that Saturday night It gave her 8 a curious feeling to be in the chorus row while Two Gun Annie AinIe as Sam had named his new attraction h had d the spotlight There was a new alertness In Judith She was able n now w to appraise her own situation more clearly Over and over her father had told her hershe she sho must make must live Jive her own i life Ufe And she had listened but hadn't heard Everything thing had been seen I. I through the fog of oC her passionate belief belie in his need for Cor outer freedom a freedom he had scorned He was really free And I thought Judith must free myself too She danced with Spencer who ho had come to the opening aware that Gilbert Gilbert Gilbert Gil Gil- bert watched them from tram his table He paid no attention to the new star but he asked Judith to have supper with him which she did Do you remember the first thing you ever said to mo me Gilbert asked She smiled A fA penny for your thoughts wasn't it Yes The same to you now Well s said Id Judith I haven't got gotthem gotthem gotthem them entirely straightened out yet But they're something like this I 1 got in here b because cause of the notoriety Id I'd had and not because of anything anything anything any any- thing in the way of oC talent or ability In jn myself People were interested In me for tor a little while because of the he scandal When that was finIshed finished fin tin I was finished except for Sams Sam's kindness Oh its it's hardly as bad as that Gilbert remarked Youre good looking You can sing a little Your dancing isn isn't an any worse than that of the he other hoofers hooters Sams Sam's got capering caperIng caperIng caper caper- ing In the chorus Future Plans Plan it Judith agreed Im no bett better r no worse But I ought to o be better I ought to start making mak- mak lug ing ng something of myself instead of letting people and circumstances wash me around How do you OU mean I II thought said Judith that Id I'd tak take ake some som dancing dancing lesso lessons s some singing lessons really lessons really work Maybe Mabe i if f I do I 1 can get into a n better belter club or into musical comedy make a profession for lor myself that I can be proud 0 of Its hard work said Gilbert harder than usual for tor a girl like you OU who'll go straight There wouldn't be any other wa way for me rae now said Judith Ive traded on my shabby little fame tame until Im I'm sick of myself Gilbert nodded I can understand understand understand under under- stand he said Ive gone through about the same thing Im I'm still going through it I know what It is iso isto isto to o choose the hard thing make yourself over instead of ot just being contented with the rut youve you've worn for yourself even e he added when Its It's a pretty comfortable rut It was pleasant to be so easily understood There was a greater bond of oC s sympathy between them after that talk She told Aunt Mary about it Why Vh shouldn't he approve Aunt Mar Mary asked from irom her ber implacable dislike of Gilbert The higher you ou go the better hed he'd like It if It you married mar mar- tied ried him some day Judith began her dancing lessons After a few weeks she asked her teacher a man who had made a dozen Broadway stars Do you think I can ever be really good 7 never be one of the great ones not just by yourself at least But you ou can be good good better better than average average it if you'll work If It you had somebody with money some money some angel to back a show for you you you-you you might see your name in lights on the big street Otherwise Otherwise- Otherwise what just be one of the better- better than average chorines pretty sure of a job a line to speak maybe here and there a chance to understudy understudy understudy under under- study th the star But you'll have to work to get that far tar by yourself He 1 knew new of Gilberts Gilbert's interest In Judith He hoped perhaps that she would get Gilbert to play angel for her and put on some mammoth show how that would give employment to o some somo of at his pupils But he didn't press iress the matter and ho he did work vork hard lard with her She learned much the same thing from rom her singing teacher A pleasant pleasant pleas pleas- ant int voice he said Light but true and sweet There would be some improvement with hard work and time ime but never anything mr lar ar Judith didn't mind She had a anew anew anew new sense of of independence She had given gl her life Ufe a So definite ion tion She was through with drifting She Sho neglected nothing that would lead ead to self She had always dressed well from Instinct front from rom the training Clio CUo had given her Now she studied color and line groomed herself with Intelligence was vas rewarded by the feeling of security security se- se that assurance of a chic appearance ap ap- brings These were the major occupations ions of her waking hours She knew there here was a side of her lier life that lay tallow fallow now a room for her experience ence that in time she must mast explore But for the present that room was locked She was aware o of it whenever whenever when- when ever ver she he made one o of her fortnightly fortnightly fort- fort nightly visits to her father Then the he mystery of his conduct would overwhelm her He changed little