New Britain herald., 1930-09-06

doomed to failure. Dan, when he had read 1t, nodded ,Qprovingly and declared it was ~ pretty piece Of writing. Paul T." thought ought to try his hand aob stuff" more often.
 You're crazy mot 10. This is the best column you've turned out in weeks"
 Paul took It and began to read CODY" on ii. Some day, he prophe- sled as he brandished his pencil, would dig up real story in Hollywood Its here, all right.
 If you weren't so lazy" Dan told him unfeelingly, you'd write it yourself"
 Paul irritated him sometimes. Dan thought he was little too with things as they were and that he ought to make more use of his ability. He was forever of story that he ought to write, but he never got around to it; or. as in the case of the book he had started on, his enthusiasm soon died.
 He turned back 10 his magazine then, but he made a sorry job of getting anything out of it, because his thoughts persisted in dwelling on the interview he had had with Phillips. Phillips at that very mo- ment might be reading his manu- script, and Dan wondered uneasily what the mans verdict would be.
 Now that the thing was out of his hands, he could think of sev- clal places where he might have improved it; but that was always the way. It had been like that when he was writing news stories and fiction; once the stuff was ir- revocably in print. faults became to which he had been blind when it was not too late to remedy them.
 He threw his magazine down and got up and strolled aimlessly through the apartment. Paul glanced at him once or twice and then turned back to his typewrit- ing, but presently he announced with a great deal of noise that he was knocking, off for the night.
 Whats bothering you my boy?" And he added with a broad grin that he could guess. Let's get out of here for a while. Grab your hat"
 Dan spent the following forenoon writing letters. a task that he had no taste for: but he wanted to be a. home in the event of a telephone call from Grand United. He. wrote a long overdue letter to Ziggy Young. Zigsy was clamorous for news of himself and Anne Winter; and Ziggy said that his mother down in Tulsa. who was very fond of Anne, had wanted to know what kind of a person Dan Rorimer was.
 And if you don't write pretty soon," read Ziggy's threat. "I'll tell her. Furthermore, I've still got that telegram you sent me just be- fore you first called on little Anne - and those neckties you sent me are just about worn out. They must have been pretty cheap"
 In reply Dan wrote that the ties had been sent as a mark of srati- tude; he'd send none as a bribe, and Ziggy might as well get his blackmailing ideas out of his head. And those ties cost six dollars apiece. which is more than you pay for a hat, you little red-headed squirt"
 He wrote q letter to his parents ir Knoxville, enclosing snapshot Of himself standing beneath a palm tree. Paul had taken it, And there vas another letter to a former pal in Detroit-long ones, all of them
 But when lunch time rolled around there had been no phone call from Grand United.
 Maybe he didn't read it after all" Dan thought. departing for lunch. Maybe something turned up"
 Paul, though, had told him that ii Phillips promised to read it inn mediately and give him a verdict he would do that very thing.
 They don't usually do thing; that way: I've known of stories tC lie around for months before tho studio could make up it's mind tt say yes or no. But Phillips can ge action-and l tell you they're look ing for a story for Lester Moore"
 In midafternoon there was a call girl at Grand United-Phillips secretary - informed him that tn scenario chief was very busy ant was not around at present, but h. had instructed her to inform Rori
 mer that he had read the play an( was enthusiastically recommendin! it for production
 He told me especially not to for
 get the word enthusiastically
 tried to reach you once before. bu
 no one answered"
 That's great news" Dan sait ! trying to speak calmly. Pleas
 tell Mir. Phillips that I appreciat
 his kindness very much"
 "I1 do that and we'll get i
 touch with you as soon as We kno'
 what the decision is.