The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-07-23
SW ELL STORY
OF OLD
LUKE
Rx nOROTHY .HERZOG

Jimmy Cruze was preparing 10
direct Hollywood" a plotful yarn
about We colony wherein an old
man with a beard played the i'm.
portant role of grandfather. Tom
Geraghty, w..k. scenarist, Tracked
out from New York for the pic
ture. Together he and Jimmy
looked over the crop of boards.
None answered the exact grand
father requirements.
Possibilities to corral the right
character man became bleaker ana
bleaker. And then one day Jimmy
received a letter. A letter written
in fine handwriting and, as Tom
put it. the Spencerian style. The
letter was from Luke CosgraVe, a
Mormon, with whose stock COM
pany Cruze had played years pre-
vious. Cosgrave was touring Utah
with his small troupe. He ex-
planned that the cinema theater
was pushing his players back
farther and farther into the
shadows Of oblivion.
Tom studied the picture OF the
old man. He was a fine-looking
chap, with fluffy white beard.
why, isn't he our MANI"
Geraghty asked. Cruze cogitated.
Maybe he is" They went In to
see the studio general manager.
The upshot Of the conference was
a wire to Cosgrave asking him II
he cared to come to Hollywood
for a screen test. IF so, the com
pany would wire him $500. The
answer was yes. Cosgrave came.
He took the test, It was honey.
He got the part.
He got more. This was his first
trip out of Utah. He was given a
room at the Hollywood Hotel. He
saw screen stars in person. He
met them in person. Yes, he had
a perfectly grand time.
Before Hollywood was started,
however, Cruze received a sum.
mons to New York to be present
at the special charity preview OF
his production. 1.-THE Covered
Wagon" He didn't want TO go.
Jimmy loathes formal dress. He
prefers golf trousers, wooden socks.
soft shirt open at the throat, and
white hat perched askew atop his
head. But this time he had to go
to New York. He took Luke Cos
grave with nm.
Came the premier o. THE Cow
cred Wagon" at the Plaza Hotel.
Cruze sent Cosgrave to represent
him. He was elegant In frock coat.
He met Anne Morgan and social
register royalty to the manner
born. He recited poem about the
"49'ers" and was de luxey hit.
Then back to Hollywood. Work
started on the picture of that
name. Cosgrave was splendid.
Weeks later, however, he sided up
to Jimmy Cruze, apparently much
embarrassed. He cleare his
throat. He even shuffled unconl-
fortably.
Whats the trouble. Luke?"
Cruze asked.
After much faltering. the old
chap confessed. "Well, Jimmy. l
hate to speak about it to you. ]
thought maybe I'd speak to the
policeman on the corner first.
but / got to tell you. / moved
from the Hollywood Hotel and
took a cheap room, / economical
every way I knew but-well-l--
I-I-well, I'm starving, Jimmy"
"Whatv Cruze was dumb
founded. Starving! What do
you do with your money!"
Cosgrave smiled family. II tried
to make it last. Jimmy. but l
couldn't. The three hundred Is
gone"
What three fundred?"
1.-THE money you sent, me.
Cruze suddenly got it. DO you
mean to tell me you haven't been
drawing your salary every week.?
''salary?" Startled. What sal
cruze hailed from Geraghty.
"Say, Tom. will you take Luke
over to the cashiers office and
see about his salary"
They went. When the cashier
heard the name Cosgrave. he
heaved a sigh of relief. Say. !
been lookin' for you. Why haven't
you been around to collect. Jour
Dough-"
He rummaged in the safe and
brought out six or more checks
in Luke Cosgrave's name. each
for $500. The old chap signed for
them. Nope, he didn't starve any
more. He never will. He's be-
come a sort of Cruze mascot.
Screenalities
Bebe Daniels denies she ever
trumped her partners ace at
bridge. Well, as Aunt Malena
always said, trust guilty con-
science to spill the beans
Believe 1t or not, "Hell's Angels"
was previewed in II or II reels in
nearby town. Only 1t was
screened under another title. They
do be sayin' it went over pretty.
Yes-sir-ree, despite the fact It
was a celluloid silencer
william s. Harris admirers don't
forget. The former two-gun man
of the silver sheet continues to
receive thousands of letters
monthly.
Bessie Love still gets chortle
over the telegram Eddie Nugent
sent her when her recent automo-
bile accident reached the public
prints. Wired Eddie: Hope you
don't feel hurt!' " : Bob and
Jimmy Keaton, aged 8 and S, re-
spectively, attend the Brentwood
Military A emy. They're
Busters young 'uns and it seems
they enjoy early rising. Around
$50 a. m. They also want others
to enjoy it. Ergo. the school au-
thorities have assigned man to