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116 back until I thought she was ready to return to the stage as a full-fledged topliner. I don't want her to go into vaudeville. I'd prefer her to team up with the right dancer for a season or two in musical comedy."

"Nellie wants to back a show in Chicago this summer," Norah said. "Not to star me but to give me a start."

"Nellie must be quite a girl," said Ken.

"She's my client and I only handle 'quite-a' girls and boys," chirped Leon.

They left San Diego after lunch.

"Nellie will be in Chicago in September," Mrs. Nasmuth said as Ken bade them good-bye. " 'Rose Marie' is booked there then. Norah and I will be in town for the opening. If you want to break into real show business, Chicago is a good spot nowadays. They're not too exacting there. If you can't make it and if you ever hit Broadway, look up Leon. We'd like to meet you again."

And so they were gone, leaving with Ken their own fine confidence in him and the flavor of their professed friendship. He felt a lump rise in his throat as the sedan drove away.

"I'll be seeing you," he said.

A few minutes later he counted his wealth. He owned three dollars and seventy-five cents.

With his bag in his hand, he walked north toward the main road east. At a hilltop service station which faced San Diego Bay and the Pacific, Ken asked the attendant which road to take.

"Where you goin', Texan?" the man asked.

"New York."

"Got a car?"