, 1923-01-21
SOULS FOR ~ GREAT Novel Of Hollywood L

She did not know his language.
Can't place you at all. You have
a sweet innocent beautiful face and
your eyes are IS gentle as a doves.
But that has been the case with
some OF the daintiest little desper-
ADDE'S h a ever tore up society. The
first time I met you you told me
your nam was Remember Steddon.
You called me Mr.. Woodville when
we said good-by in Tucson. A week
or two and we meet again, and you
are Mrs. woodviiie and your hus.
band is dead and you're going to be
a chambermaid on a ranch.
Its all possible, but 1t isn't a bit
convincing. n you've got me pug.
lied. II you've committed a crime
and are hiding out you'd better get
into a bigger crowd. because you're
as conspicuous out here as old San
Jacinto peak, II you've committed
a crime, I'm sure you had n good
reason to and I'm no informer. But
1 wish you would tell me whether
you are the cleverest adventures I
ever met or just,a poor scared little
lonely lost child"
Her confusion was thai of a child.
He could see no ~ins!ncerity in her
panic and there was a wedding ring
on her finger. But his did not Inn
press him much; he had seen too
many married actresses take off
their rings to play maidens, and too
many unmarried actresses put them
on to play wives. He had seen won
derful sincerity in impersonation. Ro-
bina could make him weep Almost at
will in her scenes of hapless limo
n C He broke out impatiently
VIXEN Mem did not speak.
Tell me honestly one thing, Is
there a Mr.. woodville2 Were you
ever really married to anybody?
She turne frightened eyes upon
him and spoke with a parrying eva
sion:
'Why-why should you coubt it?-
He stared at her sharply; then his
eyes softened and he mumbled:
You poor little thing! What on
earth are you up to? What are
you running away from? Why should
you come to this place out of sea
son under a false name with a wed.
ding ring you bought yourself?'
She carried her other hand to con.
ceal the ring as If it were a shsme-
ful baby. The instinctiS gesture
convinced Hobby that he had guessed
well.
Now she fell into an ague of ter
ror. She looked h way and tha.,
as II for a door of escape. But
h knew that on all sides of her was
a wilderness of mountains and tns-
ert. She was horribly afraid of Hol.
by; he had the domineering, demand.
ing manner of a police officer.
But instead of denouncing her or
arresting her. he suddenly took her
two trembling hands in one of his
and with the other pressed her to
him n held her tight.
She struggled fiercely. yet with the
feeling Of a lamb in a shepherds
clasp. She knew that he was no
enemy, yet she could not accept him
as her friend on so short an ac.
quaintance. Friendships were not
made at such speed in Calverly.
So h fought until he released
her. Then she rose and staged
along a cracking path. scattering
little lizards that seemed rather to
pretend than to feel fear.
She began to weep, ran bllndly
into n of h palms, and fell. but
into Holby's arms again.
"Tell me the TRUTH" he pleaded.
Let me be you friend. 1 want
to help you. II it would help you
most to let you alone I'll do that.
If It would help you to be hel6.
tight and Rugged hard and kissed
loved-In do that. and mighty
gladly. But in Heavens name. don't
stand there and have chiils and fever
and not speak,
She felt a mad yearning to tell him
the truth. She felt hat ho would