1952-12-20 — Page 15

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1952.

The Enchanted Mask

T wanted exactly a week to Christmas. And the streets of Ironhampton looked

like it.

snow

Underfoot, snow trampled to slush: overhead, grey clouds with yet more in them: on every side bril- lantly lit shop windows and hurrying crowds,

By LAURENCE MEYNELL

The eighty - Doyen children were already assembled in the basement hardly able to contain

their excitement.

. "Where's

the stuff?" · Me

Bellamy enquired, "The clobber?"

It was part of hia pose in Hifo.

"You don't say anything." "Well, there; what ought I to say,

"You ought to ask me what I want"

should be seen and not heard; that what they said, and more especially the solemnity with which they said it, was divert- ing and refreshing.

She arrived and took up her stanco behind the Figure, with the Benevolent Mask....

Through his eye-alita Mr Bellamy saw her and recognised her; he wondered how Blo Imagined Small Fancy Goods would get on in her absence...

Miss Fletcher was just in tire Christmas hand to sco Father Chris teys to a cheruble faced Infant out two separate squeaking mon- who apparently had a passion

"What's wrong with the tor you've got? Don't you like it?"

He found that it come quite "I love it. But you ought to naturally to bend down to let

asked me. And you ought them kiss the face of Father for squeaking monkeys,

Christmas. the town to rival Bellamy's, whether worth'half a million of and it I like being at school and li, and that's all there was to it.

There wasn't a shop in

money or not.

have

to remain the rough Midlander, to have asked my name as well

They expected it; and he did In fact Bellamy's was the "Here it is, Mr Bellamy."

how old I am and what I'd like finest stores in the Mid- There it was indeed: red robe best in the whole wide world and Except that it was rather nice. lands.

The quality of the toys in the Bellamy's was a edged with white fur; red, bend if I wanted to kiss you, which

dress; gumboots sprinkled with I don' With which reproof sack didn't seem as high as it. household word, It sold gilttering frost" and the musk. her newly acquired duck, passed Bellamy found it necessary on

Miss

Five-and-a-Bit, clutching had been, somehow; and Mr everything, catered for "Dam tomfoolery," Mr Bellamy

serenely on.

several occasions to give not one everybody. It was three

a par- storeys high; it occupied growled, making fast the un-

Master Nearly-Six took her but two toys away place and gazed up ecstatically at ticularly endearing Seven-and- the whole of one block. It mask, robe and reaching for the employed six hundred assist. In its goal way the mud was the benevolent figure in red and 8-Bit or a Just-selly-Eight

white. Julie famous. No one was cet- ants. It was vast. And it fain where it had come from, had all been built from but that it was a masterpleco nothing, from one tiny shop was certain. It did not represent "I suppose I did once--" with a single bow window, grin; but was something much

the u

usual inane, red-cheeked. by Jesse Bellamy himself. sweeter, kindlier, more human

rether. Children

"Old Bellamy" he was now universally called. At seventy six he was still as vigorous as most young man; moro hard working than any of his em- ployees; probably the richest man in Ironhampton. And in the con- sidered opinion of that town “a miserable old so-ond-eo".

Old B, a widower, crabbed and ruthless, judged people and things by one yardstick only-was there aitu profit to be made out of them?

Naturally, therefore, that was his attitude to Christmas. The whole thing was flapdoodle and flumdummery of the most stupid sort. But it paid.

You could make people sen- timental over it; and when people were sentimental they would spend money. The suckers! At Christmas it was even polley

though it hurti) to that you

away free, From that

credit, and valuable

might; if you were astute enough, in time derive a uile; which was why a week before Christmas each year the eighty-seven children of the Princess Valene's Orphanage were invited to open the Grand Toy Bazaar In the basement; were admitted free; and were cach given a toy by Father Christmas.

The local press was niso, of course, invited; and much free publicity was gained for Bellamy's Stores,

The children were due to come at two-thirty; and at two-twenty Old B. found himself in a fix,

The day had been trying enough already; a wave of win- ter 'lu had hit Ironhampton and Just when they needed every ávallable assistant the stores had about a quarter of the staff away in.

