f the company stared wide-eyed at the husky cowboy star
for most of them held their director in awe, but Curt had spoken firmly
and there had been nothing else for Adolphi to do unless he violated the
contract.

He returned to the studio in less than five minutes with Rachel Nesbit
at his heels. The minute she entered the room, she rushed toward Janet,
her hands clenched and her eyes snapping sparks of anger.

"You're responsible for this insult," she stormed at Janet. "I'd like to
step on you."

"Oh, calm down, Rachel," said the director. "It was this skinny cowboy
who started the trouble."

The radio actress and continuity writer whirled toward Curt Newsom.

"Go ahead and step on me," he grinned, and a titter of giggles ran
through the rest of the company.

Rachel's dark cheeks flamed anew with anger, but she kept her tongue and
turned away in silence.

The rehearsal continued. They were getting well along in the production
and Janet felt that it was going smoothly. It was a condensed version of
the real story of "Kings of the Air" and so to Janet and Helen it was
familiar material.

Promptly at noon the director stopped the rehearsal.

"Half an hour for lunch," he announced and the company scattered at
once.

Janet and Helen walked down the long corridor to the reception room
where a hurrying figure almost bumped into them.

It was Jim Hill, the continuity writer. He stopped suddenly and his face
lighted up as he recognized them.

"Just the girls I'm looking for!" he exclaimed. "Lunch time?"

Janet nodded.

"Then have lunch with me," and before they could remonstrate, he hurried
them toward the elevator and they dropped downward with a suddenness
that always unnerved Janet.

Chapter Twenty-three

JANET PINCH HITS

Janet and Helen found that Jim Hill was extremely pleasant and likeable,
but he appeared to be laboring under some severe nervous strain and
Janet noticed that his hands shook when he picked up a glass of milk.

"This script for your broadcast has about got me down," he confessed.
"I've got to keep lots of punch in the action and yet I can't give away
the actual plot of the film. On top of that old Adolphi is a regular
crab and it doesn't seem like anything will suit him. This whole show of
yours has to be okayed Saturday night by the Ace film people and if they
don't like it they can cancel out and give it to another company."

"Is there any danger of that?" asked Janet.