The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-30

"Because-really, you know, this
is a ridiculous way to expect Nelly
to carry on when she hears what
she hears. She isn't in love with
Richards, she isn't even in love with
Dick; and surely'-Lncinda was
now rapidly growing serious in her
anxiety to justify herself to Nolan's
face of thunderhead-"su surely she
oughtn't to go all to pieces just be-
cause she hears Richards confess,
what she's known all along, that
he's the sort of man he is
Listen here: who's directing this
scene, you r me? Who wrote the
continuity, you r me? Who knows
best what this story's all about,
heb, you r me-"
But, Mr.. Nolan, I'm sure If you'll
just thin ka moment you'll see it
isn't natural for a girl like Nelly 70
rant like tragedy queen over this
situation. She wouldn't tear around
in this corner like alike Lillian
Gish in Broken Blossoms" when
she's trapped in the sculIery and
her fathers breaking in to murder
her. Don't you see?"
Sure 1 see," Nolan spoke with
an unwonted evenness of tone, for
him; but the tone was ugly. II see
lot of things | see you've made
up your mind to try to make a fool
of me, arguing about my visualize
ton of this scene like you have.
Well, all right; you win. l resign
I'm out. You've got your wish. And
this time l don't come back, not if
you was to go down on your knees
to beg me to finish this fool pic
ture!"
In an abrupt break of fury, oddly
out of keeping with the level tone
he had used, Nolan raised the mega
phone above his head and with all
his might cast it upon the floor at
Lucinda's feet.
And that ends that" he an
nounced quietly, and walked off,
leaving Lucinda in a temper cur
iously divided between relief and
regret.
XVIII.
At late hour that afternoon the
war council of the incorporators
of Lucinda Lee Qnc.) stalled on
dead center
Isadore linn, owner of the
studios, opened the door far enough
to permit the introduction of his
head and nothing more of his per
son. For a moment or two he held
this posture playfully, looking from
one to another of the unhappy four
with a lee rat once inquisitive,
knowing, and hideous Then he
thrust the door wide open, came in,
and shut it behind him.
Hello, peoplei" he saluted af-
fably, How you making out?"
It's an impasse," Lontaine stat
ed.
Were all in a blind alley, you
know"
Bet your life l know you are, %
linn agreed vigorously
Il was thinking maybe l could
get you director-Wally Day, best
little conner that ever breathed into
| a megaphone."
But what's the use of tantaliz-
ing us?' Lucinda demanded fret
fully-''if Mr.. Day is under another
contract"
We'll, just got an idea maybe
agreement. Now listen: you've spent
bale of green money, / don't
know how much, but a lot, maybe a
couple hundred thousand dollars,
maybe more. That's all right. We
don't have to worry about that till
l come to look at your books"
Look at our books!" LOntaine
expostulated
linn pacified him with a gross
hand that patted the air. Sure I
got to look at your books, amt l, if
l sit in on this production? You
sell me the production as it is,
story, continuity, Miss Lees con-
tract, all your properties n every
thing, and I'll pay you SO per cent
what it cost you to date, cash
money. Then 1 and Wally and Miss
Lee here'll go ahead and finish up,
and it won't cost you anything
more, Miss Lee, and I'll give you
10 per cent of the net profits.
Meanwhile you"-he nodded to Lon
taine-"can be fussing around and
taking your time about finding a
studio all you own and getting all
set to use Miss Lee again when
and Wally are done with her. If