["The Little Chatterbox Theme"] Who's that little chatterbox, the one with pretty auburn locks? Whom do you see? It's little orphan Annie. She and Sandy make a pair, they never seem to have a care. Who little's she, this little orphan Annie? Bright eyes, cheeks of rosy glow, there's a store of healthiness handy. Mike's eyes always on the go, if you want to know. And says Sandy, always wears a sunny smile, now wouldn't it be worth the while, if you could be like little orphan Annie? Here it is, 5.45 now, and that means Orphan Annie time, and Ovaltine time again. And now today, I want to ask you a question. If you're always getting left out of games and nobody ever wants to play with you, don't you wish you could be popular like orphan Annie and be just as full of pep and fun as she is, so everybody would want to play with you? Well remember, one of the best ways to get orphan Annie pep is to drink your Ovaltine regularly. Yes sir, drink a big delicious cupful two or three times every single day. And do you know why Ovaltine can help so much? It's because every cupful brings you important food elements to help nature build up extra pep and energy for you. So you stick right to drinking your Ovaltine regularly, so you can get those nourishing food elements every single day. You know, a strong house is built up one brick at a time, and pretty soon, just see if you don't begin to get extra strength and energy to help you run faster and perhaps be a winner over other boys and girls. And when that happens, everybody will want you in their games, and you'll be getting as popular as Orphan Annie herself. And now getting back to Annie, yesterday you remember, Annie and Joe met Mr. Caleb Flint, the big promoter from the city who has opened a new bank in Simmons Corners and is building the big toll bridge across the river. Everybody seems to like Mr. Flint, but Annie is a little doubtful about him. But here she is today with Joe, just walking into Simmons Corners to see all their old friends. And listen to what Annie's saying now. What did you think of Mr. Flint, Joe? Why, I don't know Annie, he seemed all right to me. Well didn't it strike you he was awful sort of smooth, Joe? Why sure, but he's from the city Annie. I guess that's the way big businessmen in the city act and talk. Maybe it is, but just the same I wish Mr. Silo wouldn't buy any stock in that bridge. At least not just yet. Why not Annie, just a bridge across the river here will save an awful lot of miles for folks going west. I know it will, but just the same... I don't think you ought to feel that way about Mr. Flint Annie. Shucks you hardly know him yet. Maybe I hadn't, but I just don't seem to like him. There's something Mr. Silo's always saying about people he meets and doesn't like. What? I guess it's an old saying or something. It goes like this. I do not like you, Dr. Phil. The reason why I cannot tell. I just don't like you, Dr. Phil. That's pretty good, but I don't see what it's got to do with Mr. Flint. He must be all right or he wouldn't be giving a new pipe organ to the church. I guess that's one of the reasons I don't like him, Joe. After all, he's just a stranger here. He doesn't know the people or the town. Why should he be given a pipe organ to the church? I don't know. Because he wants to, I guess. Yeah, because he wants to. Well, what's wrong about that? Maybe nothing's wrong. But if Mr. Flint had lived here for years and knew folks and gone to church, it'd be different. But leaping lizards, anybody that comes into a strange town and starts giving things away, you can just bet they're giving them for a reason. What reason? I don't know. Maybe just to get in good with folks. Seems to me, Annie, you're awful suspicious about this Mr. Flint for nothing at all. Maybe I am, Joe. I'm sorry. I shouldn't feel like this, I guess. Maybe it's because we've been around people like the Comptoteur and Selby for so long, but I think everybody's not what they ought to be. Maybe that's it. But say, look who's coming. It's Squinty and Potato Face. It's just who it is. Hey, Squinty, howdy. Hello, Potato Face. Look who's here. Gosh, it's Annie and Joe. Hello, Annie. Hello, Joe. Howdy. Gee, it's sure swell to see you two kids again. I'll say it is. Boy, we missed you. Did you, Potato Face? I'll say. How about