_Chapter XX_ AT THE PREMIERE
After a leisurely dinner that evening they enjoyed a quiet half hourbeside the pool.
"There's plenty of time; let's take a swim. The trunks arrived thisafternoon and mother's found our suits," said Helen, and Janet secondedthe idea at once. It had been a hectic day and the water would relaxthem.
They had trim one-piece suits, Janet's of cool green and Helen's a sharpblue. For twenty minutes they splashed in the water or relaxed andfloated just as the mood struck them. Finally Mrs. Thorne called.
"It's less than an hour before we must start for the premiere," she said.
Janet and Helen climbed out of the pool, rubbed themselves briskly withheavy towels, and hastened into their bedroom.
Large boxes were at the foot of each bed and from them they drew thegowns which Roddy had created.
Dressing that night was one of the thrills Janet would never forget. Thecostume was complete for just the right undergarments had been sent bythe designer. The hose were the sheerest gold, with gold slippers tomatch, while Helen's accessories were silver.
"How do you feel?" asked Helen.
"Something like a fairy princess and it's hard to make myself believethat this is all real."
"Then let's enjoy every minute of it. We may wake up and find that it isall just a dream."
Janet looked at herself in the mirror. She was sheathed in blue silk,ankle length, with just enough of a slit in one side to show her dainty,silken ankles. Helen helped her tie a blue ribbon around her hair andwatched while Janet applied rouge judiciously.
"I imagine the lights will be bright as we go into the theater," saidHelen, "so remember what Roddy said about the color."
In turn Janet helped Helen, fastening the crimson velvet dress. Like herown, it was a sheath of material with Helen encased inside.
"I'm not sure I'll be able to sit down. Dad may have to hire a truck anddrive us to the theater in it. I'd hate to have this gown all mussed."
"Mine looks awfully tight, but it feels very comfortable," confessedJanet. "Oh, I feel grand--simply grand."
"About ready?" called Helen's father.
They caught up their capes and threw them around their shoulders withjust the right touch of abandon. Even the gloves had been provided in theboxes sent by Roddy.
Mr. and Mrs. Thorne were waiting for them in the living room, Helen'smother looking very beautiful in a brown velvet gown while her father wasdistinguished in his dinner jacket.
Henry Thorne caught his breath as he looked at the girls in Roddy'sgowns.
"I knew Roddy was a wonder worker, but I didn't know he could performmiracles. I'd hardly know you if I saw you any place else."
"That's a real compliment, Dad," smiled Helen.
"Here's something I thought you'd like to see." He handed a copy of oneof the evening papers to them. On the front page was one of the picturestaken at the airport with Janet and Helen between Mr. and Mrs. Thorne.
"Famous Director Brings Daughter and Friend West to start Their Careersin Movies," was the caption over the picture. Underneath the story said:"Moviedom will get its first chance to see Henry Thorne's daughter,Helen, and her companion, Janet Hardy, tonight at the premiere at theQueen's Court. Both girls are slated for movie careers if their screentests turn out all right. Their initial roles will probably be in a newwestern which Bill Fenstow is casting now and plans to put intoproduction next week."
"We look pretty much 'midwesternish' in that picture," observed Helen.
"What if you do? There are too many Hollywood types. What we need inpictures is fresh faces on girls who have ability. Come on now, we've gotto hurry or we'll be late."
The big sedan was in the drive and Helen's father had summoned a driverhe employed when he needed a chauffeur to drive them that evening.
They turned out of the side street on which they lived into a mainboulevard and whirled rapidly toward the Queen's Court.
Janet, attending a movie premiere for the first time, felt her heartquicken as she saw the blaze of light which marked the front of thetheater.
The whistle of a traffic officer slowed them down and the driver wasforced to produce a card before they were allowed to go past the policelines. The sidewalks were lined with people, anxious for a glimpse atsome Hollywood notable.
The car fell into line behind several others and Janet caught her firstglimpse of the theater. It was magnificent white marble, with theentrance an open court and down this court the honored guests had towalk, running the gamut of the stares of hundreds who backed the policelines.
Their car pulled up under a canopy.
"Here we are, girls. Take your time and enjoy it. Don't be stiff. It'sjust like going to the Idle Hour back in Clarion," said Helen's father.
He stepped out first, assisted Mrs. Thorne and then turned to the girls.Janet heard the master of ceremonies, standing at the microphone nearby,announce, "Henry Thorne, most famous of the directors for Aceproductions, Mrs. Thorne, their daughter, Helen, and Janet Hardy."
Janet stepped out into the glare of the floodlights. For just a moment aterrific wave of stage fright gripped her. Then she saw smiling, friendlyfaces, and she smiled back. Flashlights boomed as the photographersworked.
The announcer beckoned to Henry Thorne. "Just a word, Mr. Thorne."
But the director shook his head. "This is the girls' night," he smiled,shoving Helen toward the microphone.
"All I can say," gasped Helen, "is that I'm tremendously happy to behere."
"Thank you," said the announcer. "And now, Miss Hardy, please."
"I like all of the smiles," said Janet simply, and a burst of applausecame back from the crowd.
"Well done," whispered Henry Thorne and they started down the long walkpast the sea of faces.
Janet felt supremely confident, perhaps it was just knowing that her gownand accessories were perfection, and more than one compliment on hercostume came from the packed masses.
In the grand foyer there were film stars on every hand, some of themstopping for a moment to talk, and as Helen's father introduced the girlsto all of these, Janet thought she detected several frankly unfriendlystares from some of the actresses, who seemed to be little if any olderthan they were.
Then the picture started. Actually Janet saw very little of it. She wastoo busy drinking in the beauty of the theater and straining to catchglimpses of stars who had arrived late.
When they left the theater, various groups congregated in the foyer forbrief visits and Janet saw a tubby little man, looking ill at ease in hisdinner suit and mopping his bald head, struggling to reach them. He kepthis eyes quite frankly on Janet and Helen as he neared them, but therewas nothing offensive in his stare. He grabbed Henry Thorne's arm.
"Say, Henry, are these the girls?" he demanded.
"Hello, Billy. Sure. I want you to meet my daughter, Helen, and JanetHardy."
"Girls," he explained, "you want to be nice to this scamp. He's in chargeof the western unit and it will be his decision on whether you get intothe cast. In other words, meet Billy Fenstow."
"None other and none such," grinned the affable little director. "Whydidn't you tell me you had a couple of stars in tow?" he chided Helen'sfather.
"Are you willing to take a chance on them and promise them parts rightnow?"
The creator of western pictures looked a little surprised. "Well maybenot for sure. Tell you what. I'm going home and make some changes in myscript. I'll build up some stronger parts for the girls. Can they act?"
"Billy, I don't know. I saw them one night when I thought they could, butyou'll have to find out for yourself. Now I'm going to take them home andsee that they get some sleep or they won't be able to act."
"I'm glad I met you tonight," said Billy earnestly. "See you in themorning," as Helen and Janet moved toward the car.
He watched them through shrewd eyes, and if Janet could have turnedaround she would have not
iced that Billy Fenstow was looking at her inparticular.
"I think she'll do," whispered the little director. "I think she's gotjust what I want for the new pix. Gosh, I wish this was morning." Hejammed on his soft, black hat and went out in search of a taxi.