t in a large platter of bacon and eggs. Then there were
tall glasses of cold milk and thin, deliciously buttered toast.

"I didn't think you'd be up so early, Dad," said Helen, between
mouthfuls of bacon.

"Guess I went to bed too early," smiled her father. "I've been awake an
hour."

"You were all tired out after finishing 'Kings of the Air,'" went on
Helen and her father nodded his agreement.

Janet, on the other side of the table, said nothing, but thought a great
deal. She had never quite gotten over the thrill of coming to Hollywood
and the manner in which it had been accomplished. It seemed too much
like a dream and at times she went around pinching herself to make sure
she wasn't asleep.

Classmates back in the medium-sized city of Clarion in the middle west,
Janet and Helen had been fast friends and their families had been
neighbors for years. Then Henry Thorne had made a success as a director
of motion pictures, but Helen and Mrs. Thorne had remained in the family
home in Clarion. Back for Helen's graduation, he had been impressed by
the acting ability of Janet and Helen, as well as their charm, and their
graduation presents had been round trip airplane tickets from Clarion to
Hollywood. Mrs. Thorne had come along to chaperon the party and they had
taken a comfortable, rambling bungalow on a side street in Hollywood
where they could be assured of privacy.

Janet could recall so vividly their first day. Pictures, interviews,
attendance at a premiere in gowns designed by the famous designer who
created all of the gowns for the stars of the Ace company. Then a chance
to work in a western in the production unit headed by rotund little
Billy Fenstow and after that small parts in "Kings of the Air," which
Henry Thorne had directed as one of the outstanding pictures on his
company's production program.

"What are you mooning about?" asked Helen, for Janet, her mind running
back over the events of the last crowded weeks, had ceased eating.

Janet flushed. "Just thinking of all the wonderful things that have
happened since we graduated."

"I hope you won't remember the unpleasant ones you experienced while we
were making 'Kings of the Air,'" said Helen's father. He was well-built,
with a touch of grey hair at his temples and a smile that inspired
confidence and an almost instant feeling of friendliness.

"I was pretty scared at the time," confessed Janet, "but now that the
picture's safely completed, it's al