Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

220 Sol Mosher looked about furtively, as if apprehensive that the conversation might be overheard. Then he drew his chair up close to MacKechnie’s and leaned forward, assuming his most important and confiden- tial manner. “ Listen,” he whispered—‘“ I’ve got big news for you.” MacKechnie steeled himself for the “ big news.” Sol Mosher had sprung these tremendous revelations before, and none of them had ever quite materialized. ‘“Tve fixed something big for you,” Mosher confided—‘ something that Il knock their eyes out in this man’s town and get the people packed into your house like sardines in a can.” Sol Mosher was always apt with his similes. ‘You'll have ’em hanging from the chandeliers.” ‘““T haven’t got any chandeliers,” mur- mured MacKechnie; but Sol Mosher was not one to be interrupted by flippant di- gressions. ‘“'You’ve heard that Eva Ray is doing personal appearances—”’ Yes, MacKechr.ie had heard all about that. Eva Ray was one of the cutie stars of Hollywood, and her pictures hadn’t been going so well lately. So her employers, the Art-Plus people, had sent her out on a personal appearance tour in the hope of bolstering her rapidly sinking box office value. MacKechnie had also heard rumors about this tour—it was far from trium- phant. “Well,” announced Sol, ‘‘ here comes the big surprise. Ray is going to make Delphis on the 17th, and is scheduled to speak at one of the big down town houses——proba- bly the Tivoli—at the second afternoon show. She can’t make a train for Kansas City until midnight, so I’ve arranged for her to appear at your house that eve- ning.” _ Sol Mosher delivered this as though it was the most stupendous declaration since Columbus announced that the world is round. Having heaved it from his chest, he sat back with the satisfied air of one who has solved all the problems of man- kind. But MacKechnie seemed surprising- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ly unresponsive to the glorious news; no evidence of ecstatic relief appeared in his calm gray eyes. “Well, how’s that for service?” breezed the smooth Sol Mosher. “Oh, I guess it Il help some. There are always a few suckers who fall for that per- sonal appearance gag; they like to look at the freaks. But there aren’t many of ’em left; the public’s too smart for that. The people of this town aren’t interested in stars who don’t give ’em good pictures—and Eva Ray will have to be pretty eloquent to make up for the flops she’s been in this year.” Sol Mosher was a trifle crestfallen at this heresy, but he merely renewed his property smile. ‘“T knew you’d appreciate this wonder- ful chance,” he said. ‘“‘ You’re a wise old bird, Dave, and you know a good thing when you see it. Of course, you under- stand that you'll have to book Eva Ray’s new production, ‘ Ashes of Roses,’ for the week of the 17th.” ‘* Oh, all right,” sighed MacKechnie, and produced his fountain pen. So the contracts were signed, and in due time the news of Eva Ray’s impending visit started to leak out in the Delphis press. 7 The words “ Little Eva is Coming ” were displayed prominently from every billboard and in every shop window in town. The Art-Plus advance men engaged a brass band and collected a delegation of school children to greet ‘‘ the sweetheart of all humanity ” on her arrival at the Delphis depot. The Chamber of Commerce was inspired to hold a testimonial banquet, and the mayor issued a proclamation. It was all beautifully ar- ranged. Nevertheless, all the splurge of exploita- tion and ballyhoo left the dour David Mac- Kechnie cold. The realization came to him that all those who desired passionately to see Eva Ray in person would go to the Tivoli. His particular group of theater patrons evinced little or no interest in the forthcom- ing visitation. They had been and heard film stars do their stuff before and had grown tired of the old routine. LOO S} A CO S GC)