RANSVESTIA

pieces went flying in all directions. Only Angie seemed uninterested in hurrying to be rid of her stage brilliance.

The door was suddenly hammered upon. All activity stopped. Cathy stood up, a large eyelash still in her hand, and went to the door. There was silence as she opened the door a fraction.

"Yes?" she said.

"It's Angie," came back the young voice of Allan, the second bar- man. "He wants to talk to Angie."

A look of shock crossed Cathy's face. She bit her lip furiously as she closed the door. She had been sure that it would be for her this time. As she turned, she saw the equally stunned looks on the faces of the other girls, and the shock, turning into fright, in Angie's blue eyes. As she realized just whom it was who had been requested, Cathy began to smile despite herself. So too, the other girls, as they relaxed, began to smile. Only Angie, knocking over the nailpolish remover in a sudden wordless gesture, appeared tense or upset.

Gently, Jean touched her arm, causing Angie to jump nervously. "Hold on, Angie," she smiled. "We'll all help you get ready. We don't want to blow this one."

Robert Cort groaned inwardly to himself as the bartender brought him yet another Glen Murray "on the house." He was rapidly becom- ing irritated with the whole Pearl City set-up. The overly darkened lighting, the black leathered booths, and the soft musical tones of the Pearl City quartet spoke to him of sleazy, almost illicit sexuality. The only bright spot of the evening was the confirmation of the fact that Arthur Mayer, the Co-ordinator of Staff Development, to use his fancy title, was correct again. I wonder how he does it, Cort thought to himself. The Pacific Studios chief talent scout had spotted and recommended uncountable talent from out of the way joints and cabaret clubs like the Pearl City. I wonder how much of a rake-off the manager will want for this girl's contract, Cort thought moodily. The excellent Scotch for such a place forewarned of expensive tastes in the management. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the girl, the "talent," he had come to see. The waiter hovered about as the girl sat down. Under Cort's steady gaze, he vacillated for a moment and then withdrew to the bar. Cort turned his full attention to the girl.

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