Evening Star Newspaper, January 12, 1942, Page 26

Synopsis of preceeding chapters. Livia Clarkson is ambitious to crash the movies. She was born in Los Angeles. She had never seen her father. Her mother and older sister Vera are school teachers, and they become a teacher, too. Secretly Livia enters a contest for “the charm girl,” conducted by a local newspaper, and wins it. Her ‘mother and Vera inform her they have a chance to dbuy a school, but Livia reads a report that Bruce Nolan, ¢ movie stunt man, was injured while stunting for a movie actor and visits him at the hos- pital. Sha tells him about winning the contest. He promises to try to convince her mother that it is all right for her to go into the movies. On the morning her pictures and life story appear in the Gazette, Livia leaves for a movie studio before her sister and mother oy b el il e Tl awaken. CHAPTER 4. Screen Test. Livia took a taxl. It was extrava- gant, but, she said to herself, when she was & movie star, she would have her own car and chauffeur. The big iron gates at the studio were closed, but there was a small- . Here in a “Good morning,” winningly at him. He waited polite- 1y. So, they hadn't told him? And where was the executive who had promised’ to meet her at the gate? For a moment her confidence di- minished, but it came back at once when, after telling the gateman, “I am Livia Clarkson,” his face re- laxed, and he said: “Oh, yes—just been reading about you.” A copy of the Gazette was under his coffee cup. “Mr. Nevins"— he was the executive Livia had ex- pected at the gate—“Mr. Nevins telephoned me he’ll be a bit late. But you're to go to the make-up department. He'll meet you there.” Livia was walking in the direc- tion he had pointed when he called her back. “Oh, Mr. Clarkson—here’s & tele- gram for you.” 'Who eould it be? She tore it open. | him. “Good luck,” she read. It was “Bruce.” signed 5 “It's from Bruce Nolan,” she told the gatemen. “D'ye know him?” “Sure do—one of the best stunt men in the business. Too bad about his accident.” “It wasn't serious—just his arm,” Livia told him happily. When she was a star, she would do a lot for Bruce. He was too nice to be & stunt man, risking his life for other people. She walked with dancing feet to the long, low wooden building. Opening the door of the first booth, she sprang back with a startled, “Oh.” A man in a white coat was leaning over a famous star painting her lips with a long, thin brush. “I'm sorry,” sald Livia—"I'm —I'm—" The star smiled at her, and pointed to the Gazette on her dressing table. “Miss Clarkson?” A Grudging Acoeptance. “Yes,” breathed Livia. It was strange to be talking to & real star. “I—er—I have to be made-up for my test,” she told the star shyly. “You ¢sn have Smithy. He won't be a mamute more.” The man in the while coat glared at Livia. “I have something else to do.” ¥But you'll do me & favor and take mre of Miss Clarkson?” the star said. “I don’t want to be any trouble,” said Livia. “It's no trouble, is it Smithy?” “Not if you say so,” he replied grudgingly. The star left with a parting “good luck,” and Livia sat down carefully in her chalr. “Can you make me as beautiful as she is?” Livia asked Smithy. He shrugged his shoulders. “That, my dear lady, is not pos- sible. I will do the best I can.” Livia dwindled before his cold, im- personal glare. But she couldn’t be that bad. After all, she had won the “Charm Girl” contest. “My cheek bones are rather high” she said timidly as he continued to stare at her as though she were something in a museum, “maybe you could do something to tone them down?” “My dear young lady, I am not a magician. I am an artist. Your cheek bones are high. That is your misfortune.” He suddenly swung the chair backward. “T mustn’t irritate him any more,” Livia thought as he slapped a brownish grease paint on her face. But she made a last plea. “My eyes—could you—" She thought he was going to burst as he glared down on her. Livia Wants te Laugh. “Look, Miss Clarkson, I have made ,up the biggest stars in the busi- ness. And not once have I been told how I should do my work. You stick to your job. I'll stick to mine.” Livia choked back a desire to laugh. His red face and little black eyes were so funny. “Im sorry,” she told him, “I didn’t mean—" “You didnt mean, you didn't mean,” he mumbled. Mr. Nevins appeared at the door. He was a welcome interruption for « Livis. “And how's the ‘Charm Girl"?” he asked her. “Pine,” she led. Smithy put down the brush with which he was curving a line on Livia's lips. “How can I work with all this conversation going on?” he asked the world reproachfully. Nevins winked at Livia. “I'll be outsidle when you're through.” She was glad when it was over. “Am I all right?” she asked Nevins, ._“Oh, sure. Hurry, were late.” They walked swiftly to the sound £'2ge. It seemed empty and stuffy. ‘Their footsteps were loud on the vide, dark floor. They picked their vay carefully over a network of cehles to the far side of the stage. Carpenters were setting up the scene; a small, three-sided room with bright arc lamps converging cn the only piece of furniture in i:—a sofa. Livia was introduced to the man who was to share the