Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1939)

Another Thin Man — HE HAS A PLACE ALL HIS OWN IN HER HEART If you were to tell Judy Garland that she loves Mickey Rooney, she probably would tell you that you are crazy. At the same time she would not deny that there is a bond between them. She has never had a brother. He has never had a real sister. To a large extent they act those respective parts to one another. She tells him when he needs a hair cut. When, about a year ago, Mickey went through that certain stage when a boy's nuisance value is almost one hundred per cent she was his valiant champion. "You just don't understand him. I like Mickey," was her defiant comeback. Mickey pulls no punches with Judy. Often he criticises her with a candor which, from anybody else, would bring tears. But when in New York, sSe was homesick, with splendid loyalty he sat with her and her mother every night until her bedtime although his toes itched for the Onyx Club and Nicks. Where will it end? Maybe so — maybe not. In Radio and Television Mirror for December Norton Russell tells the complete and touching story of this association of juveniles who need each other. By all means do not miss it. HILLTOP HOUSE in Thrilling Story Form Another thrilling feature awaiting you in Radio and Television Mirror for December is a Actionized version of Hilltop House, the gripping domestic serial broadcast each week day over the Columbia Broadcasting System. If you love the story of "Miss Bess" on the air you will be equally charmed with the printed version now beginning in the Radio fan's own magazine. OTHER OUTSTANDING FEATURES In addition to What Mickey Rooney Means to Judy Garland and the fictionized version of Hilltop House, Radio and Television Mirror for December contains a long list of other interesting, amusing and revealing radio features to charm and thrill you; among them — Where Was I Wrong? The confession of a beautiful scar who gambled on divorce • The Last Lesson, a radio drama of great courage • Fate's Bad Boy. Fascinating Orson Welles reaches maturity — and love • Radio Mirror's Preview of a Hit! A sensational feature — *'This is My Song*' by Larry Clinton • Breach of Promise! Andy vs. Madam Queen! A fight to the finish • Woman in Love • Radio and War — How broadcasters brought you "the story that couldn't be told" • First in the Ears of His Countrymen, He's Raymond Gram Swing whom millions tune in • They Cover the War Front, Introducing those crisis heroes of radio • The True Story of Mary Marlin which is also the story of Author Jane Crusinberry • Hollywood Radio Whispers • Facing the Music • What's New From Coast to Coast • Radio's Photo-Mirror • Inside Radio — The New Radio Mirror Almanac • Beauty Pick-ups. Radio and Television Mirror for December is now on sale at all newsstands. Be sure to get your copy today. «no imusioii DECEMBER OUT NOW 1Q« himself, had finally been released. He had come right to MacFay claiming that what had happened was the Colonel's fault, and demanding a great deal of money. It was never easy to get money from the Colonel under the best of circumstances, this time the refusal was stony and rather final. "So he said he hoped I was not going to be pig-headed about it," continued the Colonel, "because he had dreamed twice about my dying, and the third time he dreams things, they come true. He says he hopes I'm not going to die before my conscience makes me do the right thing by him." "I'd stake him to a psychoanalyst," said Nick. "That's not funny." said the fiery old Colonel. "You don't know this man. There isn't much he wouldn"t do. He worked for me for ten years." Nick smiled. "That certainly proves it." The Colonel glared at him. "Have you notified the police?" Nick went on quickly. "Certainly," said MacFay. "I'm not entirely a fool. They tell me it isn't a criminal offense to tell your dreams. Church has been living down the road for the last ten days with his Cuban manservant. That's the one that must have been playing dead when you came down — they've been doing everything possible to terrorize me. The place is full of guards, but he gets through them whenever he wants to, and I never can tell which minute will be my last." I HE rest of the dinner turned out to be pretty exciting, particularly when fire broke out. The bathhouses near the swimming pool flared up in as grand a conflagration as one could wish for. The place became alive with guests and servants manning the bucket brigade, but nothing could save the buildings. Then, near a clump of bushes at the end of the pool, Nick found the body of the dog, Jesse — with his throat cut. Looking over his shoulder, Horn spoke in a choked voice. "He was a swell dog. This is going to be hard on Lois." Lois was Horn's fiancee. Nick bent over the damp ground. There were blurred footprints there. "Whoever did it wore rags about his feet," he said. He nodded to the fire. "Is this the sort of thing that's been going on?" "More or less," replied the Colonel's right-hand man. "I believe it's all engineered by Sam Church." "Does the Colonel really owe him any money, do you think?" asked Nick. "Not the way we look at it," Horn answered. "In other words," said Nick, "if everything went okay, the Colonel gets the profit. If not. Church goes to jail." "That's about it," Horn said cheerfully. "And is that your job with the Colonel now?" persisted Nick. "Something like it," Horn agreed. When they got back to the house they found Lois in tears. The Colonel had just fired Freddie, his secretary, for objecting to the way he spoke to Lois. "You can't bulldoze me any longer," said the youngster defiantly. "I don't care how much money you have. That may interest Dudley Horn, but it doesn't mean a thing to me." "Now, look here, Freddie," Horn defended himself, "I know you're in love with Lois and all that sort of thing, but I don't like cracks like that. . . ." This started another conflagration, (Continued jrom page 22) this time emotional, but almost equal to the bathhouse one, with Lois and Nora looking on in amazement. It ended by Freddie firing himself again, and stalking from the room. Lois now turned on Horn. