The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-05-30

Continued from our last issue)

III sorry' ohly wanted you to un-
derstand why l felt l had to warn
you against Nelly. She's unfortu-
nate, God knows. but she's dangerous,
too. They all are, once the stuff gets
hold on them, there's nothing they
won't do no lie they won't tell :"
And this is what goes on in this
earthly paradise
ut isn't California. it isn't Holly.
wood. it's human nature"
XVII.
Oacinda dated from that Saturday
the dawn of fortnight when every
thing went wrong for her with such
regularity that, In the end, the bur.
den Of its crosses grew too sore. the
women had been something more than
merely mortal whose stores OF fortitude
and forbearance had not run low.
Naturally she blamed Bellamy
But one day Lucinda devoted painful
hours to totaling up her bank accounts,
duty which she had been religiously
forgetting for months and whose per-
formance brought to light the fact that
she had already given Harry Lontaine
checks to his order in the sum Of two
hundred and ten thousand dollars. to
be cashed by him and deposited to the
credit if Linda Lee. Inc.
II she felt slightly dashed by this
discovery, 1t was less because OF the
money involved-for she had from the
first been prepared to pay more dearly
for her whistle than Lontaine had de-
clared II would cost-than because the
end was not yet, the first picture re-
mained unfinished.
1t was now necessary to write Willis
and ask him TO find her more money
But her only course was to consult
Lontaine in the faint hope that out
Of the sum entrusted to him there
might be enough left In the company's
treasury to see 1t through the present
production. And this she hesitated to
do because Of an intuitive feeling that
he would take this as directly chal
lenging his competency. Lontaine was
a sensitive soul However, he spared
her the pain. for the next time they
met he blandly advised Lucinda that
the company could do with another
twenty thousand as soon as she could
learning that it would have to wait a
few days. or until she could hear from
Willis, he seemed considerably discoun
tenanced, or else fancy misled her.
The day when Lucinda broke with
Barry Nolan began auspiciously enough
with night-letter from Hartford Willis
stating that money matters had been
arranged in conformance with Lucin-
da's wishes, an dadding that Willis
hoped before long 10 give himself the
pleasure Of calling on her in person.
he was leaving New York the next
day he telegraphed.
Not a little to her own wonder Lu.
cinda found herself pleasantly excit-
ed by the thought that she was TO see
this old friend again.
Busy with such reflections, and with
the pleasing prospect of soon having
q willing audience for her complaints,
Lucinda made nothing OF the fact that
Lontaine showed the whites Of his eyes
and SHE'D back like q skittish cob from
the telegram whish she admitted TO
his inspection, and was not much tran.
quilted by the check which at the same
time. she gave him for the replenish-
ment OF the companys Golfers. And
in her most amable temper she hur.
ried from his office to her dressing.
room, into the newest prettiest and
most becoming dance frock she had
ever owned, who had owned so many,
and then out to the stage.
The company was waiting, the cam.
eras were waiting. Nolan with an air
OF noblest patience was waiting All
OF which was quite needless. for there
was other work in abundance that
couqld have been attended to.
AZ Lucinda drew near. Nolan hoist, |
ed himself out OF the baske chair in |
which he had been lounging, with
something more than suggestion OF
limbs cramped by prolonged inactivity,
and bowed politely. too politely.
Sorry II 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. as.
sure you-not matter ata-ll! NY time |
Is yours. the company's time Is yours, |
all the time there is is yours to use
or waste. just as you think best"
Lucinda couldn't very we'll let Of. |
fensiveness 30 pointed pass without |
comment. She stopped, turned squarely |
10 face Nolan, with keen smile look |
ed him deliberately up and down, n |
moment OF shoulders summing up clear.
ly enough the substance OF her impress
sions.
Thank you for telling me-" she said |
sweetly. "And now that Is understood
suppose We try to make up for the time
I've wasted, II possible, by getting to
work at once !"
Nolan's eyes snapped. but the only
retort that occurred 10 his mind as at |
all appropriate he felt instictively to
be inadequate TO point OF elegance.
Fair enough" he agreed with a
passable display OF good spirit. Lets
70 to 1t. then" He approached the
set. upon which two cameras stood
trained at close range. with Klieg
lights focused Now. Miss Lee. I'll |
Just line in what want OF you this
scene"
The set was simple angle, where
two walls met In an apartment hallway,
with q door that opened inward from a
living room set beyond. In that last
the big dramatic moment OF the play
was to be staged, a sceen involving Lu.
clnda and her two leading men, the
heavy father and the juvenile, his son,
both OF whom We're understood to be
In love with Nelly.
Here, In her bachelor apartment.
Nelly was to call at midnight on the