Saturday,
NANCY
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
April 6, 1940.
By Ernie Bushmiller
(OH, LITTLE GIRL--- HOW DO I GET TO
THE EXIT?
7711
FIRST YOU PASS THE PINCUSHION AND THE CONVICT
AND TURN RIGHT.
AT THE VALISE!
Jel. 28151.
TOPEES
FOR
INFANTS, GIRLS & BOYS
ANDY HARDY GETS SPRING FEVER
THERE followed two busy weeks
of creative work but finally Andy's scething opus of native love was finished, bound in a lurid pink cover and turned in.
-
Then one morning the class was. called to attention for the an- nouncement of the winning drama. Andy sat up and waited tensely.
"The English Department and I have fanlly made a choice," Rose Meredith said, "we have chosen a play entitled Adrift in the South Seas, written by Andrew Hardy."
There was a tremendous
burst of appinuse Bod Andy gazed down nt' thẻ floor modestly while bis
cars fumed red.
Ruse signalled to hiin. "Andy, I'd like to see you afterwards." She spoke to the others, "Class
dis- missed. A few moments later, the place was empty and Andy went to the front of the room where Rose wus sitting. She looked at him with genulne curiosity. "How'd you hap- pen to write it Andy?"
fle squirmed happily at her interest. "Well, last whter my mother dragged me-th-took me to see a performance of _“Midarie_Butter- By,' so
so I kind of doped it out from that." He added enthusiastleafly, "but eliminated gettin' married an took out the baby an Invented a whole different ending. 1-1 kind
of think the ending might work out pretty good."
Rose was really delighted with him. "You mean-where poor little Tabula Jumps Into, the volcano?"
"Yeah." He was bursting with the
pride of creation. "First, of course, she begs the Rear Admiral not to leave her. But he ain't intrested. So she jumps. I think we can be simply terrife with the volcano."
"I'm sure we will. 11's grand that you have all those technical effects," she said, falling in with bis enthusiasm, "because it gives us a chance to let
some part in the protulen fake
"What!" Andy's face fell. He hud been thinking of the play purely his own brainchlid. "Does everybody have to do some- thing for it?"
s
"If possible. Now there's that little English boy, Harmon Hig- rinbotham, Junior. He's the smart- est child in the whole school, two
but
classes ahead of his years stickin'
Andy nearly fainted. Plaster? Say, he may be smart he ain't no Hamlet." He Jeaned forward, his fists clenched, "Gee, you don't know what this play means to me, Hose" Then he stopped, aghast. In his exclic- ment, he had called his goddess by her first name. Was she going to be mad?
*
*
FOR a second,. Rose was quiet, a bit uncertain ra to how to handle this. Then she regained her composure.
"I'm sorry Andy, we're friends,' she said quially, "but if you called me Rose it might slip out in claps." "Sure," he agreed hoarsely, "Gee, I wouldn't do anything to offend you, honest, I wouldn't."
21
Andy bused himself quite while before dinner that evening and when he came down to the Ilving room he stood in the door- way waiting to be properly invited in.
No one holleed him at first for the Hardys were all in the throes of excitement. The Judge had just been telling them about the Carvel Aluminum Corporation and how Willa and Hansen had
elected hlm Vice President and George Benedict vice-president. Not only that, as soon as the company ac- quired some more employees, Ma-
ADAPTED FROM THE Metro Goldwyn Mayer PICTURE
by BEATRICE FABER
rian would be promoted to exeru- Live secretary.
"I suppose that's lovely Marian," Mrs. Hardy said blankly and then she turned and saw her son. She stared at him. He had on his dark suit, his hair was slicked down and it could be observed that he lind actually washed his face and cleaned his fingernails. His mien was quiet and subdued, denoting treat thought.
"Seuse me for being late Moth- er," he said. His voice was pitched 1a deep low tones that strongly resembled molasses dripping down- stairs.
Боге
"When did you get the throat?" Marlin asked.
"I'm enjoying the best of health, Miss Hardy," he returned with dlynity.
"Are you
going out Andrew?" Mrs. Hardy inquired.
"No Mother, I have a great deal of work to do this evening. Lots of problems that have to do with the play Miss Meredith's putting on."
Whose did they choose?" the Judge asked.
"Minc. Miss Meredith announced It to-day." He afghed. Ab, the care of it all.
* * *
THE whole family rushed to him as one and burst into con- gratulatory outcries.
Why It was wonderful. Their ewn baby UL real play-wright. "And Is there a meeting to-night?" Mrs. Hardy asked happily. "Is that, why you're all dressed up?"
