Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

18 Ehout that tins was his destination as well. Ho grabbed his hat, glared at the Otiicr passengers, and hurried down the corridor. Ho had bettor get his mission done and get back to business—this would go down as the woisl dav of his life. He alighted from the train and saw a porter. " Do j'ou know this address ?" And lie showed the parcel. "Sure I do that 1" grinned the follow "Wo all knows 'em. Most generous thej' be and kindly disposed \yith their tips." Ho pointed to a straight road and a siolitary figure. "See that young lady? You follow her." riven at that distance, Arthur recog- nised the girl. "Why follow her?" gasped ho, like a fish out of water. "That be Miss Marian Day !" laughed the fellow. "That parcel be for her mother. It be Miss Marian's birthday tomorrow." Here he winked. "That'll bo a present. I suppose." Determinedly Arthur stopped out after the girl, and there was renewed hope in his heart. Maybe there would bo a chance of pacifying her ladyship. The Lull Before the Storm. AS the girl walked she brushed the powder from her clothes. Now she was annoyed for another reason. The car was not hero to meet her, but as she had stated that she would come by a later train, what could she expect ? Still, a walk might cool her fevered brow. Something made her look back, and then her plucked eyebrows wont up in an arch of indignation. That imperti- nent l^up of a boy had had the audacity to follow her. With eyes flashing fire she waited till ho drew near. "How dare you follow mc?'' she cried indignantly. "If you don't go home I shall call the police." And before Arthur could say a word -he had marched away with her head vcr\' much in'the a.u. "Here, I say !" called Arthur, and began to hurry after her. Marian turned, stampoJ her foot, and went on all the faster. Her anger in- creased when she looked back a few minutes later to find him following her. "Chook!" she cried, and began to run. "Confound it;" growled Arthur, and had to run as well. After a quarter of a mile the girl paused for breath, and looked back, imagining that Arthur would bo a speck on the liorizon. Her horrified gaze saw a running figure that shambled to a walk even as she watched. Could he bo a bad young man—one of those that hold you up and stole your money ? No, for all his faults she didn't thini; lie coidd be as bad as all that. Horror upon horror—he was waving to her. A gesture to stop. Then ho nuist be a bad lad. JNIarian began to run again, and sighed with relief us she saw the iron gates of her country house ahead. She glanced back at the (■ntranc<,' of the drive and shook hor fist dei'isively. He woiddn't dare follow her au^ fartlier. The .'.ound of running footsteps n)ad(> her whip round, and there he was at the gates. "Hi!" he shouted; but Marian, in sudden panic, had taken to her luels. Up the stops she rushed to the front door. He was following her, and she lanij the bell furiously. Watson, the butler, appeared. " J'here's a man following m(\ drive him away !" she gasped, and darted in- doors, but waited by the staircase to Fcl)ruary 15th, 1930. BOY'S CINEMA see what would hapfien. Somehow she didn't want Watson to get lough. "What do you want?" growled (he butler. " Why you following Miss Marian ?" "I've got a parcel for Mrs. Day," stated Arthur between puffs. "I in- quired the way, and they said follow Miss Marian. I'm from Biggs & Higgins, jewellers." "Oh, I see," murmured Watson. "Wait here, please." Mrs. Day had appeared, and mother and daughter had flown to each other's arms. " So glad you've come earlier. You do look flushed," said the mother, a trifle anxiously. "I've been nmning." Marian glanced at tl e ^lass door, where she could see two figures. "I'll go and change my clothes." "Do, darling," murmured the mother. At the top of the stairs Marian looked down. The boy was actually in the hall and shaking hands with her mother. This looked like a mystery. She would change quickly and find out what it all meant. Meanwhile, Arthur was explaining that he came from Biggs & Higgins, and had a very important parcel. "Ah!" exclaimed Mrs. Day. "The pearls for Marian." Then she smiled at the boy. "What is your name?" "Arthur Bryant, madame," said the boy. "You don't by any means come from Pullervalc, Ohio?" she asked, and at once Arthur's face lit up. "Sure, that's my home town," he cried. "My pop sent me to Mr. Biggs to learn a trade, and it seems years since I've been away." "Arthur, I'm delighted to moot you," was the surprising remark of Mrs. Day as she held out her hand. "Your