Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday stopped and tiio conductor called out : "Allison Avenue." "This is where I get off," said the liUlo old ladv. starting abruptlv to her feet. "Then it must be whore we get off." decided Egbert. BOY'S CINEMA A Shock for Watters. ALLISON AVENUE was quite an imposing thoroughfare, second only to Main Street in the size Olid number of its shops. The little old lady kd the way across the rQ>id to a drug-store that bore ratlier a neglected appearance. She took a key from her liandbag and unlocked its dcor. "Ah, so this is it, eh?" said Egbert. "Yes." she nodded. "I had to lodk it up while I went down to sec the loan company." _ "But, mother," protested Tommy, 'don't you lose a lot of trade locking It up like that?" '"I don't iiavc very much trade, even when It's open, any more." slie said sadly. ""iet you can see it's situated on the right side of the street." "Yeah," nodded Egbert, frowninn- at the uninteresting collection of brushes and combs and perfumes and soaps in the window, "but on the wrong side of the ledger." Tommy laughed at that, and Egbert felt called upon to offer a sort of apology for hi... facetiousness. You see," ho said, "I'm a kind of a waggish person—you know, some people call me a wit." "And they're half right," commented 1 ornmy. "Well I hope you won't be di.san- poin<c<i.' said tlic little old ladv. "You see i he business is run down " C»h. wlW, we'll wind it up!" lauo-hed Egbert. ' o " They passed info the shop] and the two were quite surprised at its dimensions, I'Ut the stock looked none too enticing- and was none too well displayed As usual in American drug-stores, there was a public telephonebox at the far nu and a bar set with high chairs behin which reposed a soda-fountain variety of bottles and jars. "Very interesting—very in- teresting!" commented K'o-bert and advancing upon a ja" con- taining jellii-d beans, phm-red in a hand and filled his mouth, lommy. who was ravenous, fol- lowed Jus example. "What the store needs," said its pro- prietress, " is more medicine." "Mother." said Egbert. glancing about him critically, "I'm afraid medicine won't do it any good. What I mean is—er— we'll make a diag- no.«i.^. M a y b e i^t doesn't need 'medicine —maybe wliat it needs exercise." ex- "we new We drug- " We can't do anything around here." he said in a low voice. "Let's get out and End ourselves a job." "Boy, I think you're right," agreed Egbert, and wont back to the little old lady whose name—according to the fascia—was Mrs. Tallev. widow of one Timothy Talley. He helped himself to a cigar, which proved to be quite a good one, and because she was looking so an.Kious and such a lonely little figure, he said the very reverse of what he had intended to say. "Mother," he began, "my associate has just informed me that he is greatly impressed with the potentialities." Tommy sat down beside the soda- fountain and made signs, but Egbert would not look at him. "Now, with the application of our exclusive business methods," ho pro- ceeded, "we intend taking this store over for you and placing it where it belongs." The shop door had been left ojien. and Mrs. Talley became aware of a tall rnd powerfully-built young man who «as hovering on the threshold, evidently listening. "Excuse me a minute." she said hurriedly, and went to meet the visitor, who stepped inside and removed his hat. His clean-shaven face was handsome in a way, but his brown eyes were crafty. His name was Harry Watters—a name Egbert and Tommy were going to detest in time. "'Afternoon. IMrs. Talley!" said he brusquely. "EfTiciencv conference?" Egbert and Tommv" were at the bar devouring jellied beans. Thev con- templated the newcomer without en- thusiasm. "Well, yes," said Mrs. Talley, smiling wanl}'. "These gentlemen were just advising mo a little." I suppose you know wha' I'm here for? "Well, I—I hope so." she faltered. "We've extended vour credit to (he amount of twelve hundred dollars. You couldn't pay, so we took xour note and as-signmcnt. I wanted to help you out." "You've always been very kind, iVIr. Walters. It breaks me up to think of losing the store, but I'm afraid '' Tears trickled down her cheeks, and Tommy nudged Egbert. "Mrs. Talley," said Watters. "1 have a board of directors to satisfv. and your note IS due in thirty days; but I'll take It upon myself, just as a friend, to take the whole thing off your shoulders and hand you a cheque for three hundred dollars, if you will sign " Egbert and 'Tommv rose almost simultaneously, but Egbert was the first to^ reach the professed benefactor. "Just a moment," ho said, puffuig at his cigar. "Did I understand vou to say that this note was duo in" thirty days?" •' "If vou did," snapped Watters, "vou were listening to something that was none of your affair." "Well, listen, brother!" said Egbert calmly. " Supjiose you come back in thirty days? Cet me? Thirty days!" "Wo should give you sixty," saitl Tommy with double meaning. "Now, boys." intervened Mrs. Tallev "I want you to know Mr. Watters. and to hko him. Hs been awfully kind to me." "I'm here merely to help Mrs. Tallev out," said Watters angrily. "Yeah!" drawled Egbert, the street!" "Yes—and help himself in Tommy, striking an attitude. " You—you " spluttered ' Out into " added -I'l Wat lets. give you "More of that and I piece of my mind !" "Belter give him something vou won't, need!" taunted Egbert'; and then Mrs 1 alley tried tc establish peace. "Now, boys, please!" she pleaded ■ I m sorry, Mr. Watters. but thev mean well, ^ou see, they understand the dens business. "Understand the business?" s<offed Vvatter.s and turned suddenly on Eglicrt. "VV hat's the difference beUven ' ,,ion- oxido and dioxide?" he demanded. "You see," plained Tommy, analyse. It's a gag in busines.s. iriake people store conscious." . "That's it! That's U!" supported Egbert. "Now, mother, we'll get right down to business." But Tommy wand- ered away "to peer and pry, and presently he called Egbert over to him. She opened the door and looked round it, whereupon Egbert made a gHmac^rTrommw looked innocently away. - It was the wrong number," she LfS wUh a smile ^ Pecember IDtli, lOSl.