1

MUTT AND JEFF

AND AFTER

TWENTY YEARS

HOW YOU'RE GOIN'

BACK TO YOUR OLD HOME TOWN, SLAPPSBURGH!

1

YER I'M GETTING

A JOB THERE!--

I'LL BET THE OLD BURG MISSED

Me!

SLA

WELL,WELL!

HELLO,

GOIN' AWAY? I'VE

WELL, WELL! BEEN GONE TWENTY YEARS!) YOU AIN'T

HELLO,HANK!

MUTT!

WHEN I RAN AWAY FROM

GOIN'

CHANGED

DON'T YOU

THINK I'VE

CHANGED?

HERE I WAS ONLY,

AWAY?

A BIT!

BIG FOOLISH

KIDI

H2

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 8, 1939.

By BUD FISHER

NO, BUT YOU THINK YOU

HAVE!

YOU STILL TALK ABOUT WHAT A

FOOL YOU USED

TO BE!

IN WHAT

WAY?

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THE DAILY SHORT STORY

COVETED ROLE

any

a

Valeria Hastings had found it pro- traying the fact she was aware of his fitable to be without scruples. Very identity as a judge. If he had early in life she had learned that you scruples about seeing her he undoubt. couldn't be sentimental about peo edly consoled himself with the thought

le and things if you wanted to achieve that since she did not know he was a goal. You had to be callous and judge it was all very well for them to selfish.

go out together. Valeria, was beautiful and smart. As the days passed, Valeria became She wanted a career. She wanted a more and more, sure of her position. atten- career more than anything, and she Emile Splenger was devoted, didn't intend to let anyone or any- tive. Sometimes she thought he was thing prevent her from getting it. Her falling in love with her, The thought eye was on Hollywood, but she rea- amused her. As soon as she had been would lised Hollywood wasn't won in a day. awarded the coveted role she You had to go slow. If a girl appear- drop him like a hot potato. Let him ed as a competitor or a man assumed figure out his own reason. the proportions of an obstacle,

So Valeria became more and more had to sweep them out of your way, confident as the contest drew nearer, trample them under-foot-and be and she dreamed of Hollywood. Not sweet about it.

once did it occur to her that she was cheating, Employing these methods, learning being unfair, that she was by experience, Valeria reached a pro- that none of the other girls had her minent position with a small theatre advantage.

you

group. From there she went to stock. Emile Splenger became difficult two From stock she went to radio. Reach- days before the contest.

Valeria had

ing radio was the first milestone in her to employ all her wits and wisdom to climb upward. Radio offered big forestall him without hurting his feel- field. Radio, she decided, would be ings. Pleading that she must rest and her open sesame to her heart's de- study her part, she did not see him at sire-Hollywood.

all on the day the test was to be held. Her chance came less than six At the studio she was gracious and months after her initial appearance complimentary to her competitors. She on a dramatic programme sponsored by could afford to be. Wasn't she

sure

a local department store. A scout for of success? What fools these other

a nationally advertised product, seek- girls were! What idiots.

By Barbara Ann Benedict

ing new talent, asked her whether she'd like to try out for a part.

At last it was over. The five girls were ushered into a room. There for waited, Valeria accepted with just the right thirty minutes they sat and amount of enthusiasm, the exact por- nervous, apprehensive, like prisoners tion of confidence. Inwardly she see at the bar awaiting a jury's "verdict.

At last the answer came. A name thed with excitement. Her brain was

And the fired by the prospect. It

her was spoken. The winner. was chance. Her big chance. She knew name was not that of Valeria Hast- the programme. She knew why they ings.

At first she could not, would not were looking for a new leading lady.

the others The last leading lady had been called believe it. Then she saw

crowding around Lalia Frost who had to Hollywood.

her. Fortunately the tryouts for the part won the role. Rage possessed were to be held in the city where she She leaped to her feet, started toward a the door, then stopped. Emile Splen- was "now living. She learned that

arranged. ger was standing there, smiling at her. test programme had been

the Five girls were competing for

"You! You!" She gasped for breath. role. Invisible judges would listen in "You could have given it to me. You and make their decisions. Under no were a judge. You knew I wanted conditions were the entries to meet, see it more than anything."

"Yes," said Emile. or talk with any o. the judges prior

"Yes, I knew to the audition.

you wanted it-more than anything." Valeria's thoughts ran "rampant, She That's all he said. Just that and simply had to win the coveted role. It nothing more. Valeria understood. was! her big chance. Failure now She couldn't help but understand. She would stand against her in the future. did not look at Emile Splenger when She must leave no stone unturned. She she went out. And he did nothing but must resort to cunning and to artifice, step out of her path, as though

Which is why one of the young sta- xious that nothing at all should pre- tion executives suddenly found himself vent her going.

an-

the object of Valeria's smile and be- (Copyright, 1939, By The Associat- witching manner and allure. The ed Newspapers).

young man, who had always nurged an inferiority complex because of a not too charming appearance and person- ality, was quite carryed away. With- out realising the magnitude of his crime he confided to the girl the iden- tity of the judges.

So Valeria considered the judges an decided that one, Emile Splonger, young, attractive and personable, was her best possibility. Emile was the and type who enjoyed the attention flattery of beautiful women,

In her estimate of him, Valeria found herself gratifyingly accurate. The very evening of the day they met he asked her to have dinner with him. It was easy. Gloriously easy. Valeria was pleased beyond words. The con- tost was in the bag. Emile Splonger would see to it that she would be the chosen one.

She made sure to let him know how anxious she was to win, without be-

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