THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1935
The Optimist
(Continued from Page 10-)
The specialists deared for ac tion. The red "Silence" warnings glowed The cut-in men raised their slap sticks, Even the most distant carpenters froze. As each in turn signalled ""ready" the silence grew till the huge vanit seemed full of it
Thea, with the clatter of slap sticks for a signal the scene be- gan Beyond the voices and the
• movements on the stage not 1 word was heard for all that tense activity.
*
And then from the Casino came a snecze?
Madame Clothe, was that really necessary? You've got the poor devil on the mat anyway..
"Cat" snapped Bergerat.
“What in thunder
That complex miracle of catenation fell to bits.
"OA, my God?" moaned Beryl
She was an egoist!
"There he is!" cried à property man, and gave chase. "After him!**
Aubrey was dragged forth, terrified by his own temerity, yet clinging desperately to his pur- pose.
**I Thu-musht shpeak to Misht-Maht Something gave way, fragments of porcelain and pink valcanite that had impeded utterance shot forth. Mr. Ber- gerat." he urged. "I must
"You'll see enough of Mr. Ber- gerat to last you a lifetime,” they said, grimly, as with torn collar and pinioned arms they ran him to the chief..
"Here's your biz: autty."
Csir---clean
For a second the group scanned the haggard, hairless, toothless, hollow-cheeked. "wild-eyed man ahora in the struggle of every shred of youthful camouflage which he had so fanatically clung. "My precious, tata," cried Max Holdenough. "The Optimist”?
01
There was a titter, and then! Aubrey spoke, resonant. tremu- lous ecstatic. At least be face to face with Bergerat.
"I'm just the Poke you're wanting Mr. Bergerat. Just a couple of minutes
sive
and
**
+
"Cat it out," said the property
man, shaking him.
Aubrey took no notice. He was beyand noticing. He raised
thin arm towards
the shadowy phrases
girders. Some scattered
of a speech long rehearsed re
mained to him.
*I'm not amateur. I'm bredt and trained to the work."
-Run him out, barked O.C. cameras.
The guard pushed
"Curse, you." cried the struggl ing Aubrey, suddenly, with such a voice as that with which Barak
might have blasted Meroz.
"Stand still hissed Bergerat, in that still tone of his that shakes the stars.
His eyes bored into the shrink- ing man. His face was SANG the face of one who has seen a vision..
Let him go."
All stood away from the man Dow breathless, half frenzied, with scant grey lockks swept widly across his brow, cavernous cheeks, and under the torn collar the wobbling, stringy neck.
For ten seconds Bergerat star- ed, then-Say something, man," he said. "Recite. Go on: Don't
dither."
"To be or not to be
began Aubrey, "that is
Tchah," said Bergeratt, "some-
thing with guts. As you said 'Curse you'."
"It is a far, far better thing that I do now," cried Anbres. sonorously, "than 1. have ever
cope
"Maybe it is, said Bergeral,
"good enough for
"register, Blake ?***
me
That I
"Like a trumpet, chief” "Good. Fix this fellow up for the mad prophet in "Herodias,“ I've been combing the world, for him for six months. I must have -him bound to us for at least five years." He turned to Aubrey. "Good business for both of us, hat why in thunder couldn't "you have come before?"!
"To be intoned. Aubrey, triumphantly,” “And to think that Miranda paid four guideas for that damned toupee
(The End)
SALT-PRODUCING FIRM,
Formation
Papa
ducing and
Been in
I WANT YOU TO TALK TO DAUGHTER. SHE WON'T MIND ME. ALL SHE THINKS OF IS GOING OUT! | CANT UNDERSTAND THE
YOUNGER GENERATION-
YOU'RE RIGHT
MR. GUS TAWIND IS HERE. HE WANTS YOU TO GO FOR A RIDE IN HISİCAR
TELL HIM TO COME IN. I AIN'T GOIN' OUT
WHERE DOES
YOUR OLD MAN KEEP HIS CIGARS
?
Rosie's BEAU
GED MEMANUS
Registered U. 5. Patio Office.
LOOK AT THAT MOB COMIN' IN -
THE FRONT DOOR!?
CALLUP, ED.GET HIM TO COMELOVER
| MISS ROSIE. WON'T TALK
TO YOU. YOU DO
TOO : MUCH • FOOLING
Bringing Up Father
TELL HER EMPHATICALLY SHE CAN'T GO OUT TONIGHT-AND YOU ARE GOING TO STAY IN AND SEE THAT SHE STAYS IN. DON'T TAKE ANY BACK- STALKS
I KNEW THERE WUZ A CATCH
MR, TEDDY BAER CALLED UP HE SAID HED CALL ON YOU TONIGHT
WAGON
I'LL BE GLAD TO SEE HIM. GO SEE WHO THAT
DOOR
WHEELS
NOW! MUST CALL ROSIE AND TELL HER IM IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SURE THIS TIME IT WAS WRONG TO FOOL
HER
WHAT AILS
HIM 2
YOU AIN'T GOIN'" BOUT TONIGHT
AN THAT'S FINAL
KTHINK
YOURE MEAN
CALL WILL BEATIT. TELL HIM TO BRING ́HIS DRUMS AN' GET
CLARE OʻKNET. TO BRING HIS HORN. IVE GOT MY SAX HERE
WHO WANTS TO PLAY BRIDGE?
GOOD
HELLO, SID! COME ON OVER-
MR. ARCHIE IS ON THE PHONE- SAYS HES IN THE HOSPITAL AGAIN
ANOTHER ONE OF HIS JOKES:
HE KEEPS SAYING ROSIE DONT BELIEVE ME HES DAFT
800-
HOO
URDUERATURE O
HELLO, AL I CAN'T GO OUT TONIGHT- WHAT? SURE-
BRING HIM ALONG. COME OVER AS SOON AS YOU CAN
YES-BRING HIM ALONG AND GET ALICE TOO
CALL BING. HES A FINE SINGER
GO IN THERE AND GET THAT CROWD OUT OF „THIS HOUSE
UH-UHS ALL THEM GUYS ARE
FOOTBALL PLAYERS!
G-23
· 1933, King Fenores Syndicate, toc., Great Briesini raghias
IT'S THE GYPSY IN ME