Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday He pointed to his eye, shook liis licad. winked twice, and then rubbed it vigorously. JNIarian understood at once that something was in his eye. She for- gave him with the faintest twitch of the lips, and then returned to her book. How can one dream when one's dream is sitting within a few feet of you. Marian was even prettier than her picture, but Arthur quite realised that her chin was a very determined chin. How could he frame some excuse to talk to her. He blu.^hed uncomfort- ably some minutes later when he heard a whispered: "Rubberneck" from some kind person behind, denoting that his ardent gaze at the girl had not been overlooked. The girl must have heard, because f^he flashed a startled look at Arthur, who had rubbed his eye ^o nuich tiiat it was quite bloodshot—the effect was heightened by a stream of tears that he couldn't check. "You've got something in your eye," stated the girl, who was as kind as she was pretty. "Could I get it out for you?" "Could she?" Why Arthur very nearly leaped from his scat to her side. Did the lady miss the boy's enthusiasm —not she ! At once Marian got busy with a small handkerchief, and Arthur was quite sorry that she removed the cinder so efficiently and so swiftlJ^ "There, that's out!" she cried triumphantly, and expected him to return to his seat. Arthur glanced at the Italian, who saved the day by producing a very dirty handkerchief, and inside some even worse sandwiches. The boy looked at the girl, and she looked at the s<andwiches—both their nostrils quivered—and Arthur, with love in his heart for the Italian, stayed whore he was. So far so good, but in these days you can't touch a strange young woman on the shoulder and start a conversation by saying: "Where are you going, my pretty maiden ?" Or words to that effect. Probably sho would clout you one round the oar or hand you over to the guard with a hint that probably a bootlegger had had some influence on your present condition. Marian would have had no objection to becoming friendly with Arthur, but sho had boon brought up by very strict parents, who had taught her that it was not for the lady to make advances ; besides, hadn't she done him a '' good turn already. And Arthur, fearing a re- buke, kept a still tongue, and thus wasted a golden opportunity. But t!ie opportunity was soon to arrive. The nigger attendant came along the car to see if anyone required refresh- ments ; he evidently had waited on the girl be- fore, because he grinned broadly and pro- duced a bottle of ginger-beer. it," and her end "I'll open said the girl, went hack to book till the of the chapter. Having turned down the page, she picked up the bottle and the opener, and wondered why Arthur had not had the common sense to ofifcr to BOY'S CINEMA open the bottle. Arthuif also wondered why he had been such a chump; he just sat and stared at her like one hypnotised. Marian made one effort, but the patent top would not lever off. she made a second eft'ort, and again had no luck. "Could I do it for you?" "Thank you so much!" murmured the girl, and gave the bottle and lever to Arthur. His first effort brought no result, and, grimly determined, Arthur stood up, but still the bottle wouldn't open. In his efforts he did not realise that the bottle of ginger pop was being shaken violently, also it was a very hot day. What, therefore, might bo the result when that lid-top suddenly came off ? A sudden release of gassy substance at express speed. Squirt a syphon into someone's face, and you have a good idea. Unfortunately the bottle was pointed towards Marian when the lid came off, and the girl got a shower bath. " 0-o-o-o-oh I" A gasp and a shudder. "Oh, you careless wretch 1" Arthur made things worse by trying to put his finger over the escaping ^pray, with the result that the people behind had a shower bath, and, when ho altered his finger, then the spray got those in front in the back of tlie neck. The light of friendship in the girl's eye had gone, because she was wearing a particularly smart two-piece dress and coat, wliich was, to her mind, ruined. It wasn't, but girts arc strange creatures. She would arrive home for hor birth- day, looking stained and bedraggled, and the chick outfit would be wasted. Therefore, the dress and coat were ruined. Arthur produced a largo h^ndkovehiof 17 and dabbed at her rather helplessly, whereupon the girl pushed him away. "You're the clumsiest idiot I've ever met !" she snapped unkindly. " You'll only mak.' matteis worse." "I don't think it's done any harm," began Arthur. " You ought to be put in a place where you can't do any harm," growled a damp passengor. Annoyed that all his good work with th3 girl of his dreams had been shat- tered, Arthur turned upon the accuser. "A bath won't do you any harm!" he growled. "You look as if you need one." Of course that insult meant a small scene. The man wanted to get abusive, and had to be held back by several others. All this while, Marian was re- pai)ing ravages to her complexion with a powder-puff. The man broke free and aimed a wild blow at Arthur, who drew back his head and then jerked back his arm in order to return the blow. His elbow caught the powder-box, and there was further cata.strophe. A large shower ol powder went all over Marian, so that it looked as if it had been snowing. The passengers' wrath turned to laughter, and, except for Arthur and Marian, everyone doubled up with mirth. Marian jumped to her feet, said "Oh!" in a sort of strangled whisper, and then lurncd her back haughtily on the culprit. The train slowing saved the situation, because jMarian realised this was her homo depot. She swept by Arthur like a small iceberg, without the least sign of being aware that such a person as Arthur Bryant ever existed. Arthur stared after her dumbly, until he realised from the black porter's " How dare you follow me ! " Marian cried indignantly. lebruary Ijtli, 1030.