The Topeka state journal., 1922-05-06
Euening Story
The Movie Publicity Man Did It.
BY FRANK H. WILLIAMS.

1
on the, screen in a neghborhood movie
| theater. She looked more beautiful
/ than ever on the screen-she had
always been a particularly pretty girl
land seeing her again after so many
months, affected Howard deeply.
As Howard gazed at MarthaS win
someness and saw her familiar smile
and. piquant characteristics, he felt a
| sudden rush of his old affection for
her. The quarrel which had precipi-
| tated their reparation seemed small
1 and petty; the time since her depar-
ture rolled up dull and lonesome and
he was possessed of an intense desire
| to find Martha and make up at once.
But when Martha had left him
year ago she had said she was leaving
him for good And Martha meant
what she said. Was there any possible
chance of ever getting her back again
All the longing for Martha which
Howard had suppressed during the
year of their separation now swept
over him in a tidal wave with his
| candid acknowledgment that he
wanted her back again. Everything
else in his life now seemed trivial and
unimportant. But behind his longing
doomed the great fear that he might
not be successful in winning her back.
And in addition there was another
fear-the fear that he might not be
able to find her.
| However, Howard was a level
headed, practical, successful business
1 mali Il AlO yOQQ5 III y yGdTSy he ldQ
already rolled up quite a fortune, SO
he had plenty of money with which to
push his quest.
The first step in finding his wife
of the firm In which he had seen her
and then try to locate her thru the
manufacturers.
Howard anticipated trouble in find
ing his wife. He knew that movie ac-
tresses are constantly changing COM
panies and that movie manufacturers
themselves are also constantly coming
and going. But, to his delight, his
task proved to be surprisingly simple.
The company making the film in
which he had seen his wife was still
operating. and his wife was still en-
ployed blythe company, according to a
telegram he received from the pub
licity manager of the company in
response to his wire.
According to this telegram the COM
pany was operating at Fort Lee. n. J.,
short distance from New York City.
Upon receiving this information
in the earliest possible. train for that
city.
The third afternoon found Howard
anxiously toiling up the hill at Fort
Lee toward a big glass-covered build
ing-the studio where his wife was
employed. At the door of the studio
a rather flashily dressed young man
was waiting for him.
L
sume?" queried this young man.
Howard nodded.
Il am the publicity manager for
the Mammoth company explained
our most promising actresses. She
will probably eventually be starred.
Come this way, please"
With beating heart Howard fol-
lowed his guide into the studio and
out upon the huge floor, where furni-
fIITP lights and nddG nd dc
thrown about in apparent confusion.
At first Howard was confused; i'll at
ease. He didn't like the odd glances
cast at him by all the people who
We're standing around or rushing back
and forth. He wanted only to see his
wife.
Suddenly Howards heart skipped a
beat. His wife was coming toward
him beautifully dressed in an evening
gown. Howard looked at her hum
grily. Never had she seemed prettier
to him. In a moment their eyes met.
He saw surprise, then an inscrutable
look appear in his wife's eyes before
she averted them for minute or two.
Then she came to him and held out
her hand cordially.
How are you. Howard ?" she said.
'T-I-' stammered Howard.
On the instant he stopped. A great
burst of light blinded him for a mo-
ment He heard some one-it sound
ed like the publicity manager-say-
ing, THAT was a bully FASH and
then his eyes focused again on his
wife to find her looking inscrutable
and distant.
"I want to talk to you, Martha"
said Howard. Cant we go some
where and talk?"
mot now, Howard" said Martha
rather coldly. I'm due to rehearse
some scenes now. But come back to-
morrow. Perhaps we can talk tomor-
row"
Faoe1;v-- - -a-1v +,,,o,.4 -1,-.,,4 -,.~v
I'm at the Consul hotel" he said
briefly. Suppose you phone me there
tomorrow whcn you're not busy"
Without another word Howard
turned and hurried from the studio. !
Rage and resentment swept over
him. What a receptioni What treat |
ment when he had come such a dis |
tance for the sole purpose of trying |
to make up with his wife! He had |
half mind to call the whole thing |
off and so back to his home without |
making any further attempt at a
reconciliation.
Then again the thought of the lone
illness of the past year and of his real |
ly great love for the wife who had |
never seemed prettier than now swept |
over him. He threw back his shoul- |
ders.
''Of course she couldn't be anything !
but distant and cold with ali those /
people around her" he told himself
1T will be different tomorrow-Im |
sure il will"
1t was different on the following !
day but not in the manner Howard !
thought. /
At breakfast the next morning as |
Howard was casually glancing thru |
his paper. his eyes suddenly focused in
horror at a picture on the theatrical i
page. The picture was a photo taken /
in studio. 1t showed a man eagerly
shaking hands with a brilliantly
dressed beautiful actress. The |
woman's face was cold and distant.
Over the picture was this caption:
prominent MidWestern Business Man !
Seeks Reconciliation with Wife Who
Is Becoming Famous in the Movies"