The Washington times., 1931-02-06
CHAPTER II

saw William Desmond Tay-
lor on many occasions, as we'll
as his valet, who disappeared
simultaneously with his en-
ployer's tragic death.
An ideally handsome man,
Taylor used to come out of his
house with his puttees and
knickers. all dressed for the
lots, and climb into his nifty
roadster while I stood enviously
gaspiI1g, across the street.
He was very important ap-
pearing and frequently smiled
at me as though he would like
to get acquainted, If I would
give him a little encourage
ment. The Lord knows I was
dying to do so and I spent
about half my time before the
mirror in our flat, trying to
carry on a filtration with him.
I. would roll my eyes with
my best come hither" look,
and carry on imaginary CONVEX
sation with him for a half hour
at a time. I would have it all
figured out; exactly what I
would say to him the next time
I saw him, and then, when op-
portunity came, and he flashed
me that winning smile, I'd get
cold feet. I simply was not a
flirt.
Returns Once More
Then I moved away, but
through some strange coinci-
dence, years later, after I had
become a star and had been
twice married and separated
from my second husband, I was
again living in the very same
neighborhood when the great
director was murdered.
And, stranger still, Marie,
with whom I have always re
manned friendly. happened to
be visiting me in my apartment
at the time.
Never shall I forget that
tragic day. Like everybody else
in the neighborhood, we joined
the curious throngs that gath
cred as near as the police would
allow them, on every side OF
the slain directors house.
We saw Mabel Normand drive
up. AS / recall it, Edna Pur-
Vance, Charlie Chaplin's lead
ing lady, was with her. My
heart was torn with pity for
Mabel, for I had heard that
she was tremendously in love
with Taylor. And she had been
kind to me on the sole oc-
casion I had been in contact
with her.
So far as that goes, I felt
terrible, myself, for although
I had never actually known
him, I once was head over heels
in love with him, too. Mabe!
was inside quite some time and
when she came out, her face
was tear stained and her Shout
ders shook with body-wrack-
sobs.
A little later, Mary Miles Min
ter came by.
She, too, was weeping hys-
terically.
A constant stream of news
paper reporters and camera
men passed in and out, and it
was due to their patient ex-
plantations that the motley
crowd outside was kept Informed
of what was transpiring with
In the murder house.
There was one particular re-
porter who was extremely kind
to Marie and I. Every time
there was a break" he would
dash up and tell us OF the
new developments. He was a
handsome youngster-1 never
learned his name-and 1
promptly forgot my love for
Taylor and that I was mar
ried woman. Ever a roman
ticist in my heart, was ready
to 90 in a big way for my
handsome reporter.
a NOmaHCC ESCNC0ACW
But, alas. This romance was
of short duration, lasting but
q few hours. He did some
thing that caused me to turn
away from him in loathing and
disgust.
He spat tobacco juice on the
lawnp
All my life I had been, and
still am, completely unnerved
by the sight of man chewing
tobacco, although I myself
smoke cigarettes. It so sick
ened me that I prevailed upon
Marie to leave the solution OF
the mystery-and apprehension
of the murderer-to the police.
We returned home and I
never saw my handsome re-
porter again.
But getting back to my story,
after my exciting experience
and the ensuing lean months,
good fortune finally smiled on
me once more.
Somebody told me that Da-
vid Wark Griffith, then head
of the Fine Art studios, was
seeking new talent. I hurried
there. When arrived the
Outer waiting room was crowded
to capacity with men, women
and girls, all of whom. appar-
emily, had received the same
tip.
For hours stood there, on
the outside of the group. My
legs felt like crumbling be-