the footlights.
He announced that Tammi Whitlock was suffering with laryngitis and would be unable to play her part that evening. “The Footlighters are very fortunate in having obtained the services of Nancy Drew.”
As the curtain went up, Bess and George glanced around the theater to see what the reaction was to the change in leading ladies. Some of the audience looked surprised, others frowned. The girls felt that many residents of River Heights had heard what an excellent actress Tammi was and had purchased tickets just to see her.
But as the play progressed, the applause for Nancy between acts became very genuine. The young sleuth seemed to have become inspired with the part.
Bess and George were seated together, with their dates on either side of them. Bess now whispered to her cousin, “I’m glad Nancy isn’t overplaying the love scenes with Bob Simpson the way Tammi does.”
George suppressed a chuckle. “But look at Ned’s face,” she whispered. Ned Nickerson sat with a grim jaw and eyes straight ahead. He leaned forward slightly in his seat as Bob kissed Nancy. When the scene was over, he heaved a sigh and sat back, drumming his fingers on the chair arms.
As the final curtain came down, the applause was thunderous. All the members of the cast had played their roles unusually well, hoping to support Nancy in the best way they could. There was curtain call after curtain call, with Nancy and Bob Simpson commanding a major share of the crowd’s enthusiasm.
Mr. Drew was among those who were clapping the loudest. Hannah Gruen’s eyes were moist.
“I didn’t know Nancy was that good!” said Dave. “Boy, she ought to make the stage her career.”
“And give up sleuthing?” Bess exclaimed. “She wouldn’t do it in a million years!”
As soon as the audience began to leave, Bess and George took the others to the house. Nancy, waylaid several times and offered congratulations, had not yet taken off her Civil War costume nor her wig. Suddenly she saw her father and Mrs. Gruen, who promptly hugged her. Then, over Hannah’s shoulder she saw Ned, Burt, and Dave.
“Well, for goodness sake!” she cried. “Oh, it’s wonderful to see you! But how in the world did you get here?”
“Flew in, at George’s invitation,” Ned said quickly. “Nancy, you were simply great. I didn’t have time to pick up a bouquet for you, but you deserve it. About five dozen red roses!”
After Burt and Dave had congratulated Nancy, Ned went on, “I think this calls for a celebration. How about all of us going out somewhere together?”
“Thank you,” said Hannah Gruen. “But I think I’d better return home.” Mr. Drew also said he should get to bed since he had to be up very early the next day.
Nancy was silent. “Well, how about it?” Ned asked her.
She blushed, then said she was greatly embarrassed. Bob Simpson had asked her to go out with him, and she had accepted.
Bob had just come from his dressing room and overheard the conversation. He walked up, smiling. “I couldn’t help overhearing what you said, Nancy. I know these fellows have come a long distance. I’ll be glad to step aside—that is, if you’ll give me a rain check.”
Suddenly an idea came to Nancy. “Ned, do you and Burt and Dave have to go back tonight?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Then I have a suggestion. We girls will have to drive you out to the airport, and it will be late coming back alone.” She smiled at Bob. “It might be good for us to have a male escort.”
The leading man grinned. “Well, if you insist. But how about my finding me a date? Maybe I can talk Kathy into going.”
“Swell idea,” said Ned.
Bob had seen Kathy leaving the house alone. Now he rushed after her and was just in time to invite her to go with the group. The two came back together, and Kathy appeared to be delighted.
“I’m honored to be included in the celebration for our new leading lady,” she said.
Nancy laughed. “I assure you this is
He announced that Tammi Whitlock was suffering with laryngitis and would be unable to play her part that evening. “The Footlighters are very fortunate in having obtained the services of Nancy Drew.”
As the curtain went up, Bess and George glanced around the theater to see what the reaction was to the change in leading ladies. Some of the audience looked surprised, others frowned. The girls felt that many residents of River Heights had heard what an excellent actress Tammi was and had purchased tickets just to see her.
But as the play progressed, the applause for Nancy between acts became very genuine. The young sleuth seemed to have become inspired with the part.
Bess and George were seated together, with their dates on either side of them. Bess now whispered to her cousin, “I’m glad Nancy isn’t overplaying the love scenes with Bob Simpson the way Tammi does.”
George suppressed a chuckle. “But look at Ned’s face,” she whispered. Ned Nickerson sat with a grim jaw and eyes straight ahead. He leaned forward slightly in his seat as Bob kissed Nancy. When the scene was over, he heaved a sigh and sat back, drumming his fingers on the chair arms.
As the final curtain came down, the applause was thunderous. All the members of the cast had played their roles unusually well, hoping to support Nancy in the best way they could. There was curtain call after curtain call, with Nancy and Bob Simpson commanding a major share of the crowd’s enthusiasm.
Mr. Drew was among those who were clapping the loudest. Hannah Gruen’s eyes were moist.
“I didn’t know Nancy was that good!” said Dave. “Boy, she ought to make the stage her career.”
“And give up sleuthing?” Bess exclaimed. “She wouldn’t do it in a million years!”
As soon as the audience began to leave, Bess and George took the others to the house. Nancy, waylaid several times and offered congratulations, had not yet taken off her Civil War costume nor her wig. Suddenly she saw her father and Mrs. Gruen, who promptly hugged her. Then, over Hannah’s shoulder she saw Ned, Burt, and Dave.
“Well, for goodness sake!” she cried. “Oh, it’s wonderful to see you! But how in the world did you get here?”
“Flew in, at George’s invitation,” Ned said quickly. “Nancy, you were simply great. I didn’t have time to pick up a bouquet for you, but you deserve it. About five dozen red roses!”
After Burt and Dave had congratulated Nancy, Ned went on, “I think this calls for a celebration. How about all of us going out somewhere together?”
“Thank you,” said Hannah Gruen. “But I think I’d better return home.” Mr. Drew also said he should get to bed since he had to be up very early the next day.
Nancy was silent. “Well, how about it?” Ned asked her.
She blushed, then said she was greatly embarrassed. Bob Simpson had asked her to go out with him, and she had accepted.
Bob had just come from his dressing room and overheard the conversation. He walked up, smiling. “I couldn’t help overhearing what you said, Nancy. I know these fellows have come a long distance. I’ll be glad to step aside—that is, if you’ll give me a rain check.”
Suddenly an idea came to Nancy. “Ned, do you and Burt and Dave have to go back tonight?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Then I have a suggestion. We girls will have to drive you out to the airport, and it will be late coming back alone.” She smiled at Bob. “It might be good for us to have a male escort.”
The leading man grinned. “Well, if you insist. But how about my finding me a date? Maybe I can talk Kathy into going.”
“Swell idea,” said Ned.
Bob had seen Kathy leaving the house alone. Now he rushed after her and was just in time to invite her to go with the group. The two came back together, and Kathy appeared to be delighted.
“I’m honored to be included in the celebration for our new leading lady,” she said.
Nancy laughed. “I assure you this is
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