nly one who
noticeably escaped his ire was Rachel Nesbit, and Janet had to admit
that Rachel handled her work in a way that defied criticism. Curt Newsom
came in for some especially bitter comments.

"Too bad we can't get a horse in here so you'd feel at home," snapped
the director after Curt had bungled one bit of action.

"I don't like skunks," shot back Curt and turned away.

The director, his face flaming, grabbed Curt's arm.

"You've got to explain that," he cried.

"Do you want me to?" asked Curt, looking straight into the face of the
incensed director.

Adolphi dropped his arm and turned away, and in that action he stirred
Janet's suspicions anew. If he were without guilt, she felt he would
have forced Curt to a showdown. But he had turned away and Janet thought
she caught just a flicker of Rachel Nesbit's eyes.

Then they were back at work, rehearsing until well after the usual
dinner hour. When the director finally released them, most of the
company was dizzy with fatigue,

"He's trying to wear us out so we won't be able to put on a good show
tomorrow night," muttered Curt. "I've a good notion to drop him down an
elevator shaft and see if he'll bounce."

Jim Hill was waiting for them.

"I thought you'd never come," he said. "Adolphi been pretty tough?"

Janet nodded. "He couldn't have been much worse."

"He's got a reputation for driving his casts just before the final show.
Sometimes he gets marvelous results; then, again, the thing will fall
flat with everyone all worn out."

"He's trying to break us in two," grumbled Curt, whose feet were
hurting.

Jim Hill took them down to his office and they ordered sandwiches sent
in while they went over the manuscript. It had been given the approval
of the continuity chief and was to be incorporated into the program.

"I think it's good stuff," said Janet as she laid down the script.
"You've caught the spirit of the picture at last. If this doesn't boom
public interest in 'Kings of the Air' to a high pitch, I'll be a very
mistaken young lady."

The others agreed with her that Jim had struck the right note.

"Now the thing to do is to get Adolphi to swing it through for me
tomorrow night. He can if he wants to."

"That's a real question, too," said Curt. "I suspect he's the guy behind
all of the trouble and we'll find Rachel Nesbit right in with him."

They left a few minutes later, Jim Hill taking the precious manuscript
with him.

Parting on S