Modern Screen (Dec 1931 - Nov 1932 (assorted issues))

By the time they had seen and lingered over all the dainty red and white appointments of the cottage, it was after five o'clock, and Miss Tashman insisted that they must have that swim. Mary was given a smart red bathing suit and a red and white room to put it on in. "I don't know how to swim very well," she confessed. "I expect Dick Garth will look after you," said Lilyan. "He's good enough to be a lifeguard." Edmund Lowe now appeared and he and Dick looked like two bronze statues in their bathing suits. Mary swam out rather far and got panicky and called to Dick. He stayed by her, helping her to recover her nerve and breath. It was wonderful to be held up by Dick — the touch of his hand thrilled her deliciously. She began to be afraid she was falling a little in love with him. And that wouldn't do at all She didn't want the enjoyment of her trip upset by an emotional entanglement which was silly to contemplate, really. AFTER they had finished . swimming and were dressed again and Lilyan and Edmund were off to their dinner party, Lilyan said to Mary: "We shall be dressed, all ready for the Lasky party and you and Dick, after you have rested and had a picnic dinner here at the cottage, had better join us there, about nine. We're invited for half -past seven, but no one will tarn up till nine," she laughed. "You are quite all right in that pretty little silk frock, child. But I've had a thought! There will be a lot of directors dropping in. I'm rather impressed by that natural gold hair of yours, and some of them may be, too; who knows? If you look your best you may be noticed and considered a 'find.' Such things happen. In fact, they are happening all the time, and happened to me when I first began. How would you like me to lend you a little silver evening frock, with bouquets of rosebuds embroidered on it? It would suit you and I'm sure it would fit. You won't have time to go back to Hollywood. The whole thing is rather sweet ! Will you please me by borrowing it ?" Mary was thrilled and overflowing with thanks. She thought that she had never had quite as much fun in her life as the dinner alone with Dick Garth in that red and white room. Lilyan had said it would be "just a picnic meal" but it proved to be a delicious feast. Mary had dressed for it in the filmy wisp that Lilyan had lent her for the party, making up a parcel of her own things which Dick would carry home for her in his car. Miss Tashman's gown, shoes, and so forth, were to be taken by Dick to the Paramount Studio for their owner next day and Garth said that Mary might go with him if she wanted to and "if she had nothing better to do." He could get her into the studio and had friends there who would perhaps let her watch the work on some sound stage. "As if I could have anything better to do!" she ex claimed. But the girl had no prophetic soul to whisper I of certain things destined to happen at Mrs. Lasky's party, j i AT precisely nine o'clock Dick stopped his car near the] . Lasky's gate and parked it. The house was not far from Marion Davies' enormous place. The Lasky's| summer home, however, did not in the least resemble] Marion's palatial home. It was more like a dream bun-; galow. They entered at a high gate and walked along a narrow path of broken paving stones trimmed with grass j and moss which led to the lawn and so to the house itself. I The garden was faintly illuminated by a soft blue radiance,, and strains of music came to their ears. The blue light! seemed to rise with the spray of a charming fountain j whose rim was surrounded with violets and roses. Every door and window was wide open. They bothj walked in boldly at the front, as no one was there to admit them formally. Just inside; the hall, however, a servant appeared and took Mary'si cloak, or rather, the .summer] ermine lent by Miss Tash-j man. "What do we do now?"! whispered Mary, almost clinging to Dick when they' had given their names. "Isn't! it awful ? You say that even you aren't acquainted with the Laskys, really, and they'll have no idea who I am. Ij could sink through the floor. I wish I hadn't come." "Nonsense!" Dick cheered! her. "You don't know Hollywood yet! You'll be wel-j corned as if you were an old] friend." HE took the girl by the] arm and marched her] by his side into a beautiful large room that opened onto! a terrace, a beach and thei sea. There was no grandnessj here, as at Marion Davies^ palace, a short distance away, yet Mary saw that after its fashion, everything! in the house might have been almost equally expenJ sive. Mrs. Lasky "went in"] for early American furniture and each piece, though sim-j pie looking, could easily have cost a small fortune. Mrs. Lasky herself came forward to greet the two, looking soj like a young girl that Mary thought it couldn't be true] (as she'd heard) that Bessie Lasky had a son of nineteen.! She was extremely pretty in a piquant way, with brilliant! brown eyes and beautifully waved brown hair. Just be-| hind her were Lilyan Tashman and Edmund Lowe, talk-" ing to Mr. Lasky, a fair, pleasantfaced man, young-looking, too. Gary Cooper had come, so Dick Garth was at] ease, as his invitation had been received through Cooper; and Mary Moore was thrilled, for Gary was her favorite man star. He was surrounded by a group of four or] five people — girls and men. He was answering questions? about his African hunting trip. He and Lilyan came forward to introduce the protegeest properly to the host and hostess of the evening. Mary ; recognized handsome Fredric March from his photographs. That sweet, impish little thing with the great eyes and dark copper hair mu,st be (Continued on page 114) ! "Mr. Garth is your lover. You are engaged to him. Say what you'd think you'd say," the director who was making the test said. Mary's heart thumped • • • Engaged to Dick Garth! If only— 76