Evening star., 1932-07-03

dog-or 90 TAX 70 Joe. IN pe over as soon as
can"
Nap looked disappointed, which kind of made
me feel bad Besides was dying to hear the
story. but couldn't let Joe down, so I went
on dishing out food and coffee and cutting
pies. Nap went over and talked to Joe and
when I had few minutes to spare went
over and heard the story.
Well, guess Nap knew what he was talking
about when he told us he was good because 1t
seems that the minute Gibbons had seen the
test, he had signed Nap up and he was to go
to work In Gibbons new picture and Nap said
it was even better part than the one he
would have had in Bulls and Bears"
Besides, Gibbons had seen that he had an
advance on his first weeks salary and Nap
finally left us so he could settle up with his
landlady and get back his clothes and have
place of his own again. He went out the door
with gay "I1l be seem va"
I looked after him for few minutes and
then said to Joe: Maybe so, and maybe not"
Sure" Joe said quietly he'll be around"
Joe was right. OF course, when Nap began
working on the picture we didn't see so much
of him, but he used to drop in quite lot in
his spare time. And lots Of times he'd bring
me flowers or candy. He sure was thoughtful
and appreciative.
The press agents over at the studios were
beginning to build him up with q lot of news
paper publicity. Nap had lots of good laughs
at the accounts which spoke about him as the
popular New York juvenile"
Popular hell" he said. II was about as
popular as the plague around here for two
years"
Nap could always laugh at himseif-that is,
all except that once when he just forgot how
to laugh
"I went through hell" he told me one night,
"and didn't make the grade, and I had the
same stuff in me then that have now, but
they couldn't see me. It's just the breaks,
Col lly ha me
I've got my shock absorbers on tighti'
The day Nap found out that Reckoning
Stars" which was the name Of the picture he
was in, was to open at Grauman's Chinese
Theater with its first-night audience of real
stars and would-bes. orchids and gardenias,
sable and ermine, Hispano- -Suizas and Rolls
Royces electric blaze and microphones, pro-
logues and speeches, thought he'd just about
blow up the coffee shop when he came over to
tell us about 1t.
Say" he said suddenly, will you 60 with
me to the opening?"
Well for once, I was taken right of my
feet. Me. at an opening night. from the inside
looking outl
"oh, Nap. can't" finally stammered at
haven't the clothes and-oh, no, I just
couldn't"
Wen buy you some clothes" he said eagerly
"Oh, no you DON'T" fared up Nobody
ever bought my clothes for me except my
mother when was young, and nobody's going
to start now!"
"All right, wise girl" Nap jibed gently buy
your own clothes! But, remember, this is Nap
talking, not motion picture. You don't have
to put on an act for me. Just let me attend
to that part Of It," And he gave me big,
grin, and here was that devilish twinkle IN his
eye, and didn't quite know whether TO sock
him or to kiss him.
However, compromised by just grinning
back
Say, listen. Sally" he told me, "just in that
blue dress with that cute little cap and apron,
you can beat most Of the movie ingenues I've
scent"
Sure" cracked back, but I can't wear
this to theater. wise guyi"
Well" he said, you've got something else,
haven't you?"
"Um-yes." I did have a new lace dress that
was awfully cute.
Then for the love of mud, what's all the
shooting for Put 1t on and come along"
didn't ten Joe about 1t because Nap hadn't
mentioned anything about him, and knew
Joe would probably feel q little hurt.
1t was just as wen didn't, because the day
before the opening OF the picture Nap just sort
Of sneaked in and sat at the counter He looked
miserable. I asked him what was wrong.
He looked at me pleadingly: Gee, Sally, /
don't know how to tell you. It's not my fault.
honestl But they just told me at the studio
that was expected to 60 to the opening with
Lefty Deane and Gibbons"
Lefty Deane was being featured in Gibbons
picture along with Nap
Going hgh-hat?" said insultingly, more to
relieve my own feelings at hearing 1t was
nothing worse
Maps face famed. II knew you'd say that"
he said hotly. But It's not true. I have to do
it. Gibbons told me so. I'm sorry but don't
know what else I can do"
| HADN'T really meant to be unpleasant OF
] course, Nap couldn't help it. knew it, but
I'm telling you I've seen so many of these ham,
and-eggers, who have had their coffee-and from
me. 60 so high hat that they expect you to 60
down on your knees before them and it's gotten