Evening star., 1942-01-25

portant ruleSto leave the boss WI
leading lady.
He flicked through the stack OF
photographs on his big mahogany
desk. Livia's face smiled back to
him, now challengingly. now coy,
now demure. He liked her best in
the swimming suits.
: "She has her nerve" he thought.
He tossed the pile of photographs
across to his secretary.
Find out the press boy who did
It," he snapped. Hes got to be
fired-and so has She"
If this had happened at any other
time he might have played ball.
She was attractive and she was
young and would be a nice young
change from Alice Delaware. But
this was no time to upset Alice. She
had even threatened to 60 to her
husband and get another director
for the picture. Ordinarily he would
have told her to 60 to hell and take
her husband, who was his boss, with
her.
But. damn 1t, get good picture
for once" he said aloud irritatedly.
But he had to use tact. It was
no use appealing to Hal Schneider.
He was more scared of Alice than
any one else In the studio.
Miss Delaware on the phone" his
secretary interrupted his brooding.
n,Tt
changed his mind. Better get it
over now. Hello, Alice, baby" he
said cheerfully and listened pa
tiently until Alice exhausted her
flow OF invective. Then he said
quickly:
Il thought you were too smart to
fall for a phony publicity story.
Check with the department. The
guy who dreamed up the story Is
fired
Livia Demands Retraction.
But Alice was a business girl.
She would use her advantage to get
her own way about the picture, and
Fordyce knew this.
He put the receiver down care.
fully. His secretary came in.
There's q young lady to see you.
A Livia Clarkson.''
"Oh, send her in," roared the di.
rector.
The eyes that confronted him
were as angry as his own.
You must stop this Immediately"
Livia said, waving the newspaper in
her hand. Fordyce laughed.
You're either q good actress or
extremely naive" he said.
Il want retraction."
"Oh, you want a retraction," he
grinned. She was prettier than her
photographs.
What's the use?" said Livia
angrily. I'm q nobody in Holly.
wood. They can do and say any
thing"
II trust the story didn't seriously
inconvenience you" said Fordyce.
She refused to play.
Its ruined my lfe," she exagser-
ated.
Me, too," grinned Fordyce.
Jack Tennant sidled into the
room. He was worried. Publicity
via the somewhat ld-fashioned
medium Of romance had seemed
good at the time. He was the only
studio employe unaware Of the
previous attachment existing with
Alice Delaware. But he had taken
fright when the summons came to
Fordyce's ofnce. He relaxed. So
they did know each other, after all2
For once he had told something
near the truth. But the directors
first words disillusioned him.
Livia began to feel sorry for the
fat, bald press agent. And when
Fordyce said, You're fired" she in
terrupted:
Please, not on my account"
1T isn't on your account" said
Fordyce grimly. She came close to
him.
Please don't fire him." Tennant
was married and had two children.
Please" she begged Fordyce. He
smiled at her suddenly.
"An right" he said and turned to
Tenant. Thank the lady"
Fordyce Goes Slow.
Thank you," said Tennant hum
bly,. She was embarrassed and
picked up her handbag from the
desk.
Whats your hurry" demanded
Fordvce "Cit douyy, - ua mn.
toned Livia to deep leather arm
chair. He offered her q cigarette.
She shook her head.
II was stupid just now" He re-
sisted the impulse to kiss her soft
With girl like this you
probably had to 60 slow.
what pictures have you done?"
he asked her.
Iiyia was thinking. "In q month