Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

222 ignore them; for the smile which was his principal stock in trade was as broad and as thoroughly assured as ever when he hailed MacKechnie in the lobby. “ She went over big—a knockout!” he crowed jubilantly. ‘ Didn’t I tell you? She got ’em coming and going. And just wait till she hits your gang to-night. She’s a gem, that little girl.” “Yes?” said MacKechnie dryly. glad you enjoyed it.” “And listen, Dave. Eva is going back to the hotel now for a little. rest, and if you'd like I can fix it up for you to meet her. What d’you say?” MacKechnie pondered. Will there be a big crowd up there?” he asked. ““ No—just the two of us. You can sit around and fan with her all you like. She’s a great kid, and I know you’ll fall for her like everybody else does.” MacKechnie doubted that, but he agreed to go with Sol and survey the sweetheart of all humanity in the flesh. He wanted to - find out just what manner of dumb-bell she was. Eva Ray received them with forced cor- diality. MacKechnie could see that she was tired—terribly tired-—and in spite of him- self, he felt a twinge of sympathy. ‘‘ Poor kid,” he thought, “‘ maybe it isn’t all her fault. She’s too darned little to be doing all this ballyhoo.” Indeed, Eva Ray was incredibly small and frail. Her presence on the screen and the stage was deceptive; it gave her at least five inches above her real height. Of course she was beautiful, but more legitimately so than MacKechnie had im- agined. Her complexion, pale and clear, was almost all genuine, and there was no doubt as to the sincerity of her round, blue eyes. He decided that she was a nice little girl, brainless perhaps, but undeniably at- tractive. They passed the routine formalities of polite conversation and then MacKechnie, in a burst of entirely unexpected bravado, turned to Sol Mosher. ‘“‘ Look here, Sol,” he said boldly, ‘“ could I speak to Miss Ray alone for a few minutes?” 66 V’m ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Oh, I see,” chuckled Sol, “I get you— you old devil.” He rose to go, smirking insolently. ‘I told you se, Dave—they all fall for little Eva. Well, I guess I know when I’m not wanted. I never missed an exit cue in my life.’ And with that he departed. Eva Ray looked curiously at Mac- Kechnie. “Well?” she asked, wearily. “Miss Ray,” he stammered, “ Miss Ray, I want you to help me.” She smiled. ‘‘ Of course I'll help you, What is it?” ‘Youre going to speak at my theater to-night. I want you to cut out your regu- lar personal appearance speech and tell the. truth.” She was speechless with amazement, but MacKechnie staggered on blindly. He had started this perilous experiment, and he would have to see it through. ‘ Here,” he said, producing a clipping of the advertisement which he had run that morning, “ read this.” She looked it over, obviously puzzled at the whole thing. ‘* But you say here that I’m going to issue a statement of special importance,” she said. ““ How did you know all that?” ‘““T didn’t know it,” he confessed. just hoped that you might.” She smiled again. “I'll give you credit for nerve,” she said, ‘“‘ but I don’t quite get the idea.” ‘* The idea is this: we can’t get away with the old hokum any more.” “ What?” ‘The public has turned wise on us!” Eva Ray leaned forward and surveyed MacKechnie closely, contracting her brows into a squint that was both charming and alarmingly analytical. ‘“ T’ve never heard anybody talk like that before,” she said. ‘‘ Go on!” MacKechnie complied willingly. The vocal chords which he had repressed suc- cessfully for the thirty years of his life sud- denly sprang into action; David Mac- Kechnie was astounded at their activity, but he could do nothing to control them. ‘* All of your pictures this year have been flops.”” Eva Ray started at that, but she offered no argumentative comment. ‘ You ae | LO@O S} A (C(O) S (CO