Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-14
CHAPTER xxx
4 NIGHT Ride

TIME picture ended and the lights fla sh-
ed Gloria. Gloria drew her evening
cloak closer about her shoulders with
a petulant little gesture, and blinked her
eyes. She suddenly conscious Of a feel
! ing OF intense irritation Not even to her
self did she want to admit that Rolf had
done good work in this picture. She had
summed him up cOnceited, arrogant and
self-Centered, wholly without talent and
making good in the movies simply because
OF his undoubted good looks. In this pic
ture he had shown another side of him, he
had forgotten to pose, not once had he used
any Of his ridiculous mannersms, and the
result amazingly good.
"l'll say it's some comeback" Vera Vamp
saying to Barry. IF Rolls work in
this picture doesn't hit the bald-headed
critics in the eye, I'm mistaken, that's all"
Then turning to Gloria she said with a curl
OF her red lips, some little love scene,
wasn't it, dearie? OF course, I didn't play
it as well you would have done it. What
was that the critics said about living your
part?"
There more than hint OF cattiness
in the remark, but Gloria gave sign that
she had noticed it. She knew, in fact it
was common gossip around the colony that
Vera had for long time been more or
less in love with Rolf Before the advent
Of Gloria, he had paid Vera some little at
tention and, although Vera kept up GER
ain amount of surface friendliness where
forgiven her for carrying off the matrimo-
NAL prize OF Hollywood.
Manning came up to them, his thin Tath-
er tired face wearing look Of intense sat
isfaction
"RoIf put across some pretty good stuff,
don't you think so, Mrs Templeton?" he
asked.
Gors forced into corner, assented with
as much graciousness as the situation de-
handed. A moment later she was turning
to Barry with a request to take her home.
II don't think I'll go on to the party to-
night" she said in undertone. I'm
| tired, I haven't been getting enough sleep.
She changed her mind, however, when
they were half way to the bungalow. and it
was after 3 o'clock when Barry handed her
once more into his car. and they drove off.
Gloria's head was aching violently and
she was duly conscious of the fact that
Barry had been drinking steadily all eve
ming. When instead of driving her home,
he drove his car at furious speed into the
open country, she leaned toward him and
above the roar OF the engine, ordered him
peremptorly to take her home at once.
He turned his head and grinned at her
but he did not speak, nor did he pay the
slightest attention to what she had said. On
and on they went the road winding ahead OF
them like silver ribbon, and when at last
Barry slowed down the car, they were miles
outside of the town.
The car came to a stop with grinding OF
gears After the of the engine, the ST
lence could almost be felt Huddled inside
OF her fur wrap, Gloria shivered And then
before she knew what he intended to do
Barry was reaching for her. She felt his
hot hands ON her shoulders beneath her
wrap. In moment she would be in his
arms, his lips reeking with alcohol would be
pressing kisses on her With all her might
she raised her fist and drove it straight at
his face. The blow struck him full between
the eyes with a sickening impact that turned
Gloria suddenly sick. The next moment he
was sagging forward forward over the steer
ing wheel, limp and unconscious figure.
In a moment Gloria was scramblng out
OF the car and around to the other side I'm
fastening the door, she pushed at Barry's
unconscious body with all her might, pushed
until she had edged him over into her place
Then she got behind the steering wheel, and
! prepared to drive the car home.