Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1933-12-21
Publicity?
BY MARTHA KING DAVIS
g. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNU Service

CcuCcS.
He said: whats struck you, old
manT ..,.D ..-....-
There's a woman Just come In.
She's being seated three tables down
on the left"
Ronny smiled. ''Ah-haven't lost
your discerning eye even though you
are a forty-fve-year-old benedict?'
"Not when they're unusual. This
lady Is. She has on one of those knit
ted things-and can wear it. She's not
young-nOt beautiful. Mouth too
large-face too thin. But there's
Observation-Disclosures not a man in
the room who's not given her the once
over. When you can turn a little,
Ronny ="
He shook his head. Don't have to,
Ned. The lady is Avon st. Clair, the
star in that Broadway triumph.
'Blemish.' There was quite a sensa-
| tional story last winter" he broke
off rather abruptly.
go on. I'm interested"
Still he hesitated. II was going to
take you to the show tonight-get
your unbiased opinion, butch well.
1t doesn't matter.
avon st Clair was born in the the
ater-kicked around the footlights
from infancy. When she was eighteen
she married a penniless young sap just
out of college. They had one child--a
son. Lived mighty contented and hap
py for quite a few years. but Of course,
she got the stage fever again. Il end
ed In smash. She went back into
the theatrical world taking her boy,
and the young sap faded out Of the
picture.
"She took her old name-Avon st.
Clair, but somehow. luck didn't come
her way. She finally landed In Holly
WOODLAND one or two successes-then
bad casting in a couple Of rotten
shows.
"She was daffy about her boy-gave
him everything with the usual fatal
results. A couple Of years ago when
the crash came she was left on the
rocks, high andrdry.
Last fall, Jimmy Golding cannily
gave her the lead in 'Blemish.' She
put everything she had into that play
and If times had been good 1t would
have run till the theater fell down.
But you know how things were She
got some darn good write-ups, but 1t
wasn't enough.
"Then one matinee afternoon, COM
ing out of the theater, she was invited
to enter closed car, and that evening
when it came time to shoot the show,
the star was among those missing.
"They got in touch with the son. He
had seen nothing of his mother. The
morning press blazed-'Avon st. Clair,
that fascinating, clever actress in
Broadway's finest production of the
year, mysteriously disappears!
"That night, the son got the usual
badly written. ill-spelled communica-
tion-fifty thousand dollars, to be left
at deserted shanty on Grist Mill
road. and no funny business.
Fifty thousand! Well, It just
couldn't be raised.
sThe son was frantic. He went to
his father. for the sap had become
rather well-knOwn man about town.
He recognized the son for what he
was-a good-for-nothing spendthrift,
but he still did cherish the old love
In his heart for Avon st. Clair. He
agreed to fork over the fifty thousand,
but stipulated that he handle the rack
ct, and he registered a mental resolve
to get those kidnapers or die in the at.
tempt"
Ronny turned to give an order to the
waiter
"Well," I smiled. 81 suppose the hus-
hand VIGOROUSLY landed the gang, amid
the wild applause Of the public, and
the show leaped to 'S r. o. In one
spectacular bound"
Ronny fingered the stem of his glass
ref1ectively.
There's. a bit more to the story. He
did get the kidnaper. There was q
fght-some shooting. and he was
quite badly wounded through the
shoulder. But he got his man-that
good-for-nothing prodigal son."
I gave a little start. His son-ths
kidnaper"
Ronny nodded, with compressed lips.
"A bitter disappointment, but 1t was
made easier for both parents with
their happy reunion" He pushed back
his chair. "Come on, old mani want
you 20 meet Avon"
Before knew what It was all about,
I was standing beside her table.
"Avon-this is Ned Brocton, an old
college chum. He went abroad to
study right after commencement, and
made his home at some little place in
England. This is the first time in
twenty years he's deigned to honor
the land of the Free"
She put her hand in mine. ANY
friend of Ronny's-" she said in low,
vibrating voice.
"I'm going to take him out to the
club this afternoon-show him good
golf course. And tonight I'll take him
to a good show"
She smiled up at me. "Ronny. Is q
grand publicity man." Suddenly, lit
tie frown of worriment came into her
dark eyes. IF you play golf, you'll