Show Cupid and Dramatic Rights I BY B BI fI I ICI Pa Page e tho author of tuf lf Lain Laural Clowns sat sal at at iii hits his co desk k reading hi his Ic letters tone Those These letters uvero a dul dally iSo ro- nO unwed source timid J r t 1 rr I r I Ia r l ul 1 r which they were wei-e ono one outcome His Ills book bool had been beon of absorbing interest and amid enchanting delight to himself That it i wa was as no less interesting and tie de- le- le to the tho great world seemed to eat CI-eat him lain Incredible While ho la lay awake In iii tho lie 11 nIght ht and planned It I II the lie book boo hud hind heen no noless noless noless less real to him than his own breathing breath breath- breall- breall lug Ins During Dui During the lie hours in which quaintly he lie had written It I It It i had hud I hsc-I yet been as actual and vital to hIm him as the hand which guided the pen pelt but the thc moment the no book published he lie lost i i it Instead of or the thrilling Ju Joy I which he lie ho had often oren ima imagined ined himself elf j I experiencing in the presence of his pi-ined pi book bool ito no had hal a lonely little IUle that made him luau be ln feeling toward It I begin to write a second book bool The author of oC Laural owns Clowns was kindly lY to lo a a de degree rec Seven of his letters letters lotters let lot were requests for autographs Murtin wondered wh why anyone wanted his autograph autograph but bul he lie cheerfully wrote his name seven en e times limes One Omme correspondent correspond ent Cot requested the authorship of the thic quotation with which I Laural Crowns was wa concluded She no tamp an and the quotation was wat from the lie of speech in iii The Merchant f of mercy mercy of oC Venice but bu l 1 J courteously wrote a relI reply Usually he lie ha had little In iii answering his letters but hul this nail mail mai I brought three thice each of which wilch demanded demand I ed much more than a le a n el postage stamp or a slight Introduction William Shakespeare to the pla plays s of oC ilam Martin larUn 1 zead cad and anh reread them with wih in increasing increasing In- In creasing lJ em t The rue was from frum his publisher D Deai Dr ar Mr Mi 11 Page Page it wild saId ald cautiously If I as HS wo 0 are arc Inclined to understand solicits th tIme the dramatic Stone rights lights to Laurel Crowns ns we would strongly advise ad you OU to accept his otter offer aware the most He is as as- you oU rum are powerful theatrical manager in the country l und and nl then th the publishers re re- re rc-I rc iterated iterate thc their strong The second secund letter leter was brief to the lie point of curtness Martin Maitin Page Dear Sir Ir 1 I want the tho Page Crowns Ct dramatic rights to LauraI WINFIELD VI STONE SIONE It Is obvious that Martin would have havo had luau III no JW dilemma lemma whatever e to lo face hail had there been no ho 10 third letter leter but there was a third letter le 0 sheet t of or small It was as on a smal heavy I white paper papal at the top toll of ot which In 0 old olti blue Ink hii the hue letters betters leters J J. J C. C daintily olbo el In iii u a fantastically fantas fantas- The rhe handwriting handwriting hand han o obscure curC monogram writing was wa heavy und and black and auth expansive ex ex- To Ison who like hike IC to tu read reada In arbi- arbi so o a revelation of oC character traLy a I thing as it i t ln might lu have ha suggested Impulsiveness The itself more filM than sU suggested Im letter f eJ dont donl don l lc tell 1 Dear Deai Martin Murtin it wild said have already let some ome one cl else c chave mo you sou have JC the dramatic rights to Laure Laurel Crowns I want ant them I The rIte part pait of or Crowl Ruth why Ruth why did you name her hem Huth- Huth Ruth just Ills fits me time precisely Ills fits me mo und and anc I want sunt to tar star In Iii It it I. I Yes 1 I do du foda Today 10 To- da day I wont went up UI and told tull Stone I tired