CH AINED

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 24, 21 December 1934, Page 48

CH

AINED

ADAPTED FRoM THE METRO-GOLDWYN

MAYER PICTURE

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BEATRICE

FABER

WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE. Diane Lovering has been sent on a trip to Buenos Aires by her lover, Richard Field, forty-¢ight and wealthy He wants her to forget the scene that ensued when his wife found out their relationship. At the ship’s bar on the day of sailing she is accosted by Johnny Smith and Mike Bradiey. Mike is obviously anxious to get to know her, but she resists his friendship, until they meet in the swinuning bath, and begin @ conversation. vow: GO" ON ° WITH THH STORY. CHAPTDR FOUR. Midnight Moon. Mike set his head in profile. "Look at me-really-I'm not such a ‘boogie’ man, am I?" he asked plaintively. "Just an -honest open face-nothing striking about it but-" He never finished the sentence or the thought for a waier polo ball, in search of an objective, sinacked him square in the face. Diane doubled up with convulsive laughter, nearly drowning hersélf at the same time. "Come on," one of the kids said to his friend, "you and me’ll stand him and her." "It’s a go," Mike yelled. For fifteen minutes the tiles reverberated to their shrieks and screams as the game came to a furious finish. Fatigued with their efforts, they ciung to the side of the pool, panting a little. "How about that cocktail we should have had together last night," Mike asked. "Do we have one to-night?" Diane curled her fingers over the rail on the side of the pool. She sensed the note of intimacy that had crept into their brief acquaintanceship. How had it happened? she asked herself helplessly. When and where had she dropped that barrier of unawareness? She took a tight rein on herself. "When.are you leaving this boat. Mr. Bradley?’ she asked with what she hoped was an: amused smile, "Going all the way to Buenos Aires. I live there. Jus: been to New York for relaxation. How far do you go?" As he spoke, Mike took her hand and held it in a firm, tight grip. His eyes were looking s directly into hers, and

there was a compelling undertone in his voice, "All the way to Buenos Aires," Diane admitted with a sigh and a_ smile, though she was tuut with panic as Mike moved closer. "Isn’t-it-great---Dinah," he halfwhispered: There had been a barely perceptible pause as he uttered the name, but it had caused Diane to cling weakly to the rail, while. the smile slowly faded from her face. Dinah! Out of. the long ago dim past, the name rose before her and spelled itself out. "Dinah!" she echoed him, all thought suspended. "Yes-Dinah!'" Mike repeated wita telling emphasis. The years rolled back and Diane was again a bewildered, thin-faced little girl, with her kind and understanding Uncle Jim’ as her only friend. Other little girls hadn’t been allowed to pla; with her because of That Woman. Bae successive mistress that her father brought home had always been labelled That Woman, Mama had divorced him. and rarely allowed Diane to go to-his. house. But in her occasional visits she had seen and wondered. Mama had died just when Diane was approaching womanhood, and death had claimed her father shortly ‘thereafter, as violently us life had -entertained him. And through all those unnatura! Years of childhood it was gay, merry Uncle Jim who had been companion to Diane, who had played children’s games with her and taken long, fascinating .walks with her-who, in fact. had dubbed her Dinah because, he had said, to her extreme delight, that it sounded like the clean, crisp tinkle of silver bells, just like Diane herself. No one else had ever called her that since then, and now Mike- Did he, ton, hear the bells ag Uncle Jim had?. "I know," he was saying, "the passenger list calls you Diane Loveringbut f call you Dinah." : Curiosity overcame her. "But why?" "Well-when I was a young lad of one and a half years, I had a rag doll named Dinah that I loved: more dearly than anything else in the world. She

slept under my bed every night." His eyes twinkled at -her mischievously. "But I’m not a year and a half old any more," he added. Diane hardly knew whether to laugh or to burst out in hot indignation. Coufused, she called, "Come on-we're playing a game." "I’d forgotten that," Mike grinned, and plunged after her. ; It was crowded in the bar that night The endless coming and going of new patrons: swelled: the. noise’ louder and louder. In an oasis. of her own silence. Diane, nunlike in a gray chiffon dress, sat at a table, sipping ‘her sherry. flip Mike’s questing eye lighted on her and he walked up accusingly: "Here -what’s the idea? At six-thirty, you said-you’re fifteen minutes early." "Am I?’ Diane returned gaily. "Well, then-I’m an _ extraordinary woman." _ Mike sat down, grumbling. "Ahead of time-ahead of everything." "What are you having?’ Mike looked at -her glass. "What's yours ?"" "A sherry flip. ", "What’s the matter?’ he demanded, "are you ill-seasick?’ . Diane laughed. "Not in the least." "But a sherry flip," Mike was openly aggrieved. "That’s a drink for people With the gout and unsettled stomachs. They serve it in the old people’s home en Christmas." "But I happen to like it." "It doesn’t go with the rest of you. at all." Diane touched her glass affection. ately, "It’s the nicest cocktail: I know," she asserted with a mental nod to Rich. ard, "Well, I’m appointing myself a eommiitee of one to show you a cocktaii that is a cocktail." Mike summoned the waiter. "Tyo Daquaris-the way he made them last night, Jamaica rum -and go easy on the syrup." "Really-none for me." Diane Protested" "} insist." Mike pointed to~ the sherry flip. "That’s just soap .and water, you know. No tang, no feeling

