Screenland (Nov 1935-Apr 1936)

for January 1936 Tom replied with a frankness that was as unconsciously cruel as it was disarming. "Maybe I'm not, but I'm darn' fond of you. I'm like that sculptor in the legend who made a statue come to life. If you could've seen yourself a few months ago, you'd know what I feel when I see you, now." Karen murmured, "I do know what you feel." Tom went on. "You're an understanding person, Karen. I don't have to explain to you that I'm a confirmed bachelor and that I wouldn't know love if it walked up and bit me. But I'm not kidding when I say that you've done a long mile in record speed, and that I'm proud of you !" Cocktails didn't mean much to Karen, but she gulped one down before she replied. It was as if she were sparring with the minutes. She spoke abruptly as she set aside her glass. "Tom dear," she said, "let's cut out thees non-sense. I said I had a question to ask of you tonight. That thees was to be an occasion." "And I," grinned Tom, "said, 'Thank fortune, it's not leap year !' " Karen continued. "Associated Artists," she said, "have come to me with an offair. They want me to make pictures for them ; it's their idea that I break away from the slapstick, that I have the straight parts. What do you theenk, Tom? Is it a bet? Is it the hour for us to — separate?" Tom's scant proposal was quite forgotten — by him. He was the serious business man, now, who had put over a goodly number of serious deals. He said, thoughtfully : "It would certainly give you a new thrill, doing big drama. You've come a long way, as I remarked a minute ago, but you can't go much farther as the receiving end of my gags. And then, too, there's another angle. In all honesty, you're copping more than your share of the applause. I don't mean this in a hoggish sense, but my leading lady can't be permitted to stand in my light — I'm the star. What I should have is a pretty kid, cut to pattern, to supply background instead of foreground. The dumb bunny type." Karen swallowed hard. She said, "Let's forget about the celebration we were going to have, Tom. Let's talk about you and me and the future. I theenk I know the very girl for you. Remember that plump blonde, with deemples, who fell off the dock, backwards, in the sequence we finished a week past ? Who had such pretty legs ?" Tom said, "I remember. A right cute kid, and she won't get fat for a couple of years." Karen said, "As for me, I geeve notice, now. Thees picture weel be my final one for you. I weel sign with Associated Artists no later than tomorrow. And" — her voice shook, ever so slightly — "thank you, Tom." Tom Kildare was vaguely embarrassed. He didn't know why. He wanted to take Karen in his arms and comfort her as if she were a child — and yet she wasn't in the least childish, and why should she require comfort ? Hadn't she been announcing the break of a lifetime ? He said, gruffly — "You won't sign with Associated Artists or anybody else, young lady, until I've had a look-see at the contract. You immigrant gals need a beeg strong man" — he was imitating Karen's accent — "to look out for your interests. Now in the case of salary"— he began to erupt advice and Karen, listening to him, felt that he might have been her lawyer, or her father, or both. Her heart was made of lead, but she managed to nod agreement and to smile at decent intervals. (To be continued) 67 Screenland's Crossword Puzzle By Alma Talley ACROSS 1. Star of "I Live My Life" 5. What every actor hopes he is not 8. Featured actor in "The Glass Key" 12. Co-star of "China Seas" 13. I love you, in Latin 14. Fragrant root used on hair and in perfume 16. Possessive pronoun 17. Co-featured in ''Special Agent" 19. Shelter for animals (as doves) 20. Ever, contraction 21. Reformed bad man in "The Arizonian' ' 23. Definite atticle 24. Chief requirement for good pictures 26. Featured actress in "The Informer" 28. Poverty 29. Expires 30. Public notice (abbrev 32. Doctor's title (abbrev.) 33. To deface 36. Note of the scale 37. Exclamation 39. To grab 41. Bashfulness 44. Malt drink 45. Clinging vine 46. Star of "Sweet Adeline" 47. Nothing 48. Bind 49. The wife in ''Private Worlds" 51. Playing card 52. While 53. Exist 54. Dined 55. Belonging to 57. Printer's measure 58. Ungentlemanly persons 60. Irish Rose's boy friend 62. Star of "The Flame Within" 65. "Curly Top" 68. Trouble, fuss 69. Heiress in "The Flame Within" 71. Eggs 72. Mislaid 74. Shine 75. Mast 76. Gathered into a ting 78. Knave of clubs 79. Tendency or direction 80. Looked at 81. Cunning 82. Demetrius in "Midsummer Nights Dream" DOWN 1. The wife the fanner takes 2. Wife in "The Scarlet Pim pernel' ' 3. Whose wife is Ruby Keeler? 4. Compass point (abbrev.) 5. Rabbits 6. Lady thief in "The Black Sheep" 7. Division of a year 8. International language 9. Kind of light used in making movies 10. Foams 11. Tax of one-tenth of income 12. Proceeds 15. Fortune-teller l"7. Reared, brought up 18. Came up to the mark 21. Docks 22. These grow at your finger tips 25. Is your face — — ? 27. Afternoon refreshment 30. Ingenue in "Lady Tubbs" 31. Featured actress in ''Special Agent" 33. Her most famous film was "The Thin Man" 34. Concerning 35. Famous silent film actress who died 37. Acrress half of small-time team in ''George White's 1935 Scandals" 38. Actress who mar ried Fred Perry 40. Incidental 42. Hurry 43. Background for a movie 44. Collection (suffix) 49. To darken 50. Featured actress in "Woman in Red" 53. Evil 56. Evergreen tree 58. Star of "Mississippi" 59. Hidden obstruction 60. Exclamation to attract atten tion 61 . Runs off to get married 62. Circle of light 63. To worship 64. Swallows hastily 65. Shabby 66. Featured actress in "Men Without Names" 67. Measure of length 70. Genuine 73. Golf term 75. Theatre term for standing room only 77. Minister's title (abbrev.) 79. Nick name of famous president of U. S. Answer to Last Month's Puzzle [HEG1HEI BHH HSH0 HHiasHS man □□□□ □□ass raaanac] anaa ona eis hhq his raannHH HHEHn mUHH BHH DHHQH0 ILEN1.CORAL HESHBID HHfflSHH HH HHH COS BSd HHHG] anas hbehidoi