Screenland (May-Oct 1931)

62 SCREENLAND Unravel this Hollywood triangle! Beautiful screen star, her millionaire fiance, and her press agent, with scrambled hearts — read the rest of this sparkling romance here Last month you met lola Lane, lovely blonde screen star, among whose million or so admirers is her own press agent, Horace Randolph. But lola has promised to marry the wealthy Kergan Montgomery. At one of those Hollywood parties there's a clash — and the first thing Horace knows, lola is in Kergan's car speeding toward Mexico! Horace follows — now read the finish of this romance race. PART II. HORACE was silent. The intruder lighted a match and held it above his head, peering intently at Horace. The glow disclosed him to be Alvin Young. His expression was so solemn that Horace knew him to be intoxicated. "It's Horace," announced Alvin. He chuckled gravely. "Just heard something funny," he stated. "It ought to interest you. It's about Montgomery and his lawyer. They had an argument." "Yeah ?" said Horace without interest. "Oh, I should say so," Alvin assured him. "Devil of an argument. W as under a table and I heard it, every word. Acoustics 're good when you're under a table. Try it sometime when your radio's playing something you like. 'You can't marry her,' says the lawyer. 'I can't, huh?' says Montgomery, and — hey ! you quit choking me. I was just " Horace had him by the shoulders, shaking him savagely. "Tell me quick," he snapped. "W'hy'd the lawyer say Montgomery couldn't marry her?" "Leggo and I'll tell you," complained Alvin. "Lordy, the joke I'm going to tell you isn't like medicine that has to be shaken well before using! 'You'd better not,' says the lawyer. 'Oh, I'd better not, huh?' says Montgomery. 'Well, I will,' he says. 'Better not,' says the lawyer. T will,' says Montgomery. 'Take the consequences then,' says the lawyer. 'I'm willing,' says Montgomery. 'Better not,' says — hey! you hit me with that bunch of bananas and I'll sue you for all you're worth." Horace held his fist beneath Alvin's nose and waggled it threateningly. "Tell me and tell me quick," he roared. "Why didn't the lawyer want Montgomery to marry lola ?" "I'm telling you," said Alvin plaintively. "No need to murder me. Tt won't be legal,' says the lawyer. 'The devil it won't,' says Montgomery. 'I'm telling you it won't,' says the lawyer. 'I'm telling you I don't give a hang,' says Montgomery. 'Better wait,' says the lawyer. 'I'm marrying her tonight,' says Montgomery. 'Better not,' says the lawyer. T will,' says — — " Horace cautrht hi m by the ears and shook him vigorously. "Now tell me once and for all : tvhy did the lawyer say Montgomery couldn't marry lola?" . Frightened, Alvin jerked away. "All right, all right, spoil the story," he said. "The lawyer said something about Montgomery's last divorce being got in some Mexican state and about how American courts won't recognize divorces srot there and — Illustrated by Addison Burbank where you going ?" ,; ntT?$^ Horace was sprinting down the driveway, his brain working at top speed. "Can't get married in California," he gasped. "Three days' notice required and they've got no license. They're heading for Mexico. Ensenada, probably." He leaped into Alvin's roadster and stomped on the starter. The motor roared into life and he sent the car down the driveway at top speed. The roadster listed to one side, there was a thump and Alvin plopped into the seat beside him. "Not that it's any of my business," Alvin remarked, rubbing a bruise on his shin, "but where might we be going?" Horace sent the car skidding around a curve and onto a dirt road, straightened it out and stepped on the gas unmindful of the ruts that threatened to shake the top down about his ears at any moment. "Going to catch her and poke him in the nose," he answered Alvin's question. "What's the idea of you tagging along?" "I like that," said Alvin. "Here a fella steals my car and objects if I come along. Bet you a dollar he licks you. After you catch her, what you going to do with her?" "Take the dollar," muttered Horace. "They'll probably hit the boulevard, head for Long Beach and