Evening star., 1933-08-14


trancing amber. A nuSh OF ex-
pectancy fell over the big the
ater. Mary sat on the edge OF
her seat and grlpped her little
hands tightly together. Ihe ortheSLfa
played Overwhelmingly, from The
Pink Lady:
ITO you. beautiful lady, I raise
my eyes
At last the Parade Of the ManikinS
was on. MaryS FIRST fashion show.
She started to clap her hands with JOY
Then. remembering where she was, she
sat back with a discreet little S!gh ano
smiled happily to herself
And to little Mary the girls grew
more and more peautiful-the gowns
more and more gorgeous, until by the
time the tall pencil-Slender platinum
blond came on in the silver evening
wrap trimmed with fur, her breath was
almost gone.
She Just had to have some one to
share it all with. She just had tor
Shed explode So. tlmldly she turned
with a hopeful little smile to the red
haired girl sitting beside her.
Isn't she lovely? She's Just too BEAU
tiful to be real person, isn't She?
The redhead turned, flashing large
teeth in a friendly grin.
Don't bet your mad money on It, sis
ter. or you'll walk home. I've seen her
with her pan laid up for repairs-and
her hair off"
"Y-you've WHAT"
There was complete mystification in
Mary's voice. The redhead caught it
and peered closely at her in the hall
light Her grin grew still wider as Mary
stared innocently back at her. Then
she giggled:
Take it you're a stranger in these
her now woolly wildish hltnerlands
known as HOLLYWOOD"
Yes, l am" Mary forced shaky
IHlgh. Can you tell 1 don't belong
h6fe-even in the dark?'
"Honey chile I sho can tell you all
halls from somewheah below the
Mason-Dixon line. Vas subj
The strangers gross exaggeration OF
Mary's Southern drawl sent hot flush
of resentment to her face. She turned
coldly and gave all her attention to the
models on the stage. But the redhead
didn't seem to notice she was being
squelched.
Having been given an inch converse
tionally she meant to take the whole
mile. For talking was by no means
her smallest accomplishment. Mary
listened stifly while she babbled on.
Sure! 1 wasn't kidding when said
knew that platinum blond model with
the silver wrap. Her names Sara Colt
She's only an extra girl--in pictures
And so are almost all those babies. II
they're not in luck to get whole week
steady work out OF this show! Ihey II
eat for change"
Marv was dying with curiosity, de-
spite her peeve. This girl, this red
headed stranger, was really one Of the
charmed circle that went to make up the
glamorous little bit Of world known to
the hungry outsider as Movieland. The
lights went up for intermission and she
turned to her stll babbling companion
TT must be wonderful to really know
the moving picture peOple-liks you
lo"
She hoped that would encourage the
girl to talk more. The redhead sisgleo
Again. CONTAGIOUS. delightful, friendly
eaggle, and settled down to another
monologue. ~,
YOU get wtse to EN-. But-as 1 said
before, when you've seen EN- with their
fixes laid up for repairs IN tissue
cream and rubber chin props-you
kinda stop believing IN Santa Claus
Il YOU see EN- ironing wrinkles out one
day and Dragging about being l6 the
next-well!"
Mary giggled. too:
That would be funny
She stole better look ut her COM
panion as brighter lights came up
Then her breath caught and her eyes
grew wider.
"why-you're IN actress" she blurt-
ID out childishly. 1--WE seen you on
A1e screen. I'm sure I have
The redhead struck a dramatic pose
belied only by the twinkle in her merry
blue eyes.
Discovered! Oh. my deah public'
II knew you by your freckles the
minute the lights got bright. YOU
you're" Mary fioundered helplessly
"You're-oh. dear! 1 just can't think
Of your name But you are movie
actress, aren't you?"
Marys face was glowing with a
thrilled. happy look of childish wonder
The girl gazed in amusement at her
enthusiasm before she laughed with q
shade Of embarrassment.
"Oh, yeah-I've been in Q couple OF
pictures. But don't feel too badly
about not remembering my name. Be-
cause it's never been billed"
Suddenly. Mary remembered.
Il know 1t was last week. You
sang that funny song, IN Be Coin
NOW, Ill Auulc hlOlIs- AuuiC
In the short-yeah. That was Mrs
Bryan's little hopeful My names
Frances Bryan. But no one has ever
called me anything but Freckle. So
took it for a stage name. too"
Mine is Mary Mansfield Sawyer"
Now that we've been properly in
troduced-" Freckle began with an
other giggle, which Mary decided was
really more like an infectious laugh
How are all the folks down on the ole
plantation? How's nah old mammy?
Mary did not resent burlesque OF
her dialect this time. She laughed
with Freckle
Il just got in last evening. They
were right smart and kickin' when
left last Friday"
Freckle looked Mary over apprais-
II suppose you came out to Holly
wood to be q movie Star-and you look
about 16." she said wisely.
Me q movie star! Don't make me
laugh Why. 1 couldn't act to save my
poor soul Not if my life depended
on it," Mary declared with grave
earnestnesS.
Freckle stared at her incredulously
Then she reached out gingerly and put
light, manicured and red-tipped
finger on Mary's hand.
Let me touch you. just let me
touch you"
Mary drew back-mystified. Then
Freckle gulped and did a perfect imi-
tation of collapse in the seat.
Don't let me wake up! Please don't!
I've touched-really touched. beauti-
full girl who comes to Hollywood and
admits she isn't the worlds greatest
actress Now I can die. I've seen
everything. Good -by-cruel world!'
Mary's laugh was little uncertain
Was Freckle BRYAN, perchance-makine