Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

10 and don't forget to give me a little time to do some talking before you appear on the scene." "Okay," responded Clarke, and sauntered off with his hands in his pockets while Watters made his way into the store, and hailed Peggy. "Nice to see you here," he said. "I just dropped in to speak to Mrs. Talley." "I'm sure siic'Il bo glad to sec you," Peggy decided, and she went with him to the very top of the bar where Mrs. Talley was now busy with plates and a Dutch-oven. "There goes the one man depression!" growled Egbert to Tommy but Mrs. Talley greeted the visitor quite cheer- fully. "My word," said Watters, glancing around the store, "I really must con- gratulate yon upon this marvellous trans- formation. Those two young gentlemen, Mr. Tanner and Mr. Higginbotham, are obviously men of real genius." He had spoken loudly enough for the "two young gentlemen" to hear his words, and they looked at one another and smiled. "Yes, and we're going to be able to meet the note on the first, Mr. Watters," declared Mrs. Talley d.>lightedly. "That is, of course, if business keeps up." Watters professed to be glad, for her sake; and then Clarke strolled in at -the door, perched on a chair at the bar, and seemed suddenly to become aware of Wattei'^' presence. "Why, hallo, Mr. Watters!" he cried. "I haven't seen you for an age." "Well, well," greeted the conspirator, "I'm glad to see you—you're looking Hne." "Your order, sir?" inquired Tommy. Clarke asked for a chocolate sundae, and while he was consuming it Watters joined him. "By the way,"Jie said, "how are you doing now ?" "Don't tell me you don't know?" laughed Clarke. "Remember that lemon syrup 1 was working on ? Well, she's perfected—and I can tell you she's selling like wildfire. Why, I can't supply the demand. Every drug-store in town's crying for it. It's the newest, biggest flavour sensation in twenty years." Watters satisfied himself with a side- glance that Egbert and Tommy were listening, and inquired: "Well, would you listen to a proposi- tion from my firm?" "Not a chance!" said Clarke. "I offered it you once, remember." "Well, wo all make mistakes, you know—I'm going to come and see you about it. I'm not taking no for an answer." He professed to have an urgent ap- pointment, and went. Clarke ordered some sausage and mashed and plied his knife and fork. Egbert and Tommy whispered together for a while, and then Egbert sailed over to the eater. "Nice weather we're having," said he. "Not bad," admitted Clarke with hie mouth full. "Now, listen; what's the use of us trying to kid each other ? I overheard what you told Watters about that new lomon syrup. We'd like to try some of it here." Tommy, who had followed his partner, nodded emphatically, but Clarke waved the suggestion aside. "What you don't realise," said he, "is Ihat I'm twenty stores behind in de- livery of that Pepo Lemon Syrup now." " Slip in ahead on one delivery," urged Egbert. "Nobody'II be any the wiser. We'll push the stuff—give it some ewcll advertising on the radio." Deceiiilicr mth. 1931. BOY'S CINEMA Clarke chuckled. "Say, you're^ a go-getter," he ap- proved. "I'll give you credit for that! Well, I'm not a guy to interfere with a fellow that rolls up his sleeves and goes after what he wants. I'll let you have ton gallons." "Slip it there, brother—slip it there!" cried Egbert, extending his hand. "I'll never forgot you for this." The two shook hands; Clarke finished lii.s meal and offered payment, but Toniniy would iiot accept any money. "That's on the house," he said. Clarke thanked him gravely and went off.- " Well, son," said Egbert, striking an attitude, " did you sco me hypnotise him '.' Am I a salesman ? Son, I could sell a dead horse to a mounted police- man !" Business having slackened temporarily. Tommy discussed the matter of the Pcpo Lomon Syrup with Peggy. "Isn't Egbert marvellous?" he ex- claimed. " You are, too. Tommy," she assured him, loaning over the bar so that their noses almost touched. "You really think so?" he breathed. "Gee, I like you an awful lot, Peggy." "I like you an awful lot, too, Tommy," she informed him. "'Do you really?" Ho imprisoned her littlo hands and bent his head to kiss them; and he was in the act of kissing them when Chief of Pohce Morton, who had just crossed the threshold, saw what was happening and strode angrily for- ward. "Daddy!" exclaimed Peggy, and tried to release her ha."ds. " That's the first time you've ever called me that!" laughed Tommy—and looked up. His face fell, his mouth opened, his eyes stared. " Now SCO how fast you can get home !" barked Morton at his daughter. "But, daddy " "Don't 'daddy' me! Get out of here!" rasped her father. Egbert heard, blinked, and deserted a customer. "Well, well, chief," said he, patting the bulky official on the arm, " this is a kick! Always glad to meet the forces of law and order. What'U you order, chief? What'11 you order?" "Nothing!" roared Morton. "Have you met my partner, Mr. Thomas Tanner ? A very efficient young man, chief." Tommy looked modestly at his boots because he didn't like the glare in Morton's choleric blue eyes. "If you want to continue with your efficiency, young man," said Morton fiercely, "you'd better keep away from my daughter!" Peggy had obediently disappeared. Tommy, nervously clasping and unclasp- ing his hands, murmured, " Yes, sir." "Bah!" snorted Morton, and went out from the store like a human tornado. The Effect of Lemon Syrup. A FEW days later the promised ten gallons of Pcpo Lomon Syrup arrived in a cask and was paid for spot cash. Egbert did not immediatelj' put it on sale. In the first in.stance he had bills printed, show-cards hand- painted, and advertised the drink during the noonday and afternoon broadcast. Tho drink was to bo supplied to cus- tomers on and after Monday, Decem- ber 22nd. Monday morning was memorable ever after in the annals of the Sunshine Drug Store—and in tho lives of Tommy and Egbert. Despite Clarke's declaration that all the drug stores in Ijockville. wore selling the concoction, tho demand was not at first very great. But by noon the Every Tuesday shop was thronged, and there was quite a struggle on tho part of men who Lad already sampled the Pepo Lemon Syrup to get near the bar. Tommy, unable to cope with the rising tide of trade, had to call on Egbert to neglect ordinary customers to assist him. The interior of the drug store became as noisy as a bear-garden. "A lemon soda!" "Another lemon soda, please!" "Give me another, too!" "How about that lemon soda?" " Another lomon soda—and plenty of syrup!" The shouts and cries and orders mingled and merged into a roar, and Tonimy and Egbert were far too busy coping with custom to note particularly the effect of tho new drmk upon the customers who imbibed more than one. At thr^e o'clock in the afternoon, Egbert said worriedly to Tommy: " If that fellow we sent out to find Clarke doesn't get back soon with fresh supplies we'll be all out of that lemon syrup." "Yeah," said Tommj'. "It must bo great stuff—we'll have to try it one day." "Shay," clamoured a vacant-eyed man, sprawling over the bar, "gimme an—anozzer 1-1-1-lemon soda, will ya?" "It's a repeater," confided Egbert to Tommy. "That fellow's had four already 1" Tommy and Egbert know no peace, and the drawer of the cash register was never still. Pepo Lomon Syrup was evi- dently " it." " These fellows must have been get- ting some bootleg spirit from some- v.hcre," remarked Tommy innocently, viewing with a certain amount of dismay the more riotous of the clamoiirers for lemon soda. He was at the cash register when Peggy entered the premises, and he im- mediately abandoned tho thirsty crowd to talk to her. "Hallo, Peggy," he i.aid, holding her hand. " Gee, 1 thought the chief had locked you up." "Would you have cared?" she asked in a low voice. " Aw, you know better than to ask that." Peggy became conscious of the crowd —and the noise. She gazed at the throng round the bar for a moment. "It's great tho way you boys have built up this drug store," she s;iid. " Everybody's talking about it. Pa says you must bo awful smart, even if ho doesn't like you." (Continued on page 24.) I DO YOU LIKE ADVENTURE ?j| ^ Thrilling Stories in Christmas Books. S Boys who delight in thrillinp tales of Jf adventure and school life are well pro- K vided for this year. You should make M sure of RPttiDji a copv of cither the Jt CH.\iyrPION (6'-), the BRITISH BOY.S' K ANNUAL (.5/-), or the POPULAR » BOOK OF BOYS' STORIES (2/6). £ Tliere is a thrill in practically every page of the first-named book. It is a great big budget of breath-catching stories of adventure, mystery and sport in everj- clime. Plenty of pictures, too, ; and eolourcd plates as well in this bumper ; book of excitement. The BRITISH BOYS' .\NNU4L is; devoted mainly to stories oi school. ■ sport, mystery and adventure. It is a wonder budget of exciting tales written i l)y well-known authors, and there are : numerous illustrations, including several ! beautiful eoIo\ire<l plates. The POPULAR BOOK of BOYS' ^ STORIES is a big book at a bargain 3? price, and is remarkably fine v?lue for B 2/6. It is well illustrated and. packed a with the sort of stories boys like best. E No better gift ronlil be imagined than pg one of these splendid books. jl