The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-24
HELENHAYESPLAYS
SPECTACULAR ROLE
IN MIXED ROMANCE
Mother Of Act of God Baby
Sued For 100000 BY
Husbands Former Wife
CHARGED WITH ALIENATION
Chicago Newspaperman and
Pretty Movie Critic Figure
In Sensational Case

Editors Note: This is the Sec
ond of a series of six stories de-
failing glamorous romances that
have marked true love triangles
OF 1892, a subject made timely by
the three -cornered Libby Hol-
man-Smith Reynolds-"Ab" Walk
er tragedy in North Carolina. The
remaining stories will follow
daily.
Copyright 1882, NEA Service. IncD
"Broadway's brightest star who
became the mother OF the celebrated
"Act of God" baby
A Chicago newspaper reporter who
rose to fame as playwright, CO.
author of Lulu Belle" and The
Front Page
A girl movie critic on the same
newspaper who was the playwrights
first wife and who is now suing his
second, the actress, for 100000 on
the accusation that she is love pi-
rate
These are the three persons who
stand today at the points of real
life ''love drama" as intense as any
footlight drama in which the famous
actress ever appeared, which the
noted playwright ever wrote or which
the girl movie critic ever reviewed.
Since these three principals have
,t-it1 tho fhnofnr
1t might be well to introduce them to
the reader in that manner and tell
their story as it might be unfolded
on the stage in three-act play.
Here is the cast of characters:
The Girl Movie Critic. .........
Carol Frink
The Playwright. .......
Charles Macarthur
The ActreSs-Love Pirate. ........
northumberland Helen Hayes
Time: 1892, with earlier scenes
going back to 1920.
Supporting cast: Helen Hayes
'Act of God" baby. newspaper
workers, other playwrights,
Broadway night life figures,
divorce attorneys, judges and
a deputy sheriff who serves
the papers on Miss Hayes in
the 100000 suit.
Now go on with the plot of this
drama from real life.
ACT
It Is August, 1920, and the scene
Is in q Chicago newspaper office.
Charles Macarthur, the up-and-com-
ing young reporter, and Carol Frink,
an attractive girl reporter who occu-
pies the adjoining desk, decide to do
something they have been planning
for long time-elope to New York
and wed secretly. They do, and
Charles father, the Rev. William T.
Macarthur, performs the ceremony
In a little church around the corner
from Broadway.
Perhaps Charlie and Carol do not
know-certainly, neither cares-that
just then rising young actress is
playing in Mary Roberts Rhinehart S
"Bab" at the Park Theater and get
ting her name in the electric lights
for the first time. The latter is Helen
Hayes, who had been child prodigy
under Lew Fields, the comedian, and
had played in "Pollyanna," "Penrod,'
Dear Brutus" and Clarence" with
increasing success.
The happy newlyweds return to
Chicago, their marriage still a secret
to their newspaper associates. Even
tually. the secret leaks out. Charlie
says they are tremendously happy
Carol says the same.
Charlie decides to become a play
wright, Carol promises to help him
She will work and support them while
he writes plays. They are happy for
a time and then Charlie grows irrit-
able Carol grows irritable, too
Charlie becomes temperamental, de-
claring that he cans write unless al
lowed to sit on the floor beside his
wife's bed and pound on his type
writer while she tries to sleep. Even
tually he finishes writing Lulu Belle
and departs for New York in search
Of producer. Carol quits her jot
and goes with him, perhaps some
what reluctantly for $50 she later
declareO on the night of their we'd
ding anniversary in 1922 he had at.
tackled her with his fists because he
didn't like her dress and in April OIL
that year had chased her out of the
house at midnight when she com.
planned his bedside typewriter dis.
turbed her.
ACT II
It is September, 1923, and Charlie
and Carol have drifted apart. She
Is working on Boston newspaper
he is meeting with increasing success.
as playwright in New York and i.
now familiar figure in Broadway
night life. Carol returns to Chicago
where she files suit for divorce.
The scene shifts now to the roo,
bungalow Of Edward Sheldon, the in.
valid playwright who collaboratee
with Charlie in making Lulu Belle
q success. Helen Hayes, the actress
calls with flowers for the afflicted
author and there meets Charlie. HI
escorts her to her car. Romance be.
gins.
Charlie and Helen Hayes are nov
seen together frequently. Helen ha.
risen to stardom, through Boott
Tardngton's "The Wren," and such
other plays as ITO the Ladies'" wv.
10derns," "She Stops to Conquer
and Dancing Mothers" Just Al
present she Is playing the slinky
Egyptian to Lionel Atwill in Caesar
and Cleopatra" at the Guild Theater
ACT III
Il II the autumn Of 1928. Carol
sglit for divorce, filed in 1923, hal
boon Z long way through the courts
IN june, 1875. Carols decree wa
granted, but afterward she insisted
that Il WAS entered against her vii
ana over her objections. In July
lo97. the appellate court sustaines