, 1921-02-17

don't care for you. l really do, an
awful lot But / can't be tied down
here any longer. 1 must go out into
the world. Nv just got to be a picture
star. In one year I'll come back to
you, whether ! succeed Oh fail. Can /
go?"
Something seemed to burst in Fred's
brain and his throat felt parched and
his eyes filled. He turned to his desk
and frowned at the Ave nuggets.
"Of course you can" was all he
said.
The next day he took his nuggets
to the assayer and obtained slightly
more than enough to sent his wife to
I California.
I'm see that you get more from
time to time" he promised. But, of
course, o probably won't need it
with you job and everything
So Helen Adams went to California
to be a movie star, and her husband
watched her go with much the same
feeling he would nave experienced if
he had seen her lowered into a grave
on the hill.
A year passed, with few changes in
Rocky River. A few more shacks had
been thrown together, and at the south
end Of town a new excavation was be-
ing made, and the movie shows were
every night instead of twice a week.
One day the auto bus which re-
Gently had replaced the stage coach
| SfOnna1 ar fha 1fffln hrt or Adam
place and a young lady stepped out.
Her black hair was done up in the
latest style and her black eyes were
dancing.
A young man appeared in the door
way of the hut and she spied him
His red hair reflected the sunlight and
his rather full face was Respondent
with smiles and freckles.
Fred" called the girl. Can tina
be you, Fredf"
She went to him and threw her
arms about him.
But you're not so thin, Fred r. she
cried presently. standing back and sur
veying him. my being away has
agreed with you"
They entered the shack and had din
ner, which he prepared on the oil
stove, n then began a talkfest that
lasted we'll into the night.
Il made good from the start. They
found out that my mother had been a
great actress OF the stage. and they
set out to make me great In the films.
1 wanted to surprise you, so In my let
tiers l simply said / had a studio job.
But / have had wonderful success
simply wonderful / wonder II you
have seen any of my %pictures7 Prob
ably they have not appeared here yet.
The very best one-the one that gave
me my start to fame-was The Lure
Of Luna Oh. they ave me wonderful
parts to playi They seemed created
just for me. others were Star of the
Morning and Across the Desert"
Rocky River is much the same"
she ratified on, only 1t looks like they
were putting up a big building south
Of us. There's n large excavation
there"
He cached into a drawer Of his desk
and brought out a roll of blue paper.
These are the plans" he said. Its
going to be our house, III place where
we will spend our vacations"
Her eyes were round with astonish-
ment and bewilderment-
But explain. explain" she insisted.
This is a magnificent home. This old
house must be full of nuggets. Did
you strike 1t rich while I was awayf'
he lifted her from his knee. on
which she had been sitting, to a chair,
and went into the other room. When
he returned there were two old maya
zines in his hand and n queer twinkle
in his eyes.
These brought you success" he
said, turning the papers, "and they
| also brought me success. / used my
last nugget to pay your way to Cali
fornia. When the bus disappeared
with you l came back to this little hut
discouraged. not caring what hap
pened.
with the intention of tearing them
to pieces / picked up these magazines.
but something in one of them attract
ed my attention. and l read. That very
night / wrote n motion picture see
mario. l sold 1t and then / sold an
other, and soon / had sold many Of
them"
He lighted his pipe and pulled on Il
slowly, his eyes still twinkling.
among my pictures" he went on,
were Star OF the Morning and
Across the Desert But my very best
the one that got me recognition
was The Lure of Luna"