The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-12-10


ity to her in the shadow of hny
stack one moonlight night years be
| fore when both he and she were bare
ly more than children. Ned-her
Ned-had gone away to the big city
three years before to make his for.
tune. She never had heard from him
since.
Unclouded eyes. fresh clean COM
plexion and simple direct address won
Millicent her interview with the Of
tice manager in the film plant While
he still was explaining her new filing
duties. In rushed the chief director
hair rumpled and gesticulating in wild
excitement
Audrey Arlington fell down in the
middle OF her big scene in the last
reel Of the Christmas release. -. .
Complete nervous breakdown! d.
hysterical are rushing her d.
rect to the nearest hospital now.
What in heavens name will
we do? There isn't girl in the whole
stock company who can make up to
| look enough like her to complete the
personiflcation for this final reel!"
The head director kept wringing his
hands and swearing frantically The
| president Of the company registered
| acute distress. Then his eyes acct
| dentally fell upon pretty Millicent
among her filing cases
Look! Look Mr. Isaacsohn!"
yelled the head director. pointing. las
| live, that girl looks enough like Miss
| Arlington to be mistaken for her on
the street! Come here. Miss
Miss whatever-your-name is! Have
you ever posed before a picture
camera? No? we'll it doesn't
You're fired from that Office job. III
give you $50 a week to substitute for
Miss Arlington in this last :eel. :.
No. | haven't time to listen to any
thing about it! Come on back to the
studio with me right now! The set
is all up and we were right in tho
middle of the scene when Miss Arl-
ington tainted. Ned Tolman, the
leading man, is waiting. Cmon!"
Bewildered Millicent was pulled
out of the busy Offices and back to
the huge glass-domed studio where
the last reel of the famous Christmas
release was being held in impatient
allegiance for it's principal.
Listen now, miss" exploded the
director as Millicent emerged from
the dressing room clad in the same
wonderful gown that Audrey Airing
ton had been wearing onl.v ten min
utes before. PAY attention to what
say and don't stare at either me or
the camera. Act natural; that's
what we're paying you for! Walk in
side OF those tape lines en- the floor
and don't on any account move out
side them This e"e1e is the parlor
Of your home. rs supposed to be
Christmas eve. You're to turn your
back to the camera and be tieing a
sprig of mistletoe to the chandelier.
Mr.. Ned Tolman, who plays opposite
lead will do the rest. You simply
act as any girl would under the cir
cumstances. Hey you! Get
Mr.. Tolman from his dressing-room.
Tell him we're all ready again. Now,
in you go, miss!"
Millicent did just as she was told,
although her heart beat fast and her
head was in a whirl. With her back
to the assemblage behind the crank
ing comera man, she raised both arms
to tie the sprig Of miDtletoe TO the
chandelier. Quick footsteps sounded
behind her and, an instant later,
mans strong arms were around her
waist and his handsome face thrust
close to hers for kiss
With cry of mingled fright and in
dignation, the girl squirmed about In
his arms and tried to push him away.
Then for the first time she caught
sight of the movie matinee idols face.
"Ned?" she thrilled in joyous
amazement. Ned Harkins! You are
the famous Ned Tolman?"
"Millicent!" breathed he, clasping
her closer as their lips met in long,
long kiss and the watching director
yelled: Fine, fine! Hold that!"
Presently the whirr of the camera
crank ceased and the grins on the
faces OF actor, extra" and set
shifter broadened.
Hey there!" finally shouted the
head director. Films run out:
scenes over! We've had enough OF
that kiss now!"
But | haven't" murmured Ned,
looking fondly down into his old
sweethearts happiness-hushed face.
"Have you, Millicent?
Never! | could keep on doing 1t
forever" she whispered softly back.