The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-14

smiled at me from the dresser. It was life preserver in a sea of trou- bles.
 I did not stop at powder. for Ria's i lip stick looked so inviting. After | had finished I laughed at myself and the world was bright again as I sallied forth.
 Downstairs I asked the girl at the desk if they had any singles in the house, and she answered.: "Yes, we have very nice one, Miss Winston. Sixty-five dollars a month."
 "That is almost as much as I am paying for the double. Haven't you anything less than that7s
 "No. And I am afraid that you wouldn't be able to find anything in Hollywood, although downtown you probably can get something for Iabout $40.'
 She wrote the names of several places for me to try. l thought I would look at these apartments be- fore going to the studios. After the beautiful Hollywood apartment the others looked small and rather run down. l finally found one however, close to the Hollywood street cars, upon which l would not have to take a lease. I reflected, with an eye to the future, that if found anything better before the end of the month 1t would be easy to move.
 q will send my trunk and bags to- morrow, I told the agent and with sinking heart paid the s35 out of my fast diminishing roll. But the shock of the rent money was nothing to what l felt when l ar rived at the photographers studio and had to pay s4S for 100 profes- sional pictures in eight poses.
 The pictures were lovely, though, and the girl. to flatter me perhaps, said: You have a camera proof face. Miss Winston. You will notice that We have taken you from every angle and they are all splendid" I was glad that l had allowed Ria to pick them out from the proofs--I had not seen them before-and it was not without some personal pride that I took the package to the service bu- reau.
 Ria had told me that l must be at the service bureau on the hours that the cashiers window was open. Ar irving there at II o'clock, l received 24.50-the total of my pay checks for three days and half work, less the commission exacted by the serv ice bureau.
 The first money I had ever earned! l lO Stuu q ltLAC http- sake to Aunt Virginia and to buy something for myself that I might preserve and think back upon when 1 became a great movie actress"
 Of course, it was foolish. I should have gone directly to the studios, but youth is always irresponsible and l knew that Aunt Virginia would love something from California, and so 1 sallied forth to the stores.
 Al, o1 ct and it was a pleasure to just wander through them.
 I stepped into one of the gift shops and found a replica, in miniature, of one of the mission bells that had in terested me so when l had spied them along the streets.
 Under the "11l Camino Real" which Ria had told me meant the King Highway, was placed a little calen- dar and this day-the day that l had received my first earned money-I marked it with a red pencil, intend ing to explain the whole matter to Aunt Virginia.
 On the card which was to accom- pany the gift I wrote:
 Every time this bell tinkles, know that I am thinking of you. dear Aunt Virginia. And every time you cross off day. just realize that it brings
 "VIRGIE."
 That done, l arranged to have the gift shipped Then l asked the clerk: Have you a good luck piece?"
 He brought me the cunningest and stupidest looking little china eie- phant that I had ever seen. It was sitting on it's hind legs and was painted a bright yellow which made it more ridiculous, and smiled: Well. if he doesn't bring me luck he will at least hand me a laugh every time I look at him., Then I realized that I had lost my pictures.
 The clerk, noting my look of dis tress, inquired the cause. I explained.
 "The elephant reminded you of it." he said cheerfully at the same time handling me the box containing my good luck piece. Then he added:
 Go back to the last place you were and you'll find your pictures.'
 TomorrOw--Another Job.
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