, 1923-04-01

the hallway from the drawinsroom
n carry with her the memor and
the Influence of what had taken place
In the d-rawineroom.
But, as a matter of fact, the art
director Il his crew Of carpenters
and decorators had not yet construct
ed h -draw.nSroom. 1t was still
building on another stage, 200 yards
away, and the scene could not DO
taken for a week
Furthermore the preceding scene
in the street had not been taken 1t
wouid be shot on ocaton in a street
several miles away.
The actress had therefore. TO re-
call what she had done long before
she did It.
This vas one OF the ~inescapab,e diff.
ficulties OF the technic. Every art
mas its absurdlties and contradictions
and the moving picture actor must
perform incessant Irish bulls OF Sc
quence.
But all of Mems anxietios concern
ing makeup and costume and inter
probation were overwhelmed in the
anxiety as to her future. She dread
ed any hiatus in her career, another
fretful hunting for more work.
She a c nlready acquiring a
little name. Gossip OF every sort vas
rife. md some OF It was flattering.
The word floated about that "Sted-
don was making good at Bermond's."
Other directors began to speak TO
her on the lot and at the luncheon
table. The matron in charge az tho
dressing rooms told her that she had
heard several people speak OF Miss
Stcddons' fine work. The man in
charge of a projection machine told
her one day. VERY nice. Miss Sted-
donr' that was praise from a jaded
expert. Some of the other actresses
On the set had confessed that she
had made them cry and choke up.
She had the stuff" She was de,iv-
erinE the goods. Her soul was get
ting over.
At home she found a note now and
then asking her to call at another
studio. Agents sent her proffers OF
their good flee and promised to
enhance her opportunities n her
earnings.
But the Bermond company had an
option on her services. This includ-
ell the right to farm her out for
single pictures TO other companies.
It was a natterinE kind Of slavery.
Still mere flattering was Bermond's
reluctance to lend her to a eva
Eventually. Bermond agreed TO rent
Mem 10 a new company that was to
make Tom Hobby a star. He had
earned the elevation. n this meant
that he and Robina Tee,e would part
| cunpany-at least on the screen.
When Mem read OF this plan on
the motion-picture page Of an evening
paper her heart gave a hop, as II a
ia. frog had leaped in her bosom.
She was not sure 1us what the ex-
element mean within her there.
She did rot want ron Hobby for
herself. yet she did no want to see
any other woman and him.
C1aymore obtruded upon her medit-
atoms. She was under the obligation
imposed by his devotion.
It was certain that lie md Mem
must sever the relations they had es-
tablished as director and directed, but
a deep friendship something deeper
than friendship had developed during
their communion.
lie had found her increasingly, ir-
resistibly fascinating as no ~ransacked
odd corners of her heart for emotional
materials; as he studied her express
slons n rostures: as he thought OF
her in her absence Before him. she
moved about to music. and that lift
ed them to another planet somehow.
He tried to be particularly aloof,
| professional. ami director.al In his
conduct with Mem. lest the company
| discover his i~nfatuation. But his
love was less ard less content with
courtesy a!ore. The very effort om-
phasized what he sought to hide, and
the whisper went about that Clay
more n Stcddon were thicker than
thieves They gave the impression
OF a bride and groom pretending to
be Did married Irrr.e and only adj
vertisinE their ;nfatsetssn by their
aggravated indifference.
Mem was not blind 10 the look in
his eyes. nor leaf to the overtones
in his voice. She wondered for a
while that so powerful a man should
have selected so humble an appren-
tice and let the star glide by unwor-
shipped.
Her heart was mellcwed with a
KIND OF upward pity for the great
man that sic was dragging down to
her own meek level. But It was pleas
ant to be adorcd.
All day they labored over the MIN
Iory OF love n woe, Int yet they
gained no private immunity from its
fever.
When he called of evenings. Clay
mere would make xcus to step out
into the patio with Mem to show her
a very remarkable MOON.
He persuaded her now and then to
stroll-anything to get her away
from the eyes and ears Of her mother
and her housemates.
He never said anything, however.
that he might not ave said before
a crowd. He never tried to hold her
hand or snatch a kiss or fitch an
embrace. Mem was constantly set
quiverlng with expectancy that he
would make some advance. some ges-
turo Of endearment, yet always un-
able to decide just what she would
do II he did. But he didn't.
She wondered at his curious shy
ness. For a man of such ~autocracy
and such n habit of ordering her
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