ACTRESS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12819, 14 August 1939, Page 3

ACTRESS

THE EVENING STOEY

a clever young man finds that success isn’t always } the best cure for ambition

LEONARD MCCARTHY Choo-Choo Burns was idling on the corner of 6th and Main- So. eviently- *as the girl ' She W * S T. t dressed. Apparently not in the best of health, she had a timid, for-10Choo-Choo glanced anxiously at . near by. For a moment another man near uy. he hesitated. The other man looked too much like a comic paper dick to actually be one; and, besides, ChooC b o o was lonesome. He straightened his quiet tie and moved toward the girl- “ Beautiful day?” he begun casually- , ~V ery — for some, ’ she replied. “Well, well!” This was certainly going to ’be easy. “Not for you?” “Not when—not when you’re unable to appreciate it.” She seemed to struggle with herself. “Not when “Pardon, but you’re unhappy?

May I be of service?” “I hate to say this to a stranger > but you—you do 100k —” She moved impulsively. “Harmless I hope,” he broke in, “and interested. Isn’t there something I can do?” “Do you mean that?” “Very much.” “It’s money!” Ofer coffee in a booth, she said: “I suppose you’ll think mp cheap, but I’m sick. Tuberculosis, I’m living on a small allowance my sister sends so that I can take treatments here. My money won’t be here till to-morrow, but I need a prescription for a tonic filled to-day and I’m broke.” “Enough!” Choo-Choo’s manner protested, “Give me the, prescription and I’ll run out and get it filled for you,” “It’s on file at the drugstore on the next corner.” "Very well. Give me your name.” She hesitated. “I’d rather get it myself.” "How much is it?” "Two dollars.” Choo-Choo handed her the bills. Five minutes later Choo-Choo started. She was coming in the door ■with the medicine. He felt just a hit ashamed of his unvoiced suspicions. Now he really would help her, if she’d just give him a chance. She Vas truly a sweet thing. 'Are you alone in the city?” he asked. "Yes,” she demurely answered. So am I—always alone and lone- ] y - * d enjoy dinner and the theatre i ft your company.’ 'H be ver happy. It would be tby first theatre in months. But I can tgo out evenings. To-morrow, Psrhaps, a matinee?” "Doctor’s orders?” Yes.” She bit her lip. “But no, cMi° n 1 to you ‘ Tlle evenings are ly J aQ d I don’t go out because ecause I haven't a coat.” She smiled faintly, as if to say, ere » you see, I’ve told you all. sl:ar ied in her eyes. ‘You’ve been so nice, I just could aot % dear girl! Here I am, in the €v / y; and Y°u, in need. Silly to hav 6 1 . ° bvious - I wonder if you stni!i/ UfficieQt SOod sense to forget m© P CoQVen tions. It would give Coa J, enUine Pieasure to buy you a “Oh Why n ° t? No strings, exyou ca- * U< * ° f your com Pany as refl SiVe> rll feel badly if a^‘«4V s to T re ey t 0 °’ DeU ' S ct)^ 00 ‘ lre "' out a large exthrus t if qUe wauted cashed. He cashier aonc balautly toward the Choo’s AftGr lookin S over Choo- „ ntials ’ the cashier de--6 Price of the coat and . V- •

, handed forty-seven dollars over the counter. She' looked at him over the package. “Where’ll I meet you this evening?” she asked softly. “Come back to the cafe and we’ll decide.” There was a new look on Choo-Choo’s face, one almost of hurt surprise. He’d not often been taken in like this. “Yes, we’ll decide,” he said, almost to himself. Across the cafe table, he said: “Mrs Martin, I want to ask ” “My God! You know my name?” “Yes. I want to ask how you find the medicine racket this season.” “I ... I don’t know what you mean!” She drew back in her seat. “Really, -1 ” “No? Open that purse and hand me that bottle!” She did so, her eyes widening. “I caught the name and date on this label when you put away the sales slip. The date is a month old. You really should keep your props up to date. How many times did you sell this bottle to suckers to-day?” “Are you . . . are you a detec-

“Are you alonei in the city?’’ tive ” “Answer me! How. many times?” “About ... I guess nine times, if you must know! Mister, pleas© let me go. I’ll give you all the money . . . or do anything!” “Bribery!” he said with mock surprise. “Give me that sales slip!” She did so, preparing to hand him the package. you keep the coat. I’ll just tear this slip up so you can’t run back and ask for a cash refund. That’s all, my dear. On your way!” She didn’t offer to rise, and so he stood up. As he opened the street door to leave, he collided with another man. He started to brush past, his thoughts on the young confidence woman. The other , man’s hand fell on Choo-Choo’s arm, spinning him around. “Not so fast, Choo-Choo!” “Eh?” Choo-Choo innocently asked. ' “Do you want to come along quietly?” “Stranger,” said Choo-Choo, in his most impressive manner, “it strikes me that you are labouring under a delusion.” “Yeah? We’ll just get your partner in here and then all go|over to O’Dell’s department store where you cashed that phony expense cheque. Maybe that’ll help!” Choo - Choo sighed. “Tagged again!” Well, maybe now he'd learned not to trust his eyes above his intuition. • He’d felt the man was a dick, but just couldn’t believe the comic get-up. He turned earnestly toward the man. “I’ll go along. But listen, that dame, she's no partner of mine. You saw me pick her up yourself.” “Yeah?” said the dick. “No,” Choo-Choo hastened to explain, “she’s a—she’s -an actress, that’s what she is!”