The Project Gutenberg eBook, Janet Hardy in Hollywood, by Ruthe S. Wheeler

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Title: Janet Hardy in Hollywood

Author: Ruthe S. Wheeler

Release Date: February 11, 2013 [eBook #42069]

Language: English

Character set encoding: UTF-8

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JANET HARDY IN HOLLYWOOD***

E-text prepared by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan,
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
(http://www.pgdp.net)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. “The Chinese Image” 13

II. Leading Rôles 20

III. The Wind Roars 33

IV. Little Deer Valley 47

V. The White Menace 58

VI. Desperate Hours 64

VII. Sanctuary at Home 72

VIII. Postponed Tryouts 78

IX. Big News 85

X. Victory for Helen 92

XI. A Famous Director Arrives 101

XII. On the Stage 112

XIII. Janet Steps In 124

XIV. Just Fishing 134

XV. Hollywood Bound 145

XVI. Thrilling Hours 155

XVII. On the Westbound Plane 161

XVIII. Hello, Hollywood! 173

XIX. Gorgeous Gowns 182

XX. At the Premiere 188

XXI. Screen Tests 196

XXII. Western Action 202

XXIII. On the Screen 210

XXIV. “Kings of the Air” 220

XXV. The Stars Vanish 227

XXVI. Bombs from the Sky 233

XXVII. The Showdown 244

Janet Hardy in Hollywood

Chapter I
“THE CHINESE IMAGE”

Winter hung on grimly in the Middle West that year. Late March found the streets piled high with snow and on that particular morning there was a threat of additional snow in the air as Janet Hardy, a blond curl sticking belligerently out from under her scarlet beret, hurried toward school.

It was an important day for members of the senior class of the Clarion High School, for Miss Williams, the dramatics instructor, was going to hand out parts to read for the class play. For that reason, Janet walked more briskly than usual and she failed to hear footsteps behind her until another girl, running lightly, called.

“Slow up a minute, Janet. I’m nearly breathless. I’ve been chasing you for more than a block.”

Janet turned to greet Helen Thorne, who lived half a block beyond her own home and on the same broad, comfortable thoroughfare.

The girls fell into step, Janet slowing her pace until Helen could recover her breath.

“What chance do you think we’ll have of getting parts in the play?” asked Helen, her face reflecting her hopefulness.

“Just as good as any of the rest,” replied Janet. “I don’t think there are any Ethel Barrymores in school and I wouldn’t worry if there were. I won’t be heart-broken if I don’t get a part.”

“That’s easy to say, but I’m afraid I’ll be pretty much disappointed if I don’t get one. You have the Weekly Clarion to