Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-21
The Truth About Rudolph Valentino
and SPIES.

from spies and the inevitable reporters.
They were always under foot. They
came disguised as hunters or as casual
motorists who had lust driven in to see
the place." but who left promptly when
informed that no visitors were welcome.
RudyS producers. we discovered, were
Keeping close watch on all our move
mentS.
AS 1 have already explained, his pro-
ducers had no love for me. l was an
abominable nuisance who coached him
on what to demand in the way of proper
salary and higher type of pictures
which should give freer scope to his
acting. Not pictures like THE Young
Ratah": that was quite unworthy of mis-
ability, since 1t stressed only his skill
ir love making and his charms with
women. Rudy himself was getting fed
UP on being only the sheik, the great
lover of the screen. He wanted to do
something better.
The terms of the contract he had
made with Famous Players-Lasky gave
him the right to o. K. his picture and
choose the director for its production.
And Rudy had chosen for his next film
Don Caesar of Bezan," for which June
Mathis had written the script. BY the
terms of the agreement, the interiors
for "Dol Caesar" were to be made in
New York but the real location was to
be Spain, a thing which made Rudy
ecstatic, for he was wild to go to Spain.
II we could both sail with my mother
and father, we could still be together
and what pleasure this would mean
for all of us!
Plotted Against Bride.
OF course, as things turned out Rudy
neved did make that picture. 1t was
produced not long after with John Gil
bert in the title role.
RnHy had not hapn in FoYlair lnnU
when kilograms from his producers
showed they were drawing in their horns
on the original agreement They in
sisted he must return to Hollywood and
make his pictures on the coast. This
he refused to do. In his firm refusal
his producers sensed that I was the
dea ex machina at the root of all the
trouble.
So, thought his producers, if they
could devise some clever move to get rid
of me-perhaps ship me to Europe with
my mother-they would have Rudy to
themselves Past experience had taught
them his weakness and how to deal with
him when wasn't there to interfere
Besides. they believed romantic actor
shouldn't have wife. anyway
And what better method of railroad
ing me safely out of harms way than
to start some more trouble during our
vacation at FoXlair, where we were liv-
4IlS uilueI tie SAINT TOOL, CIdp-
eroned to Mother Grundy's own taste
by my mother. Mr.. Hudnut. Gerry and
a whole houseful of servants? If some
new scandal could be limited. they were
well aware that, rather than ruin
Rudys career, I would go to Europe
with mother or Rudy would return to
Hollywood.
In any event, we would be separated,
and that was what they wanted.
lat fIn fA11 iy1ni RNyr
what it is worth. The reader may draw
his own conclusions.
Spy Invades Foxlair.
Foxlair was so secluded, so far re-
moved from civilization, we were not
accustomed to lock doors and windows
at night. 1t had never seemed neces-
sary. But one dark evening toward 9
o'clock one of the maids saw a man
drive up in Ford car, which he parked
In the heavy shrubbery below the
kitchen. This looked a bit suspicious to
her, but, since Mr.. Hudnut was in New
York on business and mother had been
in bed all day with a sick headache,
she did not mention the incident, not
wishing to worry US. However, she
carefully locked the back part of the
house.
After dinner the night grew intensely
dark and heavy showers came on. 1t
was the blacklist night we had had since
we came.
After the storm had passed, Rudy.
Gerry and I we're playing poker in the
big front living room. Through this
room a screen door led to the veranda,
a huge veranda IL feet from the ground
which surrounded the entire house. My
chair at the card table faced this door;
Rudy and Gerry were sitting at my
right and left, so they could not see
what I did.
What I saw made my flesh creep-the
screen door was opening, slowly, eau
tiously into the empty blackness of the
night
Startled as I was, 1 looked back at my
cards and said in a low voice to the
boys:
Don't look up or appear to notice it,
but some one is on the veranda just
saw the screen door open trif1e."
''Nonsense!" said Rudy. Its only
the wind"
But no wind is blowing; it is too
), sultry."
Gerry Fights Intruder.
Then again that ghostly opening of
the door and back of it the outline of
mani So I said in a still lower voice:
"I see man peeping in. Uncle
Dickie's revolver is in his top bureau
drawer. Gerry, you run up and get 1t
and Rudy and I will keep on playing
cards as though we had noticed moth
ing"
Gerry arose, saying nonchalantly,
sits my t;lrn to get the drinks tonight"
and sauntered unconcernedly out of the
room. Rudy and sat there not daring
to look up lest we spoil the neat little
game we had planned, waiting for
Gerry to come back.
But why didn't he come? What had
happened?
we never suspected that, revolver in
hand, he had run quickly down the
backstairs, out the back door and tip
toed stealthily along the veranda to the
front of the house. The first we heard
was Gerry's voice ringing out:
Damn you! Hold up your hands or
I'll shoot!"
He had taken the eavesdropper by
surprise.
the scuffle in the dark that followed.
1t was punctuated by muttered growls,
the thud of heavy bodies-then ST.
lence that seemed interminable and at
last three quick shots. Far out in the
darkness an agonized scream. Then
dead silence.
We both rushed to the window,
shrieking, Gerry! Gerry! Are you
killed."
No answer.
Like a flash Rudy bounded up the
stairs shouting, There's a shotgun in
your mothers room!" I few after him
at equal speed.
Gerry's Been Killed.
Mother. who had retired early, was