Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

10 think you—that you " She stared at | him. "Oh, I like you awfully, I don't | want to hurt you, but there'll never be anyone for nic, except Carl!" Bruce's sinilo died. He looked at her, then grinned a little. It hurt him to do that. H© alone knew how often he had dreamed of this moment, when ho would tell Pauli how deep was his regard, and ho had never even guessed that Carl meant anything to her. "That's—all right," he said jerkily. "So Carl's the lucky fellow, ch?" "He was standing next to you when I beckoned," she said. "And I thought you wanted me;" Bruce laughed. "I'll find him and send him to you." "Wo've arranged a betrothal party," she said breathlessly. "He wants you to be his best man v\hen we're married and " "I'll be honoured!" Bruce exclaimed. "Look, I'll find him and send him to you now. Forget what I just said, Pauli. Carl's my best friend—and I'm glad it's him!" She caught his hand and pressed it a moment, then he turned and hurried back towards the cafe gardens. "I was a eilly ass to imagine that she'd ever think anything of me," he told himself. "Anyway, it's—Carl!" He called suddenly as he saw his chuni coming towards him. " Pauli's by the tree," Bruce said. "And congratula,- tions, old man! I never even guessed there w^as anything between you two!" "Well, we were keeping it a secret," Carl said, "We'll be having a party in a few days, and we were going to announce it then." Bruce gripped hia hand warmly, th.^n pushed him on towards the tree wher_> Pauli waited, and it was as Carl went that Bruce heard a sudden cheer from around the bulletin board. He ran forward, and he was in time to see a notice pasted up there : • AUSTRIA DECLARES WAR ON SERBIA." Bruce did not know it, but in that moment he was watching the start. of the greatest war in all the history of fjie world, a war which was to set France and Russia and Germany, Italy, Rumania, and America in aims, while England, too, was to fling her steely might into the gieat conflict which started in tho^e .-unniicr days of 1914. The First Blood. A ROOM was decorated at Pauli's home, and tlie table was laden with good things. Pauli was there in a pretty frock, and the old professor was wearing his best suit. It was the afternoon of the party when Pauli and Carl \vere to become officially engaged. Carl'fe father came— a big, bearded man who was as cunning as any in Vienna in matters of business. There was Fritz Winkelmam), too, due to be called up with Carl some time soon, now that Austrian gunners were hammering in Serbian territory, shatter- ing the roofs and ploughing up the streets of old Belgrade, the capital of the enemy country. Through the open window came the hum of the excited city, the roll of drums and the stamp of marching feet as more and more soldiers poiued south- wards to meet the enemy. Germany had come into it and had declared war on Russia, allying herself with Carl's country. England had already declared war on Germany, who was at hostilities with France; but, as yet, England and Austria were not at enmity. February 15th, 1930. BOY'S CINEMA Ou the wall hung a photograph which Bruco had long ago given to Pauli. Two or three days before Carl had draped a little Union Jack around the frame, and the flag formed a splash of colour. The door slammed open and Bruce entered, bringing presents foi; the two. " The street's packed outside 1" he called. "Some of the Guards have just gone off; they're bound for Russia, to fight there ! The people are wild with excitement." "I'm expecting to be called up any day now!" Winkelmaim exclaimed. He was a thick-set fellow with pale blue eyes and a stiff back of a student who had already put in his peace-time military service. "My uniform's all ready !" "So is mine. I was brushing it this morning!" Carl said, as he shook hands with Bruce. "And are you coming into our army, or are you going over to fight for England against Germany?" "I don't know yet," Bruce told him. "I suppose I shall have to go home." "We are Germany's allies," Winkel- mann said. "Wliat will happen if England declares war against us?" "Oh, rot! That'll never happen!" Bruce told him. "If it did, we'd be enemies!" Carl exclaimed, and he wrung Bruce's hand again as he laughed. "Enemies! Ha, ha, ha!" Bruce threw back his head and laughed, too. "That'd be a good joke!" he half yelled, as he clapped his friend on the back. "Well, it'd take more than a war to make us bad friends, Carl!" "Don't let's talk about war!" Pauli broke in. " It makes