Screen Mirror (Jun 1930 - Mar 1931)

ong by RoL agner Photo by M-G-M back and forth upon their various errands in front of Montie, decided to indulge her feline prerogative and get a big delicious eye-full of his majesty, and so she boldly left the sidelines and, walking across the set, stopped deliberately before the King of the Kinema and looked directly into his lustrous eyes. The epigrammarian made no reference to kings looking at cats, but there must have been something soft and purry in the beauty of Kitty that attracted his highness’s attention, for gently withdrawing his amorously occupied hands and stepping over the slave at his feet, Montaigne Belmont walked forward with regal gallantry and extended his hand. “Ah, Miss Pilky, I met you night before last. So you’ve come to work at the deah old Climax. I’m delighted, I’m shuah. Permit me to hope that I may have you with me in my next pictyah. You have a beautiful face, Miss Pilky, and I’m shuah you’ll be a success in pictyahs. I’ll speak to Mr. Driver about you.’’ And with her heart beating in almost breathless ecstasy, Kitty felt the thrill of a delicious pressure on her hand. If any young person ever touched Heaven, it was Kitty Pilky at that moment. Almost dizzy with the intoxication of it, she could hardly walk off the set, failing, of course, to see the daggers that were shot at her from the eyes of the court ladies clustered about the foot of the throne. “That’s all right; it sounds fine,” said Tessie, after listening to the hectic and gum-accompanied recital of Kit’s presentation at court. “But there ain’t been any call for us this morning. Driver is over in his office now and I have a hunch that somethin’ is about to happen. Montie may like your cow-eyes, but it’s Driver deals out the jobs. Kit, I’m afraid we’re through. Somethin’ tells me we’re fired.” Though it was hardly to be expected that Tessie’s pessimism would pry Kitty from the heights of her anticipation, yet there was something disconcerting in her friend’s hunch. She had seen Tessie’s (hunches develop into realities before. In fact, Kitty believed Tessie possessed a psychic feel for unseen things that was flittle less than clairvoyant. An hour later, while eating pie and coffee at Ptomaine Tommy’s across the street, the possible truth of Tessie’s premonition came to them like a staggering blow. “Say, kids,” said Beatty breezing in, “Mr. Driver wants to see you in his office right away. Better beat it right over. The Big Chief’s one of them do-it-now fellas.” Tremblingly they made their way across the street and entered the main gate, outside of which still stood some fifty hopefuls who looked upon the faces of the two girls with ill-concealed envy. They little knew, however, of the pallor concealed by that seductive grease-paint. Passing through the yard, they were just turning the corner by the camera vaults leading to Driver’s office, when Tessie stopped and clutched Kitty’s arm; and the latter, looking ahead, saw some one emerge from the director’s door that caused her to clutch Tessie in turn. “Fer Cawd’s sake, Tess, how did she know we was here? Chee, I knew sumpthin’ would happen. Now we’re canned. I’ll bet Pop Dorgan done this.” “Well, let’s have it over with,” answered Tessie bravely, and led the way to the office. “Close the door; I want to talk to you a minute,” said Driver, turning in his seat as soon as the girls came in. “So you’re wards of the Juvenile Court, eh?” he went on, tipping back his hat and blowing a long cloud of smoke. “Yessir,” answered Tessie with decision, while Kitty’s knees nearly gave way beneath her. “Well, Mrs. Davis, your probation officer, has been here to see me and told me all about it.” He looked at them knowingly. “She was inclined to make • QUICK! Cet a blanket for Anita Page — she looks as though she might be a bit chilly, or maybe this is the latest in nightgowns. Anyway it is a charming study of a charming miss, who is one of the talkies’ brightest belles. trouble, for you should have re ; ported to her before coming here. You know you’re not supposed to change your jobs without permission. We’ve got to play it safe with the Juvenile Court, or we’d have all the delinquents in town workin’ for us but I fixed it up all right. I’ve signed up for your good behavior, and so long as you behave, you’ll be able to stay.” And folding up a small paper, he put it in a pigeonhole. “Then we don’t have to go?” asked Kitty with returning strength. “On the contrary, I’m goin’ to start shootin’ a story with Montaigne Belmont next week and he asked particularly to have you with him.” He added, smiling: “I guess we can work Tessie in, too, though I’m afraid she’ll have to work extra. You see, dearie, you’re a little undeveloped for anything but kid stuff,” and he patted Tessie’s shoulder in an affectionately paternal manner. “Now, run along and be on the street-set by one o’clock.” “Oh, Tess, ain’t it grand?” exclaimed Kitty when they were out in the sunlight again. “They can’t tell me Mr. Driver’s a brute. He’s a prince, if you ast me. Say, gimme five packages of Rosemint gum, quick!” This to the sleepy-eyed purveyor of candy, cigarettes, and chewing gum standing by the gate. But the younger • continued on page 25