mother and I were old school friends, and knowing I was in Chicago, she wrote asking if I could invite you round. Here Mrs. Day hesitated. "I have to confess I mislaid the letter, but directly I sav,- you I guessed at once who you were. You're the image of your mother. How very curious !" Arthur just stood there tongue-tied, and then kindly Mrs. Day went on talking. ■"You've come at a right time. It's Marian's birthday to-morrow, and you shall stay the night and come to the party. I'll ring up your uncle and put that right." Here she smiled. "We do a lot of business with him, so ho won't mind. And don't say a word that you work for Biggs & Higgins, because I want those pearls to be a surprise for Marian. You will bo just an old friend. All, hero she comes ! Marian !" It was a surprise for Marian when hor mother introduced the boy as an old friend of the family. Arthur looked so apologetic that all her anger vanished, and she held out her hand. Arthur clasped it in a firm grasp. "I'm going riding this afternoon." she cried gaily. "We've got a spare horse, and you can be my escort." "You're a quick worker, Marian," laughed her mother. "So the young folk know you're back already? All the same crowd. I suppose?" "All those that are coming to the party." laughi'd Marian. "We're going to ride and think out rags—awful fun." "I—or—can't go riding like this." nervously murmured Arthur. " l'erliai)s I could follow on foot?" "Not unless you've got wings," laughed Marian. "Mums, he shall have poll's outfit." Every Tuesday "Of course Arthur can," exclaimed the mother. "W.tson!" The butler appeared. "Take this gentleman up- stairs and get out the master's riding suit." And thus was Arthur Bryant led away to what he thought was his final doom. The Fateful Ride. ARTHUR tried to think of every excuse to get out of that ride, but every excuse broke down under one argument—the girl would think him a coward. He .squared his shoulders. Ho must go riding, and pray that if he were chucked off ho would be chucked on to something soft. Don't think the lad was a coward: but when very small ho was savaged by a horse, and grew up eyeing horses with mistrust. Thoy were best loft alone, hence the fact that ho had never ridden a horse in his life, and he knew that it was no child's play. Ho didn't mind a fall so much, it was the fact that he would look a perfect idiot in front of Marian and all her young friends. Why couldn't they go out on motor- bicycles ? He'd show 'em a thing or two ! But horses ! He shuddered, and climbed into the brooches of i'cp Day. Evidently the father must be a very tall man, because the breeches fitted nowhere. The clothes fitted well under the arms for length, whilst two of Arthur would have still given the waist line an inch or two to spaie. For a moment he decided to plead that as hor father's pants didn't fit, he couldn't ride with tho daughter. Cowardice again. No, he would rido even if he did look a perfect sight. His honour demanded this sacrifice. How Marian laughed when Arth ir Bryant came down the stairs. The girl was a charming picture in buflf ridinjr breeches, silk blouse, and a French beret. "You remind me of a comic turn ft the theatres." she hooted with laughtc;'. imieh to Arthur'cs annoyance. "Aren't your breeches a trifle short?" she asked with gentle sarcasm. "My temper will also be short before I'm through," rasped Arthur, whose nerves were rather on edge. "Come on, Arthur." she cried gaily. "All the others are here." "I'm ready. Miss Day." He said it like a martyr. "Cut out the miss stuff," cried tho girl. "Y'ou don't think I'm going to blect Mr. Bryant all day long, do you? Come on, my lad." "All right, JNIarian." answered the ghost of Arthur. "Hope the boss ain't as large as your pop's pants." "Only sixteen hands." An answer that meant nothing to him. It would have been just tho same if she had said "sixteen feet.". At any rate, Arthur decided that the horse was a darned sight too tall and big when he managed to tear himself away from the house. To his distorted imagination. Buster looked like an elephant. Marian waved gaily to a dozen or .o boys and girls that were waiting. A'! sat their saddles as if they were born to them. A groom appeared, and Marian leaped up as if she were a feather. Then a groom came forward with Buster—it was Arthur's turn. Tho youngster approached the mount slowly and warily ; it seemed to him is if ho had never seen a horse with such a nasty expression. The groom gave a swift glanc^ at the girths, just touched the stirrups nncl stood prepared to help Arthur into tho saddle.