CHAINED

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 25, 28 December 1934, Page 48

CHAINED

ADAPTED 0 FROM THE METRO-GOLDWYN MAYER PICTURE

by

BEATRICE

FABER

WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE. Diane Lovering has been sent on @ trip to Buenos Aires by her lover, Richard Field, forty-eight and wealthy. He wants her to forget the scene that had ensued when his wife. had found out about Diane. She has struck up a shipboard acquaintance. with Mike Bradley, who has a ranch in . Buenos Aires. Their adventuresome friendship has assumed a dangerous turn, for the spark is ignited and the flame of love has flared up. Mike is about to kiss her, and Richard seems to be forgotten. NOW GO ON WITH THR STORY. CHAPTER FIVE. "Awakening." "Ammm." It was Johnny, quite drunk by now, clearing his throat with a loud: scraping noise. Diane started back guiltily. "Thought you two might like to join ush later-but-uh-sho shorry I interrupted." Leering like a round-faced satyr, he gamboled off. "Diane." -Mike tried to take her in his arms, but she successfully evaded him, The spell had been broken by the ridiculousness of the situation and she was fully composed again, "Good night Mike Bradley, You know," she shook her head wisely, "we were on the edge of something very silly." "Tt doesn’t seem silly to me." He was a little sulky. "But then I’ve never been this close to the edge." Diane smiled. "We'll forget you ever said that, hm?" Abruptly, Mike pulled himself together and laughed. "All right... Until the day I can make you remember jt." "Good-night." She disappeared around the corner of the deck. Days and nights sped by. Mike carefully refrained from mentioning that moonlight night on the deck and Diane just as carefully skirted the subject: . They were together so constantly, however, that J ohnny dubbed them the "good companions." : Sensibly, Diane had decided that to avoid Mike would be to emphasise the episode, so she plunged into a round of

merry-making and fun that never gave her a moment to think. She found herself recalling, with amusement, the day they had been followed by the two spinsters in their fast and furious daily walk around the deck. The spinsters had thoagii tii, "set the nicest pace of anybody on the boat." . Laughter bubbled to her lips ws she remembered Mike’s frenzied efforts to leave them behind-of his sudden inspiration, and the horror of the spin-

sters when they discovered that they were folowing a madman. Mike had given a very creditable imitation of a lunatic obsessed with the notion that the ship was beset by whales and Diane had backed him up to the hilt. ‘Say!. I got it that time!" Diane laughed gaily as Mike guided her in a particularly difficult: tango step. It was the last night on board ship and the ballroom was alive with music and colourful costumes. "Having fun?" Mike asked. "Never had so much fun in my life." "And it all stops to-morrow at dawn. In the harbour of Buenos Aires.". _ . Diane’s eyes clouded. She

nervously. "Here-here. Stop being tragic." "All those mysterious problems of yours gone?" Mike asked softly. ‘Mike, stop. Come on-we'’re supposed to be having fun." He looked at her strangely. "That’s a feeble word for. it.’ He glanced around the room and made a grimace. "Come on. To crowded in here." Before. she could protest, ‘he had piloted her to the deck. They strolled along the rail. Diane’s apprehension grew by the moment for Mike’s eyes never left her. "Oh, it’s glorious." Her gaze swept the — sky. "Where’s the Southern Cross?" Mike pointed. "Right up there-" "Where-right along the line of my finger." In -her preoccupation at following. his directions her face was close to his before she.Was aware of what was happening. . . -"I’s-it’s beautiful," she said, "You’re telling me,’ Mike replied softly. She drew away, laughing shakily. "You coming ‘out to see my ranch while you’re here?" "V’m-I’m afraid I won’t have time. I’ve only two days-and I’ve some shopping and-things to do~-" "Where are you stopping?" + "With some friends." "Who are they?" "The-the Wilsons." "Wilsons?" Mike wrinkled his. brow. "Never heard of ’em. And I’ve lived here ten years and know everybody in town. What do you think of that?" ' Privately, Diane thought that "thai" put her in a tight zorner. But she gathered her courage to continue the deception. "They-they moved down last winter-" . Mike swung her around. "Look here, Dinah. What’s behind all this? Are you still scared of me?" Diane shrugged her shoulders. "And why should I be scared of you, Mr. Bradley?" she asked flippantly. "Because you think I’m still a ‘boogie’ man." . "Don’t. be-silly."". (Continued on page. 52.)