™ --no ecstasy-no umph to it, Who introduced you to it? Must be that kind ef a fellow." For a moment Diane burned with resentment out of all proportion ; to Mike's remark, buta second: later she realised that his blundering. reference to Richard was made in all innocence. Casually, she, asked. "Where’s our gvod friend Johpny Smith?’ "Fixing his ‘tie. When I Jett . he looked as if he were in. serious’ danger of Jyuebing Himself." 4 Diane gigg led.: "what. do -you "ani Johnny do Buenos Aires?" 2 "He's in with: me. ona ranch down there-" "Oh--frontiersmen." ° Mike was hurt. "Ain I that mue h of a hick?" . Diane wrinkled her nose in an impish grin. "I imagine these trips north take care of that." "They help!" The Daquaris had arrived and Mike raised his glass "Go ahead-try it. A couple of those and you'll be up, in the crow’s nes¢," Diane looked at it uncertainly. then sipped it. Slowly she placed it on the table, "It’s very nice-but-" "But what?" . "May I.have another sherry flip?" "Sure.. Waiter; Miss Lovering wou!d like another sherry filp. The Daquaris is a flop." He shook his head’ commiseratingly, then downed his own drink with exaggerated gusto. Dinner was a gay meal, interspersed with laughter and dancing, but shortly afterwards Diane claimed a headache and left Mike standing disconsolately alone. \ , She had not ‘peen lying to him, entirely, for not only her head but her heart felt a little heavy. Now. after a few quiet hours in her stateroom, restlessness touched: her She nioved about, uncertain of herself. of life. of its meaning. Then. with an impatient exclamation, she hurriedly placed a short ruffled cape about her shoulders and mounting to the deck, ensconced herself comfortably in her deck chair. Presently, a mellower mood of contentment replaced the earlier’ one, Faces and voices floated by. Dreamily, Diatie saw them. without noting them. She blinked at the stars and said a silent "thank you" for the liquid silver of the moon: . "Dinah-you're very beautiful but you're a liar." Mike's rude words broke into her reverie. . "Oh- hello. " Diane smiled warily. and stiffened a little. Irrelevantly, she thought of Richard’s words, "I need you, Diane-always." Of his utter and implicit trust in her. . "You said: you were going, to bed, ed "ey thought I'd come out and listen

to the inusie for a while." Diane was apologetic. ; "How about listening inside-and dancing?" ss, Diane hesitated.; "Too comfortable here," she replied, "All right." Mike seated himself at the foot of her chair, "You're, a problem girl-aren’t you, Dinah?’ Diane chuckled. "Not in the least -why ?" "Well, you're a problem to me-and something tells me you're full of problems yourself, What did you come on this trip for-the ride?’ ‘ ; "Mmm-bmm." "Darn long — ride," Mike gloomed. "Who's'the guy?" be asked abruptly. "What guy?" "Well-every now and then your eyes are way out there on the horizon. There must be a guy bebind a woinan’s eyes when they’re like that?" "Listen to the conceited male,’ Diane derided him gently. At the same time she used..the words. to shield her own dismay, for her inner guide warned her that: this seemingly innocent banter ’ had hidden subtle implications. "Honest now-you're not engaged to be married?" :° "No! Would that be one of my problems ?" "Might. be. Ever been engaged?’ Diane shook her head. "Say," he was really indignant. "Who’ve you known all your life? A lot of blind men?" "Sy there you are." It was Johnny, a little tight. Two buxom Spanish girls clung to his arms,’ "Folks-meet the sisters Belmonte. They don’t speak a word of English but hold your hats because we're picking up momentum." There was an exchange of "Hiow do you do’s" and some Spanish giggles. "T'was looking for you to carry the excess baggage, but I see you’re already booked." Johnuy told Mike. Bowing gravely he moved off with the girls. "Great! That keeps Mr. Smith occupied. for the rest of the trip," Mike said. Diane laughed in a curiously strained way, and rose. "Well Mr. Bradleyits not fair to spoil your chances, And I'm about ready for sleep." "Now wait a minute-what-d«ao you think I’d be interested in those little ehihuahuas?" "You were looking for trouble when you. came aboard. Now admit it," Diane teased. " "T do." Mike replied seriously. "Well, there it is-so run along with Aunt Dinah’s blessing and-" Mike stepped up close..to her. and gripped her arm, with unconscious rougbness, Diane quivered a little as he forced her to look at, him. "Took ‘here, I came aboard on the: prowl, sure-" a velvet caressing note

was in his voice, "but then-you dropped out of the sky-" Diane watched him, mesmerically as she tried to make her reply coherent. "Yes, but I’m not trouble. We've decided that-’ "T know," Mike said softly, drawing her into the circle of his arms, "but now I’ve about decided you’re something else." "It’s the moon," Diane said faintly. "It’s you." His voice throbbed and she felt, deliriously, that she was drowning in it. Closer and closer he drew. her, his mouth nearly touching hers, and slowly her defences were crumbling to dust. (To be continued.)

There Should be a Law About Father Xmas! ‘(Continued from page 50).

Father Christmas there. Anyway, home, I decided, was the best place: I listened to Peter in the next room telling his mother about my subterfuges, "First he said that a-Father Christnias in a toy shop down.the road wasn't Father Christmas at all-and then he

said he had got fat through having a lot to eat-and tien he said he had got thin. through being. sick-and when We saw seven Father Obristmases he said there was only one!’:* Put. that way it did sound a bit lame.