Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-07-01

for an evening dress I'm having hello
for me in Mar$t0n'S-a wonderfu
: bargain"
girl
! Long"
/ ~ thought So. Don't take 1t, Cora
| saw Irene Steele in Black anC
! White In New York and all the
| gowns she wore In that picture were
/ at least Ten inches from the ground.
The girl bought the shoes and the
! two departed. Crofton smiled weak
| ly. This was the kind Of business
! in which he had sunk his mOney-in-
| fiuenced by what a movie star wore
Again he retired to the back Of the
store. \ newspaper was there ana
he picked 1t up and instinctfVely
turned TO the dramatic page. pic
ture looked out at him. Irene Steele,
herself Because Of his long assOcia-
ton with the stage he had been
somewhat preiudiced against this
comparatively new form of art; but
he knew that Irene Steele had be-
come the latest idol of FINLAND,
largely through her great success in
BLACK and White"
There was something appealing In
the demure and dainty expression,
and then he caught something In the
article that demanded his attention.
1.-THE daughter of Elsie Salinger-"
Elsie, who had played with him near
Iy twenty years ago--why this was
little Irene herself Her fathers
name had been Steele-and this was
little Irene. Yesterday, the child he
told fairy stories: and today great
star.
She was coming here Saturday to
appear in person at the opening per-
Torrance of the picture on Monday.
1.-The star of Black and White to
be the guest of the Morning Mail"
he read. ''Black and White" he
unused "black and white shoes"
slowly he laid aside the paper.
Saturday afternoon came and Irene
Steele was in the city. She had left
word that not even reporters were
to be allowed to see her-but CroftOn
insisted his card be taken up.
Irene received him: greeting him at
the door of her room with both her
hands extended. "Why-you're perfect
ly handsome with your white hair.
Are you still acting?"
He shook his head. Il bought out
a business with my savings-and l
guess I was taken advantage of.
am loaded up with three thousand
pair of shoes that are out OF style,
and payment still due"
The sympathetic brown eyes of the
famous star became moist with COM
passion that was quickly swept away
by bright smile. But can help you.
I'm going to be frightfully rich with
the profits on this picture"
CroftOn smiled 'That's kind Of
you, Irene, but I don't want money.
But you can help me-" and then as
she looked at him with eager ques-
tioning, he added, by accepting this
present"
Irene Steele took the box and
opened it dOubtfully, exposing a pair
of small shoes.
II hope they fit" said Crofton. "You
see, they're black and white'-nOw
do you see nay schemes" Her eyes
Lit up with understanding, but be-
fore she could speak Crofton ex-
planned his entire scheme in detail.
''Now have that appear in the Morn
ing Mall" Crofton said in parting. Il
am sure it will work"
Thus it was that all the young lady
admirers of Irene Steele who turned
to the article on her In Mondays
Morning Mail, read that her trip to
this city had been almost completely
spoiled. Just before leaving New
York she found she had shipped all
her shoes back to Hollywood save
only a pair of gray ones. Now, ever
since the success of Black and
White she had worn only black and
white shoes, and the fad had caught
on. Indeed, so great had been the
demand that she was unable to Sc
cure a pair In New York before leav-
ing to be the guest Of the Mall. Even
In this city her maid had been unable
to secure a pair Saturday night Now
1t would be the worst sort Of omen
for her to appear Monday night with
out black and white shoes-and then,
on Sunday, she herself, had seen a
whole widow full of black and white
shoes in Ye Lady's Shoe Shoppe on
Melvin Avenuel She was ac&ually
almost tempted to break the window !!
Every minute of her time Monday
morning was to be taken up by her
schedule but at twelve o'clock, before
anything else, she was going to the
Ye Lady's Shoe Shoppe and buy a
dozen pair.
When Irene Steele arrived at the
Ye Lady's shoe Shoppe she had to
force her way through lane of po-
licemen to get into the crowded store !;
and long after she had gone perSpi,ing
clerks were still selling black and
white shoes at seven dollars "A pair.
On Tuesday three well-dressed men
entered the crowded store and asked
to see Crofton alone In his Office.
you got u.s." admitted the spokes-
man. "a pretty smart trick getting
an option on the entire supply OF the
only factory able to turn out that
black and white shoe Immediately.
Now you can't sell them all, so name
your price"
After they had gone. CrOfton
looked at check still damp with ink
"Well," he unused, 'I guess we actors
aren't such bad business people aft
er ALL"