Evening journal., 1922-05-13
o611 n Lo-. Jos~rA v.zrs
SXNOPSIs


FANNY LONTAINE. a schoolgirl
ehum. to visit with her English hus
HARRY. the film studio of the famou
ALMA DALEY. Fanny explains tina
Harry hopes TO form a moving pic
ture company IN California. On III
trip to the studio In Ninth Avenue
her husband.
BELLAMY. Wealth. youth. beauty
had failed to bring happiness 10 theil
Fifth Avenue home after five year.
of married life. Heavy drinking an'
an Unsuitable appetite for promiscu
Gus filtration had been the means by
which he destroyed her early love FOL
RICHARD DAUBENEY. her old sweet.
heart had returned 70 New YORK
The trip to the studio would give her
chance TO forget
Stage, as the layman understands
that term, there was none; but the
floor space as a whole was rather
elaborately cluttered with what Lu-
cinda was to learn were technically
known as "sets." in various stages
of completion and demolition; set
being anything set up TO be photo
graphed. from a single side or
fiat" with a simple window or door,
or an angle" formed Of two such
sides Joined TO show the corner Of a
room, up TO the solid and pretentious
piece OF construction which occupied
fully one-half OF the left and repro
duced the Palm Room at the Ritz
Carlton.
At the far end OF the room a sub
stantial set represented a living
room, a good part OF It was masked
from Lucinda's view by a number OF
massive but portable metal screens
or stands arranged IN two converg-
ing ranks, at whose apex stood
heavy tripod supporting a small
black box. To these stands lines OF
insulated cable wandered over the
floor from every quarter OF the
room.
An atmosphere of apathy pervad-
ed the place, as II nothing OF mo-
ment was happening or expected TO I
happen. An effect TO which con- /
siderable contribution was made by
the lugubrious strains OF a three
piece orchestra, plano. violin, and
cello, stationed TO one side OF the
living-room set.
This trio intrigued Lucinda's in
terest. Its presence seemed unac-
countable, but not more so than It's
rendition OF plaintive melodies. tunes
which one more familiar with the
cant OF the theater would unhesitat-
ingly have classified as sob stun"
Guided by Mr.. Lane, the exotics
glngerly picked their way across the
coils of electric cable that ran in
snaky confusion all over the noor'
like exposed viscera OF the cinema;
and Lucinda presently found her
self on the side lines OF the living
room, between It and the dogged er-
chestra, and we'll out OF range OF the
camera.
SHE could now see three persons
on the set, two men with girl |
whom, thanks TO the wide circula- |
ton OF the lady's photographs. she |
had no difficulty in Identifying as
Alma Daley herself-a prepossess-
ing young person with bobbed hair
a boldly featured face, comely In
the flesh rather than pretty. and a
slight little body which she used
with a rather fetching effect OF
youthful gaucherie.
OF these one was tall and dark.
with a thick shock of wavy black
hair. a wide and mobile mouth, and
great. melancholy eyes. His we'll
tailored morning coat displayed TO
a splendid torso. The
other was a smaller. indeed an
lnder-sized man, who wore a braid
ed smoking Jacket, but no paint on
his pinched. weather-worn face OF
IN actor.
King Laughlin." Mr.. Culp's sec
etary informed Lucinda-"man in I"
he smoking jacket, he always wears
ne when he's working - greatest
motional director in the business !,
obody can touch him. Why. along :,
de him, Grifth's a joke in a back b
umber of Judge. You wouldn't :,
less what he gets; thirty-five hun a
red" :,
That's almost a thousand a week, ~
MT it7" n,
Thousand a week." In accents OF =.
,me compassion he corrected: 10
Three thousand FIVE hundred every =.
eek's what King LaughliD drags y,
own in the little old pay envelope. ~
.ut that's Mr.. Culp all over; ex- -,
ense's no object when he's making -.
n Alma Daley picture, nothiDg's too ~
.ood." J."
I'm sure =" Lucinda agreed
'aguely. ''
Out OF the corner Of his eye the
director had become aware of a new 81 81
and one worthy OF his l,
mettle. Dropping the easy. semi WI
confidential manner. Mr. King
Laughlin snatched a silk hat and 70
stick from the others unresisting =,
hands. u
Right-o, Tommy" he said in the !,
nasal voice Of the English Mldlands.
Just to make sure III walk through -
Il with Alma" He turned graciously n
10 the woman: Now, Alma, u
dear
Miss Daley. herself not uncon- 4
scious Of a fashionable gallery. n
shrugged slightly to signify that she e
iidn't mind If Mr.. Laughlin thought I,
[ really worth while, and made a c
eisurely exit from the set. At the q
anne time Mr.. Laughlin walked of n
" a door approximately opposite, a
nd the young man in the morning n
oat strolled down to the front Of
he set and settled himself to OBJ a
srve and absorb the impending a
sson. Il
Mr.. Laughlin then re-entered in ts
,aracter as a degage gentleman SC
ith an uneasy conscience, indicat- D.
z this last by stealthily opening
ID peering round the edge OF the 81