The guardian., 1941-06-21
Eye Opener
By THAYER WALDO
Mcclure syndicate-wNU serviceJ

- the lobe of an outstanding ear
and protested:
''But it don't make sensel I'm tell
ing you when he passes me in the
hall this morning amt even recog-
nizing him!"
Garrison grinned and nodded.
81 can't get over it. Those terri
bic corduroy pants he used to wear
every day for months without
change-phooey!"
The publicity man put match
to his cigarette.
"Yeah, and the lumberjack sweat
er with no shirt underneath. And
three or four days between shaves.
He certainly was rare looking
specimen. Belligerent about it, too"
Fiberg nudged him with a knee
under the little table and muttered:
Speaking from devils, look who
Just came in"
Casually Garrison glanced around.
Just inside the cafe entrance stood
Miller, chatting momentarily with
another scenarist. A beige feather
weight felt was in his hand; it blend
ed perfectly with the rich rough
brown of his tweed suit. Spotless
russet oxfords showed beneath the
trouser cuffs.
The publicity man said: ''I'l have
to agree with you; it doesn't seem
reasonable. There he is-the snap
piest fashion plate I've seen in
months. And yesterday he looked like
something the cat wouldn't drag in.
Well, I'm going to try getting the
lowdown."
In another moment the man they
were watching turned slightly; Gar
rison caught his eye and beckoned.
"Pull up a chair, Sam," Garrison
invited, "and rest it. You're due
for a little cross-examination."
The writer smiled affably, nod
ded to Fiberg with cheerful, "How
are you, ]. L.?" and seated HIM
self. The publicity man pursued:
''Look here, old boy: You can say
it's none of my business how come
your sudden change in habits, but
that's no good. Everyone on this
lot'l try to make it his business,
so you might as well come clean to
couple of pals and forestall the
ribbing. Now / know there must
be dame in it somewhere, but let's
have the whole story"
Sam Miller tilted his chair back
to a precarious angle and balanced
dexterously. His attractive but usu-
ally moody face now wore grin
of sheer good humor.
"Okay, Louis" he drawled; "but
why the hard-boiled approach? Did
anyone say l wouldn't talk?"
The publicity man and Fiberg ex-
changed quick glances.
"Not exactly" Garrison said;
"only I thought"
81 know; you thought I'd go self
conscious and bark at you. Well,
gentlemen. You see before you a
New Man, to the last detail, a superb
example of the triumph of love over
reason"
"Your candor stuns me-" Garri-
son commented drily, "but suppose
you let us have facts
"Right-anything you say, pard-
ner. I'm in too beatific state of
idiocy to take offense. The answer
is all hooked up with that new super
colossal revue show of ours, Fables
of 1941.' Do you follow me?"
"Ah, yes!" the publicity man put
in. believe I'm even couple of
jumps ahead of you, Sam. Don't I
recall that Earle Whyte arrived just
yesterday with a load of damosels
from the New York production? It's
one of those very ladies, all right
and what a queen! For the first
time in my logical and well-ordered
existence, I'm moved by what is
sometimes referred to as the tender
passion"
Garrison laughed shortly and
shook his head.
''My boy" he stated, "you're GER
tainly living proof that miracles
still happen. Tell me, which one is
it,"
"Of the girls?" Miller indulged a
slow, half-sheepish smile. "Truth is,
/ can't tell you. I've only seen her
once-when 1 passed by your Of
fee yesterday. The whole bunch of
'em were there, and this one just
struck me like ton of bricks. But l
didn't speak to her or anything be-
cause well, right then it first
dawned on me that l looked like a
low type of rag picker"
A new earnestness had come into
the writer's tone. AS he finished,
Garrison nodded gravely, then
looked past him toward the restau-
rant door. A tall dark-haired girl
had entered and was crossing to
the table where they sat. Miller
followed his gaze, saw her, and let
his chair down with sudden slam.
"Say," he whispered excitedly,
"here she is now! Come on, Louis
you must know her name-introduce
mel"
Garrison just stared at him. Then
the girl had stopped beside them
and was saying:
Those proofs you wanted have
come from the printers, Mr.. Garri-
son."
The publicity man saw a dunn