me feel all cold! Sit down everybody, and let's have a good time!" In a little while the party was going forward. Pauli's new engagement-ring flashed as the sunshine caught the glimmer of the diamonds set in it. Bruce took her hand and looked at it, but he wasn't jealous of Carl's good fortune. He himself loved Pauli just as much as ever, but he was a sportsman and a good loser. Presently he lifted his glass and stood up. "I can't make a speech," he said, "but I just want to wish Pauli and Carl all the happiness there is in the world. Carl's always been my friend. Once when we were skating in the Stadt Park and the ice broke I'd have been drowned if he hadn't hauled me out " " And who got me clear of the university fire?" Carl broke in. "Eh? Who climbed up the rainwater pipe and found me unconscious from the smoke and got me out, and was three weeks in hospital because of his burns?" "That was Bruce!" Pauli cut in. "You two have saved sne another's lives !" "That doesn't matter, anyway!" Bruce said. "Well, the best of luck to both of you!" He raised his glass just as there came a furious burst of cheering in a nearby square. They heard people shouting as they ran along the street below. Some- where a band struck up the National Anthem, and it sounded as though t-cn thousand fervent voices raised with the song. "More excitement," Bruce said, as he sat down. "I suppose it's much the same at home, if we're getting ready to fight Germany." "I heard that your British troops had already been in action," Winkelmann said across the table. "And a man told Every Tuesday me this morning that war will be declared between our two countries^ not that it'll make any difference to us here !" "We'll never be enemies!" Carl laughed at Bruce. " It " He checked as the telephone bell styummed suddenly. Winkelmann w-as nearest, and he rose to answer it. They heard him saying: "Lfallo! No, this is Winkelmann. Yes; d'you want to speak to him? I can give What!" They saw his expression clianye suddenly as he listened to the words that came over the wire; then he hung up the receiver and turned to face them. "The news has just come througli," he said. "That's what all the cheering outside is about. England has declared war on us/" "What!" Bruce jerked from his seat. Every eye in the room was on him now, and he suddenly realised something which had never occurred to him before. He was the only Englishman in the house— all the rest were Austrians. "I knew it would come!" Winkel- mann said, and Carl's fatlier spoke. "England has always been jealous of our commerce," he said. "She'd play any dirty trick to make herself more powerful !" "You're wrong there!" Bruce leaned across the table. "We've been iorced into this. Germany invaded Belgium, and we had to defend that little country. If you people are Germany's allies, then we " "England didn't have to interfere!" Carl leaned across Pauli as he spoke to Bruce. "England's out to get more power !" "We've got all the power we want; we're only defending the weak and help- less!" Bruce spun to him, and fhey glared at one another across the girl. "You're siding with Germany; she's jealous of us and our trade; that's at the bottom of the war !" "And now you're declaring war suddenly on us for no reason at all !" Carl ripped. "You " "Don't—don't!" Pauli pressed tliem away from one another as she rose to her feet. "'What's it got to do with us, anyhow? We're all friends here!" "We may be. But there's an enemy flag in this house !" Winkelmann lifted a quivering finger and pointed to the Union Jack which draped Bruce's photograph. Carl thrust his chair back as he saw it, then strode towards the wall. Instantly Bruce barred his path. "What are you going to do?" "Tear that down!" Carl answered, and his eyes were glaring. "That's my country's flag, and you'll leave it alone !" "It's an enemy flag, and it's coming down !" Carl rasped, and he leaped for it as he spoke. He snatched it fiom the frame, grip- ping the fabric in his hands and start- ing to tear it to shreds. For a. moment Bruce stared at him. An Austrian was tearing the Union Jack before his eyes ! The flag for which his forefathers had fought, the flag on which the sun never set, the flag which stood for freedom. His country's flag ! He jumped at Carl, snatching it from him, for Carl's fist to swing madly and land high on Bruce's cheek. Bruce"* own right swung, and an instant later Carl was staggering backwards, to crash against the table. "I won't stand that!" he half snarled. " No cursed Englishman can hit nie '."