Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 February 1942 — Page 20

ME “BA AND CHOKE 80 bo a ENEMIES

D GROGGINS AND ASN

REVEREN ME TO OFFICIATE AT YR

Seria} Story—

Kings Row

By Henry Bellaman |

THE STORY: Schoolmates “In smalltown Kings Row are orphaned Parris Mitchell, 12, who adores his French grandmother, Madame Von Ein; playmate. Renee, daughter of von Ein estate overseer; *‘all boy’ Drake McHugh; tomboy Randy Monaghan; beautiful Cassandra Tower, whose recluse doctor father is town mystery; Louise Gordon, daughter of leading physician. Dr. Towers, furious at social snub from = Mrs. Gordon, takes Cassie out of school. Other characters: lawyer ~ Skeffington, editor Miles Jackson. Social stratifieation in Kings Row is sharp.

CHAPTER FIVE

THEY CAME to the end of the

line of cars. Drake walked backward and squinted along the rails. “Hello, Drake! Hello, Parris!”

It was Randy Monaghan hanging H over the tall fence at the top of the |

embankment. ; Drake answered gaily, “Hello there, What you doin’ up there?”

“This is where I live. What you|

all doin’?” : Drake spoke quickly. “We're goin’ down to Elroy’s icehouse.” “What for?” “Nothin’ much. rings maybe.” “It’s cool down there.” “All right,” she said. “Yqu go on. I'll catch up with you.” Drake and Parris walked slowly. “Why didn’t she come right along with us?” Parris asked, Drake looked at him and grinned. “ 'Praid of her old man, I guess.” “Why?? “Say, you don’t know much, do you? I guess her old man knows better’n to let Randy go round with these tough kids down here. She's kinder tough, too. You ought to hear her cuss.” They opened a heavy door and jumped down on a great pile of sawdust. The air was damp and cool. It was dark, too, after the | glare. “Gee, most of the ice is gone. See how low it’s gettin’?” Drake seized the two rings and swung far out from the tall heap. He let go and landed on his feet, half burying himself in ie loose dry sawdust. Some one banged on the door. < “Let me in! Drake!” “It’s Randy. ' Push on the door” Randy climbed over the high sill and dropped down. She struggled up to the rings. “Can you skin the:cat?” “Sure!” Drake Scoffed. “But 1 bet you can’t” * She executed the- feat and landed upright. “Pretty good.” “I can do the double roll on the par’llel bars,” too.” “Doggone,” Drake exclaimed. “Where'd you learn to do it?” “Jake Elroy showed me. 'Hé can do a lof of things. Come on, Par-

Swing on the

NO, KID? AND ALL THIS MONEY IT'S YOURS

NN »

? T—=I

[§COPR. 1942 BY MEA SERVICE INC. T. M. REG. U.S. PA

“And this one, madam, has an

Zl mn J, 1 7 777 7) 2 0% / mm, 7k

( OH-IM FREE” NOW-1 CAN HAVE ALL THE THINGS

y 9h i I

RN NS — NN NN SH

NN NN ANN NR NN NN ANN

N NN N XN

SSN

RX,

air valve in case of inflation!”

had never imagined she would be so amusing. He thought of Renee with a sudden stab of contrition. He hadn't thought &f her all this day, and she was certainly, his best friend. The whole of Kings Row hy on a gentle slope that lifted gradually from the creek on the south to the straggle of Negro quarters| that edged the northern boundary of the town with a disreputable fringe of shacks and haphazard lanes. On the northwest the land dropped suddenly down a steep incline. There, at the foot of the hill, was a stretch of level ground perhaps a quartet of a mile square which was the site of Jinktown. Long ago a few foreigners bought tiny lots | there and built neat little brick -andstone houses.

