Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1941)

(Continued over for the bus." The glow from the fire fell on her hair and skin, giving them a rose glow. And he watched her long and silently. "I always have to laugh too," she went on "when I think of the first time I ever saw you. When your mother's secretary asked me to come to the apartment after The Singing Lady broadcast and explained you were home from school because you had broken a couple of vertebrae, I instantly had a picture of you in a big chair by the fire with a rug around you. I used to be such a romantic!" "Used to be!" he said. Undoubtedly he meant to sound mocking. But his emotion got in his way and he sounded very, very tender. "Well anyway," Charita continued, "well anyway, Charlie, I never will forget looking up from my script about five minutes before we went on the air that afternoon — your mother was playing Cinderella and I was the Fairy Godmother — and seeing you and Donnie in the control room. I knew it was you instantly somehow, even if I had been thinking of you wrapped up in a rug by the fire. Which proves I have a sense of reality too. Don't you think so, Charlie?" HE reached for her hand and played with her fingers. It was very quiet. Charita scarcely breathed lest she break the magic spell. "What else do you remember about us?" he asked finally. "That's about all," she lied. For she remembered everything that ever had happened to them and what time of day it had been and whether it had been sunny or rainy, what Charlie wore, what she wore, exactly how he had stood or sat or walked and exactly what he had said. "What do you remember?" she parried. His hands closed over her hands. "I remember when I broke my ankle." "And . . ." she prompted. "And I was on crutches," he elaborated, "And you came to see me. And you didn't go on or fuss. You gagged about me forever breaking my bones. And you had tears in your eyes." "I had tears in my eyes," she volunteered, responding to the question his tone implied, "because I couldn't bear to see you like that." Her voice came clear and free and fluid and her words rushed. But he talked with an effort, as if each word he spoke must hurdle some restraint he had imposed upon himself for so long that it had become part of him. Charita thought: "Something must have hurt Charlie once upon a time. That's why he holds back as he does. That's why it's his instinct to be strictly a solo flyer. He's afraid of emotions and what they can do to you." A log crashed with a bright shower of sparks. Charita jumped. Charlie drew her close and kissed her on top of her head where her brown curls were tied with a blue velvet bow. "Charita . . ." he began. But when she started to talk in the same instant he stopped that she might go on. "Charlie!" she said. "Look Charlie! We've sat up all night. There's a rose light in the sky. It's dawn!" He stood up and pulled her up beside him. And whatever he had been about to say went unsaid. He kissed her instead, twice. "Good NOVEMBER, 1941 from page 65) night," he said "and good-bye. And if we don't hurry, Charita, we won't get any sleep at all. It will be time to leave for the airport." Ireene and Victor Hammer, Nancy, Donnie, Charlie and Charita — they all drove to the airport in the Hammer car. Everybody knew they might not see Charlie again for a long time. But nobody mentioned it. Within the month he would have his wings. And soon afterwards he would be sailing overseas where he would remain until the last Messerschmitt had been chased out of the English sky. The plane for Canada stood waiting on the field. "Back a few paces, Charlie," Donnie said when they came to the field gate, giving the signal for their favorite gag. They approached each other, hands outstretched, and met with a big hello. Don wore a tooth-brush in his button-hole. "What's that?" asked Charlie. "In your lapel?" "That?" said Don. "Oh that! That's my college pin. I went to Colgate!" Everybody laughed gratefully. It was good to have any release for their emotion. Then it was time for Charlie to board the plane. The stewardess closed the cabin door behind him. Field attendants took the blocks away from the wheels. The engines roared. The propellers spun and made themselves invisible. In the cabin window Charlie raised his hand in a final farewell. The plane lifted, circled the field, and was lost to view. "I go Charita's way," Donnie said. "And I'm taking a cab." "Look," he told her the minute they were alone. "No Messerschmitt or Stuka is going to knock Charlie down. You know what they call him up at the training field— 'Lucky!' Because he never crashes no matter how close he comes to it." "Donnie," Charita said, "I'm not going home just yet. Let me off at the Plaza instead, will you?" "Sure," he agreed, "but why — if I may ask." SHE touched the gold RCAF wings she wore for Charlie. "I've been thinking," she said, "that it would be a good idea for me to fly on my own wings — for the duration! So I thought I'd see 'Women Flyers of America' about taking a course and getting a license and being ready to fly a hospital ship or to do anything else women will be needed to do in case of a national emergency. Don't laugh, Donnie . . ." "I'm not laughing," he assured her. The cab stopped. He got out and took her hand. "Thanks for everything," she said. "For leaving Charlie and me alone last night . . . for doing that toothbrush gag at the airport . . . and for taking me to dinner tomorrow night, after my broadcast. You are, aren't you? So I can talk about . . ." He held up his hand. "Don't tell me, let me guess! So you can talk about Charlie and business of putting him out of your life. Right?" She shook her head. "Only half right," she said. "You see, last night — or this morning rather — after you and Nancy went upstairs — I completely gave up the idea of trying to put Charlie out of my life. Instead I'm going to try to keep him in my life — forever!" Walter Winchell Presents "HOLLYWOOD my*&f JOINS THE #^L NAVY" . . . Walter Winchell, America's ace columnist after serving a tour of duty as a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve is presenting through Photoplay -Movie Mirror a report on famous film figures who have donned the Navy blue. A splendid exclusive that is up to the minute on what Hollywood is doing for Uncle Sam's sea defense. Commander Winchell's "Hollywood Joins the Navy" in the November Photoplay-Movie Mirror will interest and inspire every patriotic American who reads it! . I COULD * TAME HIM! He's a challenge to every woman! The fresh, vital tang of his definitely different personality has swept the feminine population like a tidal wave with the result that Hollywood girls are "that way" about Stirling Hayden, and making their brags about what they could do if — But read "Could You Tame Stirling Hayden?" in the new November issue of Photoplay-Movie Mirror which includes a grand full color portrait of this new star. BEHOLD THESE: A Minister Looks At Hollywood Morals; "Hollywood's Hidden Friendships" by Fearless; No Secret Marriage This Time says Priscilla Lane; Clamor Boys — and many other articles and features copiously illustrated. STUNNING PICTURES— To delight the heart of every collector is included a fine collection of full color portraits of Deanna Durbin, Stirling Hayden, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Lucille Ball. Photoplay -Movie Mirror NOVEMBER ISSUE 10 CENTS 67