The Photo-Play Journal (Jul 1919-Feb 1921)

8 P ho I oPI ay Journal behind the door would suddenly shoot a flashlight picture. "And we'll publish that picture in every newspaper in the city." As for Leary, he was kept busy. With the assistance of Milly and Mrs. Carraway he opened campaign headquarters. Funds were plentiful and he was rushed about until he actually began to grow thin. One afternoon Mrs. Carraway, who had a penchant for conversation whether she was listened to or not said she was going to give a party at her studio for the benefit of the league. "It's to be an infants' party, all guests to be in children's costumes, to play children's games and act like little boys and little girls. Won't that be splendid?" "Holy cats," breathed Leary under his breath. "We certainly expect you to attend." "I?" "Yes." "Oh, no!" "Oh, yes, you must come!" "Are you going?" he asked Milly. "Of course," she smiled. Still Leary was undecided. "I'm sorry," he apologized, "but I have a big political meeting on for that night. Don't see how I can make it." They were obviously disappointed, and made no attempt to conceal their feelings as he accompanied them to the door. He stood talking to them, not noticing two men and a woman who passed him in the corridor and made their way to the back of the hall. He did not see, either, the man fumbling with the lock, and opening it. He bade the ladies good-bye and turned to his office. There he was confronted with Kate, a stunningly gowned woman, dark of hair and eyes, with a decided tendency toward a rather careless exhibition of her arms and back. She showed Leary a campaign button she wore and sat down, chatting to him of the wonderful things she had heard of him, of how much she admired him and how pleased she was to meet him. Leary was not so stupid as not to guess her purpose. He edged away from her as she drew nearer and nearer to him. Ceaselessly she rattled on, but she was unable to win her point. Finally, she decided upon a manoeuver: she would sit on the desk and slide into his lap while the photographer, now concealed in the closet, caught the pose. She stood up, cast off her cloak which slipped to the ground and sat. Zzzzzzz sounded the battery of buzzers. Doors flew open. Clerks appeared, a regiment. Leary stood up and grinned as he saw the closet door fly open and the concealed photographer sink to the ground as his head was caught between the jamb and the wall. And Kate .... well, she tumbled to the floor where she sat properly until Leary reassumed his customary air of dignity and began to fire imaginary instructions at the clerks. He hesitated, however. The corridor door had opened and Milly had appeared. "I decided to return to see you, to ask you personally to come," she exclaimed. "But what's all this? An attempt on your life?" She pointed to the prostrate photographer and the almost prostrate Kate. He smiled and shook his head. Milly was excited, her face flushed. " 'Twasn't anything," Leary explained. He patted her gently on the shoulder, and then, noting that her knees were shaking and she appeared likely to fall, he caught her in his arms. An admirable sensation .... she thought, when .... bang! The photographer had risen to his feet and had caught the pose. His camera, still in place, had recorded the scene, Milly in Leary's arms. Milly was unaware of the cause of the flash. She crept still closer to Leary's expanse of chest. And Leary maintained his pose. "I told that office boy not to smoke in here," he chuckled as the curling clouds from the flashlight crept about the room. When they cleared Kate and the photographer had disappeared, and Leary spent a pleasant few minutes cheering Milly. {Continued on page 54)