Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday "THE ENEMY." 'CoDtiuaed from page 14.) ♦ -^- his overcoat and five ancient volumes «hich had cost him much money before tlie war. But the coat was tlueadbare, and the last of his books were wortli iiotliiiig when the whole nation's energy was bent on war. And the o^ir had (o-t Jiini twelve shillings; which was a low price, the shopman had said. ■"I lioard news," the professor said, a^ Pauli lighted the fire. "'It may be that Cart's regiment is coming home for a rest. I'm not sure,'' he went on nuickly, "but there is a rumour -ibout it.'' "His father will know !" Pauli s;iid eagerly. "He's doing well—making a lot of money, they say. We could ask iiim.'' "He's a profiteer," the professor 'aid. "Fat and well-fed. and " He broke off as the door swung open, and Mr. Behrend himself entered. He wore a fur coat with a gold w;>tch- cliaiii slung across his waistcoat. He had grown fatter during the war, and now there was a smile on his face as lie looked iround the room. ■Well, well, well:" he said. "I told you, profes-sor. that you'd get yourself into trouble for talking against the war. And how's my little Pauli, eli ? You're looking thin ! Carl will want to ^ec you with rosos in your cheeks, and 'Is ho coming liome'?" Pauli gasped. "Yes, his regiment's due now I" the profiteer said. "At any moment they —hear that 1" He i-iuiscd his hand. The sound of a band came from outside, its strains btirri4ig. ■"^hat must be them I" the professor gasped. "They never play a band now unless it's for men coming back from the front." "it's Carl's regiment;'' Pauli called fronv V iiere .she had ruslied to the window. ''I can see them in the street, and—hero he is !" She half screamed the words as the door of the garret was pushed slowly open. It slumped wide, but it was not Carl who stood there. It was Jan. There was a bandage around his head, bloodstained. His overcoat was torn and smothered with mud. He was un- ■rhaveu. He had no equipment, and his hands quivered and shook as he stared half-unso.eingly around the room. A stricken silence fell as they rc- frarded him, then Paul spoke. ''W'here's Carl?" she iisked. "The l-llieutenant ■/" .Ian stared at her. then stumbled farther into tlu- room and dropped into a chair which 'he professor pushed out for him. He sat there, his whole body tren>bling, his eyes vacant, and his lips ijuivering. "Shell-shock!" Mr. Behrend gasped. 'Th-th-th-that's r-right !" Jan nuir ; nuued. " S-shell-shoek !" "Where is Carl?" Pauli ruslied (o | liim and caught at one of his shaking: hand*. "'Is he with the regiment?" ' Th-tliey're here," Jan quavered. "But th-the lieutenant's—d-ddead !" "Dead !" Pauli backed from him. her ryes wide and frightened. "Carl— (ieiid.'-' " We've had a t-t-terrible time—shells and—guns and no food !'* Jan's voice steadied, thougli-he still treinbled. "I've seen trenches full of dead men, and— it was Christmas Eve when they killed him. The shell hit me. too—hei-e." He touched his head. "I can't think. 1 BOY'S CINEMA wandered about. But I ■j-^aw him fall. He's dead, like a lot more I'' "Dead ! " Through the now o|)enetl window came the transp of the regiment as it passed, boots thudding rhythmically on the cobbles, the sound of rho band dying, and suddenly Pauli laughed. . "My Carl's dead!" she said. "Ha. isn't that funny? He married me. and then he marched away to the war—like the others are marching ! Marching— marching—hear them, all going to be killed, like Carl ! Hear the gun wheels rattling on the road—hear the band playing—that's war! It's war that's killed my Carl !" Then she sank, swooning, to the floor. From the Schottonriug Railway Station in war-stricken Vienna came men from the trenches. The war was over, and these were the soldiers coming home. England and the rest of her allies had won. These men came back to the homes they had left years before, but they were different in appearance from when they had marched away. There wore wounded amongst them, for whom the ha^pitals were too full. There were men who limped, limbless fellows who aided one another. There were soldiers who>c uniforms were in rags, who were himgry and worn and deathly tii-cd. They wandered through the streets, looking for their homes and the folk they had left behind tlieui. In tliose streets—like the streets in London and Berlin and Paris- people had cheered the outbreak of war. There was no cheering now for the men who had come back from lighting for them. There was only cold and poverty, hunger and a great weariness. About the gates of the railway stations in Vienna women stood and waited in the hope that, after all. their own men might b" amongst the .survivors. Pauli did not wait with those women. She sat in her garret, hopeless. Things were a little better now. Her father had got back liis old job in the University, because people were more ready to listen to his talk of peace be- tween all men. 27 Pauli did not e\eu jjart when a strange footstep sounded on the bare stair.?, but she looked up when the door opened and someone entered. "Why—Bruce!" she said wondoringly} Bruce stood there. His left arm was' mi-ssing below the elbow, and the emjDty sleeve wa.s pinned up, '"Pauli!'' He spoke gently. ''You said you'd come back after the war." She stood up, still looking at him. "What fools we were! Do you remember how Carl stabbed you? And it's been all for nothing—nobody's won really." "I had to come and see you. Pauli," Bruce said, as he stepped towards Iier. "Is it because you gaid you loved nie'r' Pauli asked. "That won't be any good, Bruce. I think you're fine, but I'll always love Carl, even though I've lost; him. He was killed one Christmas P^lve.'' "I was there," Bruce said slowly. "1 .saw him!" "You saw him die?'' The colour drained from Pauli's face now. "1 Liaw him hit, and I picked iiiiu up and carried him to our lines,'' Bruce said. "1 sent him out of the trenches, and they pulled him through." His voice quickened. "'They've kept him prisoner of vvar, and now I've brough: him back to you, Pauli." "You've " Pauli did not seem to u.nderstand. "He's outside, " Bruce said, and turned. ''Carl!" he Called. "Come in now, old chap!" Carl entered slowly. His cap was bat- tered, ills overcoat was worn and old, the once-.smart uniform was torn. Pauli looked at him imbelievingly, and not until he touched her hand did .she speak his name. Bruce watched his friend take lier in his arms, before he moved towards the door. He stood there for a moment, looking back at them—at the girl he loved, and the enemy he loved just as well. i Then, very quietly, he went out and closed the door behind him. (By special permission of the Wletro- Goldwyn Film Co., Ltd., starring Ralph Forbes, Lillian Gish, and Ralpli Emerson.) THREE GRAND FILM NOVELS. ■' THE TIME, THE PLACE, AND THE GIRL.'' Is a woman ever justified in sacrificing ber good name for the man she loves ? Don't miss this romantic comedy of a football star and a fiirt. " GUILTY " Sixteen years an innocent man served behind prison bars, and when he regained his freedom he kills a man to protect his wife and daughter's honour. A powerful drama. " DESERT LOVERS ! " The treacherous Turks separated the brave Arab Sheikh and his sweetheart, but Allah willed that the progress of civilisation should bring a happy re-union. BETTY OOMPSON ' The Time, the Plate, and the Girl." And THE TIGER'S SHADOW," a gripping new mystery serial. Ooc't miss this grand issue of our new companion paper, packed with stories and pictures. ''SCREEN STORI ^9 OUT ON WEDNESDAY. PRICE TWOPENCE. Feljruary litli, J'J30.