Two hours later we were back home and had to get changed for the four o'clock show. We just made it, dressing in the trailer and entering the main tent where the other girls were waiting. I found dancing in the act much easier than walking on the street! Three shows before six, then five by eleven tired me to exhaustion! I just "fell" into bed and morning came all too soon. As a girl I was spared the rough work of tearing down and moving. We packed everything away in the trailer and Uncle Jim hooked the big old Packard to it and away we drove to the next location, ready to repeat the routine on Monday. So passed three enjoyable summer months. We would now play the fairs before settling down for a leisurely winter.

The show wintered in Southern Indiana, six hundred miles from my home. I dreaded to go back there, though I missed Mom and talked to her on the telephone. Aunt Effie persuaded her to let me stay for the winter, so that fixed that problem! I had one year left to finish high school as did Connie, so Aunt made arrangements for us both to attend a girls academy in the town where we made winter quarters. Connie was studying dancing and it was decided that I would do so too. We were soon hard at our routine while the men overhauled and painted the equipment in a leisurely manner. For we "girls" it was work, work, study and more work, the winter passed quickly.

Connie had worked up a sister act, a song and dance team. My lower pitched voice blended with her clear soprano in a pleasing harmony. A booking agent heard of our act and soon we were booked for the season in a chain of vaudeville theaters. By this time I was thoroughly at home as a girl, never thought of myself as anything but feminine. Then a terrible problem arose, my beard started to grow! So began the long process of waxing and plucking, with time spent in a salon whenever we could spare it for permanent removal. Eventually we conquered that problem and became quite accustomed to hotel life, the quick moves to another date, but something was terribly lacking in our lives. Time had passed and we were both now twenty-one and I was terribly in love with Connie.

By now I was completely an attractive young woman to the eyes of others. My hair was long, down on my shoulders, its natural light brown color now a dark auburn. My hands were smooth, my nails long, gleaming ovals. I had a very complete feminine wardrobe, my long legs were accustomed to high heels and silk hose. I had the art of makeup down to perfection, and the feminine walk and mannerisms. were completely natural to me. In most respects I was now a woman, in

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