Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

SA PATA , he a nah i) chy 520 of hiring Dave Griffith or Stroheim to direct his opus. Strange as it may seem, all these lads regretted, via their third assistant secre- tary, that it would be impossible for them to consider the matter at the pres- ent time, all of which was a polite method of tossing my leather pusher out on his ear. We finally wound up around Poverty Row, the deadfall where they make the “ quickies,” and Two-Punch goes into a booking office and remarks that he is on the market for a load of actors and actorines, and leaves our hotel ad- dress. “ What about a director ?” I inquires. “T intend to handle that job per- sonal,’ he says. “C'mon, Toothache, le’s take a spin down Santa Monica Boulevard.” For a couple or three hours we ride hither and likewise yon and get back to the hotel about twilight. As we en- tered, a breezy chap bounces off a seat and comes up to Two-Punch with out- stretched hand. “Mr. Two-Punch Simpson, I be- lieves?”’ he smiles. “ What about it?” snaps my battler, figuring the newcomer was about to sell him stock in a new device to re- move storms along airplane routes. “My name is Lloyd Lorraine,” goes on the stranger, “and I heard you are about to start work on a new feature film. ices as director at—well, at your own price. “To be frank, Mr. Simpson, an out- sider like myself has practically no chance of getting in with the big fel- lows, and I really need the work. I have directed any number of independ- ent features and I feel sure I could di- rect yours.” “Well,” says Two-Punch, “ maybe I can use you. Come up to the suite. Speaking of them big fellows, I intend to show them babies where they head in!” After reaching our rooms, Two- - . reais » = bea oe “ a ee pn me ae ~~ 4. ; =< meet | ys =e Oe ow Ya > ° In short, I called to offer my serv-. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Punch and Lloyd Lorraine come to a speedy agreement. Then my movie- mad fisticuffer gives Lorraine Willie Sims’s great scenario, and the director promptly breaks down and confesses that it is a gem of genius. The phone rings and the hotel clerk informs us that there is any number of people downstairs who craved to come up and see the middleweight enaeD of the world. “Shoo ’em up!” into the transmitter. “What, all of ’em?” demands the clerk. How many are they?” demands Two-Punch. ~“T aint. got any adding machine,” replies the clerk, “ but roughly speak- ing, | would say there’s about two hun- dred cluttering up the lobby, and I guess there’s about five hundred more outside, kept in order by a flock of cops.” “ Who’s down there,” demands T'wo- Punch, “the army and navy?” Lorraine grabs the receiver from the champ’s hand, and says to the clerk, “TI will be right down and attend to the matter.” He hangs up and goes on to Two-Punch. “Leave those babies to me; [ know how to handle ’em. Wait a sec—I'll Be back pronto!” He returns a half an hour later, somewhat the worse from wear. His tie is neatly shredded, his collar is stick- ing out, whilst several buttons are off his coat. “Well,” he grins, “ that’s that!’ “ Did the cable bust on the elevator ?” asks ‘T'wo-Punch. “ Oh, nothing like that,” replies Lor- raine. “I just told the boys and girls that we had already hired our cast, and that they could return to their regular jobs.” “ But,” says Two-Punch, “ we ain’t got any cast! Those people must of come from the booking’ office.” “Most likely,” says Lorraine; “ but they are just a bunch of hams. I will get you a first-rate cast personally, and bring them here to-morrow morning.” snaps ne Punch aes commsheok> com Bon, = 4 rr pica