Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-10

CHAPTER AAAlll
"I'm only an outsider, but that's
my dope. Ill make you a prediction
this Shirley woman never does make
a big. successful picture, because
what she put over doesn't convince
you of anything. She might just as
well be a mechanical doll"
Jane, watching Irene in the scenes
which followed, wondered il Hardy
was right. Tony Hull had taught her
every look, every gesture, every ex-
preston she used, but, as Ben said,
they didn't mean anything, didn't
convey anything, because there was
nothing back Of them TO convey, ave
a small, shrewd, hard little nature,
thinking every moment Of the time,
not Of the part she was playing, but
Of herself-not Of making her role a
living, sentient thing, but Of max
ing herself a popular. high-salaried
star. The way in which she pro-
jected Irene Shirley, instead Of the
III the play. was well-nigh
uncanny-not for one instant did she
forget herself, or allow the audience
TO forget her.
Now take your part" Hardy went
on. 70 the very evident annoyance Of
Mr.. Evans, on his left. sit isn't a big
part. but YOU make il real. ! feel il.
! feel. when you take your sister in
your arms and comfort her, that you
mean it-that you are suffering with
her. And for all she gives you in
return you might as we'll be asking
her 70 take lunch with you. Say
| wish you'd been playing this part
the picture would have been a knock
out"
Hush" Jane told him. realizing
that Mr.. Evans was not only hearing
"A large part of what vas being said.
but was resenting il. you only feel
that way about me because you like
me. Miss Shirley has lots Of friends,
all about US. and they might not like
what you are saying. Wait till after
the show"
As the lights went on for the in
PERMISSION. a tremendous buzz Of
conversation arose. People went
from seat to seat. greeting friends. or
hurried to the smoking rooms, for
cigars and cigarettes.
A group of eager sycophants sur
rounded Davidson and Irene; she
| listened 10 their flattering comments
with a ~fItuous smile. If Lew had any
hNunlS rit utU fRNtF ~ E1EAANA W
her. as she watched herself on the
screen. that Sarah Bernhard. in her
palmiest days, had nothing "on" her.
"Now that you've given me my
chance she murmured, pressing
Davidson's hand tenderly, "Im going
10 make YOU millions She really
believed IL. a. one after another Of
Davidson's friends came up and told
/ L. ~La x.ruu tkn lNp,Frv IN NJ
the screen.
Lew. himself. was sufficiently ex-
perienced to discount these opinions.
In spite Of this infatuation for Irene,
he was a Snowman, TO whom the
only opinion OF any value was that
registered by the public at the box
office. Those who told him he had
discovered a star of the first magni-
tude had nothing TO lose and every
thing 20 gain BY their flattery. IL the
picture later on failed 10 please. then
the public, not the picture, was al
fault. To have expressed a frank
disapproval would have merely hurt
and sngered Lew TO no purpose
They knew the theater too well 70
be sure even Of their own judgment;
too often they had thought a play OF
a ~picture a dismal failure. on opening
night, only &c see the public reverse
their opinions completely, by keeping
the s. X. o. sign out for months to
come.
Those honest and sincere friends
who felt in their hearts thst Irene
was hopeless, remained away. in the
lobby, the smoking rooms, preferrine
to express no opinion at all, if they
could not express a favorable one
As a result, Irene went home walking
on air, dreaming Of a future as royaI
as that Of any queen, picturing her
self the mistress Of Davidson's house
his fortune, his business, fitting
from . Palm Beach 10 Deauville. OF
Monte Carlo. acting when she pleased
but never allowing her "art" to inter.
fere with the pursuit of pleasure, the
enjoyment Of life. which made IN the
sum Of her small and selfish ambi'
tiors.
Just what Lew Davidson's feeling.
were. as he drove Irene home. II
would be difficult to say. The flat
terry of his friends had pleased him
as flattery always does, ever wher
we suspect il 70 be insincere. The
mere fact that others think u:
worth flsttering is in itself q com
pliment; the commodity is not usu.