nch at that.
It's well after two o'clock now."

Janet, finishing her shower, rubbed her body briskly with a heavy towel,
and slipped the dressing gown on over her pajamas. Then she joined Mrs.
Thorne in the dining room.

"The morning papers made quite a story of it," said Mrs. Thorne, handing
Janet a copy.

A bold headline was blazoned across the entire top of the front page:

"MOVIE COMPANY ESCAPES FIRE!"

Then, in terse, action sentences, the story told of the narrow escape of
Billy Fenstow's western unit. Janet found Helen's name and her own
mentioned. She was glad that the story gave Curt Newsom full credit for
the cool-headed work which had saved their lives. Curt deserved every
word of it.

Helen joined them a few minutes later, limping a little for her feet
were still aching from the bruises.

The girls passed the remainder of the afternoon resting and at dinner
that night became involved in a serious discussion with Helen's father
and mother.

After the dessert, Henry Thorne pushed back his chair and looked at them
quizzically.

"Summer's about over," was his opening remark and Janet knew that he had
something on his mind. She had a hunch that she could guess what the
trend of the conversation was to be.

"You girls made up your minds what you want to do?"

He seemed to have his eyes fixed on Janet, as though looking to her for
the decision which would guide Helen.

"First of all I want to try to do the story Billy Fenstow asked me to
do," retorted Janet. "After that I think I'll have had enough of
Hollywood."

"Getting tired of being an actress?"

"Not at all, I'm just realizing my limitations and after all, I do want
more education--the type of broadening education that I can get in a
university."

Henry Thorne swung toward his own daughter.

"What do you think, Helen?"

"Why, I haven't made up my mind yet, Dad. I like Hollywood, I've been
having a grand time, but I guess I've never really thought of staying on
here definitely. It was understood from the first that this was just a
glorious vacation and that when summer ended Mother and I would go back
to Clarion and I'd go to college."

"I expect that's right," nodded her father. "It did start out to be just
a vacation proposition and you girls can make it that if you want, but
I've a new plan that may appeal to you. How would you like to go to
Radio City in New York for several weeks?"

Chapter Twelve

THE PREVIEW

The g