Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-20
CHApTER XLII

CHATTER ALil
ats one of the loveliest things I've
ever heard" Jane said, enthusi-
astically. "Mr. Hull read it to me
n night. and ! know. The story
Of Launcelot and Elaine, from Jenny
sons 'Idylls of the King The way
he's adapted 1t, it couldn't possibly
fail"
HIN" Hardy puffed reflectively
at his cigarette. You think there !
money in it, then?'
Money!" In his eagerness Tony
almost Jumped from his chair. "A
For whom ?"
For the company producing II, Of
course. The stockholders. I'm TO be
n Of them. And Miss Dare. For
our services, and the use OF the
scenario, we proposed to take 40 per
cent of the stock, leaving the money
end of il 81 per cent and control.
We're willing TO take nominal sal
aries, and gamble on the picture
being a success. That's fair enough.
isn't liz"
"Yes, I'D say II was" Hardy drew
a pencil from his pocket and began
to make figures on the back Of an
envelope.
IF you happen to know any peo-
pie with money 10 invest in a picture
proposition" Tony went on, nd be
glad to read the scenario 10 them and
explain my plans in detail. Most
people know the story Of Elaine-the
Lily Maid Of Astolat. In Tennyson's
version she dies, and her body floats
on a barge down the river to Came
lot. But in some of the older YER
sions of the story. she lives. and is
the mother OF Sir Galahad. I've
written it that way, because il me kes
n better story-for the public. Mer-
lin. the magicion at King Arthur's
court. restores her to life by his skill,
THE story is intensely dramatic,
full Of beauty. romance, adventure.
castles kept by robber knights
giants, fair queens, single-handed
combats, the Round Table-every-
body is familiar with it. Against
that setting. the tender love story OF
Launcelot and Elaine, with Guinivere,
King Arthur's wife, as the third
angle in the triangle, provides all the
elements Of a wonderfully dramatic
picture.
"And ii will not be so expensive 10
make, as such pictures go, because so
many of the scenes are out-of-
doors. Exteriors. We will have "a
build some elaborate sets, OF course
but in proportion to the whole cas-
Of the picture. they will not be ex-
travagant. There are lots OF ways tc
get costly effects through tricks II
you know how to do il. This pic
ture, when done, can be advertised
as a million dollar production. and
TO the public it will look il. There
isn't achance Of loss. really. Such {
film. properly made. is bound 70 b.
worth what ii costs. But | don't
see why I'm telling you all this. Mr.
Hardy" He laughed whimsically
and took up his hat. Gust my nat.
ural enthusiasm"
what a pity you don't know a few
millionaires, Ben Jane said, glow
young life. But Of course you don't
Well-we might as well 20 to din.
ner." {
Hardy thrust the envelope on
which he had been figuring, bach
into his pocket.
II haven't any m~illionaires up my
III sleeve, JdUts 4 III cVtlN W say ~
laughed. "but | do know a man yhc
will put up the money for the pic
ture."
"who?" Jane and Tony exclaimed
in chorus"
"Why-yours truly" said Hardy
with n quiet smile.
A sudden silence fell over them
Neither Jane nor Tony. in telling
Hardy about the picture, had thought
Of him as a possible hacker, and &c
neither did the suggestion appeal. To
Tony il was unwelcome because he
thought Hardy had offered 10 furnish
the money on account of his love fol
Jane, which was. to some extent
true. Caring for her himself. he felt
an instant, If somewhat unreason.
able. jealousy. For weeks he had
been more and more aloof in his at.
titude toward Jane because he be
lieved that she preferred Hardy. q
youngr and far more wealthy man
10 himself. To have his rival now
step in and rob him Of his one great
chance TO give Jane success. make
her a star. proved a bitter thought
He had failed-now HARDY would
| earn the gritituds he had hoped tc