The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1934-01-16
Chapter Five
INTRODUCING SPIN


TT WAS natural that Grahame be
4 asked to come to Hollywood on
an opportunity contract. 1t was
natural that he should accept it.
Grahame was quite willing that he
be found" He loved the jungle: he
would always love 1t. but civiliza-
tion had begun to take on more
substantial glamor that he had ever
thought possible.
He would always feel poignant
ache at dawn or at sunset. In Holly
wood fiocks of parrots do not spin
like vivid green wheels against
background OF old rose. smooth sa.
vannahs do not shoulder between
sullen walls OF jungle. nor do strange
flower scents wrap you when you
sleep.
Nevertheless Grahame liked cit
les. or at any rate. this one. He had
discovered two old buddies among
the flying stunt-men. Another had
gone native" and played heavies.
These spoke of still others that he
would remember knowing well be-
fore he quit plotting planes for
plotting jungle expeditions = per
sonable, adventurous fellows that
he had known in far corners. with
whom he could yarn in vainglorious
exaggeration.
He was about to make his decision
to stay when he met Janice Kent.
AS. he helped her from her car
and across the lawns to her Beverly
Hills house he was sure that this
accidental meeting was about to add
pleasant finality to this decision.
A maid took his hat from him
within the entrance. Janice Smiled
toward him as she mounted the
stairs.
"Ill be down in minute or two"
she said. I'll phone Mr.. Greene in
the meantime"
In the drawing room. standing be-
fore the open fireplace. Frank thrust
his upturned palms toward the
cracking logs. It seemed incongru-
Gus in these tastefully appointed
surroundings of civilization to allow
himself to think Of sinister shadows
OF furtive pursuit: yet frown OF
distracted reflection remained on
his forehead.
Thong tfully he rubbed at the
slight soreness of his right knuckles
He could not drive away the mental
image OF the vulture-like profile
Swallowed on the studio window
Some dim memory family stirred
obscure as the hushed pulse Of Q
native drum felt. rather than heard
across miles Of jungle
GRAIlAME. home In his apart
~ ment. stared moodily at the
afternoon paper on his lap. With an
angry gesture he pushed away the
paper and stood up. He turned tc
another man seated where a west
erTy suns rays slanted in.
"Tell me. Spin," he said. "You
know this racket out here. What In
hell do they mean by publishing all
this tripe? | called you over here
FIVE minutes after bought this pa
per. You work for Myberg and the
Consolidated: SO does Janice. and SC
Isuppose. does this little liar Greene
Looki Z. He kicked the paper to
ward the other.
Spin Winslow grinned. He did
not glance at the paper but contem
plated with loving absorption the
contents Of his tall glass.
What's. It say? You tell me
Frank. Did Greene say you fought
desperately with q undertakings
and snatched the swooning Janice
from their hairy clutches?"
Grahame sported. Something like
that, only worse. thought there was
something phony about that little
ant when I met him last night. He
asked me II ] had any baby pictures
Baby pictures! He had the CUTS
about two o'clock today-to phone
and ask about them again !. said
he wanted them for an article be
was calling. 'Babyhood Romance
Flowers In Tragedy ! thought be
was Kidding, but bought this paper
just to see." He laughed frostIly
"But he wasn't"
Moreover it said that Miss Kent
was confined to her bed with shock
She was all RICH. when ! left her last
night--nnless Greene shocked bel
with an outline Of what he was go
ing TO write today. phoned today 70
find out II she really was III :. She
a fraiI. delicate little thing"
wi1sTow laughed Enthusiastically