The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-20

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much like what you've seen back
lit is most marvellous. If they
re all like this. Il don't wonder
people are mad to act in motion
pictures. If Mr.. Cu1p had promis-
ed me anything like this, don't
believe should have had the
courage to refuse
It's not too late to change your
mind, Mrs. Lee," Lontaine sug-
gested. In fact, IL i thought there
was any hope you would. I'd go
down on my knees to you. Oh.
not to act for Cu1p, but for me;
or rather, for yourself, as the
head and the star OF your own
company. No: I'm serious. I've.
been talking with several people
today who want me to try pro-
ducing out here. I can get I'M
limited capital to back me. This
country is crying for better pic
tures-and 1 know how to make
them. can bring to the Amer1-
can cinema the one thing IL needs.
a thorough knowledge Of Euro
peon methods. There's only one
thing makes me hesitate, the lack
of a suitable star
why pick on me?' Lucinda
laughed. I'm not even an act
ress.
'.Ah. you forget I've seen tou
prove on the screen what you can
do. You don't know yourself,
Mrs. Leel You need only two
things to make you great, good
director. and se1f-confidence.
, Aren't you running a great
risk, making such flattering over
lures to an untried, unknown am
ateur?''
Don't worry about me. If l
had any hope of being able to per-
suade you to try it on. I'd tell you
to name your own terms, and
shoulder the risk without muir
MUIR
Lontaine's earnestness was so
real that one might no longer
meet his arguments with levity.
There was strained look of an
xiety in the blue eyes. restrain
ed passion of pleading in the or
binary languid accents.
Fanny. too, was APPARENTLY
hanging between hope and fear.
And the thought revived that
had once or twice presented itself,
the suspicion that all was not as
we'll as one might wish with the
state of the Lontaine fortunes,
strengthening the surmise that
Lucinda's decision meant more to
them both than Lontaine had con-
fessed.
Still one hesitated to be-
But you can't be serious! Do
you really want me to become a
movie actress under your man
agement?"
You can't thing of anything
wouldn't do to persuade you"
why not, Mrs. Lee?'' Sum
merlad urged. 1T would be great
fun for you; and you don't fail
you cant lose anything. If you
only knew how inferior most stars
are to you in every way
And if you should fail, Cindy."
Fanny chimed in-'what does it
matter? Who would know? 1t
cinda lee."
No." Lontaine insisted: I've
got a better screen name than
that for her. Not Lucinda: Linda
Lee" HlE
Come. Mrs. Lee: say you'll try
it on, if only for the lark OF it,"
IF I should. Mr.. Sumncrlad. it
wouldn't be for fun
so much the better"
Then you Will" Lontaine per-
sisted. do say yes"
Let me think -
And why not2 Lucinda asked
herself. She was alone in the,
world, lonely but for these good
friends who needed her help. or
seemed to. 1t would be good
would satisfy need OF which she
had been discontentedly aware
even in the days when she had
yet to dream of leaving Bel. And
even as Fanny had argued-if
she should fail and have to give
it up, who would care what had
become of Linda Lee?'
Very we'll" she said at length,
with an uncertain smile-''sup-
pose we try"
ITO tomorrow's morning star
of the screen, Linda Lee,,
Thus Lynn Summerlad. mildly
exalted. graceful and gracious
even beyond his studied habit.
FIGURING glass of California
champagne above the dinner table
in his bungalow at Beverly Hills.
The toast went by reclamation
and Lucinda laughed. at once
gratified. diverted. and disposed
to deprecate the spirit of these fell
icitations as premature.
A phrase of Culp's required un-
hidden: "A lot of kids, that's
what we got. to make pitchers
with, lot of kids"
1t was childish, in a way; on
the other hand, it was undeniably
pleasant to think of oneself as a
sort of Sleeping Beauty of the
screen only waiting to be awaken
ed to vivid life by one wave of the
witching wand and sef-confidence.
Summerlad had been talking of
his early screen experiences and
flashed an apologize smile. "One
of the worst faults we movie ac-
tors have, Mrs. Lee, is talking
about our salaries. So 1 won't
say any more than this: outside
of the Big Four-Mary and Doug
and Charlie and Bill Hart -
there's mighty few that drag
down as much green money a