NEW GIRL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13325, 30 April 1941, Page 3

NEW GIRL

THE EVENING STORY

A Young Man Finds It Necessary to Give Up a Beautiful Girl But He Has a Very Good Reason

BY PREDRIC POWELL

When Clyde and Hank splashed 1 round him up." He hastened away out of the showers and into the | and found Clyde, immaculate in a locker room of the Southtown Coun- "Say, Shorty, Dye's here with that try Club they said, "*Lo, Shorty," girl he was telling us about —and is to a tow-headed young man fussing she a dream! Hurry over; he before a mirror. wants you to meet her."

'"Lo, men," Shorty Dye grinned and sat down on a bench facing the two older men. He smiled patronisingly at Clyde, who, as advertising manager of the J. and R. Company, happened to be his boss. "Who you bringing to the club dance tonight, Clyde?"

Clyde, tall and darkly handsome in his late twenties, gave a jerk of his head. "You know us, Shorty—just k a couple of old bachelors. We'll come stag." He went on dressing, then, as though the question were expected, asked: "Who are you bringing?" "Me? Oh, a girl named June," Shorty answered. "June? June who?"

"You wouldn't know her. She's new—only been here a few weeks." Clyde pondered a moment. "New girl, eh? What does she look like?" "She —she's beautiful —the most beautiful girl you fellows ever saw!"

Clyde and Hank raised one eyebrow apiece and turned around. "She's tall and blonde and beautiful," Shorty raved on. "Smart, too. Even played in the movies a couple of times when she was in Hollywood last summer."

'"Hmm," Clyde said good-natured-ly. "Maybe I'll take her away from

you." "I love her," the youngster stated bluntly. "Maybe I'll take her away from you anyway."

"Nope," Shorty said seriously. "No one could do that." He brightened and looked up. "I want you to meet her anyway. Clyde—gee, I hope you'll like her!" "Thanks —I hope the feeling will be mutual," Clyde laughed. Shorty gulped and looked a bit frightened, as though he'd already said too much.

Then he grinned and arose to go. "Well, see you men to-night." When he was gone, homely, redfaced Hank turned to Clyde and shook his head. "The poor simp! He'd probably marry the girl if he thought you approved of her. Man, "but he's dumb. ~lf he/gives her a build-up like that to everyone, he won't even get one dance to-night." "Mmm," Clyde said thoughtfully. "Hmm."

The annual Labour Day dance was in full swing by 10 o'clock that night. Clyde himself had wandered off somewhere, but Hank stood alone at the side of the crowded dance floor, smiling and nodding at acquaintances. Then suddenly his mouth was agape and his eyes bulging as Shorty danced by with a tall, stately blonde young woman in an electric blue evening gown.

The orchestra rolled into a high ninth chord 'and the dance ended Couples began to leave the floor and Hank signalled feverishly to Shorty. In a moment the youngster, leading the girl by the hand, came up to him.

"Hmm," Clyde said. "Hmm."

"Yeah, but listen—the kid's crazy about her. So don't get any ideas about taking her away from him."

Clyde flipped his cigarette out an open window and straightened his tie. "I can't promise—you know what I've always said."

They crossed the room to where Shorty and June were standing. "Miss—er—June, may I present Clyde Van Durben" Hank said, and stepped back as though he had just lit the fuse on a charge of dynamite.

Clyde bowed slightly and never took his eyes off the girl. "How do you do?" June said. "Shorty's told me so much about you, Clyde."

"Really? He shouldn't have bored you, June?" It was a natural right off the bat —June and Clyde.

She laughed. "Not at all." There was a rustling at the other end of the room and the orchestra started to play. Clyde stepped forward and took June by the hand. "May I have this dance?"

She smiled and they walked away, oblivious of the presence of either Hank or Shorty. Hank cursed Clyde under his breath, then laid a fraternal hand on Shorty's shoulder.

"Well, old-timer, I'm afraid that's the last you'll see of her to-night." But it wasn't the last Shorty was to' see of June that night.

It was two hours later and he and cool white flannel suit, smoking idly with one of the orchestra men. Hurriedly he drew him aside.

Hank were standing by the punchbowl when the girl hastened up ,to them. an excited look in her eyes and she was blushing just a bit. Across the room Clyde was leaning in the doorway, winking at Hank, but the latter only glared back and mutte'red "You— Judas!"

Now June was talking breathlessly. "Oh, Shorty, I know you won't mind, will you? You can find some©ne ■ else to drive home, I suppose. Clyde and I are going for a ride."

Shorty nodded dumbly and June vanished almost as quickly as she had come upon them.

When she and Clyde had gone out the door, Hank stirred uneasily, not wanting to see the hurt look that he knew would be in Shorty's eyes. But finally the youngster spoke.

"Come on, let's take a^walk."

They wandered outside and sat down in the moonlight on the broad verandah. Shorty rested his chin in his hands and stared off down the fairway. Hank cleared his throat loudly several times.

"Love her, don't you, kid?" he asked finally. "Oh, in a way."

Hank shook his head. "I didn't think Clyde would ever do that — but —well, you know he always said "

"June, may I present Hank — Hank Lewis?" Shorty said. Hank took one look at the girl and hoped, for Shorty's sake, that those cool blue eyes wouldn't have the same devastating effect on Clyde that they were having on him. "How do you do?" June said softly. "You're a friend of this —this Clyde, aren't you? I don't believe I've met him yet, though." "No. No, not yet," Shorty said quickly. "Where is he, Hank? I'm anxious for June to meet him." "Huh?" Hank said. "Oh, Clyde? Yes, sure, just a minute. I'll go

" That when the right girl came along, he'd marry her just like that!" Shorty snapped his fingers. He laughed—almost heartily, Hank thought.

"By the way, Shorty, what's June's last name?"

"Dye." "Dye?" Hank gasped. "Hey, you don't, mean she's —you're her husband?"

Shorty stood up. He was grinning broadly and he thumped himself on the chest.

"No, my friend, but I'm the world's greatest little matchmaker—she's my sister!"