Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-07-11
to Every Man

sisted them.
Jimmy missed seeing the cast of
characters. Just as that appeared un-
fortunately two heavily winter fronted
women were crawling over his feet.
AS soon as the picture started Jim
my sat up straight. A few minutes
later his eyes bulged from his face
like a pair Of boiled onions.
The cause of all this emotion was
naturally brought about from the fact
that Jimmy was watching a picture of
his own. one that he had submitted
to the film companies during the pre-
vious year. They had all rejected it.
And now it was appearing before him
like a very familiar ghost. Every foot
OF the darned thing was his by right
of birth. Even the names of the char
acters were those that had leaked from
his pen. Nothing except the title be-
longed TO someone else.
But-but why hadn't the man who
had stolen the thine taken the pre-
caution to alter it here or there? Why
not at least have given the characters
new names? 1t took his breath away.
He vas gulping as the picture wound
its way toward the cloSa-every bit of
it his.
The film concluded with a necking
bout in al ~airplane-just as he'd writ
ten it.
Scrambling over peoples feet toward
the aisle before the lights went up,
Jimmy failed to hear the stereotyped
wisecracks about the building being on
fire and making trade for shoe sinners
that were hurled at him. At that mo-
ment he vas a man with a fixed idea.
He was bent on lowering the record for
speed between the theater and the Of
fices of the company which had made
that film.
With heaving chest he dived into
the elevator of the office building of
Regal Pictures, Inc, and, after mad
dening delays at unimportant floors,
stepped boldly out at the top.
A raviShing but vacuous blonde-the
type for whom gentlemen are said to
have a preference in their more human
momentS-inquired about his business.
played a game that looked like chess
on the telephone switchboard, screamed
a few words into the receiver, and
languidly informed Jimmy that the
president of the company was in con-
ference and might be there for a week.
He might write in if he liked. 1t made
no difference to her.
But instead of returning to the ele-
vator and home to kill a week, he
pushed open the swing doors that led
into the main office and walked, with
tightening nostrils, to the presidents
private suite. He knew the layout of
the office-h' often, far too often,
been there va manuscripts.
Pausing no longer than it took to
rap on the door marked Mr.. Etzberg,"
Jimmy stalked into the room. That
gentleman, deeply occupied with other,
though less important, officers of the
company, regarded the unwelcome
gate crasher with amazement through
a fog of smoke. He uttered an appro-
pirate greeting almost without a
thought.
What the devil do you mean by
pushing your way in here?" He could
barely believe his eyes.
What the devil do you mean by
using a scenario of mine without hand
ing over the boodle?"
An exasperated frown clouded the
presidents brow. what are you talk
ing about?"
1.-The Jeweled Sinner of course"
The gasp from Mr.. Etzberg was
echoed by every Ia there.
And then the froWn on the presi-
dents face gave way to a seductive
smile. "Sit down." he said, with a
graceful wave, land try one of these
cigars"
AS Jimmy applied a match to that
prOdigiOuS Corporation Corona, EtZ-
berg massaged the end of his nose be-
tween an artistic forefinger and a fl
nancial thumb. Whereafter, draping
n plump leg over the other, he man
aged to find his voice. "It's the custom
here for visitors to make an appoint
ment with me, Mr.-Mr.-"
Goodwin"
Glad to know you, I'm sure" The
great man shook hands cordially and
introduced his staff. I'm glad you
dropped in" he added as they all re-
sumed their seats. ITO tell the honest
truth, we've been expecting you for
rather a long time"
"O?".
Mr.. Goodwin, when did you see The
Jeweled Sinner first?" Etzberg asked.
To-day. l left the theater a couple
of shakes ago."
Had you heard before seeing the
picture that there was a similarity
between it and a little story of yours?8
mo. And it isn't a matter of SIM
ilarity. It's my story word for word.
I've got The carbon copy over at my
room"
That's lucky. said MIR. Etzberg
Very lucky, indeed. You were Just
a little surprised to find we'd used that
little story without consulting you,
eh?"
Consulting, and paying" said
Jimmy. Il couldn't have been more
surprised if it had rained ten dollar
bills"
Mr.. Etzberg disclosed his teeth. Tell
me, Mr.. Goodwin" he said, did you
ever hear of anything unusual about
the making of The Jeweled Sinner?'
Anthing at alp"
Not a word. But I'm going to hear
all about it before I leave this place .
"A very curious thing happened
The president spoke lightly and bright
ly, while he flicked a crumble of cigar
ash from the sleeve of his coat. We've
all been quite amused"
The %onlookers gave nice limitations of
people who had enjoyed a joke.
1T was like this, my friend. Some
thing over a year ago We commissioned
Rodney Scoville Betters to do an
original story for Rosalie Delight. Well
about o month later he sent the
manuscript in. He was sailing the
next day for a long vacation in France
"O?"
by the time we'd all read it Bet
terS was half way across the Atlantic
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