Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1943)

she would turn on me furiously, as if I stood in her way out of some wish of my own. There was something uncontrolled in her anger, and I would have been shocked and frightened by it if 1 hadn't dealt with excitable women before as patients. Once she eluded me and had a few minutes alone with Riley. That was the night I spent in a chair in the living room, watching him pace up and down, refusing to go to bed, refusing to speak He was more morose and bitter than I'd ever seen him. I told Chris about it. "She's got some hold over him," he said. "If we knew what it was, we'd know a lot more about him. He dislikes her and yet— I don't know." In spite of everything, though, Rile\ was showing improvement. Chris's treatments were taking effect, and he was getting interested in the "Lost Melody' part. It was a good role, as well as a big one; it was similar to the bit he'd played five year's ago that had skyrocketed him to fame and stardom. Thai had been merely a few scenes in an important picture. But it had suited him perfectly and he'd run away with it. The stars of the picture were forgotten while everybody — Hollywood and public alike — asked "Who is Riley Sloane? We want more Riley Sloane!" Inexperienced as I was, I knew that his Gerald in "Lost Melody" would be one of those parts you never forgot. ONE evening Carlotta Fane came to see me. After she'd inquired for the patient, she said, "But I came really to see you, my dear. I had to warn you about Honey Hollister." "Warn me?" Miss Fane was always dramatic, but this time she was deadly serious. "But I hardly know her." "She's spreading the vilest possible things about you all over town. She's insanely jealous and I've always suspected— well, never mind that. She's insinuated that you and Riley are — that you're not here as a nurse, my dear." When I would have spoken, she stopped me. "I hope you'll forgive me for telling you. But you're young and inexperienced; you don't know what a woman like that can do." "What can / do? I can't stop her — 1 can't leave." Miss Fane shook her head. "I don't know. I thought of mentioning it to Riley—" "No! Please don't. He'd only tell you he never wanted me here in the first place and what she says is no concern of his. I know him," I said bitterly. I felt touched with something evil. Honey Hollister hated me for reasons of her own and I could do nothing about that, but gossip was something else. No matter what Chris said, no matter how it hurt me professionally, I was determined to leave. The longer I stayed, the more reason people would have for believing what Honey said. Miss Fane went in to see Riley, who was well enough to be up that evening. Then Prudence Vickers came, and then Corky Smith, accompanied by some young actress whose name I never knew. It was like a small party. They gathered around Riley, laughing and talking, and I hovered in the background. As long as they didn't stay late enough to tire him, it would do him good to have company. After they'd gone, I would tell him I was leaving. I felt Corky's sly gaze on me once or twice. Had he heard the gossip too? Had he come out of curiosity to see for himself if it was true? Presently I slipped out the French doors to the terrace. Out there it was peaceful and beautiful, and nothing was evil. Early December, and it was like a moonlit spring night at home. Suddenly, desperately, I longed for home. A shadow fell across the flagstones and I jumped. Corky Smith was standing beside me. "This is no place for a beautiful girl alone," he said. I wanted to get away from him. "I'm lust hired help. I don't mingle with siuests." "Don't be in such a hurry. 1 think you'd mingle fine." He slipped his arm iround me. "Come on — mingle." He bent his head and his lips, careless and yet possessive, lay on mine. It was a hateful kiss. I tried to pull away He laughed and his arm tightened until I could hardly breathe. "What's the matter? Has the Great Lover really got you sewed up?" I struck out angrily, but he was too much for me. I could scream— but 1 thought of the others in the living room, of adding fuel to the flame of gossip He was bending me back against the pillar, his fingers biting into my arm. his DOROTHY KILGALLEN who knows her alphabet of Broadway and Hollywood, gives her own adroit definitions of the latest from filmland in MY HOLLYWOOD DICTIONARY Coming Soon mouth at my lips, my throat. Suddenly