The Coolidge examiner., 1934-06-22

thlckly peopled. for be had purpose
ly chosen the busiest luncheon hour.
Haf the men IN Hollywood had
BEEN trylng for a date with the
little ariE,ccrat from kenturky
ever since her arrival. and bis sue
cess Sas worth a flourish.
ward paused Just inside. os,en-
Elbly seeking a table.
The golden-halrcd beauty beside
him eluug close with gratifying IA
niliari;y. Suddenly be saw a man
emerge from a nearby booth and
come toward them. II was Al Al
berts % the scenario stan at Zenith.
Ward started a cordial greeting
but checked Il At sight OF the others
unSmlllng face.
Aiberts confronted him and said
evenly:
"See here. ward: you're trespass-
ing. Miss Blair promised me a
luncheon appointment today"
Ward laughed shortly.
'Dont - absurd. old fellow" he
rejolned, you're Just trying TO at
tract attention.
NO: I'm entirely serious must
ask you 90 withdraw"
Prom the corner of his ere Ward
could sce a number Of persons
watching iuiercstedly. Among them
he recognized the Glm editor OF n
leading afternoon paper. A Wild
impulse was born. lie glanced
swiftly az the girl: her cheeks we're
ooloring and a naughty little seowl
crinkled her forehead.
That decided him.
SnaichinE a napkin from the
nearest table. be wheeled and
slapped II Smarily across the Alberis
face.
Take that. yon insolent whelp!-
he shouted with unnecessary vol
ume. This aTront 20 mademolselle
can only be treated as an affair OF
honor"
Eyes blazing. the scenarist cried:
Very well. sir: am at your Serv-
Ice
Silently Ward npplauded the
speech. II ft the scene be had AZ.
tempted TO create with nlcety. lie
made q brief stlG bow and said:
Excellent. I invite you 10 come
with me at once and make the ar
ranEemenis. This must be kept pri-
vate 20 avoid interference"
Good. I accept
Ward faced Margaret Blair.
she was larEe-eyed now. and he
thought be could detect excited ap-
proval In her expression.
"wlil you he asked. "have the
goodness TO forgive me II leave
you with q friend here and goi Ny
hot blood can't tolerate such insult.
ing conduct"
-Oh. suahlyl" Her tone implied
FUN understanding. You have 20
DO that now. ot co'se."
Approaching the newspaper man.
Ward said:
Melvin. I'd be deeply obliged II
you'd see that Miss Blair has lunch
and gets back 10 the studio
The editor rose. beamlng. -okay
be very happy"
Ward about-faced and with Al
berts matching step. stalked from
the place. happily conscious that all
eyes followed.
Fifty PAGES the two men marched
In silence: then:
Have you ever handled a swordT
Ward demanded bluntly. The other
shook his head.
Never even held one"
Neither have l. Wen have 10 fg-
ure some way around H. That was
too good an act back there not 20
carry on
~Tll say so, How did you hap
pen 10 think OF striking me with
the napklnl That was real genius. -"
"oh. because Maggie Blair was
there. guess. Old southern ges-
ture. and all that. But the hest
thing was the way you approached
me. What suggested thatf"
-well. she really did promise TO
have lunch with me; and then.
saw Melvin and thought how he'd
Ike a nice spicy story"
Il got H. Same reason I chai-
lenged you. Now I've been consId-
ering. and here's what think might
work out best :"
Al Alberts gave scrupulous atfen-
ton. When the other concluded, he
stated with emphasis:
Great That's the one plan that
can save our faces and stlll be
straight. Let's get 'em right now.
and then we can 20 10 my apart
ment for the art work"
Right" Ward glanced back.
made certain they weren't followed,
and hailed a cab. Both men got
In Ward told the driver:
Great Western Costume COM
pany."
Five minutes drive through the
scant midday traffic reached the
place. Entering. they went at once
10 a long desk Just Inside: over II