The Washington times., 1934-12-22

drama-and he had to do it with
RembrandteSque care for detail.
But he had learned the magnifi-
cent craft of oil painting.
AS for daily bread, he still did
an advertisement now and again.
These also gave him enough to
buy materials and pay the rent
of the little studio, where he
could work alone, unheralded,
thinking things out in his philo-
sophical, deeply mystical way, un-
hampered by the changing 'isms"
of the day.
ImprOmptu
Stuart had met Sharlene Stand
ring soon after he had established
himself in his little aerie. She
moved in another world, to be
sure-a world Of fabulous wealth
and beauty, a charmed world.
Her home, an estate in Beverly
Hills. Her playground-the big
round earth and the air above it.
A far cry from that to the little
board shack with its artists win
dow to the north, high on Holly
wood hill.
OF course, it could only have
been an accident that made q
meeting possible. It happened
that Lucien Morrow, the motion
picture director, had asked Stuart
to exercise his horse for him, be-
cause the beast ate his head off
and got mean while Lucien was
too busy on q picture to ride him
So Stuart was ambling down the
bride path in Beverly Hills after
he had given the brute a 1O-mlle
workout in the back country, the
reins carelessly hung over his arm
as he lit a cigarette. Suddenly a
siren sounded very near and shrlIl
from the boulevard beside them.
The horse bolted, taking the bit
in his teeth, and jolting Stuart S
foot loose from the stirrup. He
saw, helplessly, that the horse was
streaking straight down the PAIN
with no regard for an automobile
ahead. A powerful roadster was
just turning into the crossroad::
There was yell, grinding OF
brakes, and Stuart hurtleo
through the air and landed IN
the hedge beside the road.
CHAPTER III
Sharlene pulled herself out OF
the drivers seat of the roadster
and ran to him. There was no one
else in that section Of Sunset Bou-
levard at the moment to witness
his ignominious position. He just
lay there on his back, crushing
the bushes, and stared up into the
lovelieSt face he had ever seen
Warmth and sweetness and com.
passion all told in richness OF
color, fineness Of texture, fault
lesSnesS of bone structure. VINO
had dared to paint such exquisite
perfection? Then she Spoke-ano
he realized that she was real
living, breathing, pulsating beauty
"Are you hurt?"
He felt himself experimentally
and started to scramble out Of the
hedge. She helped him and
watched anxiously while ne
stamped his feet and flexed his
arms.
"Not me-" he said cheerfully,
where's the horse? Is he hurt?''
mo. He stopped suddenly just
as his forefeet struck the car
That threw you. Then he went
galloping off into that place down
there with the red tile roof"
That's where he belongs. He's
Lucien Morrow'S horse. I was just
exercising him. reckon he's al
right"
He had turned to look down to
ward Lucien'S house when ne
heard smothered laughter behinc
him.
EXCUSE me-" she said peni
tently, "but there Is a casualty
Your-your breeches-"
He felt Of his rear. The shabby
old fabric had not been able tt
withstand the thorns Of the hedge
and there was gaping hole II
the seat.
stuart burst out laughing anc
the girl, relieved. laughed with
him. -,
"Come on home with me. II
get you sewed UP"
mo, no don't bother. III"
Come on. You need a drinl
ANYWAY. after that spill"
She was already climbing intt
her car, and there seemed to b.