a voice spoke like a whip crack. "Take your hands off her!" Riley Sloane's big figure was blocked out against the doorway. Corky released me and turned. "So," he said, and laughed, "the little rumors I've heard are true." VA/ITH one long stride Riley crossed the '* terrace. His fist caught Corky on the point ot the chin. He staggered backwards and brought up against the wall — hard. His girl, standing in the door with Carlotta and Miss Vickers, screamed. For a moment he gathered himself together as if he would strike back at Riley. Then he gave a short laugh. "Sloane in the role of Galahad is too much for me to stomach," he said. "Come on, sugar." He took the girl's arm and they walked out in the sudden silence. It was Prudence Vickers who broke it. "I must be going too. It's been such an interesting evening, Riley darling . . coming, Carlotta?" Miss Fane whispered something I was too shaken to understand, and then followed. Riley stood there like an image. We heard George showing them out. "You shouldn't have hit him," I said unsteadily. "They'll say — " "Don't tell me what I shouldn't have done! I couldn't stand to see him paw you — that's all.' "You saw him do it once before and laughed!" I was rubbing my arm where Corky's fingers had bruised it. "Did he hurt you?" Riley demanded. Angrily he unbuttoned the long sleeve of mv uniform and turned it back to the spot where the skin was beginning to redden. He looked down at it and his fingers on my bare arm were gentle as a woman's. He gave an odd, muttered sound. Then his arms went around me and his face rested in my hair. "I could kill anybody who hurt you," he whispered. I couldn't speak. This was like the magic of that other moment flooding through me, leaving me breathless, powerless. He tilted back my chin and when his lips met mine there was both asking and giving in the kiss. "Don't ever leave me . Always be here . . . Always. . . ." How long we stood there I'll never know. Suddenly he let me go, stepped back, and fumbled for a cigarette. "Better put something on that arm," he said gruffly "Riley," I whispered. "Riley — " "I'm going to bed," Riley Sloane said rudely And walked away. THE next day was Sunday. I break' fasted in my room, alone with the thoughts that had brought both pain and ecstasy all night. I was surprised to see Chris's gray coupe pull up in the driveway; he wasn't expected until noon and I didn't want to see him now. But I went to meet him. He thrust a newspaper at me. "See this?" he demanded. It was folded to Prudence Vicker's Talk of the Town. The first paragraph leaped out. "It looks as if Wiley-Riley Sloane had a real heart interest at last. There was a slight flurry of fisticuffs last night at his house over the lovely young thing who's been his guardian angel for the past little while. It would seem . . ." I couldn't read any further. ". . . you can't stay here any longer," Chris was saying. "The offer from the foundation came through last night, Kay! I'm to leave for the East next week and I'm going to take you with me. We can get married now." I looked at him and it was like looking at a stranger. "Why didn't you say that last week?" I said bleakly. "Why didn't you take me away when I asked you to?" "But 1 couldn't. Kay. Don't worry about this publicity. It's nasty, but people have short memories and once we're away — " "It isn't only that. I can't marry you now, Chris. You've come too late." He stared at me, his face paling. "What's changed you? Last week—" the words trailed off. "It's Sloane, isn't it? You're in love with him." "Oh, I don't know!" I cried miserably. How could I tell him of last night'' "I only know it wouldn't be fair to marry you now, feeling as I do," I finished lamely. "I've been afraid of this," he said slowly, "ever since I knew you were coming here." "But you wouldn't stop it. You wouldn't take a chance on what Justin or the world would think. You wouldn't take a chance of finding other work. You were afraid!" "You've got to play it as you see it, Kay. I did only what I thought was right. The hell of it is — I've seen him falling in love with you. Oh. yes," he went on as I would have interrupted, "I've seen him look at you when you didn't know it. I've seen his improvement, his interest in his work. You did that. He may snarl at you but — even though he doesn't know it yet — he's in love with you." My heart gave a great leap. "I don't believe it." 71) photoplay combined with movie mirror