Lair of Dreams

Henry didn’t know when Herbert Allen had sneaked in, but his arrival was anything but good news. “It’s… melancholy. Not much pep. Can you make it zippier, old boy?” Herbie said as he strolled down the center aisle wearing a new plaid suit bought, no doubt, with his latest royalty check.

“Well, the poor fella can’t find what he’s lost,” Henry explained. He tried very hard not to add you tasteless idiot. “He’s yearning.”

“Mmm,” Herbie said, wrinkling his nose. “I don’t know, Wally. Seems a bit dreary for the Follies.”

“I like it,” Wally said, to Henry’s great surprise. “We could use a wistful number.”

Henry enjoyed watching Herbie’s unctuous smile vanish.

“Well, I suppose Flo will make the final decision, won’t he?” Herbie said.

“Yeah, yeah,” Wally said, waving it away. “Take another pass at it, Henry. Rework the bridge and that last chorus, and then we’ll show it to Flo. If he likes it, you’re in, kid.”

“Thanks, Wally!”

“Hallelujah!” Theta said. She jumped up and threw her arms around Henry.

“All right, people, all right. Places for the ‘Hocus-Pocus’ number. Where are my Diviners girls?”

While Wally barked orders to the performers, Henry daydreamed at the piano. Everything seemed new and hopeful now. It was all because of Louis—he knew it was. He couldn’t wait to see him again. And when he did, he’d give Louis a dream suggestion to call the apartment in New York. Somehow, he had to convince Ling to go in with him again tonight. As soon as rehearsal ended, he’d run down to Chinatown and make the arrangements. It was all going to work out.

And the disgruntled expression on Herbert Allen’s face was the icing on the cake.





The minute rehearsal was over, Theta rang Mabel, and the two of them barged into Evie’s bathroom at the Winthrop Hotel, where they found her soaking in a tub full of bubbles.

“Hey! I’m not decent!” Evie protested.

“If we waited for you to become decent, we’d be waiting for years,” Theta said, taking a seat on the commode. She held up the day’s newspaper. “Have you lost what’s left of your demented mind, Evil?”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me yesterday,” Mabel grumbled, perching on the edge of the tub.

“Of all the cockamamie things you’ve done, this takes the cake—the wedding cake!”

“I’m your best friend,” Mabel said, hurt.

Evie wanted to confess everything to Theta and Mabel, but she couldn’t risk it. She and Sam had agreed to keep their little arrangement a secret from even their closest friends. If their pals believed they were in love, there was more chance of the public buying it—and less chance they’d be exposed as liars.

Evie scooted lower, into the protection of the bubbly froth. “Gee, it, um, it all happened so fast. I was planning to tell you. Honest.”

Theta squinted at Evie. “I thought you hated Sam Lloyd.”

“I did hate Sam for a bit. But then I came to see what a truly romantic person he is. How adventurous. And… and sweet!” Evie said, making it up as she went. “Look, can’t a girl change her mind about a boy?”

Theta folded her arms across her chest. “Sure she can. We’ll wait right here while you change it back. Evie, Sam Lloyd is a con! He could charm the snakes outta Ireland. Sure, he’s handsome—”

Mabel made a face. “Do you think so? Well, I suppose he isn’t un-handsome—”

“How do you know that drugstore cowboy’s not just taking advantage of you now that you’re making money?”

“You could at least say congratulations,” Evie groused, indignant. She had no right to feel that way. Nevertheless, she did.

“Congratulations,” Mabel muttered.

Theta rolled her eyes. “Congratulations. For a wedding present, I’ll buy you a matched set of common and sense. Not that you’ll ever use it.”

“I’ll choose to overlook that remark.” Evie sniffed.

“Something about this ain’t on the level is all I know,” Theta said.

In the other room, the telephone rang.

“Oh, no! Could one of you be an absolute daaahling and grab that?” Evie said.

“I do so lahhve to be a daaahling,” Theta mimicked, and marched to the phone on Evie’s bedside table with Mabel in tow. “Sweetheart Seer residence. Sorry, but currently the Sweetheart Seer is all wet,” Theta said, and Mabel giggled.

“Theta!” Evie howled from the tub. Theta kicked the bathroom door shut.

“Uh-huh… uh-huh… yeah, sure, I’ll tell Her Radio Highness. Good-bye,” Theta said, hanging up the phone.

“What is it?” Evie asked, tying her robe as she pushed through the bathroom door.

Theta put on a hoity-toity accent. “I am to let Miss O’Neill know that her driver has arrived.”

“Driver?” Evie said, eyes wide. The girls rushed to the window. Down on the street, a chauffeur waited beside a shiny green Chrysler.

Mabel gasped. “Holy smokes. It’s like you’re Gloria Swanson or something. Like you’re a movie star.”

“A star,” Evie repeated, eyes flashing.

“Congratulations, Evil. You’ve arrived. I guess we’ll exit stage left, Mabel.”