it, Squinty? You bet. Gee, school didn't seem the same at all without you two there. Especially without Joe giving the wrong answers to questions. Potato Face, I was your face, but it's no. Oh, I didn't mean it, Joe. I didn't mean it. How's school going anyhow? All right, but gosh, it'll seem a lot better when you two get back. Coming tomorrow? You bet we are. Haven't you been to school since you left? I'll say we have. We had a tutor. What's that? The horn on a automobile? It's a private teacher, Squinty. Gee. Mr. Wobbles got him from Oxford University. He was swell. He knew just about everything. And we had classes every day at Daddy's house. Suffering sunfish, we didn't learn any more than we do right here in the school at Simmons' Corners, did we, Joe? I'll say not. What's been going on around here anyhow since we left, Potato Face? What's been going on? Boy, haven't you seen it? Seen what? The bridge. Gosh, you gotta see the bridge. They're building it across the river, and they... It's a swell place to play. All the kids go down there right after school. Gee, it's awful exciting. They got it halfway over. There's all sorts of engines. And concrete mixers. And machinery. And rafters we kids can walk on. It's swell. Jumping grasshoppers, Joe. We sure gotta see that bridge. I'll say. Me and Potato Face was going down there now. Want to come along? We can't right now, Squinty. We were going in to see the folks in Simmons' Corners. We wanted to call on Jake. How is Jake anyhow? Oh, he's swell. He's not sick anymore at all. I'm awful glad to hear that. Boy, so am I. You better come down to the bridge, Annie. We'll come tomorrow, Squinty. Right now we want to see Jake. All right, then. See you in school tomorrow. You bet. We'll be there. All right, then. So long. So long, kids. So long. Race you through the woods to the bridge, Potato Face. You're on. Come on. So long, kids. So long. Leaf and lizards. It's good to see those kids again, Joe. I'll say it is. There's something awful good about getting home. You bet. Let's get into town. I want to see Jake. Boy, oh, boy. It's gonna be swell to see old Jake again. I wonder how the Emporium's been doing. I guess it's been doing all right. Couldn't help it if Jake's all well again, like Squinty said. Gosh. Annie, look. Look at what? It's down the main street. Don't you see it? See what? That sign, that big new sign. That electric one over the new bank there. Beautiful butterflies. I see it. You couldn't help it. It'd knock your eye out. Simmons Corners Bank and Trust Company. Boy, oh, boy. It sure looks big, doesn't it? It is big. It makes the rest of the main street look kind of slow. It sure does. But anyhow, the Emporium still looks the same. Let's go in, Joe. Suits me. Come on, then. I tell you, Mr. Levy, this is the finest investment you could possibly make. This bridge is going to open up a new road to the west. I'm sure what you say is so, Mr. Flint, but I haven't much juice at this time to invest yet. Business has not been so good at my Emporium. Hey, customers must be coming. I... Annie! Mine stars! It's Annie and Joe! Hello, Jake. Hello, Jake. We got back. Great stars and little fishes, Annie and Joe. It's like old home week yet to see you both. You don't know how much good this does to my heart yet. We've been leisureed. It's swell to see you, Jake. How say it is? How things been going, Jake? Fine, fine, Annie. Ever since you and Joe put me on my feet with all the work you did around here, things have been fine ever since. That's swell. It's grand to see you, Jake. And it's good to see you too, Annie. It seems like there's no sunshines at all in Simmons Corners when you're not here yet. Well, well. Aren't you the two children I saw yesterday at Silo Farm? Why, of course, of course. Looking as bright and stocky as ever too. Hello, Mr. Flint. Hello. Always does my heart good to see the bright eyes of children. Hi. You know these children yet, Mr. Flint? Why, of course, of course. I met them yesterday when I was out selling Mr. Silo some stock in the new bridge. Hi. Is Mr. Silo buying some bridge stock yet? Oh, he hasn't bought it yet, Jake. Well, not yet, no. But he intends to buy some, Mr. Levy, and a good big block, I imagine. I was out to see him yesterday, just as I am seeing you today. I made a list of all