Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-01-27
StarHgh7 z
By the Noted Author
IDAH M'GLoNE GIBSON

Between the happiness Of the
half-hour with Theodore Strattor
and the excitement caused by
Ria's letter 1 had forgotten tc
eat--had forgotten that was
dead tired.
| had even removed my serge
skirt from over the evening dress
that had worn on the set, and my
fur coat was lying in a heap on
the floor beside me.
Wearily l took off the splen-
dor Of my mock-life and, slipped
into my nightgown, put over it
a kimono and looked for some
thing to dine on.
There was bread and butter,
condensed milk and coffee among
the things | had brought from
Ria's apartment, and oh, Joy, /
found a glass of picked figs.
l wondered il Theodore STRAIT
ton at his club. or Ria and Herb
in Santa Barbara, were any hap
pier than |, sitting there at the
little kitchen table and enjoying
my meal. Hunger is the best of
sauces.
contented myself with sending
telegram to Ria and tumbled
into bed.
The next morning under flam-
ing headlines l read:
Herbert Richardson Married.
Young Millionaire Clumban Sec
reilly Marries Gloria Summers,
Beautiful Movie Actress. She De-
serts the Screen"
And then, in more or less lurid
description, there was the story
Of Ria's marriage and the Kitty
Dalton episode. While the paper
did not say anything outright, it
intimated that Ria had brought
Herb ''up standing" after a drunk
en- party, and insisted upon mar
riage.
1t was nasty, II very clever,
story; one Of the kind that would
sell papers and discredit the
whole moving picture profession.
and even though Herbs friend
Morton wrote 1t, evidently his
instincts overcam e. his
friendship.
mo wonder that Herb and Ria
got out of the country" l told
myself. They probably knew
what was coming"
1t certainly had made some SEN
sation, / found when reached
the studio. even heard De vore
say to one of his assistants: THAT
little girl Summers is all right.
She Is clever. OF all the women
who have had their hooks out for
she is the only one
hat even managed to get bite
from him. I'd like her back in
pictures. She has got |
more brains than most of the wo-
men have to work with"
! suddenly remembered that Ria
rad told me how hard she had
ried to get job with De Wore,
Ind I silently determined to break
nto the newspapers in some way
is soon as possible.
Perhaps I won't have to-" was
ny inward comment as l thought
4 my impending engagement with
dr. Stratton.
The day passed very much as.
he other days. except that De
FORE himself. singled me out with
much vituperation when l STUN
lied and fell, spelling a number
4 feet of film.
GO on back where you belong!
can't understand why casting
directors burden me with awk-
ward peoplel" he shouted. and L
hunk into the background follow
d by a string of profanity. II I
Iad not known there was a man
4 big brain and splendid heart
lho would never upbraid a girl
or something she could not help.
am sure | would never have had
ourage to go into another studio
fter the words director De Vore
urled at me. The mere thought
I Theodore Stratton and what he
TODD for gave me strength to get
through the door.
1t seemed to me that every girl
n the lot came up and sympa-
hi2ed with me, but was chary {
accepting 1t, especially as every
'st one of them ended by making l
,me inquiry about Gloria. 1
Eyes, Ria left today for the {
rient. was present at their t
'edding some days ago, Herbert S
as been wild about her for a long t
me and wanted to marry her, Il
ut she seemed to feel that she d
nght to keep on with her pro- 7
'ssion," I
Her art her art. you mean" I
lterrupted someone sarcastically. '
We must all think of our art, b
Du know" I
In the general laugh, l slipped $
ito the background and oh. how e
wished that the day was over. h
he wonderful ballroom scenes a
lat had seemed at first fairyland O
ld now degenerated into almost v
nbearahle monotony, One thing o
eased me. was learning to /,
lnce, There seemed to be an I,
leonseious affinity between my :
ct and the rythm of the music. il
fact, three or four of the young !,
en- asked me tn dance avan nftar =