Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-01-25
CHAPTER I

He began to laugh. eyes, I do.
Talking to you is such a relief.
You're good to drop everything and
drive all the way here just to listen
to me-"
"You know it's no bother" said
Elizabeth. II rather enjoy being a
wastebasket for you to toss your
troubles into"
Call it that if you like" said
Spratt. Anyway, you're always
there when I want you."
They smiled intimately at each
other. They had been through this
hundred times in the past twenty
years, since long before Spratt Her.
long became major producer of
pictures at Vertex Studio. 1t was
always the same, with minor varia-
tions-a picture that simply would
not get itself made, actors who
quarreled with the cameraman,
writer's who couldn't write, directors
who antagonized everybody on the
set, unexpected costs straining the
budget, release dates creeping mad
deningly closer, and Spratt desper-
ately grabbing the telephone. ELIZA
beth. if l don't get out of this place
and see reasonable human being
I'm going wild. Meet me for lunch,
can't you, and let me talk?"
She always responded. Since gas
oline rationing began she had taken
care to keep few coupons in re-
serve, riding her bicycle on errands
to the village, so she could always
drive out to meet Spratt at the STU
dio gates when he called her. She
could rarely offer any concrete ad-
vice, for he knew his business a
good deal better than she did, but
she had a sympathetic ear and a
sense of humor, and she knew how
to keep silent about what he told
her. She had, in fact, exactly what
he needed, Spratt remarked.
'Now that I've got it off my chest
to you, I'm beginning to see day.
light. This new German writer
ought to be help. He's starting out
like pretty smart fellow"
Can he write English dialogue?"
ooh yes, funny expressions some-
times, but any competent collabora-
tor can fix those. He's been in this
country two or three years, in the
New York Office awhile and then on
pictures here. I gave him this script
to read and he's coming in this after
noon to tell me what he can do with
it. Tough story. Also some scenes
about motherhood that can be good
if they're right and awful if they're
wrong"
Elizabeth's eyes twinkled across at
him as she slipped her coffee. Don't
expect any suggestions from me,
darling. If you want somebody to
get romantic about motherhood, ask
a man who's never changed a
diaper"
81 don't want him to get roman
TIC" Spratt retorted, land as for
you"
las for me, I'm no help what
ever" Her attention caught by a
sudden clatter of china, Elizabeth
began to chuckle. "Spratt, on the
way here I noticed shop with the
sign Henry K. Dishington.'
whats that got to do with any,
thing?" Spratt inquired.
Nothing, except that ! amused
myself all the rest of the way by
thinking what fun it would be to
find a partnership, especially a res
taurant, called Washington and
Dishington."
Spratt laughed again. you've
never learned anything about pic
lures, but you do take my mind off
them"
Lets hope the German writer is
more sympathetic. Oh, how do you
do, Mrs. Farnsworth," Elizabeth
broke off brightly, as Spratt sent
her a Good-Lord-what-ha
to-deserve-this look and the cushiony
wife of one of the Vertex directors
billowed down upon them. Spratt
got up, trying to hide his annoyance,
while Mrs. Farnsworth began telling
them they simply must come to a
party she was having at her house
for the benefit of the Greek War
Relief.
"And don't keep standing up, Mr..
Herlong, I'll just sit down a minute
and tell you about it," she ex-
claimed, spreading herself over an
extra chair the waitress had left at
their table. Spratt sat down again,
politely assuring the lady that he
expected to be working the night of
her party.
"Oh, but don't you, either of you,
want to do anything for the war;"
she persisted plaintively, ignoring
that they both wore silver buttons
indicative of their having given
three pints of blood apiece.
> "I'm sorry, Mrs. Farnsworth," an
swered Spratt. "Of course I under
stand the Greek War Relief is a de-
serving cause, in fact, I've already
made a contribution to it. It isn't
necessary for me to attend a party
to appreciate the need"
''But that's not quite the idea,"
urged the worthy creature. cts
what your presence will do for the
cause, don't you understand? We
want prominent personages to be
there. And it will be a very good
party - first-class bartenders, and