test with her. His hand was damp. A Beastly Bore. “Howd'ye do,” he said in a high, British voice. He tugged nervously at his collar and added, “Beastly bore all this.” They sat on the sofa while the eameraman and his assistant ar- Fears. Was sl pieture-making, as 3 as icture- as casual as this? Maybe it was just the salary that was exciting. Oh, decide Livia shall was easier than Livia had antici- pated. The Britisher was a singer. All she had to do was say, “Do you really?” in the middle of his song. Then they had to kiss. Then Livia | had to look into the camera and say, “I love you, Richard.” Livia tried to forget every one on the set as she listened to the song in which the Britisher swore eter- !nal love to her. But despite her concentration she was aware of every little movement on the set. | She was glad when the director stopped them and explained to the singer that he must look at Livia and not at the camera. When the time came for her to say “Do you really?” she thought of Bruce and, still thinking of him, kissed the stranger at the end of the song. But she could hardly forbear an expression of disgust. The Brit- isher was a lover of the onion. It was over. Mr. Nevins told her she was fine. So did the director. “Was I, honestly?” she asked them. “You'll be hearing from us very soon,” Mr. Nevins said. A Welcome Surprise. Then she was back at the studio gates. Talking to the gateman was Bruce Nolan—his arm still ban- daged. She was delighted to see “Why did you leave the hospital?” “I was bored—" “But you shouldn’t have,” she pro- tested, but she was delighted. “How did it go?” he asked. “They said it was fine.” “Where are you going now?” he asked. “I don't know. I suppose it's lunch time.” “I live near here,” he said. “Let's go there—and have something to eat. I'm a pretty good cook—with & can opener.” Bruce led her into a small court- yard. There was a strip of grass in the center, and around it ranged a dozen low-roofed bungalows, all alike. In Nolan’s home was & low divan against the wall and two com- fortable leather armchairs. And a . One side of the wall was covered with books. She picked one Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass.” He smiled at her inquiry. “I brought them from home.” “Where was home?” “Colorado.” “A ranch?” “My father was a judge in Pueblo. I studied law, got my de- gree. And then I knew I didnt want to be a lawyer. I worked on » cattle ranch. I came to Los An- geles 18 months ago for a vacation. | T liked it here. And stayed.” He did not tell Livia that hi$ family was wealthy and that one of his reasons for coming to California was to get away from the enervat- | ing influence of his father's wealth. Livia Turns Cook. ‘While Bruce spoxe, Livia cooked some eggs and made toast in the | tiny kitchen. Bruce leaned against the door. “Say, those eggs look good!” | “I'm starving,” she told him, | “When anything exciting happens | in my life, I always forget to eat.” She should have been uncom- fortable sitting there eating a meal with a man she barely knew, but she felt happy and relaxed. | “I'll wash the dishes,” she said afterward, but he stopped her. “There’s & boy who does all that.” She curled up on the divan. “Just rest—don't talk,” he said. He fetched the pillow from his bed and put it under her head. ‘When she opened her eyes, he was sprawled in an armchair, star- ing in front of him, smoking a cigarette. “I wonder when I'll know about | the test,” she said dreamily. He called the studio and asked for Mr. Nevins. He talked about his arm, then casually— “Oh, about Livia Clarkson—TI said Livia Clarkson—the girl who won‘ the ‘Ch: " competition—when will you know about her test? Tomor- row? Thanks. ... Yes, I'm feeling | fine. Good-by and thanks.” He turned to the waiting girl. “Some big-shot will look at it | tomorrow, and—" “I thought of you during the love | scene,” she told him with a half| smile, and then to herself, “I'm flirt- | ing with him, but it's nice.” The| dsy would be incomplete without | A Different Kiss. “T want him to kiss me.” she de- | cided and walked defiantly toward him. He was faintly smiling and looked at her lips as she raised them to him. He kissed them gently. And then the corners of his mouth were laughing. She drew back offended. “That’s what you wanted, wasn't it?” he said, “It's fun. Let's do it again.” But he was mocking her, and she felt foolish. She had approached him like a queen conferring a favor. His laugh was infectious. But now | he was kissing her differently; a passionate kiss that left her breath- less. His uninjured arm held her close. “I'm in love with you,” he told her | casually. | Did she love him? She didn’t| know. It had been such a wonder- ful, confusing day. She gently dis- engaged herself. “Come on, I'] take you home in a taxi” Bruce gave her back the green hat—“Put it on, you look too be-utiful without it.” At the top of her street she said good-by to him. “We'll have lunch again tomor- row?” “Yes.” She watched his tax! turn the corner. Her mother was waiting outside the door of their home. “Now for it,” said Livia and slowly went inside. (Continued tomorrow.) 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