Evening star., 1942-01-25

ulOO1l4ys 119 Il8Q " UhCll lWU kIU~
e alone and to be Indifferent to his
to that beau Of yours-Bruce some
thing?"
Livia did not answer. She did not
want to think about Bruce Just
now.
Fordyce was half an hour late.
II was kept at the studio" he
told her. He omitted to mention q
row he had had with Schneider.
III didn't believe in tie damn
picture 20 much, I'd walk out" ne
told Schneider. They compromised.
Ahce's role was to overshadow the
rest, but not as much a. she had
wanted.
Lets go to the beach," he said
to Livia. There's q good restau-
rant near Malibu."
Livia ls Cautious.
He knew the proprietor Of the
place. 1t was unfrequented by pic
ture people. Mostly bookmakers and
race touts gambled in the back
room, which was strictly private.
The chauneur's back was square
and wide, and seemed protective to
Livia when Fordyce, with an auto
matte gesture, took her hand,
turned 1t up and kissed the palm.
"Sh!" she whispered, indicating
the chauffeur.
"Oh, Donald? He's deaf, dumb
and blind" said Fordyce, and Livia
was less convinced Of the protective
qualities Of the drivers back. But
she must not get angry. A word
from him and their jobs were safe.
Charles put his arm around her
waist and drew her to him. He
meant to kiss her lips, but Livia's
sudden twist gave him her cheek
instead. Type No. 3. he decided.
He classified all women into
three groups the very easy, the
easy and the less easy. With the
latter group, you usually let them
have dinner first. He was q good
talker and unlike most executives in
Hollywood, read books as well as
scripts.
II really would Ike you to see
my library" he told her and laughed.
Il mean really to see the books"
He had many first editions, among
them a red, leather-bound complete
set of Dickens for which he had
paid $3.50. And 1t was a bargain" l."
The dining room was empty.
''You remind me of some one," he
said suddenly. They were half way
through the meal.
IAN actress?" Livia asked. She
wondered II she reminded him Of
Earl Dixon.
II guess so," he said slowly.
I'm supposed to be a cross be-
tween Greer Carson and Josephine
Hutchinson" she smiled.
Livia Asks Chance.
The red California wine warmed
her cheeks and eyes. He brought his
chair closer to her and held her
hand. Now perhaps was the time to
ask his help.
4"We're all getting fired" she told
him. A flicker Of non-interest passed
in and out Of his eyes. Whats the
matter with me?" she suddenly asked
him. why can't I get on7 may be
q bad actress, Of course, but no ones
ever bothered to f1nd out"
II think you'd be all all right" he
said and added, IT can talk TO
Schneider. Is that what you want,
me to do?" He leaned closer and
played with q red-gold curl.
Mot only for me, but the
"Oh, there are others? That might
be more difncult" Her eyes were
troubled again, and he said, "An
right, the others as we'll"
She was happy. And when he
said. Lets not go home immedi-
ately; let's drive through the noun
tains," she agreed. There was the
chauffeur And she had heard him
speak, 80 he was not dumb and
probably not deaf.
But he might have been both
when Fordyce took her in his arms
and almost smothered her In a
bear-like embrace. She tried to bring
her arms up to push him away. He
kissed her mouth until the lips were
forced apart. She smashed her closed
fist against his mouth.
A small trickle Of blood started
from the corner Of his mouth. She
stared at her hand. There was no
pain, merely an awkward lifeless-
ness. She waited for his anger to
break and moved from him. The
chauffeur drove smoothly.
When she looked at Fordyce again,
he was staring ahead. It was hard
to know what he was thinking. The