Janet Hardy in Hollywood

  E-text prepared by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan, and theOnline Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)

  JANET HARDY IN HOLLYWOOD

  by

  RUTHE S. WHEELER

  The Goldsmith Publishing CompanyChicago

  Copyright 1935 byThe Goldsmith Publishing Company

  Made in U. S. A.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE I. "The Chinese Image" 13 II. Leading Roles 20 III. The Wind Roars 33 IV. Little Deer Valley 47 V. The White Menace 58 VI. Desperate Hours 64 VII. Sanctuary at Home 72 VIII. Postponed Tryouts 78 IX. Big News 85 X. Victory for Helen 92 XI. A Famous Director Arrives 101 XII. On the Stage 112 XIII. Janet Steps In 124 XIV. Just Fishing 134 XV. Hollywood Bound 145 XVI. Thrilling Hours 155 XVII. On the Westbound Plane 161 XVIII. Hello, Hollywood! 173 XIX. Gorgeous Gowns 182 XX. At the Premiere 188 XXI. Screen Tests 196 XXII. Western Action 202 XXIII. On the Screen 210 XXIV. "Kings of the Air" 220 XXV. The Stars Vanish 227 XXVI. Bombs from the Sky 233 XXVII. The Showdown 244

  Janet Hardy in Hollywood

  _Chapter I_ "THE CHINESE IMAGE"

  Winter hung on grimly in the Middle West that year. Late March found thestreets piled high with snow and on that particular morning there was athreat of additional snow in the air as Janet Hardy, a blond curlsticking belligerently out from under her scarlet beret, hurried towardschool.

  It was an important day for members of the senior class of the ClarionHigh School, for Miss Williams, the dramatics instructor, was going tohand out parts to read for the class play. For that reason, Janet walkedmore briskly than usual and she failed to hear footsteps behind her untilanother girl, running lightly, called.

  "Slow up a minute, Janet. I'm nearly breathless. I've been chasing youfor more than a block."

  Janet turned to greet Helen Thorne, who lived half a block beyond her ownhome and on the same broad, comfortable thoroughfare.

  The girls fell into step, Janet slowing her pace until Helen couldrecover her breath.

  "What chance do you think we'll have of getting parts in the play?" askedHelen, her face reflecting her hopefulness.

  "Just as good as any of the rest," replied Janet. "I don't think thereare any Ethel Barrymores in school and I wouldn't worry if there were. Iwon't be heart-broken if I don't get a part."

  "That's easy to say, but I'm afraid I'll be pretty much disappointed if Idon't get one. You have the _Weekly Clarion_ to keep you busy."

  "It does that all right," conceded Janet, who was editor of the page ofhigh school news which appeared once a week in the local daily paper, the_Times_, under the title of "The Weekly Clarion."

  The girls turned into the street which led up the hill to the highschool, a sprawling brick structure which covered nearly a block. Theoriginal building had been started in 1898 and as the city had grownadditions had been made, seemingly at random, until hardly any one knewhow many rooms there were and it was not unusual for a new student to getlost.

  Janet was slightly taller than Helen. Her hair was a golden blond withjust enough of a natural curl to make her the envy of most of the girlsin school. Her blue eyes had a friendly, cheery look and her mouth had anupward twist that made it easy for her to smile.

  Helen was a complement to Janet, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and adusky skin. Because of her brunette coloring, she inclined to gayercolors than her blond companion.

  It was half an hour before school when they reached the building, but agoodly number of seniors were already on hand and competition for rolesin the play would be intense. With 132 in the senior class, not many morethan a score could hope to win parts.

  "There's so many it's going to be a discouraging business," said Helen asthey went upstairs to the chemistry auditorium where the class was tomeet.

  "If a lot of the others think that, it will be easy for us," smiledJanet. "Come on, tell yourself you're going to win a part and you will."

  "I want to for Dad's sake. He wrote that he would be home for mygraduation and would attend all of the senior activities. So I've justgot to make the play cast."

  "Keep up that kind of a spirit and you're as good as in," encouragedJanet, who secretly confessed that it was going to be quite a job to wina place in the play.

  The chemistry auditorium was well filled when they arrived. Almost everysenior girl was there and at least half of the boys.

  Janet looked around the large room, gauging the mettle of the girls theywould have to compete against. Well up toward the rostrum was MargieBlake, petite and blond and exceedingly vivacious. Margie was popular,confessed Janet, and probably stood a good chance of winning a part inthe play for she had innate dramatic ability, while Janet, who had takena leading role in the junior play, had been compelled to study each bitof action carefully.

  Near Margie was Cora Dean, a pronounced brunette, who had alreadyannounced that she intended to have a leading role, and Cora had areputation of getting whatever she went after, whether it was a place onthe honor roll or a part in one of the drama club's one act plays.

  "I'm afraid Cora will be after the part I try out for," whispered Helen."She's good, too."

  "She's not a bit better than you are, and not half as pretty," retortedJanet.

  "But you don't always win play parts on your looks," said Helen.

  Just then Miss Williams, the dramatics instructor, hurried in. In onehand she carried a large sheaf of mimeographed sheets while in the otherwas the complete book for the play. Several plays had been tentativelyconsidered, but final approval had been up to Miss Williams and she wasto announce the title that morning as well as give out reading parts.

  The room quieted down as a few stragglers, coming in at the last minute,found seats at the rear.

  Miss Williams sorted the mimeographed sheets into piles and at exactly8:45 o'clock she rapped briskly on the desk with a ruler. The dramaticsteacher was pleasant and almost universally liked. She smiled as shelooked over the seniors who had gathered.

  "It looks like we're going to have real competition for the play partsthis year," she said. "I suppose, though, that first you'd like to knowthe name of the play."

  She paused a moment, then went on.

  "I've read all the plays the committee recommended carefully and my finalchoice is 'The Chinese Image.'"

  There was a ripple of applause, for a number of seniors, including Janetand Helen, had read portions of "The Chinese Image."

  Helen leaned toward her companion.

  "That's the play I've been hoping would be selected. There's a part Ithink I can win."

  "The leading role?" asked Janet.

  "Well, h
ardly, but it isn't a bad part."

  Miss Williams held up her hand and the buzz of conversation which hadstarted after her announcement ceased.

  "I have had parts for every character mimeographed and each sheet givessufficient reading material for tryouts. There are 23 roles in 'TheChinese Image.' I'm familiar with the ability of almost all of you and ifyou'll come up as I call your names, I'll give you tryout sheets. Thefirst sheet contains a brief synopsis of the play with the complete castof characters and the second sheet has the part I want you to try for.You will also find the hours on the second sheet when I want you to godown to the gym for the tryouts."

  Janet had to confess that she was more than a little nervous as shewaited for Miss Williams to call her name. Senior after senior was calledup to the desk and handed his sheets. To some of them Miss Williams addedanother word or two, but she talked too low to be heard by the main bodyof pupils.

  As the tryout sheets were handed out, the seniors left the room for itwas nearly assembly time.

  Helen looked anxiously at Janet.

  "I wonder if we're going to be called? There are less than a dozen left."

  "We'll know in a couple of minutes," replied Janet. "There goes MargieBlake. Wonder what part she'll get a chance at?"

  "One of the leads, you can be sure of that. And there's Cora Dean. Isuppose Cora will get the part I try for. That happened in several of theone acts last year."

  "This isn't last year and Cora's a bit too temperamental. Well, we aregoing to be the last."

  All of the others had been called before Miss Williams spoke to Janet andHelen, and with a feeling of misgiving they advanced toward her desk.