leading and wanted that hat was US tred lending to stat tor Indeed I did diel He looked hooked atmo at mo flue reflectIvelY ic I th thought t he hue WH was BOIng going BO- BO 0 and I will lIl b star tur Ing to say s-dy ay Exactly wil cannot star star- r T you But nul ho lie didn't stal- stal which In lii that drawl you vou- he lie began and atul I was so o iu- iu u- u he sometimes uses ane left heft time Iho place that t 1 Ip for fOI him imbu to say ay without waiting word wOId Thi The fhe Idea of his sayIng JJ ayl he ho could Dont Don't you OU think I can cai not stat star m mo imie uc star The rue Idea o of act acl well enough to stat Stone Stone- myself el If r you u still nut But i I shall SIHUI star stol tar i my y UI tl the dramatic ri rights ht to Lurel Laurel have Crowns Crown Will Vill f you yuu dramatize di it ou I or get gel some ono one who Is u used cl to lag If Ir still Let me Inc know tn you rou tl Crowns Crowns- Laurel have the tIghts lights tc to tn HastilY H 5 your friend I JEANNETTE JEANETTE CURTIS I Martin held tho the letter 1 In his hit hand hun i f an I L jJ ii rJ Jl I t. t I f nut and absently rubbed his hits thumb over O CI th Iho ho monogram Now what Is 11 o a fellow follow tel fol low lute to do IC he lie In Tho ho hoal pail hart al of ur luthi Huli exactly It Ills her luci It I would bo ho IC It Is i I fr i rj v- v vi i r M UJ said simp simply but still stil a man owes something to his publishers If I VIn held Stone produces U It I It will wi double th the Ito sales of or thu hi book bool and what a blatant Idiot people will think I am If tIme the they hour hear o Ive I've IYO refused It to tu Stone Ills HIM face suddenly hushed TIme The They will wil s say 1 I let Jeannetto lo have ha c it i because I 1 love her Martin stopped and read cad Joannette's letter leter again Well Velh cl 1 co do he said boldly but buthe but he wouldn't want to lo havo o everybody bod saying it I it She wont won't let Jet mo me say s-ay It f It and she she- lu doesn't mt love hove me JUt Your friend he read aloud from flom Jeannelle's letterI letter heter I wish she sho lw wouldn't emphasize It so u Martin took tool time the gre great t managers manager's let let- cr in iii his other hand He lie le smiled grimly It I was so o ent from oun Jeannotte's Jean- Jean notte's letter letor In outward semblance and anel s-o s Identical I with wih thu it In spirit t. t As he lie held the lie letters leUer side by b side and ind anc stated stared at ut them in perplexity he started Jeannetto's letter leter was dated a i day in advance of or ld Stones Martins Martin's face cleared clemed as if by hy magic I I might aught have thought of ot that he lie crie led cried Hers I was written Ilist Careless Care Care- less ess girl ghI she Khe ho forgot to mall mail mal it i as usual That i it He turned to lo his lesk lesl an and auth quickly I began to tu reply to tho the lit 10 no longer cl vexatious letters leters To 0 J he lie sal said 1 My 11 Dear Deam Deal Girl Of Girl Of course you may have lave the dramatic rights to lo Laurel Crowns What do I lImo know about starring starring star star- ring But lut 1 I think you act well wel enough to do elo anything Ill I'll Il dramatize It I it or you ou can or well we'll wel get set some same one to dramatize It prefer It just as you OU Mai Martin tin concluded tho the letter leter with several additional of his naive ignorance In n regard to the tho practicalities Inoc of dramatic affairs As he hc ha had Inferred Martin Iam Martn knew mew little about starring but hut he ha hind haU known Jeannette Curtis Curts from froni her childhood The rho dramatic dla dra matic rights to Laurel Crown Crowns were werely by ly no means fit first among hii his possession possession posses posses- sion slon to be he bc bestowed upon her Martin arUn was e awa that Jeannette ml might ht not use Laurel Crowns to large laSe advantage ud an age tage but he hue was wa vel vei very gentle gente and so sobe sobe sobe be