The Indianapolis times., 1936-04-17


II saw Orchids for Three" he
said bewildered. But you--you're
not the star"
I'm JUNIOR didn't even notice
AZ that Mona was looking at him
goggled-eyed. He was worried be-
cause he couldn't figure things out,
and no one had told him anything.
Even at 10, Jim Junior had scien-
tific turn Of mind and liked to have
everything cut and dried.
To begin with, what was the
reason for this unexpected vacation
from school? At Graystone
Academy, where Jim was boarder,
they were awfully mean about let
ting a guy out for week-ends. You
were only allowed three term d.
and he'd had his three long ago!
He and Dad were sorta greedy about
vacations-they liked being to-
gether. Maybe they liked it more
than ordinary fathers and sons, be-
cause jim Junior had no mother;
she had died when he was three.
For one horrible minute, he'd
thought that something awful had
happened to Dad. Maybe he was
. Ill. Maybe he was-dead!
But he had soon grinned in re-
lief. Nothing could have happened
to Dad. Aunt Jane would have
broken any bad news last night.
People didn't keep bad news very
long.
A CROSS the room he caught
L n Mona's eye. Not a bad kid,
Mona, for a girl. Pity she was deli
cate and had that giggly Miss
OMalley for governess.
Mona's lips were closed firmly,
as If she were having a struggle
to keep quiet. Now she caught his
eye, and leaned forward. Suddenly,
her words came out with a rush.
IT know somethingl Uncle's /.
married e. again!"
Jim Junior stared at her, blink
ing, Married. His Dad married?
1t sounded queer . awfully queer.
Jim Junior gelt a shaky feeling in
his knees.
But that isn't all ;" Mona
drew breath. sils looked at him
half pityingly, half trumphantly
She liked jim, but she liked sem
sation better.
Go onl" He set his Jaw.
Hes married film star i. :"
Mona's eyes we're round as saucers.
"a film star. Like =. . like
Janet Gaynor!"
I'm JUNIOR sat down on the
J nearest chair. His face felt red.
A film star. People like Dad didn't
marry film stars did they? He
gulped. Yes, they did Johnny
Farmer, at his school, had a mother
who was big star. He'd always felt
sorry for Johnny Farmer. Oh, his
mother was pretty she was too
pretty for a mother. And she gave
him lots Of things and he had
more pocket money than any guy in
the school. But Mrs. Farmer had
an awfully sissy name on the films
Bettina Madison, they called
her. The other guys called Johnny
"Bettina Madison's little boy" 1t
was awful for Johnny. Then, too,
his mother was hardly ever home
when Johnny had his vacation. She
was always in Europe, or somewhere.
Johnny got letters with foreign
stamps but that didn't make
up.
She's probably awfully cute >"
Mona said helpfully. Film stars
are awful pretty sometimes :"
Tim JUNIOR grunted. Johnny
Farmers mother was pretty
bat not the sort of way you
wanted your mother to be. She
had white hair, like an Eskimo, and
terribly long red nails and
the other guys said she painted
her toe-nails.
Mona edged up to him. This
was dangerous business. but it
was awfully thrilling
II can tell you something else.
She's playing in film that's on
today in the village. It's called
Orchids for Three" Mona's eyes
sparkled; she touched Jim Junior
on the arm. 1--WE could go down
and see it :"
No one saw them go; Miss
OMalley thought they'd gone into
the yard to ride Mona's new bike.
sut Mona took so cents out of
er savings bank with knife :.
nd they cut down the village
Street.
There were only a few feet from
the Brentwood Palace Cinema when
Mona said suddenly: "I bet they'll
put your picture in the paper
with her :"
Jim Junior went very red. I'm
no sissy" he said, in choky voice
They'd better not try. :" He'd
seen a picture of Johnny Farmer
once all the fellows at school
saw 1t and he had his arms
around his mothers neck, saying
'Good-by. motherl' The fellows
never stopped kidding Johnny about
it.
VXTHEN Orchids for Three"
wv came on. he felt Mona stiffen
beside him and lean forward in
her seat.
Then the star came on
and Jim Junior felt awfully cold
and sick.
The star. She was terriblel
She had a mouth that was much
too full OF teeth, and hair like
Johnny Farmers mother, and she
sang in high squeeky voice. And
her eyes rolled and rolled.
He sat there and stared at her
sick with misery. She had worse
name than Johnny's mother. Her
name was Babs Honeyford. Babs.
Imagine a mother called Babs.