Indiana daily times., 1922-06-05
CHAPTER XVII.

The dawn OF a fortnight when every
thing went wrong for her with such
regularity that, in the end. the burden
Of its crosses grew too sore, the woman
had been something more than merely
mortal whose stores OF fortltude ana
sfOrbearance had NOT run low.
Naturally she blamed Bellamy
But one day Lucinda devoted painful
hours to totaling up her bank accounts,
a duty which she had been religiously
forgetting for months and whose per
Torrance brought to light the fact that
She had already given Harry Lontaine
checks 10 his order in the sum of $4,000
TO be cashed by him and deposited 70
the credit Of Linda Lee. Inc.
II she felt slightly dashed by this
discovery, it was less because Of the
money involved for she had from the
first been prepared to gay more dearly
for her whistle than Lontaiue had de-
clared 4 would ccst-than because the
end was not yet, the first picture un-
finished
It was now necessary 20 write Wills
and ask him to fiud her more money.
But her only course was 10 consult
.Lontaine ia the faint hope that out OF
the sum entrusted 10 him there might be
enough left in the companys IT, lrp
TO see it through the present production
And this she hesitated TO 90 because OF
an intuitiye feeling that he would take
this as directly challenging his compe
tepcy. LoRtaine was sensitive soul
However. he spared her the pain, for the
next time they met he blaRdly advised
Lucinda that the company could do with
another twenty thousand as soon as she
could find time TO Draw the check; AID
on learning that II would have TO wait
a saw DAYS, or until she could hear ftom
Willis. he seemed considerably discoun-
tenanced, or else fancy misied her.
The day when Lucinda broke with
Barry Nolan began auspicioGsiy enough
with a night letter from Narferd y Ills
stating that money matters had been ar
ranged in conforIuance with Luciuda's :
wishes. and adding that willis hoped he
fore long TO give himself the pleasure
Of calling On her In person: he was leay-
ing New York the day ne teleg phed.
Not a little 70 her own wonder, Lu-
ciuda found herself pleasantly excited By
the thought that she was to see this old
friend again
Busy with such reflections, and with
the pleasing prospect OF soon having
willing audience for her complaints. Lu-
cIuea made nothing Of the fact that Lon
taine showed the whites OF his eyes and
SHE'D back Ike a skittish cob from the
telegram which she submitted to his IN
spection, and was much tranqu.lized by
the check which at the same time, size
gave him for the replenishnent Of the
ecompany's Golfers. Aad in her most ami-
able temper she hurried from his office
To her dressing room. into the newest.
prettiest and mosr becoming dance frock
she had ever owned, who had owned so
many. and then ont 10 the stage.
The company was waiting.
Is Lucinda drew near, Nolan hoisted
himself out OF the basketchair in which
he had been Iaunging. with something
more than 8 suggestion Of limbs crami,ed
10y prolonged inactivity, aud bowed po-
titely. too politely.
Sorry If I've kept you waiting, Mr..
Nolan. but had some business with Mr..
Lontaine we couldn't put off"
NO matter at all. Miss Lee. I assure
vou-not matter tall, Ny time IS
yours. the company's time is yours. all
the time there is yours TO use or waste
Just as you think hest
Lucinda couldn't very well let often
siveness so pointed pass without COM
nent She stopped, turned squarelr TO
face Nolan. with 6 keen smile looked him
deliberately up and down, movement of
shoulders summing up clearly enough the
substance or her Impressions.
Thank yos, fer telling me-" she said
sweetIy. "Ard how that is understood
suppose we try TO make up for the time
we've wasted, II possible, by getting to
work at once.
NoIan's eyes snapped. hut the only re
tort that occurred ta his mind as at al
appropriate lie felt inStinctiyeIy to be
inadequate In point OF elegance.
Fair enough" he agreed with a pass
able display Of good spirit. Let's 20 TO
il, then" He approached the set, upon
which TWO cameras stood trained at ciose
range, with kieig lights focused. Now,
Miss Lee. I'll just line n what / want
OF you this scene
The set was a simple angle. where two
walls met in an apartment hallway, with
a door that opened inward from living
room set beyond. In this last the big
dramatic moment of the play was to he
staged, scene involving Lucinda and her
TWO leading men, the heavy father and
The Juvenile. his son. both Of whom were
understood to he in love with Nelly.
Here, In bis bachelor apartment. Nelly
was 10 call AZ midnight on the father, to
beg him 10 intervene with the titular vii
Imprisonment.
The madly infatuated father was to
propose marriage, and Nelly was to ac-
cept him. momentariliv carried off her
feet by the sincerity of his passion as
much as by the glamour Of his wealth
and social position.
Nhj'c this was going on, Dick, the son,