This caused endless worries and complications all of which Old B., foolishly, but that was his way, attempted to deal with himself.

By two o'clock it looked as though he was beginning to get clear of the worst of his troubles;

loved it.

in it, Mr Bellomy told himself. "God Almighty, they believe

"Hallo, young man," Father of the Princess Valena's Christmas sald aloud and rather orphans had been to Bellamy's awkwardly. "What's your name?" before, some more than once, and of all Father Christmases del James."

"Thomas - Assheton -Man- they had ever known, seen, or thought of, they liked this one far the best.

Mr Bellamy clipped on the musk and peered awkwardly through the ese-slits. He examine dd the enormous sack full of toys that was dragged out and dump- ed bealde him.

When he saw the quality of the toys that were to be given Gway free he suffered a spasm. In his young days nothing whatsoever

"Good gracious.** "Everybody calls mo Bim," "Oh! Well, what would you like, Bim. Anything special?"

"A pistol-that-fires-six-shots- without-reloading.

A good deal of ferretting in the bag finally produced a pistol which very nearly came up to expectations,

"That do you, Bim?" "It's

marvellous. Thanks most "Don't shoot too many people," "Not if they're looking.

"Come on given away free. awfully. It's wizard."

on," he said, 'Tet 'em in. We're late already and don't like that."

I

The Princess Valena orphans filed in, chattering excitement quelled to awed silence by the

ARTIE'S HEADLINE

STORER

Arti

"I'm afraid I can't give you arise who do you think, I am, Father Christmas!!!

unimagined wonders of Grotto.

*

Father Christmas laughed.... "A smart kid that," he thought, "Just the sort I could do with in the stores in

time...... "And what about you, misaje, what's

your name?"" "ROG

Tie "Rose what? Anything else?” "No. Just Rose,"

"Well, Just-Rose, and what would you like best?!

Just-Rose was too overcome to

sayHow old are you?",

"I'll be nearly Ave soon,

I think."

"Oh, do you? Got any dolls?" "I've Topsy and Blackle; only Topsy's head has come off, and I've lost Blackie,”

"Good, gracious

me, that'a

serious. We must see what we can do about that."

The mack, although it held plenty of dolls didn't seem to have one which quite fitted the serioumess of the ease. Not to Old Bellamy's entisfaction

any-

way. But on a shelf hardby sat a most engaging doll capable of the shutting her eyes, opening her mouth, moving her hands and even of emitting a squeak.

Bilently they filled up to Father Christmas; sliently he dived into the enormous sack, drew out a presented it to the child and thén said: "Next, please” -

Mr Bellamy determinedly ignored the price label only too prominently attached to and held out the delectable dol for

Just-Rose.

"Wancy paying a mån four

ed, guineas for this," he thought, "Plus a good tea. Nothing to it, absolutely nothing-ch?”

The sixth child in the queue

"How about this?" he enquir.

Just-Rosa's shall fat arms opened in delirious welcome, her small solemn eyes grew round with inexpressible delight......

by two-twenty ho struck an was not satisfied. She was hold- Old Bellamy caught sight of other mag.

the price tag again and thought: must be going crackers...

ing in her hand the present, the The man who was to have quito expensive present, that she "I "played" Father Christmas in the had been given; but she didn't next please." Grotto, the man who had played budge. She shook her head re- the part for the past five years, who was incomparably good at it, couldn't do it,

.

"Dead drunk, Mr Bellamy."

Old B. was genuinely shocked. Christmas wasn't the time for getting drunk; but for making

money.

"Who cise is there?" he de mondod.

A despairing gesture' answered him. Who could there be? Who could be spared? Twenty-five percent of the staff were away already and the Christroan rush

was' on.

Mr Todds of the Stationery," someone tentatively suggested.

"Couldn't spare him."