Andy stood away and looked rather chilly, "I'm simply cleaned up for
dinner."
"Simply, my eye," Marion jibed. "Nobody's ever been able to bribe you to wash your hands for din- ner before. And I wish at the ta- ble, you'd talk, Andy and not do that sing-song. It's awfully nerve- wracking.
נסיי
is zat so!" He turned on her anvagely. "You're so smart! Well, Miss Meredith snys if I'm Konna be a lawyer like Dad I ought to get busy about my volce. Be- cause she says that you can sway the emotions with the human
Ile looked past voice."
tliem dreamily. "And boy, Miss Mere- dith sure is right. With the right voleo a man could rock the clvl. lised world."
Judge Hardy repressed a smile. "It you don't mind son, I'd rather
you didn't rock the civilised world until after dinner. I'm starving."
_All_through_the_meat—Andy. looked inward on his own world, people principally by himself and the lovely Rose. The evening wES simply an interlude to be gotten through until to-morrow for it was then that rehearsals would start in carnest.
It was late in the afternoon next day when the class got together., The Arst session of rehearsal was rother a catch-as-can business. Then everyone was told to get an early dianer and hurry back.
hands on his trousers and lowed a lump of nothing.
-KANIK Bastened
the ame that he gave her in re-
turn.
She moved away, "Thanks Andy. You're nice to help." She leaned against the wall, near the open windows. Outside, the trees made Incy shadows on the ground and a new moon was in the sky.
"Tired?" Andy asked gently. watching her. She nodded without speaking. "It's funny about tired- ners,"
he went on reflectively. "Sometimes it's nice. Other times, It's like seeing everything out of one of those crooked nirrors they have nt carnivals. Everything's-" He groped for the word.
"Out of perspective?" she asked.
That's
12."
Her eyes were dark, her voice edged as she said, "It's like living a nightmare."
Andy moved a wastebasket into place. He was straining every fee- ulty to be adult in his understand- ing. "Is that the way you feel?" Without really seeing him, she nodded, "f I could only sleep," she said dully. "I'm so tired of watching for the dawn to come." Then, suddenly her voice broke and she buried her face in her hands.
Long racking soby sheolt as if she
in a strong wind. Andy was frozen with horror. She was crying, weeping as if her heart would break and it didn't scem real, somehow. Misa Rose, so calm, so controlled all the time, crying. He felt as if someone were torturing her with red, hot irons.
her
were
"Gee don't, oh don't," he said, not even realising that he ind spoken. Then he ran towards her And with a shy boyish gesture stretched out one hand and patted her slim shoulder. "Please don't
Her tears suddenly stopped. There
'was just one more long shuddering gasp. Then she took her handkerchief, wiped her eyes. and looked at him with a twisted little smile that nearly cut his heart In two.
She was quietly polite. "I'm very foolish Andy. And I'm sorry. 1 apologise. I expect I'm just over- lfred,"
rea,
"Can I help?" he begged,
She shook her head then threw it back and closed her eyes. Her Inshes fluttered. "No. No thanks."
"Well, gee."
"What?" She looked at him. He began to talk, almost as if he were thinking out loud. Why, I've never seen a woman cry be- forc. I've seen Mom cry but that's different, but no one like you." He was trying to comprehend it. "It' swat---just awful, isn't i{?"
"Well, come on," Polly sald im- patiently, "kiss me."
He threw a look of acute despair toward Miss Meredith. Then, like a dying swan, he gingerly put his arms around Polly and chastely -pecked her cheek. Over his shout- der, Beezy was holding his nose and pantomining, "rotten." One of the girls giggled.
Ruse stepped forward. "Never mind. she said sympathetically. "we'll rehearse this in private un- 1 Andy's gotten over his self-con- sclousness,"
"Yes," Andy gulped, "Miss Mere- dith, It's so-so public."
There was a slight delay, how- ever, at the second session, for at the door, Pally stopped Andy. In low, flerce tones she told him she thought it was the worst play she had ever heard and furthermore if she were the writer she'd be ashamed to have her name on it, "And,"
she concluded,
people?" "you de liberately wrote the ending to hu- millate me."
Andy spoke through his teeth. "Well, why don'telin refuse to play Tahula?"
"You know perfectly well-" Ile grinned wickedly. "It's be- cause you don't wantà turn down the deading role that's why."
the
At this moment, however, Miss Meredith summoned them to the front of the classroom and the argument wos terminated abrupt- ly.
When
they had taken their places she picked up the script and spoke briskly. "Now, on Admiral's first line, Tahula must come out from the palm tree. Andy, you cross toward her, so she won't have so far to walk. No, walt for the lines. Then, after her line take her in your arms and kiss her and that's the curtain. All right."
