The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-27

| the cashier of the Farmers bank
was announced in the weekly paper,
but wrote her a friendly letter wish
ing her happiness and sealed it
with relief. At any rate that was
over.
Other news arrived before the
summer was over. Agnes became
the mother of a little son.
She wrote, We've named him
after you. dear-Howell Sheffield
wilcox. It's a fine old name. I
hope he'll never do anything to
make us ashamed of 1t. AS if such
a darling baby could"
Howell sat and looked out upon
the hills a long time after reading
that. What a distance lay between
them! A distance that could not be
measured in miles.
tits fine old name. I hope he'll
never do anything to make us
ashamed of it."
The next night when DimpleS
wanted him to go on party, How
ell refused.
"Oh, come on! Might as well get
little JOY out Of life"
II can't tell you. I've had an
other engagement for more than a
week"
He spent the evening writing a
letter to his sister. To which she
responded. Your letter sounded
more like you than any you've writ
ten since you went away. I'm glad
you're so pleased about the baby's
name.
Mother is, too, of course. Mother
isn't looking very well. She doesn't
complain, but I can see that she
is eating her heart out, Howell.
Can't you come back for a little
visit? Now that you're making such
a lot of money I should think you
could manage it"
Bitterly he smiled. He was work
ing about two days a week some
weeks when work was plentiful.
Even if he had been able to afford
the expense of trip East he dared
not leave at this stage of the game.
Several assistant directors were
beginning to recognize him. He was
really in more or less demand as a
cop" And as Dimples said, "a
damned handsome one you are, too. -
There were others who seemed to
agree with Dimples; and Howell
thought the girls he met at the diff
| ferent studios seemed a class above
| the men.
Perhaps 1t would be kinder to
say that there were more of the
desirable types among the girls. The
nice ones. however, those he would
have been willing to introduce to
his mother and sister, did not en-
courage advances from the men on
a set. They would enter a desultory
| conversation, or play a game of
bridge to break the monotony of
waiting, but if one met them out
side the studio their recognition
was casual.
Some of these extra girls were
young and beautiful Many, how
ever, looked old and frostbitten; the
ghost of beauty peering from faces
which were disillusioned, diSsipated
and sometimes frankly vulgar.
One of these timers" a girl
of "a, who looked 40, confessed that
she had been an extra" for seven
years. Dimples told Howell she had
been one Of the prettieSt girls il!
Hollywood.
Innocence perSonified."
Howell couldn't imagine it.
She's gone down hill fast
Dimples added.
At that, there was something
sweet about her. She had a kind
word for every one and every one
seemed to know her. She was one
of the few extras who dared to be
late.
How do you get by with it?" an.
other girl asked. III I'm two min
ueS late I don't get in"
Il never have any trouble" Doris
| answered careleSSly. guess IL
because they know me-"
On another occasion Howell heard
a newcomer ask how much truth
there was in the stories one heard
about the advances made by di.
rectors, cemeramen. etc.
The girl with the many past.
written on her face replied quietly
Il don't know that it's any differ
ent from any other line.
Most men expect you to pay TO
the fayors they show YOU Its N