Evening star., 1920-11-21

y HAD half hunch, too, that some-
thing phony was being wished on
me. But my ouija connection must
q have been grounded somewhere or
else I'd have stretched an ear while Mr..
Robert and this club friend of his was
having such . close confab. As it Is I'm
Innocent Ikey when the boss calls me
over and starts easin' the proposition
my way.
q say, Turchy." says he. "have you
ever seen moving pictures in the max
Ing"
"Sure"' .aya I. "rve seen EN- doing
weird stunts on the street 'o's u
times"
locations. But what ABOUT 'uu'o
No" says I. "Never got that close" ;"
81 presume you'd like to. wouldn't
you?" asks Mr.. Robert
.,Yes. SIR" says I. prompt.
Then here Is opportunity. goes on
Mr. Robert, and he proceeds to explain
how his friend Mr.. Phelps is the head
of a new producin' company which was
being run as side line to the book pub
lshin' firm that he was vice president
of; also that they are now filmn' one OF
their best sellers. Betty of Barnegat
perhaps you have read it," adds Mr..
Robert.
NO" says l. .vee has, though.
heard her say how it was an awfuily
sweet story. Nut-sundae fiction. ! call
Mr.. Robert chuckles and nudges Mr.
Phelps. You might use that in your
advertising. eh'" he suggests.
Mr.. Phelps shrugs his shoulders. a
book which lady readers tell each otner
is 'awfully sweet advertises itself.
says he. eve have already printed nine
editions, you know. And the movie
version ought to 20 big. But tell your
young man about Miss Lemoine; .vo,
sec. Torchy. she is the lady author
OF this Betty novel, and she's come
all the way up from Atlanta to watch
the process of putting it into pictures
Came two days ago and has been
waiting for some one to take her out
to the studios. OF course. Mr.. Phelps
is anxious to take her there himself
but it has been-er-inconveni Tor
him To-
Utterly impossible" puts in Phelps
Quite So" says Mr.. Robert And
II occurred to me, Torchy, that IL you
had never seen ANYTHING OF the kind
yourself you might be willing to es-
esting. It's on your way home. too. and
and all that sort of thing?
Il would be glad to send you both
out in my car" adds Mr. Phelps. land
give you note to the director
Let's see." says Mr.. Robert. con-
sultin' his watch. "You could leave
now for an early luncheon and have
the rest of the day to yourself. Rather
a nice drive. over greensboro bridge
too"
And I'm sure you would find Miss
Lemoine most interesting" says Mr..
Phelps.
well. what about it?" asks Mr..
Robert.
'em curious. "she amt bughouse or
anything. is she@" says !.
.'Who. Clara Lemoine?' gasps Phelps.
Decidedly not. She is perfectly
nice young lady. Well, perhaps not
as youthful as she was once. but"
Then I'll take a chance" says /:
''It listens like a frame-up to me, but
] guess I'll take q Rrodie on 1t. This
extra half holiday amt such poison
Gus stuff. even If there is Joker IN
At which Mr.. Phelps signs relieved.
slaps me on the back. pushes ten spot
on me when he hands me the note. and
gives me full directions So inside OF an
hour I'm camped cozy in closed car.
with Miss Lemoine chattin' away viva
cious. Nothing about this lady author
ess to get panicky over. in spite Of the
fact that she's quite husk. Not
reE'lar whale of female party, you
know. but about what the fashion ads
would call q stylish stout, ! expect.
There's a good deal Of bulge to her here
and there. and I judge she'd weigh In
somewhere near the 100 mark; but for
all that she has a set of shy. kittenish
motions that you might look for from
a wispy high school girl.
''I am so glad Mr.. Phelps sent you
instead of taking me himself" she con-
fides. publishers are such important
personaxes. you know. I suppose shall
get used to meeting them in time, but
just now they frighten me out Of all my
poor wits. IL hope you're not some
body dreadfully important, too"
you get your wish." says !. "Pm
Just private sec to Mr.. Ellins of the
Corrugated Trust
"How clever of you to be that" says
she. 81 think Mr.. Phelps phoned some