more realistic. And really heavy on the makeup."

"I-I'm not going to do it!" Marty had at last found his voice.

"Of course you are!" Nadine descended swiftly upon him, seized his arm, pulled him into the dressing room and slammed the door. "The livelihoods of over one hundred people depend upon you! You know the part and you know that we need four pairs out there!"

"But I'm not an impersonator! he cried," sinking onto a soft chair. All about were the other girls' things their street clothes their lingerie, een the makeup kit Sally had 'liberated' from him. "I don't have a voice!”

-

"I'll do that myself from an off stage mike," hissed Nadine. "Now, get your clothes off and let Millie get to work."

***

David was sure that the show would be cancelled for the even- ing. They were already ten min- utes past curtain time and Na- dine had not returned to the stage. He had wandered over to swap cues with Farrell, now in Marty's spot on the stage.

"No sweat, man," beamed Farrell, his arm resting lightly on Sally's waist, while she seemed happy to have it there.

"If we go, of course," said David, catching Cindy suddenly waving to him. He turned. Na- dine was bearing down on him, a dark-haired girl behind her.

"In your places," Nadine snapped, glowering at David. "And you're off tonight, Mr. Corbin." She didn't even look as Babe's worried glance disappear- ed while he slipped away. Nadine turned to the girl. "Come on!" she snapped. "You know where to start!"

The girl was wearing Jackie's long black evening gown, finding herself having to mince just like Jackie to get into position. Even the necklace and long, silvery- tasselled earrings were like Jack- ie's, but she also wore white eve- ning gloves, the only real differ- ence to the girl whose spot she was taking. It was hard to see if she was pretty because of the amount of stage makeup she even over her throat and upper arms. She certainly was attractive, at least as good a look- er as Jackie. Nadine had swept away imperiously and the curtain was going up just as David heard Ace's muffled expletive, follow- ed by, "Marty, how could you do it?" in a tone that sent chills up and down the spines of each performer so that their first number was likely the low point of the evening.

wore

-

David found it very hard to play to Marty, either in the long gown, or in the short, flapper dress with the black garters and flowered slip showing. It was disturbing to watch Marty do the 'chorus' dances with the other girls, not missing a step and do- ing every action so girlishly and prettily. Then, with Nadine's voice coming out in place of Marty's, when he and David did Jackie's piece as a hooker, it made the whole scene so real that David quite forgot that it was Marty and he ended the dance as usual with the kiss he gave Jackie at the finish of the

scene.

"Oh, David," said Cindy in a tiny, fake-sobbing voice as Ace and Sally took the limelight. “Is she taking my place? How was it for you? Does she turn you on more than me?”

They had to join the others

.7.

for an involved scene of partner- shifting so that David could do little to assuage his chagrined feelings. Still, he felt for Marty. He wondered how the others felt about the turn of events. At least, Marty was making a show possible, and it was turning out well, too. He was a much better 'Jackie' now than was Jackie her- self. In the 'Can-Can', he was positively scintillating and the sparse audience gave him a spe- cial round of applause for his efforts.

The finale through at last, David was ready for a quick withdrawal. The house was small and they'd all worked hard, but Nadine had come on stage. Oh, oh, here it comes, thought David. Now we close. He pressed hard on the hands of Cindy on his left and Marty on his right. Marty breathed lightly, his bust, rising and falling, the equal of Cindy's, his mouth a painted-on cupid's bow of red lipstick.

"This was a special perfor- mance tonight," stated Nadine directly into the mike, and every- one gave her their attention. “We usually have six pairs in this show, but tonight there were only four because three of our girls were very ill and couldn't

make it.'

""

-

Marty's hand suddenly clasped David's very hard, but Nadine was going on. “Just to make a show for you, one of our male performers has been a girl all night. I'd like to introduce him to you." There was an expectant hush. Marty was looking down at the stage, the extra-thick, dark lashes hiding his eyes. Even to David's inexpert gaze, Marty seemed flushed.

"Could you tell who it was?” Nadine was actually challenging