The Twin City star., 1918-08-03
"A Touch of
Temperament
o@
By VINCENT q. PERRY

Is Il
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa.
per SyndicateJ
Ronald Adair, better known as Rich
ard Stevens, dramatic actor, put down
his hand mirror with an exclamation
Of relief. He had his makeup on to
satisfy his director this. time, he was
sure. 1t was the first time he had
made up his face successfully for the
camera, for it was so different from
the makeup for the footlights that it
was like learning something entirely
new. If everything about moving pic
ture acting was to be as hard as the
makeup he was sorry he had forsaken
the stage for the silent drama, but then
the tempting salary that had been used
as an inducement for him to sign
contract to star in feature photoplays
was worth little Inconvenience.
'Tm all ready" he announced, as his
director appeared at his dressing-room
doorway. "Now to do or die"
"Pm afraid you'll have to die" the
director smiled wistfully. "The star
we have selected to play opposite you
has taken fit of temperament and alb
solutely refuses to go in a scene with
you. She has never seen you, but has
taken a dislike to you from picture
she saw of you in Shylock costume.
She went to her home some place out
of the city last night. 1t has tied
things up for goodness knows how
long,"
"She must be crazy" Adair ex-
claimed.
"No, she's far from 1t. She's been
overtaxed, though, lately, and I
wouldn't be surprised If this is the
first symptom Of a nervous break
down."
"She couldn't be a fitting type for
the part of the girl in that script you
have for me or she wouldn't behave
like this"
''You don't know Geraldine Lewis or
you wouldn't say that" the director
said grimly. "She's going to be one Of
the big stars soon." Geraldine was
evidently favorite, so Ronald re-
Trained from expressing his opinion of
her.
Charley. Dixon, the director, and
Ronald, spent the rest Of the day look
ing over the other available stars and
extra girls, but, couldn't find one they
could agree on as being suitable for
the part. There was nothing for It, ap-
parently, but to wait until Geraldine
Lewis came to her senses. The fear
of losing renewal of her contract
would have some effect, likely.
The prospect of a holiday was not an
unpleasant one, especially as there was
some business in the country that Ron
aid had to attend to. His father had
left him some property in the village
of Windslide and 1t had been In the
hands Of the village lawyer SO long
that it needed looking after. If there
was any way of turning 1t into cash
Ronald was going to find 1t, and he
motOred to the village with this object
In view.
After registering at the hotel, he lost
no time in seeking the lawyer. He ex-
pected to find a notice on that gentle
mans door announcing that he had
gone on a fishing expedition, but this
village lawyer was different from tho
dramatized version Of village lawyers,
and was in his Office and was more
over engaged with client. AS Ronald
waited in the little outer Office he
could hear wOman's melodiOus
voice, raised in argument. The door
opened and the lawyer, Mr.. William
Scruggins, came out, followed by one
Of the prettiest girls Ronald had ever
had the pleasure Of seeing. Scruggins,
apparently, was escorting her to the
door, but she had no intentions Of go
ing before she finished her argument
to her satisfaction.
my mother paid that mortgage be-
fore she died, and with money I sent
her, I tell you again, Mr.. Scruggins,"
she said. IT won't pay it again If I
have to bring the biggest lawyer from
New York here, and can afford to do
it, I'll have you to understand"
"T don't care whom you bring"
Scrugglns chirped in his cracked old
voice. "The mortgage isn't paid and
no more is the interest. I'll foreclose
for my client, Mr.. Adair, If it isn't paid
within thirty days."
Ronald stepped forward at the men,
tion Of his name. "I am Mr.. Adair.
Does this young lady's claim concern
mew
Scruggins stepped back in surprise
and the young lady seized the Oppor-
tunity Of putting her case before Ron
aid. Her name was Hilda Moore. She
had been raised in Windslide and had
gone to the city and made success of
the profession she had undertaken.
She had sent her mother money to pay
Off the mortgage on her old home and
had seen the receipt signed by Scrug-
gins. But somehow the receipt had
been lost after her mothers death and
now when she had returned to spend