A Kiss From Paulette!

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 247, 18 October 1941, Page 11

A Kiss From Paulette!

JHE U.S. national aluminium collection drive became an unqualified success almost for H. B. Clifford, lunchroom proprietor, who took off his coat, hitched up his pants and collected a 45second kiss from film star Paulette Goddard in full payment for 365 pots and pans. "Ummmm" said Mr. Clifford. "You old fool." said Mrs. Clifford. And that was •he trouble. How could a fellow do full justice to the lips of the eminently kissable Miss Goddard when his wife was standing by making wisecracks? C. B. de Mille was not any help, either. He was there with a stopwatch to see that Clifford was not This little drama of patriotism, fex appeal and incipient •wife trouble began six weeks previously, states a San Francisco writer, when Goddard announced through her press agent that she would bestow a kiss upon the gentleman who deposited the most aluminium -at her door. No ordinary kiss, either, was this offer, for it would be an exact duplicate of that which the Welsh actor Ray Milland received from Miss Goddard incidental to the manufacture of a motion picture' having to do with reaping the wild wind. That is exactly what Clifford read in his newspaper while the hamburgers browned. Boy* He put the bee on his wife for her new aluminium set She told him to sit on s tack. Clifford went to all the neighbours for aluminium. He went to the hardware store where he buys pans. He put his problem before the produce man who provides the onions for the hamburgers. He got an armload of aluminium all right, "•■■■•■■•■••■■•■■••••••■••I

but when he went to Miss Goddards studio he had to Join a line of 56 other gentlemen loaded down with aluminium. „,The _ talddle-aced and portly Clifford redoubled his efforts. His wife said if he so much as looked at her. new frying pan she would strike him with it. Clifford was undaunted and he showed up eventually with a truck full of aluminium. Where he got it was his own business and how about that kiss? Miss Goddard had the Would he wait or take a chance on catching her cold? He would take the chance. Oh, no, he would not, decreed Mrs. Clifford. So he waited until the right day arrived. The sun was staining brightly. Miss Goddard was the picture of health and if Mrs. Clifford only had stayed at home, where she belonged. Mr. Clifford would Jtiaw had no trouble. "What -fa ah old- itirm * you doing this for?" demanded Mrs. Clifford. * "Aw. now, darling." remonstrated Clifford. . He peeled off his coat and pulled -up his pants. He put his arms around Miss Goddard she him and kissed him and kept on 'USSing him "He never kissed me m» that." remarked Mrs. Clifford to nobody in particular. ' The kiss continued. "Look at him." said Mrs. Clifford, "puckering up his lips." _The Clifford brow became damp. The Clifford hands turned wet. And still the kiss kept oat. "Cliff." said Mrs. Clifford, "you stop that." "Time!" died the great de Mille. Miss Goddard released Mr. Clifford, who sagged into a chair. "Cliff." said Mrs. Clifford, "you come on home. And wipe (bat red from your mouth." "Yes, dear." Clifford said meekly.