Modern Screen (Jan-Jun 1945)

can see how completely ingenue I look." Mrs. Temple shook her head. Shirley turned back to the mirror. Something about the cut of the trig jacket, the drape of the short skirt made a "no" decision impossible. "I'm sorry, Mother, but I've just got to have it." A few hours later they were hat shopping for Mrs. Temple, who likes her chapeau to be very small or very large. Shirley is a standpatter for the medium brim. But, when Mrs. Temple espied a broadbrimmed black hat, Shirley suddenly assumed her mother's satin-dress expression. "Uh-huh," she protested. "But," she admitted with a sigh, "it's your money, and you have to decide this for yourself." So Shirley carried home her black satin suit, and Mrs. Temple took her black, wide-brimmed hat, and neither has had much wear of her purchase since. Although the routine relationship between Shirley and her mom is gay, kidding and casual, the deep underlying tenderness between them occasionally comes to the surface. When Shirley was ten, her mother was taken to the hospital for a critical operation. It was the first time in Shirley's life that she had been away from her mother. Their lives had been more closely intertwined than those of the average mother and daughter, because — in the studio — it was required that Mrs. Temple be with Shirley all the time. They arrived together early in the morning, went straight to Shirley's dressing room or her bungalow. From there they went to the school room or to wardrobe, hairdressing or the portrait gallery. Day in and day out, their every waking moment was spent together. Then, abruptly, Mom was the quiet, resting lady in a tall hospital bed, and Shirley was emotionally on her own. During that month Shirley grew up. captain shirley . . . One day she knew her mother must be particularly ill because Mr. Temple himself took Shirley on her daily visit to the hospital. Afterward he asked his small daughter what she would like to do. "Something that you've always thought would be fun," he specified. She sensed that it was important to him that she think up a first-class diversion. "I want to visit the police station," she decided, pinch-hitting about a thousand. Mr. Temple knew the police officials, and he complied. It was a great day. Shirley's father was made an honorary police lieutenant, which set him up considerably. Then Shirley was made an honorary police captain, ■ outranking a new lieutenant. To this day she kids him about it, and it made a great bit of nonsense to tell Mrs. Temple the next day. As long as she lives, Shirley will never forget the day her mother was brought home from the hospital. For a month, with everyone at home excepting her mother, the place had seemed deserted. And suddenly, with that laughing presence around — even if she had to be very careful and remain in bed a good deal of the time for another month — the house seemed busy, purposeful and happy. Mrs. Temple has had some bad moments over Shirley, too. There was the night when Mr. and Mrs. Temple were bringing Shirley home from the studio when she was working in "Little Miss Marker." She liked to sit alone in the back seat, her small back braced against the cushions, her short legs extended straight ahead. In this position she could press the toe of one foot against the door handle. On this particular evening Mr. Temple made a fast left hand turn . . . and the door flew open. He applied the brakes, (Continued on page 118) ickrthsome1* Clare. V. she's a Spar not a spare! Pride of the jeep fleet— she dazzles them all with her beautiful, winning smile! Because she's discovered how much better super-fine Pebeco cleans her teeth. "Stays on the job polishing," she says. "Doesn't wash right away when I start to brush!" How come? Pebeco contains a special combination of polishing agents. Nonabrasive, micro-fine Pebeco Tooth Powder particles hold on to your brush . . . cling to your teeth while you polish. No wonder teeth sparkle. They're super clean ! Spruce up your smile! Brush your teeth with super-fine Pebeco. Taste its keen, minty flavor. Enjoy the wonderfully fresh feel of your mouth when it's Pebecoclean. See the gleam that's reflected from your own winning Pebeco smile! Pebeco Pete says: 60%M0R£ POWD£R FORyouRMo/vey, FOl/CS, THANAV£RAG£ OF 6 OTHER C£AO/NG 8RANPS TOOTH POWDER Super-fine for Super Shine GIANT SIZE ONLY 1H Big \Oi size, too Copyright, 1945, by Lehn & Fink Products Corp. ALSO PEBECO TOOTH PASTE— CLEAN, REFRESHING FLAVOR — 10*, 25* AND 50* n