"Mr Blake of the Turnery !! "He'd make a mess of fi”

Heads were shaken.

**

it myself," Mr Bellamy

had always held it as s

principle, and frequently an- nounced, that there wasn't a job in Stores he couldn't do at least as well as anybody else;

and now he would

TI

do

it myself.

TH

Comic diamay was only just

hidden from the attendant faces ---Old man B. as Father Christ-

mas, that really was something

60 much do 1

about!

"How

fool who has got drunk?”

pay Mis

"Four guineue for the ather noon, Mr Bellamy, plus his tea

not doing it right"

she said,

"Eh?" "You're not doing it ight, Not bit right."

a

The kindly, smiling mask mer- elfully hid the fact that Mr Bellamy was more than a little

put out.

"What d'you mean 'not doing

But Just-Rose half not moved. She stood with her small fat face upturned, her eyes closed, her lips pursed expectantly...

Well, if she really likes to kiss a mask I suppose she had better" Old Bellamy thought, and bent

down his head.... After that it became progres- aively easier; much easier.

Mr Bellamy discovered that ho enjoyed talking to children; that

it right?" he asked. "What's he had made a grave mistake all wrong?"

his life, in disserting that they

FOR THE

FINEST DIAMONDS

TAI HANG JEWELLERY

Bois Agents, for LIBERTY DIAMOND WORKB'LTO.

Johannesburg-

Room 707, 7th Floor, Bank of East Asia Dida

Talaphode 21880

He raided the shelf at his side canes and made impatient ces- guin and aga to meet special

tures to attendant staff to re- plenish it.

Anxiously he viewed the only too rapidly diminishing crowd of children, realising with alarm that they would soon all be finished...

It was then that Miss Fletcher of the Small Fancy Goods came down to the basement to see how things were going on,

This visit to see the kiddies (as she called thern) at the Grotte was a treat which Mias Fletcher allowed herself annually.

The Small Fancy Goods Dept. was tucked away in a remote

·

1

Miss Fletcher laughed.

"If Old Miser-bags Ballamy saw you do that," she said, "He'd have a fit"

There was a momentary lull in the children coming forward and Mr Bellamy thought he had earned a respite. He also thought that Miss Fletcher needed re- proof and correction,

He slipped off the mask and confronted her saying, as rimly as' he could: "Would he?”

And it didn't work!

Misa Fletcher didn't quall, blush, 'stamumer, or appear in any way put out. She simply stared at him as though she didn't know him.

"Well," he demanded, at length, "Don't you recognise me?",

Misa Fletcher shook her head. "Recognise you? Why should 17""

Behind her on the wall was a full length mirror. Mr Bellamy brushed her aside and went up to it.

He didn't recognise himself. He was still wearing the Masks at any rate his face was hard comer of the store and Miss and sour and sad no longer, but Fletcher had heard nothing of Jovial and happy and benevolent, the last minute change in Father. And it stayed that way for the

Christmases.

rest of his life,

For

LAVENDERS,

PERFUMES,

COLOGNES,

SOAPS, otc.

in PRESENTATION BOXES.!-

XMAS GIFTS IN PERFECT TASTE

MOUSON

Sole Agents: HORN TRADING CO., 209 Gloucester Building, Tel. 31259

FOR A GIFT...

REMEMBER

New Parker "51" pen

pen

PEN NAME FOR THE PERFECT GIFT

Parker 31

or that special gift occasion-a birthday, anniversary, re ligious holiday--give New Parker "$1". Its fame assures Instant recognition and welcome. The New "51" Fen is the only one with Acro-metric Ink System, which brings such remarkable case to writing. Make your next gift the world's most-wanted pen with matching "51" Pencil. Available at good dealers

TO OWN A PARKER IS A

MARK OF DISTINCTÍON:

Pros:, PARKER "81” AERO-METRIC GOLD CAP PEN HE$59.00 SH CHINA) LIMITED, Button Batiding,

at 1, HORTH ARCADE, ALEXANDRA

ddell Street

Page 15Page 16