Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

6 "That's wliat I'd like to know," quoth Cookie, and swept her into his own itinis and hugged her. "' I don't want to get well,' " sang Mike. " ' I don't want to get well! ' " And then Cookie, releasing Molly, chimed in: "' I'm in lovo with a beautiful nurse.' " And they both meant it. For Services Rendered. AFTER the war was over and the American troops had returned to their native land, Cookie and Mike took part in another parade along Bioadway—a parade of men and women back from France, celebrating peace. The excitement among tlie onlookers , was almost greater than it had been on " the occasion of that other parade when Cookie had pushed Mike into the Army by a trick and followed him to return a sock on the jaw. Flags hung acros-s from lofty buildings, confetti showered down on the marchers, paper streamers whizzed in every direction, and the cheering was terrific. Cookie strode along beside Mike, and Mike walked with haixlly a perceptible limp, as the surgeon had promised; but Cookie wore a black patch over his sightless eye. A slim and gi'aceful figure shot out from the crowd on the pavement and made for them. It was Molly, in a blue serge frock with a lace collar, waving and shouting to them. "Mike! Cookie!" she cried. "Hi, wait for me!" They looked round, grinned a wel- come, and placed her between them with- out losing step. I "Oh," she told them breathlessly, "1 ' didn't get your letters till it was too late. But here I am!" "And maybe I ain't glad," said Cookie, squeezing her arm. , I "And maybe me, too," rejoiced Mike. , " Say, Molly, where can we get some ice-cream?" . ; "Ice-cream my eye!" scoffed Cookie. "Lead me to some beer!" "Beer!" echoed Molly. "Don't be a foreigner—times have clianged." "Molly," said Mike earnestly, "we I were saying on the boat that when we got back here we three were going to etick together always—the same as we did over there." I "Sure," chimed in Cookie. "One for all and all for one!" i "That's right," laughed Molly. "Faith, Hope and Charity!" ' "That's me," declared Cookie. "Charity!" "Charity?" said Mike contemp- tuously. "You? Ha, ha—you'd give away the ash off your cigar any time!" "Haw, haw!" mocked Cookie. Near the City Hall a clean-shaven youiig fellow in tweeds ran out from the cr<)\v<l to them. Molly pointed excitedly as he ipproachcd. "Here he is!" she cried. "This is my brother Larry. Larry, this is Ser- geant O'Dowd—and Cookie Leonard." "Mow d'you do?" greeted ]>arry. "The other two musketeers, eh? IJee, I'm glad to know you." "Same hoc," .said Cookie politely, studying the newcomer with interest. aI the City Hall the para<le finished, the ranks broke up amid shouts and haiid-shake.s arwl kisses. The four stood fogeth-^r on the big patch of asphalte beiii>ath the steps of the building. "Well, I've got to bo going," an- nounced Molly. "See you all later." "That's right, Molly," boomed Cookie. "Dinner at seven." "See you there, .sergeant," said Larry, offering his hand. July 18tli, 1931. BOY'S CINEMA "I'm afraid not," growled Mike. "You see, I haven't been invited." "Haven't been invited?" exclaimed Molly, frowning at Cookie. " We're having a reunion at my house to-night —didn't Cookie tell you?" "First'I've heard of it." Molly frowned still more heavily at Cookie, who grinned guiltily. "Forgot all about it," he said. "Mike," cried Molly, "you've been double-crossed! Just for that you shall sit next to me, and you "—jabbing a linger into Cookie's chest—" will eat in the kitchen! So-long!" She tripped away with her brother, and Mike stood looking after her for a while, then turned to Cookie. "Well, au revoir, Chauncey," he said, with intent to irritate. "Haw, haw!" "Where are you going?" inquired Cookie. " Down to the police-station, to get some work to do." "Well," decided Cookie, "I'll trail along with you, because if there's any free lunch in town the cops will know where to find it." "Quito so, Chauncey—quite so," jeered Mike. And they strolled together \\p Broadway, which had now become almost normal again. The police-station was reached; the two mounted the steps and entered the spacious charge-room. "Company, attention!" bellowed Cookie. "Here's your hero!" A score of policemen crowded round thom. Chief Donovan, disturbed by the noise, came out fi'om his office, stopped short with an exclamation, and then moved briskly forwaixl to thump Mike in the middle of his broad back. " Say, it's sure good to