Chained The Story of Joan Crawtord’s New Film

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His reply was to bring her close to him and place a light kiss on her forehead. "It’s all wrong." he said softly, his lips in her hair, "we weren’t meant to end this way." Diane broke away. "We weren’t ever meant for anything else. Goodbye, Mike Bradley," she whispered tremulously, hoiding cut her hand. "TT think of you often-ard good luck." In the dark her 2yes glistened with unshed tears. There was a strained pause. Then Mike took her hand. "All right. So Jong, Dinah. Just the same old thing -shipboard friends-and never see each other again. Right?" "Right." The jump in her throat was growing. "I don’t believe it." "You must." "I don’t believe it," Mike insisted. He leaned against the wall, his hands in his pockets. "So .ong, Dinah." With a strange fleeting look she left him, Mike felt a curious empty sensation at the pit of his stomach. The truth gnawed at him. He was in love with her; irrevocably, hopelessly in iove with her. ‘He, the self-sufficient Mike Bradley who had always taken life by the tail and swung it around to suit his fancy, found himself tortured by the vision of a pair of eyes now lost to him. Forlorn and miserable he stood there. He hadn’ seriously believed she’d leave-and-incredibly-she was gone. Morning brought Diane to her hotel suite at the Plaza Royal Hotel in Buenos Aires in less time than she

had imagined possible. ‘The hotel porter rushed her through the customs, the manager welcomed her with magnificent kospitality-all, she realized dimly-due to Richard’s thoughtfulness and foresight. — Her living room was again banked with flowers as on the boat and a cablegram reading, "My love. Forever and ever. Richard" was placed in her lax fingers. She smiled gratefully, + then shook her head in self-reproach as Mike’s name came to her lips. The manager was addressing her. "And what are your plans for the day, Miss Lovering?"’ Diane made a helpless gesture. "I arrange everything," he continued importantly. "A car to drive around the city? Or we have excellent bridle paths-everybody. rides in the Argentine. Perhaps a_ horse 39 Diane vrightened a bit. "Yes. I’d like that. Say-ten o’clock." . When the manager had bowed himself out with a flourish, Diane moved to the large French windows on the baleony. ‘The streets were still empty. From afar came the cry of an early milk peddlar calling his wares, In the patio below, birds were starting to chitter in the trees. Diane stared at the scene moodily. Amy, her maid, came flourishing in, chattering volubly. "Say-this is mighty pretty! And trust Mr. Field to send those flowers. He’s always so thoughtful." "Always, Amy-everywhere." "One thing-I’m glad to get off that boat and get my feet on good firm ground again."

"T suppose that’s the best way to look at it," Diane replied listlessly. "Look at what?" There was a convulsive sigh. ‘"Nothing." Amy voiced her concern. "Darlin’ -you don’t feel go " Diane glanced at the cablegram. "TI should, shouldn’t 1?" Amy patted her arm. "You just haven’t waked up yet P "That’s just the trouble," Diane said slowly and bitterly. "I’m wide awake. And I’m afraid to open my eyes." "Darlin?! "What on ?" And as Amy stared, one great roundsfear welled up in Diane’s eyes, quickly followed by another and another. "I’ve never known the sun could be so warm and strong," she sobbed, "beating down on me-and I can’t open my eyes and look at it." ‘She touched the telegram gently. "But I haven't the right or reason to feel sorry for myself." Her fists were clenched tightly. Then, with a supreme effort, she gathered the remnants of her courage together. ° "Amy," she smiled through hee tears, "‘stop looking as though you were going to reach for a strait-jacket. Maybe what I thought was the sun was only a temporary sunstroke-so skip it." Amy raised her shoulders in help: less bewilderment as Diane rapidly undressed and got into her ridinghabit. Fifteen minutes later she was. in the lobby, addressing the manager. "Well," she said briskly, "if the horse is ready, I am." He bowed. "I shall telephone the stables, Miss Lovering. "And a guide please. Somebody who knows * She never finished what she was about to say. In the next terrified instant, too stunned to even scream, she felt herself lifted bodily and rapidly borne to the door, while the few straggling guests in the lobby stood petrified in astonishment. (To Be Continued)