Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

The quay was crowded with lAen, v.omeii and children, and several Court luiictionarics were gathered together on the edge of its granite wall. Behind Ziijj and Carlotta niar.ched four flunkeys, one carrying a large box of I'igars, another carrying an automatic lighter, the third a cigar-cutter, the fourth an ash-tray. Not an old El Doranian cu-toin thi.s, but one that Zup himself had initiated. "My Majesty would have a cigar," »aid Zup, turning to the box-carrier, "and remember, none of those fireproof stogies like you handed me yesterday." The box was opened and presented, a cigar was selected; the flunkey with the cutter clipped off the end, the man with the trick lighter created a Same in which Zup ignited his smoke. "I'll meet you in the billiards-room in lialf an hour,"' he said with a wave of dismissal. "Scram!" The fiunkeys returned to the palace, and Zup and Carlotta went out through a gateway on to the quay and stood beside a gun-carriage, looking out across the bay at the liner which was being anchored there. "On the level, Carlotta," eaid Zup, turning fo Jiis fair companion, "you're a jewel." "And you, your Majesty," breathed Carlotta, "you are my pearl." "Don't .string me, honey—don't string nie," he said, waving his cigar. "And your Carlotta—is she attraitive U) you?" "Attractive? Why, your eyes are like the heavens—your hair is a golden cascade—your cheeks are like luscious peaches—your lips are like ripened cherries " "Oh, your Majesty!" exclaimed Car- lotta, delighted. "Yc6," said Zup. "If only you had money you'd be beautiful!" He stepped backwards, chuckling, stumbled against the cannon and clutched at a lever. The cannon, which had been loaded /or the tiring of a salvo, went of!' with a deafening roar, causing the crowd on the. .quay to jump violently and causing Zup to look anxiously down at his nether garments. "Did you hear something rip?" he in- quired. "No," responded Carlotta, somewhat coldly. "It was only your little joke misfired!" A boat had been lowered from the liner and the third ma^e escorted Aunt Minnie and Betty over the side and down the iron ladderway into it. The sailors were pulling sturdily towards the quay when Boris and Ricardo emerged with Wendell from his state-room, and a second boat was lowered from its davits. "So this ifl my country?" said Wen- dell, gazing across at the crowded quay. "Yes, your Majesty," replied Boris, "and we will now go ashore and arrange your reception. "Okay!" said Wendell. "You go first." And he followed them down the tteps. An outburst of cheering from the shore, intended for the boat which was <lrawing near the landing-steps, caused him to look round just as he was step- ping into the waiting boat. lie slipped and fell with a splash into the water, and after floundering about for some minutes was hauled on board by a sailor who also saved his straw hat. Ho was soaked to the skin, and looked anything but a monarch as he sat drippingly in the stem. Zup, standing on the quay with his ministers around him, thoughtfully con- September 12th, 1031. about Betty I'm BOY'S CINEMA templated Aunt Minnie and Betty as they vore helped ashore. He turned fo an enormous fellow in imiform. Baron Bogardus, (leneial of the El Doranian Army, and maker and unniaker of monarchs. "By flic way, baron," he eaid, "who i.i this woman we're saluting?" "Mrs. Minnie van Arden, the richest property owner of our country," was the leply. "You don't say?" exclaimed Zup. "Stand by, then, baron, while I unbend to the lady." He strode majestically forward, cigar in hand; but it was to Betty that he mistakenly addressed himself. "How do you do? On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce of El Dorania, I wish to welcome you to our sun-kissed siiores." "Oh, thank you so much," said Betty. " Who are you, then?" Zup drew himself up to his full height and waved the cigar. " I am the king." Aunt Minnie, who was gazing her, turned and stared, exclaimed : "You the king? Impossible!" "Why, Mrs. van Arden " "I'm not Mrs. van Arden! Betty Harrington." ""Then," reproved Zup, "you've made a very grave error. Who is Mrs. van Arden?" "Why, my Aunt Minnie—over there." "How do. Aunt Min?" said Zup, striding across to that lady. "And who might you be?" she in- quired frigidly. "Why, I am the