The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-05-28

Losing patience, Lucinda called the |
Alexandria on the telephone and was |
informed that Mr.. Druce had Checked |
out early in the morning, saying moth
Ing of an intention to return.
No note came from Bellamy the next |
corning. and nothing transpired in the
rise Of the next several weeks to af
any clue to the riddle; With the up
that Lucinda thought about her
sband great deal more taan she
tnted Ia or had ut any dime since
nvVNa chicago. II was strange Il
wasn't like Bel TO treat any woman 50
rudeiy.
XIV.
Jacques kept the Sumnerlad com.
pany away SO long that its return found
the first Linda Lee production In full
swing, with Barry Nolan In command
Lucinda playing the supple puppet OF
his whim. Fanny demurely walking
through the feminine part OF second i'm.
portance, and Lontaine functiouing ut
the peak OF his capacity as executive
genius.
Why 1t should be so hard on him no.
body seemed to know. and Lontuine
was too busy TO explain.
To all his symptoms Of hustle and
h~unce, his wife played silent but at
Ventive audience; though oftentlmes her
pretty eyes would light up with an un-
spoken comment too pungent 10 be
wasted and discreetly questioning
sympathetic confident. would find It
without fail in Barry Nolan.
Irish both by descent and profession,
Nolan had at least that sense conspic-
uously developed. What others ne pos
sessed was question which come TO
occupy many of Lucinda's spare mo-
ments She couldn't account for No.
lans high place in cinema, unless a
sprightly disposition, a fetching grin
infectious verve, impuden.e without
end. and a distinctly indicated vein oil
genius at crap shooting, summed ~
the essential qualifications Of director
who pretended to earn a wage of s25,
900 a production.
But Lucinda first mistrusted his abil
ity because of his appalling ignorance
concerning rudmentary principles Of
social usage.
Since the story they were concerned
with had to do with people OF fashion.
able New York. Lucinda thought 1t i'm
portant that their manners should con
form to approved convention but Nolan
was so little learned in such matter:
and his impSi ience with them was
whole.hearted "Ah, what's the mat
ter? Ninety per cent of your audiences
are solid bone from the neck up, and
the rest wouldn't think they go their
moneys worth unless they found some
thing to beef about in a picture Why
worry about little things like that
Life's too short, and we're wasting
time!"
But this distrust of Barry Nolan :
competency which troubled Lucinda :.
mind almost from the very outset of
their association had yet to crystalliz,
ON the Saturday when Suumerlad was
expected home.
TO get rid of Lucinda's presence
which instinct was already beginninr
10 warn him was silently skeptical' of
that she might like to review the rushes
OF yesterdays : camera WORK.
Assuming that she would find III,
production room empty, Lucinda mad,
her way to It without bothering to re
move her makeup but on opening Tn,
door saw u fan.like beam Of turbl,
light wavering athwart its darkness
and would have withdrawn had no.
Zinns thick and genial accents halle,
her from the rear OF the long. blacl
walled. tunnel like chamber.
Come right on in, Miss Lee. Wei
be through in minute. Just running
some OF the fillum through from Jo,
jacques yesterday. Sgreat stuff, tha
boy Summerlads put over this time"
Then with fluttering heart Luclnd.
identified her husband as ZiEn's com
panion.
shake hands with Mr.. Druce, Mis-!
Lee: new tenant OF mine, going to wUrl
here same as you; just signed q leas,
for space to make his first production
What
At that monosyllable OF dismayed
protest. Lucinda saw zinn's little eye
VI a pig grow wide with surprise.
buN 4 dlll MI <@llllli III az
ready having the honor OF Miss Leei
acquaintance" Bellamy took posses
sion of her hand
is that so2 You two know eacl
other! Whyn't you tell me?"
Lucinda found her voice all az once
but hardly her self possession. 1T ism
lit can't be true, Bell! II isn't tru
YOU'RE"
Afraid IL is. Linda" Bells smil
was lightly mocking. The pictur
business has got me In It's tolls at last
only needed that trip out here TO de
eide We. Now I'm In up to my ears
Something to do. you know"
When zlnn departed, however, Bel
manner changed
I'm sorry Llnda-I really don
mean to be "a pest"
"'rhen why are YOU here?''
give me half chance"
you had that chance weeks ago an,
deliberately refused It,"
But surely you got my note explain
Ing. | was called east on two hours
notice, but would retutn as soon as
eouldY"
Possibly" Lucinda suggested will
labored scorn. you mlsaddressed II
forgetting which OF your numerous
feminine aeQuaintances you Were writ
ing to-
II addressed it, Bel insisted stoutly
to Mrs. Bellamy Druce."
IF w. that explains It, They knoS
me at the hotel only as Linda Lee"
when the screen once more shon
blank and the ceiling light flashed on
Bel was smiling oheeriully.