ONE LUCKY DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 17, 21 July 1928, Page 15

ONE LUCKY DAY

"Well, it" isn't a bike now," remarked Eric Thorpe, ruefully, Ho was regard-ing-the remain- of "a rather elderly and ill-used machine. Ho had boen giving Ms chum, Jim Pryke, a. ride on the bar, and in avoiding a milk-cart had run into a tree, and buckled tho front wheel beyond, all hope of repair. The pedals, too, had been damaged in the fall, and the poor old bike had suffered , ' other minor injuries. Fortunately tho hoys were unhurt, beyond a few -cratches and bruises, which simply g 1 "didn't count." "Perhaps it could be mended, and havo a new wheel," remarked Jim Prykp hopefully. "It would coat more than the old ruin's worth," grunted Eric, "and who's going .to pay for it, I'd like to know? I've got just 2s 4d at tho present time, and it will have to last mo till the end of the term. I haven't tho cheek to write and ask dad for any more." "So it looks as if you'll havo to do without a biko, old chap?" "It certainly docs—at any rate,, till Christmas, and that's nearly six months ahead. I might get one then, with luck. But bow I'm going to live through tho holidays without a biko, I don't know." "Well, plenty of chaps have to," repliod Jiih, consolingly, "so perhaps you'll get used to it." On the next half holiday Eric, who was' very fond of the country, started 'off for a ramblo by himself, as his particular chum happened to be otherwise engaged-that afternoon. He missed his bike, but it was a nice day for a .ramble, .so on ho wandered for two or threo miles. In a lonely spot stood a vory old house that Eric had often i .noticed, because ho thought it looked ."spooky," and as ho approached it now he was surprised to see a little group of peoplo standing near. "How queerly they're got up," he thought as he drew ncaror, and there certainly was something very unusual about their dress. Suddenly Eric realised what was happening, and he quickened his pace. .-'(By-Jove! They're acting for the Movies't What fun it'll be to watch them!" 'He drew near, at the back of the cameraman, and stood an interested spectator, while a lady in a long, billowy gown aud flowing ringlets climbeijj with some difficulty, ovor the high gardon wall (of which only a small portion remained), and crept stealthily across the grass to the house. But, in lowering herself from the wall, she lad somehow wrung her ankle, and tliis seemed to be causing her pain. Eric •could hear snatches of the conversation. "I really don't think I can climb that tree this afternoon," tho lady was saying. The man who was directing "the operations looked very worried and annoyed, said seemed to be using persuasion and arguments. ' "Must finish to-day. ... Spoil the picture. . . ." Eric heard. -.■' ■„, , "I haven't tho nerve for it to-day," j>ut in the lady's shrill voice. ■+. "Besides," - any ankle is painful." 7 ■•*■'-'■ ' ''■■■■"■' '■ ' ■ ■*. ■"' ii Then came more murniurings from the director, and another high-toned : reply from the lady. . "No—l really can't do it, Mr. Morris. I'd give anyone five pounds to do it for-me!" "Nonsense F muttered the director. /'There's no one here of your size and shape—at least;-no-one who could uh- ' dertake the climb,. You must 'do it another day, I suppose." ' . .- . "I suppose.l must, but I'd give anyone. fiv_e. pounds to do it :f or me!" re- : peated the lady. „■ .;,... "Five .pounds!"' murmured Eric. "I , wish I could'ea'rri.it!" Then, walking forward boldly, "he said, "Is it'any-' ■ thing I could do?" The director and the lady eyed the boy curiously, as :did'the little group standing round. "Yes," said the lady,'laughing, "you're about my size and shape! How would you like to be my understudy; en?" !Td like to try/ answered Eric,1 "but "what have *I to do f- Climb: a tree in th_tt,rjg-outl" - ' • „ "Yes, but that's not all. You see, I'm supposed to be secretly visiting my Boyalist lover, who is a prisoner in .the hands of the Soundheads. I have to scale that wall, which you saw me rdo (not very well; I'm afraid). Then I've to climb this high tree, and swing myself in at the window—where that branch touches—and I have to come down the same way. But somehow I don't feel equal to it to-day. Do you Jhink you could manage it?" Eric eagerly assented, and after a brief argument between. the director and the photographer, all was decided. Erio was taken into the house and "rigged out" in the lady's flowing gown, also the ringlets, and as he was about her size, as she had remarked, he made a wonderfully good understudy. He easily scaled tho tree, in spite of liis cumbersome garb, and swung himself

from the nearest branch to the windowsill, while the film was being taken. Then, after disappearing in the house, he returned the same way, and was soon safely, on the ground. "That was splendid! Better than Miss ,Le Street could have dono it!" said the director. "Now we shan't have the picture spoilt, or even delayed. So I'm very much obliged to you. What's your name and address, young fellow!" "Erie- Thorpe, Hutton School," answered the boy. "Well, you'll be hearing from us Shortly} and many thanks for helping us out of a fix." Eric returned to .the school in a state of wild excitement, to tell Jim Pryke and other admiring friends the thrilling story of how he had acted for the "movies." A few days later he received a letter addressed; to "Brio -Thorpe, Esq.," and, tearing it open promptly, he discovered that Miss Le Street had been true to her uvbtd, for1 in the envelope was a fheque for five pounds. ho cried. "I'D have. ___§» I*? ___*_ __?_--Ifc r-___? __«* ___: