Modern Screen (Jul-Dec 1945)

a little wistfully. "Why don't you? Call her up. Here's her number. I just saw her," said the guy, "a few days ago and she's the same old Chris — looks swell." Tom said, "You kidding? Chris is married.'' "Not any more." In two seconds flat Tom was on the phone. He told about the party and all the kids they both knew there. He asked Chris if she had a date. She hadn't. "Neither have I," said Tom, "but we'll fix both ends of that situation pronto." So that's when it all started up again with Tom and Chris, just as if nothing had happened in between, except that both of them were a little bit older — but not much — and Chris had a darling two-year-old baby girl named Christopher, of course, after Claire's little girl, which suited Tom fine, because he's crazy about kids. The funny thing was that in the more than a year that Tom and Chris were romancing again around Hollywood, nobody ever knew about it. And it wasn't as though they sneaked around like a pair of Garbos, either. steppin' out . . . When Tom and Chris stepped out, it's true, it was usually to some quiet little restaurant like Vesuvio's in Hollywood or the Casa di Amor, but sometimes they went dancing, too, to the Grove and other bright light spots. Maybe the reason no one ever got hep to what was going on is because Tom wasn't exactly front page Hollywood news all that time and Christopher Dunne certainly wasn't. She'd given up acting long before, so the flash bulb boys hadn't the slightest hint that she and Tom Drake were worth a picture, even if they'd sat ringside at Mocambo and held hands right out in public. They'd have eloped sooner, if Tom had his way. He proposed so many times he couldn't keep count, but there was always something, it seemed, to keep them from skipping off to Las Vegas or Reno or Yuma or somewhere where the California three-day gin-marriage law wasn't working. Usually it was a studio job for Tom or an interview, or a gallery sitting or something that wouldn't let him get out of town. And Chris, from the start, has been cautious as a cat about Tom's budding Hollywood career. For one thing, because she's a sensible gal and for another because both of them remember only too well what a tough time they had getting a break back in the old Broadway days. I think the funniest fear that Chris latched on to, though, was one she popped not very long before they eloped — and it's one where Modern Screen (of all people) plays the role of an anti-cupid villain, blitzing true love right and left. Chris got the idea somewhere that her marriage to Tom would be bad medicine for his new career (yep, she does love him) and when she found out that her true love had landed in seventh place on the Modern Screen Popularity Poll, she was impressed, but also leery of what wedding bells would do. So when Tom pleaded, as usual, "Chris, dear, let's get married," she'd argue, "But darling, you're seventh on the Poll now— and if we get married you might be twentyseventh!" off to the wedding . . . It wasn't exactly the kind of wedding you picture Hollywood stars staging, but you can't boob it to Chris and Tom Drake. Typically Tom, he simply yawned to M-G-M that he was running down to Palm Springs for a few days. But instead, he and Chris rushed around Hollywood like ants that busy day after they decided on the fatal step. Bought a ring, plane tickets. Happy Ironings to You J Shirts of white, and shirts of blue, Shirts of ev'ry handsome hue, Join the chorus, sing with Sunny, "Linit Starch will save you money "See how Linit keeps our collars Neat and clean as new-made dollars. How ev'ry neckband, ev'ry cuff Feels sleek and smooth and never rough." © Corn Products Sales Co. SAD IRONS OOIN TH£ CHQR0S IRONINGS NEVER BORE US LINIT LIGHTENS LAUNDRY LABOR At all Grocers A solo then by Master Linit — "You can mix me in a minute. Best of all, it matters not If the water's cold or hot." "Then any starching that you please You'll do with pleasure, speed and ease And when you iron, you'll agree 'Linit is the starch for me.' " 73