Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 17, 1924 — page 127: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Pal —_—_——_—— By LEIGHTON OSMUN HEN Alec’ Bonwell, director, W reached the studio of Acme Pic- tures, Inc., he found that the street scene which he had taken the after- noon before had been ruined by static—a condition of the atmosphere which gives to the negative the appearance of a photograph of forked lightning. He had already re- taken this same scene three times; he was disgusted. He cursed his luck under his breath, then turning to his assistant direc- tor, gave the order: “Weil, get the people together again.” * Same bunch, chief?” Alec Bonwell hesitated, then answered moodily : “I suppose so, they’re not any worse than the usual crowd of extra people Has- well manages to dig up.” ‘“ Right, chief.” Fred Thorne went off to the office of Bert Haswell, the casting director, and Bon- well continued a gloomy way out to the lot where the street scene was set up. Il. WHEN Myrtle Skinner reached the store where she worked, she found nothing but a heap of smoldering ashes out of which rose twisted girders and smoke blackened walls. The People’s Emporium of Los Angeles had succumbed to fire during the night. Once more Fate had dealt her a blow. Life had been a succession of blows to Myrtle. Her father had died leaving her and her mother very poor. Her mother had died leaving Myrtle poorer yet. For a while she had lived with an aunt, but the aunt was taken to a hospital with an in- curable disease, and Myrtle was left alone to fend for herself. Some one had got her a job as cash girl in the People’s Emporium —that was five years ago. Since, she had ‘ 277 CoOnmicloool< (C@