He was out of ot the prison hospital now ow back at his work But he be w ws s trail rail Sometimes Judith thought he heno was no more than a wraith he was waso wasso wasso so o thin his hands so transparent She was still rebellious over the tat fate ate he had chosen for tor himself but buthe she he locked that rebellion too in the still to to till explored room There too oo she kept all her memories of Spencer She disliked seeing him these hese days das The sight of him hInt re reminded reminded reminded re- re minded her too forcibly of the easy happiness she had once been ready to o take Her heart was dead or if it not dead frozen and she wanted it t that way Spencer Hangs Around It would trouble her sometimes in n spite of herself She would see Spencer Saturday nights night at the club waiting to dance with her Or she would come back from an afternoon dancing lesson to find him drinking drinkin tea and eating cookIes cookes cookies cook- cook Ies es of Aunt Marys Mary's making 4 Once he said sale to her What are you ou trying to do Judith 1 Make myself all over a abrand brand new brand new Judith I can be proud 0 of Good I thought you OU liked the old Judy I did and I do and I like the new one too It isn't really a new Judith you ou know Youre You're only put- put ing ng out new branches from the same old roots This angered her Im entirely changed she said Ive a whole new new sot set of hopes and Ideas All the old old dreams Ill I'll call them are dead I Il doubt it they were dancing together and he drew her a little closer to him Just fr frostbitten those old dreams They'll Thell get thawed out again some day His own face tace looked older but there was still sUll courage in his eyes ees Hope too If It Judith had looked for tor forit it But she he She didn't want to see Bee it if It it was there It was easier really to talk to Gilbert ilbert about her plans her work Gilbert had a ready sympathy a warm approval He took her pla places es where she could watch the work of priced high-priced entertainers at other clubs where she could watch well veli- dressed women eating expensive expense e luncheons He introduced her to managers Through him she came cameto cameto cameto to have a working knowledge of the procedure to be followed if It she meant to succeed And he was exceedingly ex cx- careful to keep all this impersonal and friendly He had learned to wait He sensed the tension ten ten- Mon don between Judith and Spencer fostered it whenever he could Judith had a good eye for tor the main chance too Two Gun Annie was only a flash in the pan at the Golden Bubble Already Sam was looking around for tor a new tion Lion He Etc didn't know it it but Judith wanted her old place back again She came to him hint one morning Sam 1 wish you had time to look at a new number Ive I've worked out Sure Ive I've got time Go Into it itHe He nodded approval when sh she had bad finished That isn't all Judith continued coming over to sit beside him Ive Ivea a plan t for r a chorus routine to go with that Ive I've even worked out some costume mc designs Want to see them 1 Sam w was s surprised Been as busy as a boy killin snakes lately aint you Penny Something like that She showed him her sketches for costumes Sam whistled Say that's pretty neat what youve you've done Expensive No An And Anc look took Sam if Sf you like them couldn't Aunt Mary make them She made a sample one for forme forme me me- that Ill I'll bring over to show you you She Shed She'd d like to do It we we-we we we need the money Sam Im I'm spending so much on dancing and singing lessons les lee sons Bons and so on YouJI have to 0 be put at the head of at the tho class again Penny Sam re remarked remarked re- re marked then Id do anything fo for Aunt Mary Tell her to get he her thimble and come on over o for J a sewing bee So it came about that Aunt Mar Mary sewed sowed Judith rehearsed and when Two Gun Annie faded away from tho the Golden Bubble Judith had he her herold herold old place back again Once more mor the gossip columns were busy You cant can't keep a good penny down said I Theres that tha little curly headed girl at the Gold Gold- en n Bubble stepping high again And she's improved folks worth going to see Watch Vatch her Shell She'll be out of that and into the tho Broadway stratosphere some day If she keeps on And why hy not If she's smart enough to fo learn the difference between between be- be tween barn dancing and real hoof hoof- ing ng she has It coming to her Beides Besides Besides Be- Be sides ides Gil Saunders still sUll spends his Saturday nights there And hes he's a good friend for a little girl on the make It seemed harmless enough to Judith but it upset Spencer considerably con con- as he took pains to tell her the following Saturday night I T thought you were going to go ahead entirely under your our own steam team Jud Judy he saidI saidI saidI said I am Then what's all this talk about Saunders backing you Just talk said Judith Is it an any affair of yours I think said Spencer that its it's about time I made mado it my affair and he looked toward Saunders' Saunders table able with an expression that made Judiths Judith's frozen heart expand painfully painfully pain pain- fully with fear Copyright 1036 for tor The Telegram |