king." "I'm hysterical !" howled Aunt Minnie. "Why isn't King Oscar here to greet me? If you're a king, I'm an ostrich !" "Enough of this!" cried Zup dis- gustedly, and he turned commandingly to his congregated subjects. "Crowd up, men ! It's time to hail 1" "Hail the king! Hail tho king I King ! King ! King I" From hundreds of throats came tho acclamation, and Zup grinned triumphantly at the flabber- gasted property owner. " You're an ostrich I" he informed her. Aunt Minnie seized her niece by the arm and dragged her away. "You come with me I" she snapped. They entered a waiting carriage, and were being driven off to Caldcra's prin- cipal hotel when Wendell climbed out of the second boat on to the quay, with the assistance of Boris and Ricardo. Baron Bogardus immediately strode forward to greet the two immaculate emissaries, and Wendell stood wringing tho water out of his garments. "Well, Boris," said the baron, "then you have brought another one?" "Yes, my general," Boris replied. "What ihey call in America, 'A live one.' " " How much did he pay for my revolution i" "One hundred thousand dollars." "One hun Why, tho last time you sold the revolution it was for only fifty thousand !" . Zup, puffing at his cigar, caught sight of Wendell and moved over to him. "Come up to the house and use cv.r wringer," ho said facetiously, tapping him on the shoulder. Wendell swung round—and gaped. Zup gaped. "'Zup I" cried Wendell. "Wendell !" cried Zup. They clasped hands. "Well, well, well I" exclaimed Zup. Every Tuesday "How've you been?" inquired Wendell. "Well. And you ?'^ "Well, I " "I know—you haven't been vrel!! Ha, ha, ha !" "This seems like old times," rejoiced Wendell. "Yes, sir," boomed Zup. "Good old Brooklyn—good old Brooklyn I D'you know I haven't seen you since you fell into that half-million. What a fall I What a fall 1 But let me warn you, son—there are a lot of crooks around here." Wendell sneezed, then laughed. "Don't worry about me," he said. "I've made a groat investment. I've come down hero to run this place. I'm the King of El Dorania." "You—you—you're the king? There must be a slight mistake I I'm the king 1" "Zup, I cross my heart—I'm tho king !" "I reiterate for the sake of em- phasis." exploded Zup. "Tm the king!" ^ "We'll see about this I" cried Wen- dell, losing his temper. "Yes." said the voice of the enormous baron, close beside them, "we shall cer- tainly see about this I" "Whose side are you on?" demanded Wendell. "Yours, your JLajesty. I am Baron Bogardus, commanding the ' revolu- tionary forces." Ho turned to Zup. / "This gentleman," he said fiercely^ "has bought the revolution, and auto- matically becomes king. If his authority is questioned, wo will settle the matter on the battlefield 1" "Don't bo a sap!" expostulated Zup. "I'm the Royal Highness of this joint— and if there's any trouble I've got a standing army that won't sit down." \ "Come with me," said the baron to both of them. "I'll show youj Mister Zup, just how perilous your position is!" A Battle Postponed. THE baron led the way with gigantic strides, and it was only by break- ing into a sort of jog-trot thnt Wendell and Zup managed to keep up with him. He plunged into a big building, situ- ated in Caldera's principal street and facing the palace, and he mounted .a flight of stairs and threw open the door of a room. " I'm going to show .you," he said to Zup, "that you haven't a chance to cope with King Wendell." Large m-^ps hunp upon the w-alls of the room, but the baron went straight over to a huge table, the top of which was covered with a papier-mache model re- presenting tho kingdom of El Dorania, complete with rivers, roads and moun- tains. Ranged on cither side of tho mode! were a number of lead soldiers I "Here is the battlefield," said the baron with a sweep of his hand. Zup blinked, and Wendell—in spile of his wet clothes and a tendency to sneeze his head off—felt inclined to laugh. But the baron was obviously in earnest. He made Zup stand on one side of the table and Wendell on tho ether. "This is your army," he told Zup, in- dicating the toy soldiers on his side. "And this"—jerking a thumb at the leaden warriors on the other side, "is your army, your Majesty." "What's tlris—a game?" inquired Zup indignantly. "Not at all," retorted the baron. "It cost so much to keep real soldiers in