“Good idea,” Aunt Hetty agreed. “You’ll need a rest.”
“Are you staying, Mr. Miller?” Richard asked.
“Yes, I want to go over some things with your aunt, Richard. We have to give a report soon to the Chamber of Commerce.”
“And I want to talk over some more promotion ideas with you,” Richard said, “if you’ll be here when I get back.”
“Your aunt and Mr. Miller make a nice couple,” Peggy observed as she and Richard started back to the annex. “Have you ever noticed?”
Richard grinned at Peggy. “You mean that just occurred to you? Why, I guess everybody in town has seen that for years. We’re all just waiting for Aunt Hetty and Mr. Miller to wake up and notice it, too!
“I’m sorry that we had to squelch your idea of appealing to Bill Slade,” Richard went on seriously, “and believe me, we wouldn’t if there were the slightest chance of his making any headway with his brother. But I’m afraid Mr. Miller’s right. Bill Slade is a pretty weak character. If he really felt strongly about this, he’d do something about it on his own. Don’t you think so, Peggy?”
“Yes, I do,” Peggy said thoughtfully. “And do you know, Richard, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did do something! Maybe he isn’t as weak as all of you think. I just have a feeling—”
“Woman’s feelings!” Richard laughed. “For once, I’m afraid your intuition is wrong, Peggy!”
And as the week wore on, it seemed that Richard was right. By the night of dress rehearsal for Angel Street, the cast was terribly dispirited, having seen audiences diminish little by little each night for Dear Ruth. Apparently Max Slade was talking down the theater at every opportunity—calling them amateurs, and saying that if Ford Birmingham wouldn’t even bother to go, the townspeople could certainly judge from that. Unfortunately, the company hadn’t been playing long enough to secure the loyal audience that could keep it going regardless.