Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-12-11
HOLLY and Ceuophane s41asnE~sn,
Two Girls Get More
Than They Expect
For Christmas
m TWO PARTS-PART ONE

lot drawing on her gloves.
AS II pulled back against her will,
her violet eyes went again to the 30
page Christmas list on the white and
black desk at which sat Joan Bowryn,
her secretary. with busy pencil.
Item 1: Sandel. Pacific ocean. Roses
and orchids.
The famous flowerlike eyes which
took technicolor as honey bee takes
an orange blossom, were brooding.
Cecile's posture, hand on door lamb,
was taut
Ten days before Christmas
bright Monday. And six years ago, 10
days before Christmas. Sandel Den
well had saved Cecile and himself the
expense and trouble of a divorce by
tipping over borrowed yacht about
six miles out from Santa Monica Bay.
The body had not been recovered
Sharks had been reported in the To-
cality. The yacht on its split lee side
had been towed into the harbor two
days later.
BE sure the roses are fresh Joan.
And white orchids"
They're here, darling" Joan
nodded toward corner of the room
and the gray and silver satin card
board box the size of steamer
trunk.
She added with sympathy: They're
fresh. And white orchids"
I'm beast to put this on you.
can't! Last year I realized that not
again could I look down from plane
at that horrible bright blue Pacific
Darling, I don't mind a Bit"
You mind terribly You feel creepy.
Like myself. But-attend to it first
please" Cecile consulted the tiny dial
set into her handbag. ats 10:15. I'll
take a taxi to the jewelers. or wait
here until you return. Petersen has
my car at the side entrance. You
phoned the airport for plane to be
ready?"
"An set. And, darling, it is six years.
And after all"
81 know. Silly of me to have the
filters every year. And, after all, as
you started to say. we hated each
other-wanted to be rid of each others
face" Cecile's laugh was shrill.
Darling, don't!"
my last words were, as every one
in Hollywood has repeated over and
over, Get out of my sight and life!"
He treated me abominably. But I did
not treat him we'll"
"You were misfits. But he is dead.
And you love another man who would
not know how to be abominable. And
you're only 90 and beautiful. And
your contract has been renewed for
another seven years, without a non
marriage clause. By the end of that
time, you'll probably have filters over
Juniors teeth"
And Joan patted the lovely thin
shoulder in broadtail, picked up the
box of expensive flowers, and hurried
between trellised topaz roses and a
high board fence to the side exit of
the studio lot.
Petersen waited, at the wheel of
Miss Larimore's long black car.
Miles of pretty streets with bright
stucco homes with trimmed lawns and
riotous roses, sped behind the high
powered car. The airport lay like a
great encampment in circle Of long
curving blue hills.
AS Joan alighted from the car, a
rented plane wheeled out. The pilot
was young and respectful. There was
a turning, a soaring, a swift sweep OF
great wings, and the Pacific ocean was
beneath them. She flung the flowers
over and down. She murmured a brief
contrite prayer. Silly to have distaste
for harmless bleached bones some
where down there. Only-she had
heard how hateful he had been to
Cecile.
p-~lr ~ 11o yfToc
to fling off her plaid sport hat and
coat and seat herself at desk and 30
page list. Annie, Cecile's personal
maid, came from the bedroom of the
bungalow before Joan could call her.
IT know, Miss Bowryn. I've sent to
the studio wardrobe for the white wig
and the silver lame costume she wore
as Fair Rosalind in White Venetian
Night She'll look beautiful in it to-
night when she leads the parade on
Santa Claus Lane"
Cecile had not waited. She had
taken a taxi to Smoans. Joan was re-
lieved By the time Cecile and fat
shrewd little AL Smoan had discussed
purity and size of blood red gems for
Lewis Ryland's stocking, jitters would
have gone-until next year.
And next year Cecile'S filters would
be Lewis Ryland's concern.
The unlisted phone buzzed. Ry-
lands voice, crisp, authoritive, and,
now anxious.
Miss Bowryn, surely Miss Larimore
did not try to"
mo I went, for her. But she is
not here. No, she is not due for that
retake until 2:3O. Yes, I'll surely re-
mind her to ring you at the bank
when she comes"
Joan liked Ryland. He was lean,
handsome and courteous. Probably it
was not his fault that he always made
her feel as if she were trying at a.
window grill to cash a personal check
on an overdrawn account.
Sandel Denweu, young star with
genius tipped talent-report said that
his love and his hate for his wife had
been colossal.
Petersen would swim among sharks
to oblige Miss Larimore. Directors and
their assistants, who are not vulner-
able because ambition Is their steel
vest, followed Cecile, in sarong or
10 hctr ofo