Evening star., 1931-04-12

"YouP What on earth can you do that's
any use to me?"
much the same as Boot does from all I've
been told"
But how do I know-how can risk"
81 never a wig and all I shall Want
is bit Of putty for my nose"
But have you ever been on the professional
stage before?"
Nippy removed his tie. "Fifty-one weeks for
four whole years, twice day. he said. 'Then
Rosy Calf got married."
The manager sprang to his feet. "CalfP
You can't be :"
YES" said Nippy, "Legg It's kind Of you
to remember. The combination of Legg and
Calf will never be seen again" His voice broke
but he undid the rest Of his shirt. "I shall
be glad if you will say nothing, especially to
the lady with whom I'm about to perform. Just
tell her to try to laugh at everything do
though were doing something she had never
seen before. Ask her to convey the impression
that she simply has to laugh. That's all. Boot
and Slipper, eh? Rather funny that"
LIE went away to dress as the band CON-
menced to blare. A shade under two
minutes later he was back in the office again.
He not to be recognized. He had red
dened his eyelids with grease-paint and put
idiocy round his mouth. The seat OF his baggy
black trousers came almost down to his knees
and he had combed his hair over his forehead
in q fringe.
Harry had brought in Nellie who had made
up her face again She said, How wonderful
this is! Where in the world does he come
from? What do you suppose he can d0?" And
then she gave gasp. 1t was Booe and
it wasn't Boot. There was genius In those
eyes, q master in melancholy all round that
mouth. You saving my life," she said.
ER1t hafn che hoF 1fHAAo
further they stood in the glare of the lime
light in the middle of the stage Brass blared,
drums were hectic and four Indifferent at
tendants followed with the props-tenniS balls.
Indian clubs fake cigars rings on ropes. in-
genious gymnastic appliances, wires for tight
rope walking and tank in which to dive.
The audience was cold. Then followed that
series of fooeries Of grimly earnest incom.
petenceS, Of solemn and painstaking prepara-
ton for breakneck deeds never to be performeA
which had stirred huge audiences to roars OF
benehcent mirth. Nellie found it unnecessary
to feign spontaneous laughs. Her laughter
was genuine 1t bubbled from her lips. She
simply had to laugh. Indeed she almost died
This was no mere Boot. This was a Boot with
UpperS-a Patent Leather Boot! Never In the
history of that casino had there been such
hearty roars. 1t was an absolute riot. It was
a good deed in very naughty world.
Whatn you take to stay in the bill for q
couple of months? asked Harry who was very
grateful and pleased
That's the end" said Nippy. UNLESS, that
is Miss Slipper will detach herself from Boot
and fit herself to limb on which there Is a
foot. would like to ask her personally but
I shan't be able to do so until we've been in
troduced" He had cleaned his face with .
towel and smoothed back his hair The man
who stood before her was that timid and ridic-
ulous person whom she had been egging on
for fortnight by the policy of keeping off,
Eve invented the trick.
Good Lord, it's you," she said. Somehow
she had made up her mind he was no ordinary
man. You must be Nippy Legg"
My dearS, it wasn't from "The Laurels' or
THE willows" that Harry received q postcard
in the course Of time on which was quoted.
Love is better than Fame" with white satin
slipper tied behind the ear. It was from
"RosSlyn Lodge"
(CopyTiGhk Iaall