Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday tested impatiently. "Mitchell is after the old man. He wants to pa.wii off that phoney iire-extinguislier that he's been haiidlin', and if he can fool Madison with it he'll rake in a lotta money. Mitchell don't want the girl." ^ " Well, he'd better not !" Trixie Farroll said ominously. " Mitchell can't give me the nm-arouiid." "Aw, cut it out, Trixie, will you?" put in the other girl. "You don't want to start anything now. We're here to help Mitchell, if we can. Aren't we, Tommie r" "Atta girl !" Thompson rejoined. " We gotta all stick together." Jt was at that precise moment that Bob Darrow entered the Nightingale (Jlub, and, having left his hat and coat ill the cloak-room, he crossed the threshold of the restaurant and stood looking around him uncertainly. A waiter approached. "Have you a table reserved, sir? " he asked Bob. "Why, yes, I think so," Bob answered. "I'm to join a Mr. Thompson." "Oh, yes, sir. This way, if you please." The waiter led him to where Thompson and his companions were sit- ting, and as the stout man recognised Bob he rose to his feet with an exclama- tion. "Oh, hallo, Darrow :" he said breezily. "(;lad to see you. By the way, I'd like to have you meet two lady friends of mine. Mr. Darrow—Miss Georgia Robinson and Miss Trixie Farrell." Bob shook hands and then sat down in a chair next to Trixie. The girl's petulant expression had quite gone now, •ind she leaned towards Bob smilingly. "You know, Mr. Darrow," she told him, "we're going to have a perfectly wonderful time after you and Mr. 'J'hompson get through "with that big business deal." Bob grinned awkwardly. He had not anticipated feminine company, ninl BOY'S_CINEMA somefcw he felt ill at case, though he could not have explained just why. "It's rather embarrassing for me," he said, "because I—I feel as though I am sort of insinuating business into a very pleasant evening." "Well, then, let's forget business for the meantime," Trixie suggested. " Have a drink, Mr. Darrow." And she poured out a glass of wine. Bob shook his head. "No, thanks," he said. "I don't drink." Trixie endeavoured to persuade him, and while she was still pressing him to accept the glass, Dan Mitchell looked across and saw that Bob had arrived. Mitchell spoke to Madison. "There sure are a lot of cpieer people ccme to a place like this," lie observed. "Yes," .said Madison grimly, "it's quite a melting-pot." Mitchell glanced around him with ap- parent casualness, and then fixed his eyes on the table at which Bob had joined Thompson and the two girls. " Why, isn't that young Darrow over there?" he exclaimed June and her father turned their heads quickly. Trixie was still attempt- ing to coax Bob to take the wine, and there was something amorous about the maimer in which she proffered the glass now. Dan Mitchell saw Madison pur.se his lips, and—what was even more to his liking—he detected an expression on Juno's lovely face that was akin to dis- illusionment. He knew then that the situation for which he had been secretly responsible had undeiniined the Madi- sons' regard for Bob, affecting the father's confidence in him, and the daughter's respect for him. "I guess Darrow isn't so different from other men. after all," Dan Mitchell mused. "That is, where the ladies are concerned." June said nothing; but her father spoke. "I fancy you're right, Dan," he mut- terc.l. "I'm rath.'r shorki d to find him 23 here at all, and I certainly don't adoiirc the compajiy he seems to be keeping." Meanwhile Bob was making tentative efforts to discuss business with Thomp- son, but he met with no success, the other man seeming to be bent on hilarity, and at length the young fireman annoimced that he must be returning to the station. A few minutes after his departure June Madison suggested leaving, but Mitchell prevailed upon her to dance with him, and when he escorted her back to the table he found her father in conversation with a business acquaint- ance, whom he introduced as Fowler. "Mr. Fowler is sightseeing, too,'' said Madison, "and thinks about as much of this place as I do." "It's certainly my last appearance here," declared Fowler. "Oil, by the way, Madison, I hear you're jiromoting a new motor engine that promises to revolutionise the auto industry. That right?" Madison nodded. "Correct," he said; "and you can take it from mc it's a wonder. I've had scientists working in cooperation with skilled engineers for some time past now, and this motor is going to make a stir." Mitchell turned to June. " Your father seems in for a long dis- cussion," he mentioned. " and this is your first visit to a night club. How would you like to see the inside of it before you go? It's forbidden ground to most people, but I happen to know the owner." "Oh, it would be a novel experience!" June answered, and Mitchell repeated his suggestion to her father. "Show her around, by all means," Madison agreed. "I'll wait for you in the ear. J\mic —after I've had a chat with Mr. Fowler." Mitchell gave Juno his arm and escorted her along a corridor that led froni the restaurant to a flight of steps which descended to a basement. Near Can't you get to that door ? " Dan Mitchell jerked. Septenibet Iflth. 1931.