was happy In lii th the mere mell giving of his love and amid his bounty Tal Taking out another sheet of paper he lie wrote to Stone Stono His letor let let- ettor tor or was as laconic us as the mann managers manager's own Stone ton Dear Sir I Sir I have already disposed of of the dramatic rights I to Laurel Crowns nt Cro u PAGE slowly blotted the tIme letter I Wont VOJt he b be Lie though hf hO thought lie le ha has always hall hail what he lie sal said he Iw wante wanted Its It's Is I's a pity Jean with him Ho He I nette nele has has- quarreled was waR melting making her hm career und career and und I dont don't ont ontI believe ve eILl she knows how to tu tar stat herself I oven cn In Laurel CroWns annette's Jc-annette's l had fallen falen to tu time the 1 floor He lie reached for it it Il and laughed as 1001 he again unfolded I It f Ive read real It enough times limes he lie reflected to tu li know every word of oft Jt t Let Lel mo mute know Instantly she he say says I didn't notice nutce that Well Voll cl I w will Nt l lie sprang to tu his lila feet seized eizeth his le j teter letter to Jeannette and taking his hat hul i us-ln-d us to the 1001 door Ho threw It Il open and then stopped toppel short A girl gI a charming girl who curiously resembled him In appearance stood at Iho the door dOO her hOI hand lf lifted ell in the he hevery vcr very act of knocking She broke into a low lov surprised laugh Why Mar Mar- iii what In tn the lie world world world- she began tn Her iTem voice ulCe hud had a marvelous ringing tone tOie as soft Eort as U It I was clear WinHeld Win Win- Held field Slone had said all that this thuI voice olo was ut-as more than baum than half hair of or her hem hol professional equipment I Oh Ott Jeannette Jeannete Wont Won't you como comno in Martin sid Sail said I 1 got your OU letter this morning und and I was just going to get cl a mc messenger en cr to lo take answer toI to I it Ho looked at lien her hll D and smiled Hu ed mischievously You said to let you ou know Instantly ho lie It concluded Jeannette tool took the letter from huis hall hand baud I I l nt say tay anything about j t I i j. j J i i I I Jj 0 fr t SI i J i 1 your turning yourself Into a cyclone clono over oven It I Ih she sho said She h looked up UI Into Ills his hll face tace ace I un and then the they both bOlh laughed She took took the elm elicit claf ft- ft at tins tin's desk Opening her hel letter Jetel she read It I It Martin seated d himself on an nn absurd d HUlo divan made of ot a steamer trunk and amid ald a Bagdad Bag Bag- la dad portiere and aHl wa watched cd her heu Balla Bal Bal- Ho did lid not know how llOIS was i the tho between them beta Jean Jean- neto s once difference In coloring served to conceal it It even from I flom semis pet more mOo sl sighted keen than Mai Mau tin She wave wa was wal ve Vcr veLy ry fair her lier face had hac almost no trace I of color her c eyes cs wore were the the- pray Ia of oC silver and her hair hal was the hit palest po possible pos pos- sible Ible brown browni but 1 like 0 Martins Martin's face Jeannette's was peculiarly eager and vivid vivId Like LIe tins Martins her hiet mouth had hada hada a a in its Il cut ye oven on o when she sho smiled She Sue looked up from rein her hiem letter as 38 she sherea rea read It I an and smiled I say a you did ld know much about scarring Marring sh she sho observed Mai Maitin tin laughed How much do you know about It ho I re retorted re- re toree Well said ald meditatively I I ont don't know as much as Infeld Stone Stone but but Ive I've made up m my may mind to tar tai and ane star tal r I shall even if Stone wont won't wont won't- she ceased abruptly U abru for on omi Martins Martin's desk she saw the en envelope envelope en- en of Stones Stone's letter hotter She SIme glanced quickly at Mai tIn Mat tin but the thc young oung man was pushing pushing the he cushions o of the time divan Into Info Inlo a heap heLp and he did id not see sec her hel