Evening star., 1942-01-17

there's nothing more to be said"
He had a picture to make. and If
one foolish girl chose to destroy her
livelihood-that was her business.
But he was abrupt with Miss Della
ware and not all her Darling,
Johnny" this and that, could ban
ish the incident from his mind.
Bruce Is Away.
Livia went to her room at Holly
wood House. She telephoned Bruce
and was answered by the Chinese
boy who looked after him.
"Ah, Missy Clarkson," said the
boy. Il have message for you. Missy
Nolan go on location. He get call
velly early"
"Where?" asked Livia.
me no know, but he away few
days He say he call you tonight" a"
Livia hung up the receiver. What
should she do? Marry Bruce and
admit she had failed in Hollywood?
Maybe have child? Look after q
home? Have peace?
"Oh, but I'd never be satisfied
with that" There must be place
for her in Hollywood. She had be-
gun the wrong way, that was all.
How did stars become stars? Once
they, too, were obscure. Most Of
them credited the first break to luck
or they came from the stage with
big reputation.
She stared moodily. Then of a
sudden she laughed aloud. Why. Of
course! Why hadn't she thought Of
that before.
With feverish haste she packed the
clothes she had hung in the closet
only the day before, paid Mrs
SayleS for the week.
But where are you going?" stut-
tered Mrs. Sayles. This was most
irregular. Girls didn't come to Hol-
lywood House one day and leave the
next. Livia wrote her new address
on piece Of paper.
She was still laughing at the
recollection of Mrs Sayles' astonish-
ment when she arrived at her new
home.
They were filming an aviation
story, heavily interspersed with the
love Of the leading man for the
daughter Of his commanding officer.
The skin Of the said leading man
was too precious to risk in plane
or in the water. Besides, he could
not swim, nor pilot a plane-except
on the process stage back In Holly
wood.
Bruce circled three times over the
lake at Arrowhead. He waved to
the group around the camera in the
boat, braced himself, and tilted the
plane steeply. The plane brushed
the water. But he was an old hand
at this stunt and after a momentary
shock, opened the specially built
coor underneath the plane from
which he was to jump to safety.
He reappeared in the water, SWIM
ming with long, easy strokes despite
the uniform he wore. He was picked
up by a waiting boat.
That was fine" the director de-
clared.
Il was hoping you'd want another
take" Bruce grinned. He received
$3.50 for each take" of this stunt.
For the first time in his life, he
wanted to make money.
"Oh, Lord" Bruce groaned as the
boat neared land, do you see what
I see?"
II forgot to tell you," the director
said apologetically, "but dined with
her last night. She begged 50 hard
to come here today. And you know
what she's like when she wants any
thing"
Yeah, I know" said Bruce. His
mouth closed in a thin line. The
Countess Saskia was famous in Hol-
lywood for her parties and her re-
lentless seeking out males who
pleased her fancy. She was Amer
ican-born. But after her doting,
but misguided, father died, leaving
her $4,000, 900, she had gone to Aus
tria to study the customs and sports
of that country. She had returned
to the United States with q hand
some but weak member of Austria's
tired aristocracy, Count Saskia.
That was 15-odd years ago. The
Countess was now in her middle 40s
and still good looking a harsh,
aggressive manner. The Count had
disappeared from her life several
years ago.
Something New.
A stunt-man was something new
for the Countess. She usually COL
lected young leading men In pic
lures. To date, Bruce had evaded
the pressing invitations to her pala-
tial estate in Bel-Air
Her slightly protruding eyes Wild
ened with admiration as she tripped
forward on ridiculously high heels
to greet him.
"You were wonderful" she said.
EYES," replied Bruce.
HAS he told you?" Countess Sas-