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Dudley!" She walked from the room, with Horn after her. "Nice, quiet week end," said Nick to Nora. "I'm going home with the baby," said Nora. "This is no place for a child." Nick was enthusiastic. "Good plan. Sometimes your words are simply electric, my little cauliflower." "I'll go get the baby and the nurse — " began Nora. "Go ahead and desert me," said the Colonel, and at the touch of pathos in his usually rasping voice, they both paused in their tracks. "I took your father in as my partner and built up his fortune for him. I've slaved ever since, keeping that fortune intact for you. But when I ask one thing of you, to save my life . . . you run out on me. All right!" Nick pushed Nora down in the chair next to which she was standing. "Take it easy, my pearl of great price," he said to her. "I think I'll run over and have a talk with Church. Perhaps we can do something to stop him from being troubled by bad dreams." nORA was reading in the bedroom when Nick returned. She put down her book. "One of these days I'm going to get a chance to spend a quiet evening with a book," she said, "without husbands always coming in to interrupt." "Sorry to be in your way, mom," said Nick, "but a man's got to sleep." "You never were at a loss," remarked Nora, with a certain significance that he chose to disregard. "Did you see Church?" "I did," he said. "His servant let me in. The same one we saw lying dead on the road. Full of fun." "Must be," said Nora. "He'll catch his death of cold, one of these days, lying around in the open like that with nothing on his chest but a knife. What'd Church have to say?" "He was just leaving for town. He and the woman, Smitty, who was with him." "A blonde?" asked Nora with awakened interest. "I didn't notice," said Nick. "She had a gun. The Cuban — his name is Dum Dum, believe it or not — threw a knife at me. Nice, old-fashioned hospitality." "Oh, Nickie!" Nora rushed over to him. "Did you get hurt?" Nick showed her his hand. "Just a knuckle or two. It got sort of messed up with Church's eye. It seems he didn't believe that the Colonel wasn't dead. He said he dreamed he had died — throat cut, or something — and it appears that his dreams always come true. I assured him the Colonel was alive, but he said I only thought so because I had seen him half an hour before, and it had probably happened since then." "My word!" said Nora. "Have you seen the Colonel?" "Just saw him," said Nick. "I told him Church was on his way back to town, and he was very pleased." "Why were they so mean to you?" asked Nora. "Didn't they know what a kind-hearted man you are?" "My well-known sterling character didn't seem to make much impression on Sam Church. He said now that the Colonel was gone — he insisted he must be dead — he'd have to concentrate on me to get his money. He said that after all your father was the Colonel's partner, and he was beginning to dream about me . . . and about you . . . and about the baby . . . that's when I popped him. The Cuban threw his knife at me and Asta thought he was playing a game and retrieved it for him from the wall where it was sticking. Nice dog. And the girl. Smitty, got a gun from some place — I think it was under her dress on her hip — " "You think!" said Nora. "You sure you didn't help her fetch it?" "You do me a grave injustice," said Nick. "Anyway, I got out of there alive because nothing can happen to me until he dreams about me three times. Where's Nickie?" "Why, darling!" said Nora, delighted. "You're beginning to take fatherhood seriously. You want to see your child!" She opened up a drawer of the enormous dresser and disclosed Nickie sleeping there in calm ageless peace. He looked at the baby quietly for a moment. He turned to Nora then and gave her a quick, approving pat. "I've got to give you credit, Mom." Nora regarded him, pleased. She waited for the rest of it in grateful expectation. "You've certainly got me hooked." She pushed the drawer partly to. "Is he lying on my things?" asked Nick, with sudden concern. She grinned. "No, I just didn't think of that, but it isn't a bad idea." I HERE was a knock on the door, and Nora, answering, welcomed Lois. "You don't know how wonderful it is to have company down here," began Lois wistfully, nervously smoothing the folds of her dressing gown. "Why, I should think the Colonel made it very merry for you!" Nick protested. "Poor father," she replied, with a sad little smile. "I suppose he means right about keeping me in seclusion— but — " "Right, nothing!" exploded Nora. "The idea of a pretty girl like you not even being allowed to acknowledge her fiance!" "I'm afraid father wants me to be too 'sensible' to ever marry anyone." "I have an idea," Nora said brightly to Nick. "Let's help them elope!" "Oh, we couldn't!" Lois protested quickly. "Father would fire Dudley — and he'd cut me off, too. We wouldn't be able to live." "What d'you think you're doing now?" asked Nick. "Exactly," said Nora, triumphantly. "It's absolute stagnation!" There was the sound of a shot from another room, and suddenly all the lights went out. Lois' voice rang out in a terrified scream. "What was that?" cried Nora. "My baby! Nickie, where are you?" Nick lit a match, and in the ghostly shadows he could see that the baby was sleeping peacefully through the commotion. On the dresser was a candle, and he ignited it quickly. "Quick!" he said to Lois. "Where's your father's room? We haven't a moment to lose." They crowded into the hallway, which seemed to be full of people. Freddie, fully dressed, hurried down. Horn, barefooted and clad only in pajamas, rushed the length of the hall with a light. Coming down the stairs was Mrs. Bellam, also fully dressed; she had a book in her hand, and even in the excitement Nora noticed that she kept her 74 PHOTOPLAY