Hollywood (Jan - Oct 1934)

It was the devil of a mess. !?»* W ttS? He Strong, had promised tow ^waS\tuse' Hehad washed didn't want to see her. WhaV was the ^e. £ ^^ a his hands of her long ago. She ^ probably F prissy creature who would immediately take mm **J?£%£ Sed, hope revived Perhaps something ^dTofth^^^ G^«dhhavPeaS^ferred to slap Sir *«*$"£* instead. But the man was the ^ret owner of the HaPPV Hour and Carl was at his beck and call »« ™d.h*~ SS and could fire him if he chose. Hiding his dislike naa become a habit with Carl now. This, newest job , meant^ too much to him. He wanted to stay in legitimate busing now if he could-setting too far along for confidence games, he reflected, rubbing his chin. His perennial youth was slipping from him. Middle age was threatening to encroach on the Bellairs dash and devilmay-care attitude. Yes, Carl admitted to himself, he was softening under the easy life London and the Happy Hour afforded him. Sometimes he even wondered what lite would be like with a home and his daughter to care for him. A waiter approached respectfully and coughed, t-arl looked up sharply, irritated. ... , . "There's a man to see you, sir. Insisted on having you summoned. Said he was an old friend of yours," the waiter explained. , Carl shrugged his broad, slightly stooped shoulders, and strode to his private office. A short, badly dressed man sprang to his feet when he caught sight of Carl. His wizened face cracked in a toothless smile. "Well, Carl, here I am. Just like a bad penny." "Worse." Carl made a wry face. "I could use a bad penny in a slot machine. Where have you been?" "They gave me three years just after we got separated in Australia. I didn't like to write from prison. It might have hurt your reputation." "That was decent of you, Spot," Carl smiled. Spot stood silent a moment. "Ever see your daughter?" heasked abruptly. Carl shook his head. "I gave all that up twenty years ago. I couldn't stand the smell of cabbage in the house and the sight of diapers hanging on the clothes line." Bill'* eyes for beer," brimmed he said. -ith love as he gazed at Lindter "I . ■ I. Then hi. br„K darkened a, the waiter arrivTdZncha':''^ "** «*«"W but I ju.t have enough rnvea mth champagne and announced it was from Sir Anthony HOLLYWOOD "Your daughter stole some tu, elve hand redPound, J'°™™0"r Sir Anthony marled. "Either she returns a by ntgntja I'll bring action! "She'd hardly be wearin' diapers now," Spot reminded "'Carl changed the subject "Well, what do you WT Spot came to the point. "I want a job. 1»^ money. I thought maybe you could help me jut. Carl thought %moment. "See the headwa'ter a^^ him you're going to work here. H£ U pve y and teach you how to wait on table^ That wou s Spot money and keep him near. He might need op services again sometime. -nwlorje caught He ran absently through his mail. A big envelop * CM^ his attention. It was a letter from a ^ firm, mtorm | him that his sister-in-law had died, ^d asking ^"ew ou please appear that afternoon to hear the will ot me a ceased. • Carl went directly to the waiting room of the law office He paced impatiently up and down ** J^U be "a Perhaps he would be left enough money *° "*™ ™ oung country gentleman, he thought, scarcely noticing the young girl who sat quietly watching him. u Lindsey had recognized Carl the minute she saw FEBRUARY, 1934 ■% Specter, from the past haunted Carl. Hi. foWtten love. danced by in tinsel parade, "Und.ey, ' hep leaded, ,f you refute to believe in me, I m loifl come into the roon i Hi s ga y and q^j&ggfc ^^S^ » tt£» newspaper pictures, tsssf^sO^S^ r*oXe other "Srg «?tW ffiErUmtafe Here's These law doom . holding out a richly bound ?^i^y^4^ed her back t0 hira' Carl laughed «»d P",*!^0 "WU1 you come in please?" 4: mot us CarUs& sunrise. The clerk nodded and Lindsey swept past him into the private office. The la»?S^%^^f^ed. ^%^r%hellaTras^you know your daughter, don't t0..1?.e 3 ™ "the lawyer'began, anxious to smooth matters oJm«K»^S will left only a pound for you