Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-10-15

OClCQs
She stretched out a hand to double
up her pillow; desisted at once. For
the pain. suddenly, became an agony
and then, the next moment, her lungs
seemed to be filling up with air-burn-
ing hot air that she could not expel-
air that was torturing her, choking her
and she was conscious Of her heart
beating with dull. heavy strokes, as if
trying to break through the walls of
her chest-and she grew frightened.
She must call Lionel.
She must
"Lionel-O, Lionel."
He sat up.
He heard a rafting noise in her
throat. He switched on the light. He
looked at her.
Why-Loretta-she was sick-sick.
He Jumped out of bed. telephoned to
the doctor-who came, ten minutes
later, examined her, then joined Lionel
in the next room.
He spoke gravely:
Pneumonia"
rs it-dangerous?"
AT her age? Yes. I'm awfully sorry,
Mr.. McDermott. I'll send a nurse
two nurses, day and night. I gave your
wife an opiate. Go in and talk to her
while the drug begins to work. And
don't pull a long face. Cheer her up.
Something in Christian Science, you
know"
Thank you, DR.. Walker"
He went in and sat by Loretta's bed
side. He smiled at her. He held her hot
hand. You love me?" she whispered.
II have never loved anybody else"
Didn't love any of the other women
-ever?"
"Oh, what were they. you silly little
! goose? Models. Types, And you..."
What am ~"
you are you, LOretta!"
God bless you, darling!"
The days that followed were gray,
unhappy.
There was that telegram from Grady
e. Cowan. Tactful indeed. But Lionel
read between the lines. Broadway did
not want him. He shrugged his shoul-
ders. Nor did he blame Broadway. New
gods had risen on the Rialto.
Furthermore, even if Grady & Cowen
had made him an offer, he would not
have been able to go to New York,
with Loretta SO sick.
SickneSs-he considered morosely-
was more expensive than health. The
two nurses, the doctor, the medicines,
the dozen and one i~ncidentals. And, all
the time, the regular living expenses
running on; the bills rolling up, piling
up; the mortgage interest on the house
a week overdue; one or two shoppers
dunning him; his few jewels pawned;
and his bank account down to less than
a hundred dollars.
What was he going to do. -? Dear
Lord-what was he going to do?
Borrow. -?
He blushed at the thought. He, whose
name had once ranked with that Of
Sir Henry Irving, to borrow-like some
cheap ham cadging at the Lambs or
the Players club, telling his oft told
tale of show went blooey on the road
stake me to a ten-spot, will you, dear
lad. -?
No. He could not borrow. Besides,
why should he? He was still Lionel Nc
Dermott, the great realistic actor, and
this was Hollywood where, lately, the
talkies had begun to take the place OF
the silent pictures and where, today,
there was a demand for actors of the
legitimate theater.
He asked the nurses permission to
speak to his wife. He told her what he
had decided to dO-and she gave a
girlish little giggle.
What a joke on you!" she CON-
mented.
why. Pr
Because you've always been SO down
on the movies. But it's all right. You'll
show them in Hollywood-as you did
on Broadway"
I'll try"
She was silent; then demanded in a
low voice:
"A sacrifice-for my sake-isn't it
Lionel. p"
oh"
mo use giving that embarrassed,
self conscious little grunt. I know you,
you old fake" She smiled "Have you
made up your mind which company
to go to?" she continued
IT thought Of Colossal Features. Sol
Katz is the head there. You remember
Sol?"
You mean the little runt who vas
your dresser, thirty years ago, when
you played RicheIieu?"
THE same"
81 do remember him. Such a thin,
serious, specialized youth he a So
eager. And SO frightfully esthetic-al-
ways reading highbrow books behind
the wings. -
But Sol Katz had changed. He was
still specialized and eager But he was
no longer thin or esthetic. Gross he
was, physically and mentally, and sur
feited with success.
He listened to Lionel McDermott.
with rather triumphant amusement he
recalled how once he had trembled
before the actor. Well, he thought, it
was different today. To-day the other
knelt at the throne, %imploring the king
for a favor-and the king would
grant it.
20. X" he said. "Irl give you a job.
OF course, I can't offer you a million.
You're a greenhorn when it comes to
the movies. And your name"
rs forgotten. l know. On the other
hand"-haughtily- I'm an artist.
know my trade, my craft, my"
Jaw. keep your shirt on!' interrupted
the other. "Nobody's trying to throw
asparagus on you. Tell you what I'll do
rD, 49, ~. - x,,~