Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-11-09
MORALITY CLAWS
By Rita Wei,nau

early days Of French music hall appear
@klce, With q teau-the female member
@ which had Euatched him Is q his-
band when he was just Is-Raymond
nad captured the dreams Of the SO
called weaker sex.
Re had come 20 America when he
was Is, chiefly 70 escape the tyranny o.
MS wife, and in less than . year had
found himself once more held captive
ny 3 woman. But this time be had been
Khe aggreSsor. They had met IN q
Broadway production. he and Nan.
Both had walk-on parts. Both had am
Difton. Neither Of them had penny.
Iney had fallen madly In love N the
reckless nothing -to-iose fashion OF the
penniless. They had eaten In cafe6erias
In one-arm lunchroumE, In hash houses
or not eaten at all, IS occasion de-
manded. They had slept In rooms Of
cupboard proportions. rooms with sky
light ventilation through which snow
slfted down, rooms without windows,
or not slept sc all because they had
nowhere TO sleep. They had drifteo
along in the tide Of today. certain that
tomorrow would evolve q miracle.
The miracle had come out Of the
shadow world where only such miracles
can shine like miragea across the desert.
Today. as stars working separately,
each had q following that ctrcied the
globe Tomorrow-"Ah. tomorrow the
greatest miracle Of AM" Raymond told
himself as he took the marble stairs
two at q time. That was something 20
put him In good form again. That was
a prospect 10 wipe off the slate al the
irritations OF the day. That was the
ultimate OF all dreams. He was roman
tVs4n a n
He was a Frenehman-and he adored
Nan-and he had always resented the
woman who had him bound by the law
and never in any other way. He had
paid her thousands In hush money.
Over him had hung the sword Of fear
that she might any day descend upon
Hollywood and smash his life 70 splin-
ters
And now the sword was lifted. Nan
and he could do as they pleased. They
could build a nursery
AS he splasl1ed around In the shower
the play of cold water on his brown
head banished WEAKNESS, impatience,
temper. Like the tingling sensation Of
spray the fountain Of his thoughts stip-
ulated q sense Of power. Nobody could
ever again hold q sword over his head.
He was 80, successful. healthful, be-
loved and master Of his destiny.
Going into his bedroom he caught his
reflection IN the mirrored wall. It was
by no means that of an Apollo. Tall,
brawny, the play Of muscle showed
splendid strength. His features were r.
regular, nose slightly arched, Jaw DOM
inant, mouth large, brown eyes alignt
with zest for life. He grinned. It al
ways amused him to think Of himself
as the idol Of women fans even to the
far corners Of the world. He had never |
been able TO understand his popularity. /
Often he questioned what brought the |
bushels Of fan letters. Nan insisted 1t
was a combination Of his gifts as q
lover and his virility. But then Mans |
could hardly be called point
of view limited to the screen.
He put on the white linen shirt and
trousers laid out by his French valet.
They felt cool and soothing against
his bare skin. Raymond never wore TOO
many clothes He liked TO feel his body /
free Freedom was q fetish. The only 4
bond he wanted in this world was the
one about to be forged tomorrow.
Madame was resting, his man In
formed him. RAYMOND went downstairs
without knocking at the door between
their rooms. Better let Nan rest until
dinner. She was making the most OF
q months breathing spell between pic
lures. Tonight they were booked for q
party at Hubert Van D0rn's. Mans ia
vorite director, Hubert, was Dutch and
commemorative. Just as he refused all
Invitations while a picture was IN the
making, so he INDUCED q mania Tor
parties when work was completed. With
Dutch thoroughness, festivities con-
sinued until dawn.
Raymond went out to the terrace and
sipped a Yarmouth Cassis. This par