The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-26


husband, and I never did"
Mrs. Fragonet's smile was cold
unbelieving. Really" she said,
you're quite a little actress. I'm
surprised you haven't tried the stu
dos" With that she swept past 10
and out of the room.
Fragonet stood looking at 10. his
mouth almost comically agape.
"You-you really feel that way,
Jo?' he asked slowly.
10 nodded. That's the way I
feel. And 1 want you to go, please
and not bother me any more
ever"
Duly she heard the outer door
slam. Then she stumbled weakly
into the half-lighted hall, felt her
way along the wall and up the
stairway TO her room.
NEXT morning Maisie Lester
~ was at the bungalow almost
before 10 was out of bed.
Say. kid MaiSie greeted her,
trying to hide a troubled counte-
nance with one of her wide smiles,
when l hired you I didn't know
you wrecked homes in high places.
Lolita did tell me that Fragonet
was crazy about you and had been
Fostering you. But last night I was
yanked out of my downy couch by
a telephone call from Mrs. Fragonet,
and"
4 know, Maisie. She wants you
to fire me-"
That's the dope. all right"
10 looked at MaiSie questioningly.
do you have to do what she says?"
DO what she says? Of course I
DON'T I own my place and I'll run
it the way I like. Only"
only what, Maisie?"
well she can make it tough
for me. all right And she can make
it tough for you, too
10 looked hard at her slippers.
Maybe we ought to hoist the white
flag, Maisie."
Maisie sat beside 10 on the edge
of the bed put plump arm around
her shoulders. IF you say we fight,
then it's okay with me. 10. If you
can stand all the fireworks, 1 can
stand to lose a little business"
10 shook her head. That isn't
all there is to it, Maisie. If she gets
so wildly jealous that she raises a
row it'll mean bad publicity for At
las. It'd ruin Fragonet and hurt
BoleSon-and it might hurt some of
the persons who have anything at
all to do with Fragonet's pictures.
And hate mesSes, Maisie. I've had
enough of them this summer" She
turned to her stanch employer. L
know you don't like to fire me,
Maisie-so I'll just quit
But what are you going to do?
I know darned well you haven't
saved any money on what I was
paying you"
10 shrugged. "I wish I knew
what 1 was going to do
Wei" Maisie told her philo-
sophically. You can always get a
sandwich and cup of coffee at
my place. That's good thing to
remember in Hollywood"
NTHEN Maisie had gone 10 sat
w duly on the edge of the bed.
trying to pull her scattered
thoughts together. Was there any
| CORNER of uO1Ivuy00I r,,ooro clio
might find new job and be safe
from the vitriolic hatred of Edna
Fragonet? And if there was such a
refuge how would she find it?
Her first thought was of Lolita
Montez. She knew that the actress
would be willing to help her, even
a second time. But 10 knew, too,
what Lolitas advice would be. Get
out of Hollywood" Lolita would
say. Get as far away from Fra
Comet as you can"
Stubbornly 10 held out against
such an idea. She was more deter
mined than ever to stay. I've been
herself, land now I'll make a go
of it some way"
The resolve was easier than its
elimination. AS Maisie herself ad-
mitted, the salary at the sandwich
shop had been little enough. And
10 had imprudently gone from week
to week assuming. as most of us
are prone to assume that once good
fortune comes it will make an in
definite stay
She was still sitting there on the
edge of the bed when her landlady
knocked at the door with her ia
miliar one-two tapping. At JOS in
vitation she entered the room,
showing her surprise that her ten
ant wasn't yet dressed for work
Not feeling we'll, Miss Darien?"
she asked
I'm feeling all right" 10 said
'But-Tm afraid I'll have to move
back into that smaller room. You
see. I've lost my job"
The good woman grunted sympa-
thetically. After all that commo-
ton in the front parlor last night"
she said, L knew something was
going to happen. But here ="
she held out to 10 a telegram
Maybe somebody's wiring you
money"
JOS first thought was not so op-
timistic. Imagining frantically that
something was wrong at home. she
almost Snatched at the envelope.
Tearing both envelope and message
in her haste. she unfolded the tele-
gram and read:
10 Darien
1888 Endohill-Av
Hollywood. Cal
Bret Paul dangerously i'll and ask
ing for you. Imperative you take
plane for Crest Lake at once.
Douglas Marsh.