Evening journal., 1922-05-26
o0r1 b Lcsss Jos~h vs.s

pointed or to send word Of explana
ton.
Lucinda had sacrificed the even
Ing TO sense of duty: a true sacri
fee. for Lynn was leaving early mex
morning to spend fortnight with
his company in an Oregon logging
camp.
Losing patience, Lucinda called
the Alexandria on the telephone, and
was Informed that Mr.. Druce hac
Checked out" early in the morning
saying nothing Of an intention &c
return.
No note came from Bellamy the
next morning. and nothing trans
pired in the course of the next sew
sral weeks to afford any clue TO the
riddle; with the upshot that Lucinda
thought about her husband a great
deal more than she wanted TO or
had at any time since leaving chica-
go 1t was strange, it wasn't like
Bel TO treat any woman so rudely.
XIV.
Jacques kept the Summerlad COM
pany away so long that its return
found the first Linda Lee produc-
lion in full swing, with Barry Nolan
IN command. Lucinda playing the
upple puppet OF his whim. Fanny
aemurely walking through the femi-
nine part of second Importance, and
Lontaine functioning at the peak
Of his capacity as executive genius.
why It should be so hard on him
nobody seemed TO know and Lon
taine was too busy TO explain.
To all his symptoms of hustle and
bounce. his wife played silent but
attentive audience; though often
times her pretty eyes would light up
with an unspoken comment too pun
gent to be wasted and discreetly |
questing a sympathetic confident, |
would find it without fail in Barry
Nolan.
irish both by descent and profess
sion. Nolan had at least that sense
conspicuously developed. What 9TH
ers he possessed was a question which
came TO occupy many OF Lucinda's
spare moments. She couldn't ac-
count for Nolan's high place in
cinema, unless sprightly disposition, a
fetching grin, infectious verve. i'm
pudence without end. and a distinctly
Indicated vein of genius at crap
shooting. summed up the essential
qualifications of director who pre-
tended to earn a wage of s25,000
per production.
But Lucinda first mistrusted his
ability because OF his appalling ig-
norance concerning rudimentary
principles Of social usage.
Since the story they were con-
cerned with had to do with people OF
fashionable New York. Lucinda
thought It important that their man
ners should conform to approved
convention; but Nolan was so little
learned in such matters and his i'm
patience with them was whole
hearr& ''Ah. what's II matter? /
Nin~fy per cent OF your audiences
IRE solid bone from the neck up, and
the rest wouldn't think they'd got
their moneys worth unless they
found something 10 beef about in a
picture. why worry about little ,
things like that? Life's too short,
and we're wasting time!"
But that distrust OF Barry Nolan'si q
competency which troubled Lucin- s
las mind almost from the very out #
'et of their association had yet 10 t
,rystaliize on the Saturday when I
was expected hime.
To get rid of Lucinda's presence,
rhich instinct was already begin II
ing TO warn him was silently skep- II
lcai Of his claims-Nolan artfully n
uggested that she might like to re- u
lew the rushes OF yesterdays cam
ra work u
Assuming that she would find the g
empty, Lucinda
lade her way to it without bother
lg 70 remove her makeup. but on Sd
pening the door saw a fan-like
cam Of turbid light wavering 6
.hwart its darkness, and would III
ave withdrawn, had not zinD's :
lick and genial accents hailed her
'om the rear of the long, black II
allied, tunnel-like chamber. Il
Come right on in Miss Lee.
zen be through in a minute, Just
aiming some Of the hllum come
trough from Joe Jacques yester-
ay. Sgreat stuff that boy Summer
ads putting over this time"
Then with a futtering heart Lu-
linda identified her husband in
inns companion.
Shake hands with Mr.. Druce,
diss Lee; new tenant OF mine, going
to work here same as you, Just
signed lease for space to make his
nrst production"
What
At that monosyllable Of dismayed
protest, Lucinda saw zinn's little
eyes Of pig grow wide with sur
prise.
But I am fortunate Mr.. Zinn in
Already having the honor Of Miss
Lees acquaintance" Bellamy took
possession Of her hand
rs that so? You two know each
ptherl Whyn't you tell me?"
Lucinda found her voice all at
oDce but hardly her self-possession.
1T isn't-it can't be truei Bel. II
sn't true you're"
Afraid IL is, Linda" Bells smile
vas lightly mocking. THE picture
business has got me in its tolls at
asst only needed that trip out here
0 decide me. Now I'm up to my
ars. Something 10 40, you know
When zinn departed. however,
'eTs manner changed.
I'm sorry, Linda really don't
can to be a pest"
Then why are you here?"
Give me half chance"
you had that chance weeks ago,
ID deliberately refused It.
But surely you got my note ex-