The Washington times., 1938-06-17

70 0EORGl
Copyright, 1888, by King Features
Syndicate, Inc.)
SYNOPSIS
At q college prom, Tommy
Dorsey gGve Bitt BroDn, q stu.
dent, a chance to shine. Bit
ShotDed remarkable talent as q
clGrtnetiSt; his solo tDith the
Dorsey StDinoSteTS proDtng a
poSitiUe sensation. 1t delighted
everyone, except his girl, HGr.
riet CGrdGle, a coed tUtth firm
and classical music tastes. Bit
1DGnted to Join the Dorsey band
but its maestro GdUtSed him 10
finish his college course
HoweUer, in about sir months,
Bit hitchhikeS to NeID YORK
city, looking for q job tDith Dor.
sey's band. At breakfast, Bit
tells Tommy Dhdt has happened
since he saD him last; his et-
forts to giue up suing, his soul
tuI young romance NTH HGr.
riet, and his suing "reIGpse:
He secretly visited a road
house tDhere Jim Cronter, ptdn'
iSt and one-time suing star,
otDes him lessons in its tech.
1,ioues. Cromer has just asked
Bift tDhat he'd like to play.
CHAPTER v
I'D like to try Sweet Sue
Mr.. Cromer," said Biff, holding
his clarinet in one hand.
"Sure enough, kid" agreed
Cromer, idly playing arpeggios;
Take 1t after the vamp ana
don't be reedy."
They played a few tunes to-
gether and some Of the custom
ers began to fill up Cromer's
sugar-box which stood on top
of the upright piano. Then
Cromer decided to rest. The old
pianist ordered whiskey. The
boy coughed as the burning
fluid slipped down. Cromer took
two miniature cigarettes out OF
his coat pocket.
Have some tea," he invited,
leering at Biff.
Biff felt un c o m fort BILE.
whats that? It doesn't look
like any cigarette I've ever
seen."
TRY A REFER
Cromer's lips twitched as he
tried to laugh. "Ain't you ever
heard tell Of reefers?" he asked.
A shiver of repulsion ran
through Biff. All the things that
Harriet had ever said about
swing and swing musicians sud
denly took on a horrible reality.
Not those things I've read
about" he protested. "Why-
they're dope-a drug !" he fsir-
Iy shrieked.
"Nerts!" came from Cromer,
you'll never swing until you
light up"
''No! MOI" Biff arose, shaking.
You're wrong. Music doesn't de-
pend on drugs. Swing is some
thing beautiful! Why do you
make it ugly2" His voice be-
came a shout.
A burly waiter tried to push
Biff back into his chair. you're
foul, utterly FOUL" he cried to
Cromer. Biff turned to glare
at the amused audience. you're
all FOUL" Then he Strengthened
his shoulders and strobe out
of the Cuba Club, hearing be-
hind him the obscene laughter
of the jewellers.
Confused, bewildered, Biff
walked the streets for an hour,
not knowing where to go. His
mind kept turning over and
over again the image Of the
dissipated Cromer and his reef
ers. Then he contrasted this
with the picture Of Harriet.
clean and good.
Was there no middle path be-
tween the two? Was Harriet
right when she said swing music
was foul and vulgar? If he
gave his life to playing swing
music, would his fate be the
same as Cromer's? Would he
also end his life in a small joint,
pounding out tinny tunes for
the price of a few drinks?
Why had this demon entered
his heart? Why was there some
thing in him that cried out for
expression? If only he could
postpone the choice, but it must
be made. And the conclusion
was a foregone one. He must
carry out the dictates of this
something within him. And he
must prove to himself and Har-
riet that swing was everything
he said it was.
Finally, when his tired feet re-
fused to walk any more, Biff
turned back to his house, feel
ing as though he were engaged