see you back again, boy!" he cried. "It's good to be back, chief," declared Mike gratefully. "We're proud of you! All of you!" And tho chief's hand swept round to include Cookie. " When do you want to get back to work, Mike?" "The sooner the quicker, chief." " All right—get into your old uni- form !" "What?" howled Cookie, in pretended disgust. " After Mike has won tho war for you, don't he rate a new one?" Donovan chuckled, dived back into his room, and reappeared with a big card- board box. " Here's a li'ftle present the boys fixed up," he .saicL "Open it." "Wh-what is it?" faltered Mike, hold- ing the box nervously. "Judging froni the size of it," re- marked Cookie, "I should say it was a now pair of shoes 1" Mike tore off the string and opened the box. Inside it was a complete uni- form, v/hich ho took out garment by garment. On the sleeves of the jacket wore stripes. "Well, I'm What tho " gasped Mike. And then, joyfully: "A ser- geant ! A polico-sorgeant!" "Sure!" drawled Cookie. "Once a sorgoant always a sergeant !" "You were a sergeant over there!" blwnuHl Donovan. "You don't think »>'d let those Army officers put any- thing over on us, do you?" " Well, boys—I—that is—chief——" slammercd ^Iikc, completely over- whelmed. ' Cookie swept an arm round his shoulder. "Bo brave, Gladys," ho cooed, "and cry on yom- )iapa's manly chest !" "Don't lot him kid you, Mike," m-ged ono of the men. and Mike slapped his chum's face playfully and managed to voice his thanks. "Well, so long, boys," said Cookie, Every Tuesday wiping away an imaginary tear; aud he moved doorwards. " Where arc you going ?" called Mike. "I'm going to the ' Herald ' office to get to work," was tho immediate re- joinder. "After what they've done for you, they'll probably mako me manag- ing editor ! Good-bye, sweetheart 1" He stepped briskly out into tho sun- light, and he made his way straight to tho giant "Herald" building in West 40th Street. In the doorway ho paused to look up at an imposing brass plate affixed to the wall, on which the names of all tho members of the staff who had enlisted in tho Army were engraved. Ho sa\» his own name there—"C. Cook Leonard "—and whimsically saluted it. Then he plunged into the building, pass- ing an aged attendant who recognised him and waved. In the general office, on the first floor, a black-haired girl at tho inquiry desk looked up at him indignantly as he went to sail past her. "Hallo, sweetheart!" he greeted cheerfully. "Do you wish to sec somebody?" she aske^ him frigidly. "Yeah," ho replied. "I'd like to see somebody I know !" And with that he strode straight down an aisle between desk* and typists and reporters to the chi/rf news editor's room. , The girl flew after him, but was too late. He turned the handle and went ia. Bettinson, more bald than ever, was .sitting at his desk, stabbing the air with a blue pencil and barking at a member of the staff. ".411 right, Bill," he roared, "don't give me any argument. If a man can't do it, why don't you hire a boy?" Cookio stepped over to the desk as the discomfited Bill backed away from it. "How are you, sweetheart?" he drawled. "Busy!" snapped Bettinson. and stared at him. "Cookie!" he ex- claimed. "So you're back !" "Yeah—and ready to go to work on your old scandal sheet." Bettinson scowled from under his bushy brows. "Well, Cookie," he said gruffly, "I'm sorry " " What do you mean, you're sorry ?" For once in a way tho chief news editor lost his bullying manner. "Well, I—I haven't got any place for you right now," ho stammered. Said Cookie, folding his arms and set- ting his jaw: "I don't get my old job back, eh?" "Cookio, you're tho fifteenth guy that's been here ! When you fellows wont away wo had to hire other people to fill your jobs. We can't fire 'cm now, just because you're back." "I get you," nodded Cookie grimly. "I'll tell vou what to do—you come back. Come back—or—say. in a month, and I'll see if I can't find a job for you. I will, on the level." "Sure!" replied Cookio airily. " Okay, sweetheart." Ho went out from tho room with his one eye glowering and his mouth sot in an >igly lino. Ho strode down the stairs to the doorway, and thero ho looked up at the imposing brass pl.ntc. Ho mado an uncomplimentary noiso at it with his mouth, then shoved his way out through the swing-doors. Upstairs in his room. Bettinson spoke into a house telephone. "Hallo—Miss Dean?" ho blared. "Look here, if any more of those tin hats como in, tell 'cm I'm out, or tell