startled eye eyes Martin she hc began l I 1 am ant vcr very warm warm warm- Martin turned t to lii her her- You dont don't ont look particularly warm ho lie saul said critically crit it cri- cri I l like e that dull dul colm ho added as he lie gazed at her lien linen gown Sown and n that hat haL Blondes hardly anH ever have enough artistic sense to wear red touched off orr with wIh black h they hey usually go In for fOl blue and ecru ecru but you OU dont don't look warm Well Well I I am Jeannette insisted If I you cant can't take tale mo mao at m my wor word woi-d- woi she e added The author of Laurel Crowl Crowns I laughed ghe I can tr try he ho c exclaimed Now ow how shall I 1 cool you ou off of A Aan fan an I 1 dont don't own a fan an I have It I Ill I'll Il run rU over u to the corner an and amid get you O Oan f fIl an Ice cream soda toda I Jeannete conscience smote her hen alien Martin ha had left lef time the room 1 but she did not call him him cal to to tl She walled until she heard tIme the bang baiS of the elevator elc ator door dool as he closed It I then thou he she hast hastily searched seal omun among the letters letters letters let let- scattered over ovet- the time d desk sk She put her hei own letter leter Impatiently aside e but the publishers and managers manager she grasped rasped and amid read With ith parted lips Ups She found tho ho envelope and amid the lie other othmer two then alic compared ed ho post postmarks marks He got them all al In t this mornings morning's s mail mal she whispered In her hasto she sho ho moved the tho blotter which Martin arUn humid had hul left lef over OCI his letter to Stone The Tho letter hotter la lay hay beCome be- be Come foie her hel- eyes and she sho 10 re-ad re It H. Then she read a again ain the letter Martin hud had written ti to her then she stared un- un at tim tho tw flout floor CO for an Instant and amid then she sho ho covered hoe her taco face with hot her hands hund and amid anc trembled with wIh a strange excitement lIe He le loves me mc He does docs rea really 1 love me flue But BuL he hc shan't shant do cu It i Ill I'll lJ bo be 10 leading lendin lend lead in lag ing woman all ul m my life tl lit lit-at t Stone wants Crowns Crowns' Good gracious gracious' Martins Martin's fortune fortuno is la maJc and he lie loves mo mu enough to unmake It It uc A Ami HI to think I never would bellevo be be- e- e hero ho loved mo mu at mill Jill al levo lifted her bet shining eye eye- aho hc seized liar her letter to tu ci Mat tin In on uric t I n pun n In u ha titor J I I. I L Lt I I j l fl lt V t av lines through the Uw word woid r friend Think of lC tho time line energy I wasted wastell Jal making making- him believe I love Jove him But HtmL truly I didn't think thin ho real really loved me nic and J I couldn couldn't tell tel him hUn 1 I hiLl did dil love Jove o fo him I 1 sho ho sighed happily happl You cei cei look warm wann enough now hOW Martin remarked when he re rc- rc turned You look positively over over- heated I um urn Jeannette replied but 1 It would take something something more mOIo than thun ice soda t-oda to cool me mae off ott or And Amid anyway anyway any any- wa way I mu must t go o Ive I've I e decided not hot to tc star that star that Is right light awa away avay Stone knows more inure about it Il than I do Im I'm Im going right over to see ec him now muon about being leading again next year ear B But t Jeannette Jeannette- said talc Martin Mattini In I amazement almost ran run to tho the door Good bye she said ald Martin caught her hant hand Jeannotte's cheeks paled again Jn In letter to tu toil her lieu hand she still held hold lice her il Martin ti at-ti iL Marln Why Vil Jeannette he crl led cr-led d as his eyes led Jed by the time ru rustling of or the paper paler fell upon the lie unmistakable mono rum Cel She allowed him hint to take talc tho the letter Half mechanically he lie unfolded it I. I Two lines lilies drawn through h tho ho word friend |