Motion Picture Magazine (Feb-Jul 1925)

OTION PICTURP MAGAZINE P that I want to call his attention to new evidence. Argue him, flatter him, into coming. Do it any way you wish, but have him here." "And you'll really have something for him ?" Eugene demanded, his tone one of admiration instead of doubt. "If my powers of deduction haven't failed me — yes." "I'll bring Hart, even if I have to blackjack him first and hire a wheelbarrow." When Margot reached the studio, she tried to slip to the star's dressing-room unnoticed by Stoner. But he was evidently on the watch for her, and cornered her behind the chrome yellow plaster wall of a Spanish farmhouse that formed part of the set. "You would do it, wouldn't you?" he commented sourly. "You zcould be written up, in spite of what I said." She shrugged, disdaining to point out that the entry of Stella Ball had taken the initiative out of her hands. "Miss Delamar is wild," the director continued. "She's going to give you some calling down ! She'll likely tell you you're fired." "Can she do that? I thought you had the power to engage or discharge the members of this cast," replied Margot scathingly. "If what you say is correct, please inform her of my resignation, and I wont have to see her." "Dont take it in that spirit," he pleaded hastily. "T was going to say I'd be able to calm her down afterwards, no matter what she tells you. But you've got to meet me half-way, Margot. I wont let myself in for a scrap with Corinne Delamar unless you promise me two things." "And they are ?" "First, cut loose from this haunted house case. I cant stand your being connected with it. I want you to forget it ever happened," he said with remarkable violence of feeling. "I might conceivably buy my job at that price,'' she declared, with meditative irony. "What is the other condition?" "That you marry me, or — or become engaged to me, at least. I'm crazy about you. I cant see myself helping you along while you're running around with Gene Valery, and that's straight." Never before had he expressed himself more baldly on the subject of his selfish patronage of her career. Margot was furious. "I'd die first," she vowed. "You're the one man in motion pictures I cant even imagine myself marrying." She turned bruskly from him, and in a moment had reached the door of Miss Delamar's cabin-like Her dressing-room. "A Toreador's Love" was held up for a feiv days, possibly a week. The minor members of the cast had been told to get out of the way knock was answered by a sharp, "Come in!" A negro maid edged out of the narrow compartment as Margot entered. The star was sitting in a wicker chair beside a table strewn with cosmetics, a table with a disproportionately large mirror above it, and flanked by hooks on which were draped a variety of startlingly gaudy Spanish bolerojackets and shawls. There was no space for a visitor to sit, so Margot stood easily, looking down at Miss Delamar. The latter was very beautiful, the girl admitted to herself with generous enthusiasm. Corinne might be over thirty, but her strange gold-colored eyes, her ivorypallid cheeks and throat, and her fierce, red pouting lips had all the splendor of youth. "Miss Anstruther. they say that this wild story about you in the newspapers is the result of a play for publicity. Who are you to take such a liberty, while you have a part Mipporting me?" The star assuredly wasted no time in getting to the point. "They say!" repeated Margot softly, her manner perfectly respectful. "Isn't it that Mr. Stoner says?" "Of course — well?" The girl did not reply at once. Suddenly she wanted intensely that Corinne Delamar should believe her. She marshalled her thoughts, then with a stern clarity, a note of eloquent conviction, she described all that had occurred to her since the evening she had given the party in her room. She did not attempt to explain anything, she offered no excuses for what she had done, she merely told her story. Corinne's hostility wavered under the test. That the star had actually been thrilled by the odd tale would have been plain to any close observer. '"You put a new complexion upon it," was all she would concede in words, however. "Ill make inquiries and talk to you about it later in the week." "Thank you," said and withdrew, smiling. She found Stoner waiting for her, as she had known he would be. "Miss Delamar told you to get out — huh?" he flung at her brutally. "Oh, no! She left that to you." "Well, the both of you guessed right. You'll find your notice waiting for you in the office." He was almost insane with rage, smarting under the blow to his vanity she had dealt him a few minutes before. "I anticipated that," she replied, walking toward the stairway. "And as for Gene Yalery, you can tell him he's fired without a notice," he snarled after her. She moved her right shoulder impatiently, disdaining to answer. (Continued on page 114) 47 PA/3 Margot i