Benny Singer and his mother lived in the smallest of the|Jinktown cottageg—two rooms, ane of them hardly. more than a lean-to. Benny was a big, gangling boy of 16, good-natu apd, in his awkward fashion,| kind. Benny was a halfwit, but his mother was thanktionate. / ful that he was obedient and |affecMrs. Singer took off her (quilted gingham sunbonnet and fanned her flushed face. She hoped Benny would get along all right this year on school. He was having to s wo in

the same grade again. This fourth year he had failed to moted. If he were only a bit quicker with figures he might get a job clerking in a grocery store or something like that. In time—when she was old— he could support her. There might come & day when she would no longer take in washing. :

pro-

s 88 |

"ris, you try." “I don’t think I could do that! right away. I can skin the eat, though.” gs ; : “Let’s ‘you. Take off your shoes i orgs and your 4 Lg _ What you so dressed up for?” | Parris’ first effort was not successful. He fell on his back" with & thump. Randy laughed. “You got to bring yourself up better, then shoot your legs down quick,”

o w *® WITH HER encouragement and

advice Parris made rapid p but the double roll was ‘beyond him.

, “Try again” She considered his effort seriously. “You could do it pretty soon. I'm tired now, dts pet down and rest.” ! 4

n' Rasidy iargse. 41’ boli iw atch mb) oj here with you

BENNY WALKED with a slight roll as though his head were too heavy for his body. He was not exactly comfortable in his mind, He was trying to remember som thing. It was very hard to do. Whenever he tried to think about something or to remember, the whole thing seemed to shiver and dissolve. Of all the boys in school he believed he liked Drake McHugh best. Drake was very friendly, All at .once he slowed his walk. He remembered now what it was e was think He stopped i wd looked hg toward home. Almost he wished he didn’t bave to go to school. He hadnt

been promoted last year he'd |; have to stay in’ the same ¢ with | |

he yery young kids, He'd have to

playground ‘he ol. all

already. He h top of the stile

back at school where there were so many friendly faces. He stepped down from the stile. “Hello, everybody,” he said happily. The next two years were not exactly pleasant ones for Parris. School itself was less interesting. He had a new teacher, Miss Martha Colt. None of the children liked her. Parris was not unaware of the changes in himself or unobservant of the changes in others. But almost without noticing it he and his friends began to think of themselves as an older crowd. The children in Miss Venable’s room seemed very young. Drake, who was nearly 16, kept his friendship with Parris. Only his friendship for Renee remained unchanged. She still waited for him after school and walked home with him, but she talked more now than she used to—mostly about the other girls and what they said. She was less’ of a tomboy now in her walk and behavior~—more girl=ish. He realized that she was really very pretty. Other people spoke of it. On his 14th birthday Parris had his usual birthday supper with a cake and candles. Renee was his only guest. Renee gave him’ three

worked in the corners. After supper Anna, the stout German maid, gave him 14 playful spanks—one for each year—and another to grow on. : “It’s after eight, Parris,” Madame reminded him. “You'd better walk down to Renee's house with her, It's moonlight.’ You're not afraid to come back by yourself, are you?” He flushed. His grandmother didn’t seem to realize he was 14 and would have to shave next year, “Of course not,” he answered impatiently. } ” ” ” AS THEY went down the terrace steps Renee took his hand. “1 guess I ought to give you 14 licks, too, like Anna did.” He laughed, but the laugh died quickly and his throat tightened. He swallowed. ‘I'd rather you'd kiss me,” he said. “All right,” she said readily. I'll kiss you 14 times.” She placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed him on the mouth, counting each time ....“12...13...14..,. 8nd a big one to grow on.” He returned the embracegawkwardly and they stood for a moment a little breathless. The moon shone full on her ace. : “That's the best birthday present I ever had,” he said. The gallantry of nis speech surprised him, but he was pleased to have said it, “I—I

Lots-and lots of the kids were there | Orc, JOU: Renee.”

“I'd like to be your girl. I guess

on you're my sweetheart, too.”

“Let's be sweethearts forever, Renee, you and me.” | “All right.” “Cross your heart?” he demanded.

