The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-16
and continue his journey to the
postoffice.

q
THOSE we're long days, days he
L. shuddered to look back upon,
mornings when he woke with hun
ger unappeased from dreams of his
mothers cooking. Yet not once did
his determination to "get into mo-
ton pictures" falter. Some time,
sooner or later, he would get a
break"
True to his inner conviction that
his conduct was his "oWn affair"
he had returned to the candy shop
to see Madalyn, going at times when
she was busy and had only a mo-
lnent to spare. These contacts, brief
as they we're, served to stimulate
his faltering self conf1dence. Her
black eyes meeting his were f1atter-
ingly reproachful.
She whispered, "Why don't you
come for me any more?"
81 can't, Madalyn. I haven't any
money to spend on girls"
Amazingly, she answered. "It
wouldn't cost you anything to walk
home with me, would it?"
Perhaps because he wasn't sure
about that, he continued his visits
when she was on duty, until that
time when he felt even coffee and
a sandwich were lltxurieS he was
compelled to forego.
Yet it was Madalyn who gave him
the "tip" which resulted in his OBJ
tanning work.
Sometimes some one doesn't turn
up when they're having q lot OF
extras. If you're outside the gate
before 9 o'clock you might get called
in their place"
Gwen if you aren't regiStered?"
THAT doesn't matter. They call
the specs You go to the studios
with the expectation Of getting a
Job. And usually are disappointed.
But it wouldn't hurt to try once or
twice"
Gratefully he took her advice,
rising at in order to reach Culver
City before 9. Madalyn had said
she understood several hundred
people were being used out there.
He found a crowd Of others be-
fore him. Rough, profane, illiterate!
Standing head and shoulders above
most of these, he pushed his way
to the front with a determination
sharpened by hunger. If it were
humanity possible to get through
that gate as a "spec," Howell Shelf
field intended to be one.
The call came suddenly:
"All right! Ten of you fellows.
Just ten, now. You-and you, big
boy!"'
Once inside, Howell was given the
half of a check with a number and
the name of a director, and told to
go to Stage 7. The lot was teeming
with activity.
Girls and men with costumes over
their arms ran into the dressing
rooms. Heavy trucks rumbled be-
tween the buildings. There was
much hammering and pounding,
and buzz of excitement as pleas
ant as it was confusing.
HOWELL was not so sure of
l. l. himself as he had been several
weeks ago. Days of loneliness and
hunger had left their mark on his
ordinary healthy self-esteem. Sup
posing he did something wrong!
Supposing he got in the way of the
camerai
He was probably the only one
there who never had before ap-
peared on a motion picture, What
if the director found that out and
ordered him of the set? Now that
he was in, how was he going to
make lasting impression so that he
might be recalled?
Although there were over a hun
dred other extras" these all seemed
to be more or less acquainted. How
ell noticed among them the Jewish
woman he had heard arguing out
side the casting Office.
In shabby brown coat, with her
fresh, pretty skin, she seemed more
attractive than she had on that
other occasion. She was talking to
a girl who wore a coat heavy with
fur.
81 have one that cost $780," she
said. But it looked so rainy this
morning I didn't want to wear it.
Then they said dark street clothes,
so decided it didn't matter"
Howell smiled. AS Madalyn would
have said, "even extras seemed to
have their pride" He was glad his
own clothes showed no signs of the