The Coolidge examiner., 1939-01-26
CHAPTER I-Continued

terrupter's head. 1t was neatly
caught. Read the inside cover"
The advertisement indicated set
forth that Purity Pictures, Inc, was
seeking Undeveloped Genius to
match the Undiscovered Beauty
which another of its Nationwide
Contests was expected to reveal
The two, when found, would be unit
ed in one of Purity Pictures IN
paralleled Productions. To this end
A. Leon Snydacker, President Of
Purity Pictures, Inc, would pay
$4,000 for the best novel, suitable
to perturbation, by hitherto I'M
published author, and the prospec-
tive Queen of American Beauty
would be starred in it.
That's one of the Undiscovered
Beauties" snarled Holmes. "She
wins. 1 lose"
Meaning that you entered that
mug of yours in the contest?"
mo, you fishcake. l sent in a
story for the $4,000 prize. 1t was
my magnum opus, rewritten to suit
movie requirements. And what hap
pens? Back it comes and socks me
in the Jaw" He made a furious ges-
ture toward an envelope, bullying
fatty on the mantel. Kelsey's glance
followed.
But you haven't opened it."
81 can smell a rejection slip
through a stone wall. Open it, your
self, if you don't believe me-"
Kelsey did so. A pink paper fell
out. The reading jury regrets to
report. " he began
What did 1 tell you'll" grunted
the author.
His companion read the title-page.
Love Beyond Sin by Templeton
.Sayles. Is that your pseudonym?"
Its the one I was saving for the
magnum opus" was the sullen re-
ply.
so this is Maggie the Ope, is
it?"
1T is not. It's Maggie the Ope's
slightly illegitimate offspring. Flos-
sic the Flop"
IT'S swell title, anyway" Kel-
sey opined. Love Beyond Sin.
What does it mean?"
ut doesn't mean anything" said
the author drearily. Its a movie
title"
The other dropped into chair
and began to read.
You've got plenty of action
here"
Action, mystery. threat, sus-
pense, sex, local color, blood, sur
prise, sentiment, mother-love, bunk.
tripe and ollagawallah."
You certainly can ladle it out!"
commented his admiring reader.
How about this? 'Featherston fixed
her with his coolest stare. 81 know
all about women" said he, and his
voice rang like a bugle, bearing
challenge and reproof.' Say, Mart,
how do you get reproof out of a
bugle?"
Don't read that foosh to me-"
yelled its author.
"All right. I'll read it to myself.
1 think I'll read all of it."
Then you're a hog for punish
ment. Better chuck it into the fire."
Aren't you going to sell it some
where else?"
Where? I'd take plugged nickel
for it this minute
Haven't got one on me at the
moment But I'll consider your prop
osition."
Consider it out in the barn, will
you, KelSe?" He adjusted his ma
chine.
Bearing his burden through the
rain, the guest settled down to Sc
rious perusal. 1t was pretty awful,
he decided. Yet through the murk
and fume of hifalutin verbiage there
thrust the structure of an authentic
dilQ 11NSAyB IL SOll4SWIldb III SdQDaTe,
plot.
1t was mid-afternoon when Kelsey
trotted back to the house with Flos-
sic the Flop beneath his arm.
Loud cries of Author! Author!'"
said he.
Have I at last found my Public?"
demanded Holmes satirically.
'Tve read it all. And I really
think you've got something"
The author regarded him with af-
fectionate pity. Then all have to
say is that as an editorial reader
you're a rising young architect"
Nuts to architecture! I'm off it
for a couple of months, by orders.
AS my naturally active intellect has
to have something to bite on, I've
decided to go in for literary specu-
lation." He tapped the manuscript.
I'm buying"
you've bought. Hand over the
nickel"
mo; I'm serious. I'm buying, for
five hundred dollars"
you're crazy"
"All right. I'm crazy. But my
check isn't"