The Washington times., 1937-10-26

connections, presided over m
where aproned walters stood 6
Toni Webster was always re
ferred to as the composer of thai
phenomenally popular number
I'll Always Be Yours" Once
upon a time. the legend ran, some
girl of the opinion that she rated
star billing as a first appearance
had hexed Toni into using his
royalties for the buyinG OF a play
She must have been disil,
lusioned, however, by the caustic
candor of New York critics on the
subject of her performance. The
show closed after a two weeks
run. Apparently this 4eriod
marked the disappearance OF the
girl from TOMS life.
1t also seemed to have put an
end to hi7 proves for tirelessly
stunning the piano, his long
legs stretched to one side, a c!g-
arctic hanging from his lips while
he ran his fingers through his
unruly blonde locks.
Radio, and the end of sheet
music, helped the demise Of TOMS
earlier tunes. I'll Always Be
Yours" however, fingered on, be-
cause its haunting Tilt brought
tears to the eyes of those with an
inclination toward sentimental
memories.
After a while, when Toni was
no longer able to make any bones
about the fact that he wa, flat
broke, there came to his rescue a
writer he had once befriended
under similar circumstances.
sIGNED CONTRACT
Look here, Toni" said the
scribe, I've just signed contract
with All American PICTURES for
more money than can spend.
tits no gooG my offering you
a couple of thousand; that won't
solve your problem, but I'll open
a place for you where the indus
try can eat, drink and be merry,
without any gapinc5 from visiting
hicks with an urge to see Marlene
Dietrich and Clark Gable at
play"
During one of those nights,
when with blight from a cold Cali
fornia moon, there came to TOMS
q man whose pearlgray suit &C
centuated the girth of his waist
line, while an orange bow tie had
a similar reaction on his chin.
He bore the fatuous grin of one
regretting being perfectly aware
that he might have been better off
without his last drink.
Beside him walked a girl. Her
white Sheathed gown, clinging to
her slender limbs, gave her a look
of nakendesS despite little coat,
high at the throat, to which was
pinned spray of orchids. She
opened her large mouth childishly
and stood still. Obviously she de-
sired to make an entrance.
The room was empty of custom
ers except for a group around a
small table covered with green
felt. serenely occupied with the
shaking of poker dice. for which
pastime Toni kept score
"Blaustein," they murmured
barely acknowledging his greeting,
for it was understood that ace
producers, after midnight under
given circumstances, desire pri-
Vacy.
Blaustein, however, was deter
mined no wrong Interpretation
should be placed on this particular
excursion.
BAD CUPID
playing Cupid" he announced
somewhat wryly, to nobody in par
ticular. Just a bad little Cupid"
he grinned, putting out his two
hands.
The gesture included the girl
and a man, who had meanwhile
stepped quietly behind them, wear
ing his black mustache and we'll
cut tuxedo with equal distinction.
Darling" the girl mUrmured,
putting her arm around Blau-
STEMS neck, you're sweet, but
don't forget I want to play in
Lights Out You know what you
promised" she pouted.
Now. now, Baby, behave" ex
postulated Blaustein, pushing her
gently aside, We've been all over
that part. You know I think the
world of Chris, you like him, he's
crazy about you, and we're driving
out to Yuma in the morning.
you'll be the fourth Mrs. Chris
topher Kerrigan." The three Of
them went into a giggling huddle
at one end of the room.
The rafting of dice ceased fol-
an instant. So this, the players
thought, was But-I-Don't-Always
Marry-Them Kerrigan, the scior
Of the Kerrigan tin mines, whose
marital sprees for the last ter
years had made international con
Versation.
Leaving the girl and Kerrigan
Blaustein walked to the piano
my wife's in Coronado. hoorah
hoorah," he sang, his feet on botl
pedals. This over, he sat himsel