The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-15
NEW YEARS LOVE
BY ANGELA Lorden

OedutIIui! the pTOQuceT RESPOND.
ed with emotion In his voice.
There would be several days be-
fore she would hear from the
screen test: In the meantime
there were any number of people
she could call. The directors she'd
worked with, the players who'd
snatched at movie contracts-the
writer's she'd known in her strug-
Cling days back East. She didn't
want to see any of them.
Most of the time she had her
meals ir the hotel suite. When
Anita called she was always busy.
All the time Noel waited she had
a feeling she wouldn't like to stay
in Hollywood. But it was security
that was Important Saying it
to herself, she realized that in the
past years she'd snatched at diff
ferent kinds of security - and
thrown them away.
Perhaps that was what made
her decide. One morning she
awakened, disturbed, restless She
called Criterion Studios, was con-
nected with Feigel's secretary.
"Fm flying back East today"
she announced.
Vehement protests assaulted her
from the other end of the wire.
But, Miss Marchand," the girl
protested, 1--WE haven't a report yet
on your test. You can't do that!"
she shouted.
''Fm leaving" Noel was serious.
Without saying goodby to Anita
Swanstrom, Noel took the plane
back to New York. She landed at
Newark Airport early in the morn
ing, with no one to meet her. AS a
matter of fact. there was no place,
especially, for her to go. She drove
to the plaza. registered, was shown
to her room. and waited-for MOTH
ing. II
She had some coffee and toast.
The room was warm, so she put on
her hat and went down in the
street. walking across the plaza to
Fifth Avenue The wide street
seemed deserted. People walked
along yes, but as though weighed
down with summer inertia. Noel
walked locks eastward and
stopped IN front of Denise's shop.
She had a sudden desire to talk
with Elsie Grant.
Weakness And Strength
CHORTLY afterwards they were
- sitting together in a small tea
room a few doors from the shop.
ElSie was so imbued with her own
thoughts she forgot to ask Noel
about herself. After they'd order
ed, she confided to Noel:
'Pm going to be married next
month. He's not making much
money-but he's so brilliant"
"Who is hep" Noel wanted to
know.
Tommy Sheldon" Elsie ex-
planned with a glow in her eyes,
which Noel envied.
Tommy? How wonderful"
Mel was seeing Tommy as some-
one quite different from Elsie, the
stole. Tommy with his weaknesses
Elsie with her strength. y
Il think it's grand" she told
Elsie.
After she left her, Noel was
lonely. Elsie had Tommy: Anita
had Douglas. Everybody in the
world, except her. belonged to
someone. She was so alone now.
Because Noel had promised
Feigers secretary. she called the
Criterion offices in New York.
Told them where she was staying
land thought how silly, as if any
thing would ever come out of that
stupid screen lest.
After dull evening alone in the
suite-eating her salad for dinner,
wondering what to do with her
time. Noel awoke to hot summer
morning. She wished she were
back in Gatona At least it was
cool there-and peaceful.
The morning. papers carried no
advertisement for Susan is Wait
ing" That was strangel On i'm
pulse. Noel took cab down to
the Dryden Theater. The house
had deserted look. as of hope
fully waiting for a new tenant.
The sign for Susan is Waiting"
was still there, a bleak dusty out
line in the unlighted bulbs. Old
Joe would be at the stage door.
A strange man lolling in the alley
looked at her suspiciously as she
approached.
"Are any of the Susan is Wait
ing company lnslde?" Noel asked
politely.
eft closed last week." came the
Indifferent reply.
Suddenly Noel knew she had to
see Douglas Swanstrom. He would
be able to help her. She would tell
him about seeing Anita in Holly
wood-about the screen test she'd
taken at Criterion Studios.
On the way over Noel met Ger
aid Foster.
hello, Noel!" Gerald was OBJ
viously delighted at the meeting.
what about the play?" Noel
had to know quickly.
"Just one of those things" Ger
aid had the actors pretense Of
philosophical acceptance ''One
week the business was swell. Sud-
denly il Just petered out - and
there We were back on the pave.
ments again | suppose we should
be grateful for having it last as
long as it did" s,a
At the Swanstrom offices, Doug
las secretary greeted Noel cordial
ly. not hiding her surprise at the
unexpected visit.
'Is Mr.. Swanstrom in?" Noel
asked casually. Douglas spent
most of his days and nights in the
Office. she knew.
"He left for Hollywood on this
mornings plane" was the dismay-
ing news.