The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-20
Is SUN TAN !

You mean--you can't mean act
ing in them" laughed 10.
That's just what I do mean"
snapped Dram. Miss Darien, I
want you to take a screen test
10 could hardly find her voice.
But Its so absurd, Mr.. Dram.
I've never had any experience Not
even in amateur theatricals, and"
So much the BETTER If you
get through a good screen test
if your beauty registers at all and
your voice is passable-I will make
an actress of you. have done that
before, many times. I did it with
Montez."
But, I" 10 broke off, laugh
ing. I'm sure it would be all for
nothing, and even if I could be
an actress I'm not sure Id
want to be-
"Nonsense!" Dram almost yelled
inside the little room. L watched
you at Crest Lake. You are beau
tiful. You are natural. You are
young. want you to be at the
studio tomorrow at 10. Ask for me-"
He got up abruptly, hat in hand.
You'll promise to be there?"
why if Miss Montez wants
it, yes. But I thought she had
something in mind for me in the
office somewhere"
In the of1ce!" Dram repeated
in disgust. You can get nowhere
in the office. Ill see you tomor-
row at 10!"
Then, without the formality of
good-by, the director was gone.
10 stood watching him from the
window, saw him push his heavy
frame behind the wheel of his
roadster. Somehow she wished
Lolita Montez hadn't drawn Silas
Dram into her affairs. Instinc-
lively 10 mistruSted him.
He seemed more like a hC~.tless
machine than man. And 10 felt
that Lolita, in planning to get her
into pictures, was giving her too
great a test. She was sure to fail,
10 felt, and she wouldn't want
to ask Lolita for a second chance.
Its odd she'd want me to 60
into the movies when she herself
hates them So" 10 thought, be-
wildered.
At 10 tomorrow, Dram had said,
at the Atlas lot.
n n
THE man at the big wide gate
l. which guarded Atlas from the
rest of Hollywood was instantly
suspicious. But when 10 gave him
the name of Silas Dram a little
of his suspicion melted-but not
sufficiently to allow him to let her
enter before he had called Dranns
office and verified her appointment.
Once he had determined this, he
was courtesy itself.
Just go right on in, Miss Darien."
he said. Its that big white build
ing to the left there. They'll tell
you where Drann's office is
AS 10 made her way to the ad-
miniStration building of the Atlas
organization she saw none of the
ceaSeless activity she had expected.
All about her we're high enclosing
walls and behind them, she sup
posed, the real picture making
went on. Some of them were dotted
with signs warning, Silence" or
NO admittance," or do not enter
while red light is on" Even the
grass in front of the administra-
ton building was not to be dis
turbed, although the sign was
gentle one, pleading simply,
"Please!' 10 obeyed, directing her
steps to the narrow concrete walk.
She did not have to inquire for
Dram. She encountered him al
most in the entrance way. "Ah!"
he burst out, smiling. Right on
time And punctuality is a first
requisite in this business. Come on.
l want to rehearse you a little"
Taking her by the arm he led
the bewildered 10 across the pave
ment and into small building
which was empty save for a, canvas
chair, a table, and a maze of lights
and wires overhead. Dram plopped
Immediately into the chair.
I'VE won't do much" he said. |
Lets see you walk"
10 looked at him, startled.
Walk, walk! You know how to
walk, don't you? That's good |
Can you smile on order?"
10 found that she could, but her
smile was really genuine for she was
amused at Drann's pompous alb
surdity. Now he handed her a
sheet of paper from his pocket.
Read that. Read it just as if it
were letter you we're reading to
some one-just make it clear and |
understandable.
Her voice trembling little, 10 |
read the typewriter page. Her
hands were shaking so that she
found it difficult to make out the
words.
I'll never do at ALL" she told him,
returning the sheet of paper. I
I'm so scared"
Don't be such a child" Dram
barked. "Therell be only myself
the cameraman and a sound man
there. We've all seen and heard
much worse than you. You want to
keep remembering that you might
turn out wonderfully we'll on the
screen"
1t wasn't, 10 told herself ruefully,
q f7atterinC tbOuobt