The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-06


above this, of course, a complete
wardrobe and the ability to act"
! Personal acquaintance with some
studio executive" There was a word
Of advice. Only how did one man
age it? If Jacqueline Bordoni we're
in Hollywood, instead of New York,
she might have given him an intro
duCtion to her director.
But then how had Jacqueline bro
ken in? She could have had no per-
sonal acquaintance with a studio eX-
ecutive. Her experiences were not
recorded in the book. Her success
was perhaps too recent.
Howell read the paragraph again
and dismissed it with the same con-
cIusion that the topnotchers in any
profession liked to make their strug-
gle appear more difficult than it
really was. The facts undoubtedly
were exaggerated.
Even if her name did not appear
in this book, Jacqueline Bordoni
was a recognized star and Howell
knew she had become so without a
single one of the requirements listed
here. With the exception, perhaps,
of the ability to act.
But then how much ability did it
take just to be oneself before a
camera? How could any one tell
whether he had such ability until
given a test?
The book was not so helpful as
he had hoped. Even when the
writer's did confess to starting as an
extra" the gaps between those days
and the time when they began to
| play leads" were not filled in.
Neither were there any explana-
tons as to how one became an
extra" No doubt that would be
easy enough to do, once one had ar
rived in Hollywood. Problems of
that kind had a way of solving
| themselves
Howell was sitting in the parlor
car when he discarded the book he
had been reading. He was en-
barrasSed to find a woman in the
chair next to his, regarding him
amusedly.
Thinking of breaking in?" she
smiled.
He did not like her smile, nor the
voice that went with it, but he an
swered, truthful1y: at thought I
might"
Her eyes swept his face with the
intensity of powerful search
light.
what have you to offer besides
youth and your very obvious good
looks?"
Howell blushed.
Gas much as any one else, I
guess"
TIE hated her for asking such a
Il Il question. but for some reason
he could not have refused to answer.
There was quality about her
something hard and glittering-
which commanded attention.
From her brassy, well-kept hair to
the thin hands, weighted with rings.
Howell felt she was a person with
authority. One unused to having
her desires refused.
They talked for half an hour, but
it was not until that night on the
observation platform, that she said,
"call me Lambie, If you like. Every
body does"
Howell couldn't. He avoided the
privilege with conversational side
stepping, which must have amused
her. He could see she was a woman
of the world.
She lighted cigaret after cigaret,
with nervous, jeweled fingers, and
tossed them away smoked. She
spoke, casually, of experiences and
customs he knew could be afforded
only by the extremely wealthy. She
was, she confessed, a widow.
Much, much older than you, dear
boy! And wiser! But with, oh,
such a youthful heart. I don't like
people Of my own age. They bore
me"
He cursed himself for a conceit-
ed ass, but couldn't keep from Won
dering if she wanted him to hold
the hand she let fall against his
arm. And he decided he was mis-
taken when, after moment. with
a tired little sigh. she took it away.
I'm awfuily lonely" she said. Il
travel a great deal of the time. Just
returned from London. Such a
stupid place. I never would have
gone if business interest there had
not demanded my attention"
| Howell thought . woman with 30
much experience must have found