*
* * IN the character of the Rear Admiral Andy strode forward.
"So you thought I'd forgotten you, Tahula! But an he stared at Polly, he suddenly froze, Gee whizzikers. he was going to have to kiss her, right here on the stage.
"Tahula so unhappy." Polly anid In her own version of a Tahitian so unhappy she accent. Tahula want to die in the blue lagoon." She gestured oft vaguely toward the blackboard. Then she stared up into Andy's face with those big brown eyes. "You don't want mo to die, do you?"
Bends of perspiration slood out on Andy's forchicad. Suddenly, he wished he were buried in a cave. This was awful. 1o, wiped his
She laughed. "What are you going to do when you get in front of an audience of ve hundred
"Oh my gosh." He went dead white and fell against the wall. "I never thought of that."
*
FOR two hours more the cast struggled with lines and stage directions. Then, when the clock showed nine, they were dismissed.
"Goodnight," Rose called to everyone, "see you in class to-mor- row." Stickin' Plaster was the last one out and she threw him a tender little smile. It was too bad for that child, she thought-way ahead in his studies and too young to merit the company of his class- mates. Then she looked around and started in surprise. Andy was busy arranging some books at his desk.
He begon to talk hurriedly by way of explanation. "Don't know what's taiting me so long t'night." She sat down on a chair with a tired smile. Slowly, he approached her, not quite knowing how to pro- long these precious moments being alone with her. "Are-ore you goin' home now, Miss Mere- dith?
of
She nodded. "Pretty soon." She rose and started to pull the chairs RA I back in order.. "As soon straighten the room."
With a bang Andy dropped his books. Papers scattered in every direction and a fountain pen turgan rolling away. Andy was leaping to help her. He seized the chair she had. "Here, lemme do it for you Miss Meredith,"
The chair was between them and she looked at him and smiled. His heart turned over in adora- tlon. He took a deep breath and there was n strange tenseness in
She reproached herself for the scene. "Oh, don't take it too seri- ously Andy. I shouldn't have done that in front of you. It's unfair to you."
he demanded fiercely.
was a tinge of bitterness
In her tone. "Because you're too young to have to see someone un- happy." She clasped her hands so Alghtly that the knuckles showed white. "Good heavens, you'll grow up soon enough, Andy-you'll have your share of heartbreaks. I've been very stupid,'
* * * ANGRY at herself, she walked abruptly to the desk and began to straighten things, elamming down books, banging drawers shut.
rycz
Andy followed her. H's were burning. "I don't think you're fair.
Her hands paused. She looked nt him in wide-eyed amazement.. "Why, what do you mean?"
He blazed out, "you've always treated me as an equal. Now you shove me luto a corrier as if I was a little boy. It isn't fair. I tell you. It just isn't."
"Why Andy."
I
He came around the desk, close beside her. "Why don't you let me know you?" he asked In a kope- less voice. "Didn't you ever want to know someone as a person?. I want to know what you think. want to know what makes your. eyes so sad." He stopped, Funny, he'd never put that into words to himself before but he knew now that they were sad. "I want to know everything about you."
Her gaze met his and then slic grow very quiet and quite calm. There was a tremendous turmoil inside her though. She was quite aware now of why she'd cried a while back. This youngster's no- Heltude had been the first comfort she'd had for months and it had opened the floodgates. But in let- ting it happen, she had done him on injustice: A boy of his age was impressionable. She'd have to cor rect the damage as quickly as possi- blc.
"Sit down Andy." He dropped at her feet in one lithe motion and ant staring up at her, hugging his knees. "Andy, you know you're skating on dangerous ground,"
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TRANSFERRED TO WASHINGTON
Mr. Liù Chih Leaving London Embassy
Arbitration For
Oil Dispute
WASHINGTON, Apr. 5 (Reutor), -Mr. Corlofi Hull announced that the United States has proposed to LONDON, Apr. b (Reuter)-Mr. Mexico that the two-years-old dis- of the pute regarding the Mexican expro- Liu Chih. First Secretary Chinese Embassy here, will sail for printion of American oil companies.
.to-morrow to become should be submitted to arbitration. Amerien Counsellor, of the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
1 Have a luncheon in honour of Mr In the course of seven years, Mr. Liu and his beautiful wife to-dayi' Liu Chih has been prominent and In the course of the luncheon many helpful in all Anglo-Chinese activi- warm speeches, empliasising tho guests' popularity and regret in their tics, and has made many friends.
The Chinese Campaign Committee(departure, were made.