2°! «G'night.” ‘Her voice trailed the o | Words softly. He watched her go

{ID Sho Shoe Jolk to bat Goer, bes 1

THUMP = aan TiWP

7 SUCKER -PUNCHED US AT MANILAS 7 “aw |F YOU'RE SO HOGWILD FOR ACTION, WHY NOT PROMOTE A 2 BOXING SHOW TO HELP THE 2

[lll GOOGAN COULD THROW. SOME PUNCHES. FOR You. !

NV/a I A ie

OA I z pe . 3 NE

LIRR

me SH) J ASSet 1p ch at SS

ON Nt «

CAGE EVER SINCE THE JARS 9

72> MARINES ? ww ROUNDHOLSE I 2

A GENS! ANY FIGHTING 7 MAN WOULD DONATE Mig SERVICES GLADLY TO HELP J THOSE TAEANEIRS,

LEATHER NECKS or

WME ALSO AC ALSO A CHANCE 2 10 GET EVEN WITH JAKE ‘H FOR GRABBING MY SHARE tuted, OF GOOGAN'S, Sead LAST PURSE;

| 000" =

pe A hs el \ = a

OUAN LIL ULDN

DER SAID EF AH DI osu AH MIND? NH URRIBLE BLOW

i Sh, THING AH Y= XA gran

1 CAN YA USE A 1 BLOODHOUND IN YOUR BUSINESS ?

° BLOODHOUNDS ¥ HAS GOT LONG, GLOOMY ?

TWERT'S SOME LEFT: OVER

"HASH IN THIS DISH, AN’ SOME. COLD STEW IN THIS

sow ‘-

I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO FAR ON THIS

OPA. 1842 bv wea service, me. 7. M. REG. U. 8, PAT. OFF.

BUT LISTEN NOW,

HIKE!

LITTLE il

Tug BALL ASY ; id

eX *slusdo 7 ETEkTIE / AGiNey

handkerchiefs with crooked initials |"

BEEN WORRIED, COMMANDER «

2-19

AND OFF GOES HS CARTRIDGE BELT! S OO HEAVY

THROWS ~ WE WIN

ROUND /

fj OARMED \F T WNOW! tT RASENY oa

Al BOOTS TAWEN OVER ON Wl TR’ BEACH LAST SUMMER.

\oT oF WEIGHT | OUR. POINT /

VF -BuT PLL OUST | [/ 1THOUGHT WE'D NE!

TLUCK THE SIXSE INSIDE.

PYISPIN Caee !

BUT WHY DOESN'T

pA MISERY KNOWS WHERE FIND ANOTHER SPRING /

FIND A WATER HOLE DUCHESS -=-

DRINK?

BUT SURELY THERE )( INSTEAD OF YoU MAKING FOOL OF THE

15 A HIDDEN MESSAGE! || AMERICAN, LISKA, HE MAKE A FOOL OF

EVEN THE CARTRIDE

WHISPER INT) MY EAR.,

i a

N \

PRE'S WHAT THE PET HAS TO SAYYL. AND THE MAYOR'S BROTHER. PAID A FINE

OF $25 FOR SREEDING lio !

HE TRUSTS ME, THIS | AMERICAN, HE TAKE [THERE IS NOTHING | ME INTO HIS ARMS AND

YOU! 1S NO MESSAGE! : HE TRIER Ut dei

—By Bowser.

[A AS LONG AS THE POLICE DEPARTMEnE IS ON (15 TOES, WE DONT CARE W TOES IT HAPPENS To GET ON, SAID > THE MAYOR. /*

~— WITH 118 "NGUE IN A CHEEK !

Now ONDER STAND T on SAY SW GOT ANNTRING 1 WANENT GOT LT ae)

O\ONTY MRE THR'\OEA OF SENOIN' MY PICTURE T'SOME GUY NEvoar She tA

SEL BEES EP AARP EE CRI SE o, SEA

WM, REC ed

By H. I. Hamlin

CNTs EE IPR RR TR RRR

i ch tN