the leading citizens of the community, Mr. Levy. And, of course, the list includes your name right near the top. I'm giving all this preferred list a chance to get in on the ground floor, so to speak. My list includes you, Mr. Caslen, the director of the Gazette and Chronicle, Frank Thomas, our station agent, Aaron Wigglesworth, Mr. Silo, and practically everyone outstanding. The stock in that bridge is good enough for them people, Mr. Flint. I guess it's good enough for me. Well, that's splendid, splendid. I knew a man of your business ability, Mr. Levy, wouldn't pass up an opportunity like this. Now, I suppose I put you down for... How much is the stock yet, Mr. Flint? I made this preferred list, Mr. Levy, and to give our own community every advantage possible. The company has set a price of $10 a share to this first block. I have no doubt that within a month or two, the price will easily double itself. Ay, I double itself yet. That sounds like music in my ears. A little later, of course, it should go even higher. This bridge can't fail, Mr. Levy. I have promoted a great many projects. I have myself. This is one of the best of the entire lot. And all the others made money. Plenty of money. Mine star, Starpole, sounds good to me yet. Very well, then. Suppose I put you down for, say, 50 shares, Mr. Levy. One minute, wait, Mr. Flint. If the shares would cost... $500, Jay. Ay, so much money I haven't got. Of course you understand, Mr. Levy. The more stock you buy, the more money you will eventually make. Sure, sure, I understand that. That is Joe's business yet. But I haven't got already so much money, Mr. Flint. Well, how much do you want to invest? Well, since Annie and Joe have been away, I've made a profit of about $100 yet. That would buy... Ten shares. Now, tell me what I'll do, Mr. Levy. I'd like to see you have more than ten shares. As I said, the more shares you hold, the more profit you'll make. Yeah, yeah, I understand that. Now, here's the way you can manage it. You buy the ten shares, and I'll give you ten more shares. Ay, ay, what is this? You give me ten extra shares? Well, no, no, no. I can't, of course, give them to you, Mr. Levy. But I will turn the shares over to you, and my new bank will take your personal note for the extra $100. I see, I see. In this way, you'll have 20 shares instead of ten. And your profits will be, of course, higher. But you still have to pay for those extra shares when your note comes due at the bank, Jake. Yeah, yeah, I see that, honey. But think of only 20 shares already instead of ten. Yeah, I am thinking of it, Jake. But I don't believe in ever buying anything you can't pay for at the time you get it. But, but, my dear young lady, that's the way business is done. Maybe it is, but I don't think it's good business. Least wise, not for Jake. You remember, Jake, all that trouble you had with that other note. Yeah, yeah, I remember. Why could I ever forget? Mr. Flint, Andy here was one sort of manager of mine store. A good long head this girl has got here. So I guess maybe I think over your proposition a little before I decide. Well, that's up to you, lady. It isn't everybody that I offer a chance like this to. But if you want to take the advice of a mere girl rather than that of a man who has promoted dozens, literally dozens, of similar projects, that's up to you. I'll be in to see you again. Good day, Mr. Flint. Good bye, Mr. Flint. Well, honey, looks like maybe now you've ruined my chances of getting all that extra stock yet. But anyhow, it's mighty glad I am to see you again. Well, don't you worry about that stock, Jake. You don't have to worry about any stock until after you've bought it. And I guess you'll have plenty of chances to buy some later if you want to. But, Shucks, honey, it sounded like a good thing to me. And Mr. Flint was really doing Jake a favor. That's just the trouble, Joe. It looks to me as if Mr. Flint was doing too many people favors. I can't believe anybody could be as nice as he is or as he pretends to be and not hope to get away with something. Well, do you think Annie's right about that? Flint seems like a mighty important man, opening a new bank and building a new bridge. Everybody seemed to be impressed by him. But even so, do you suppose Annie's right in what she thinks? But do you notice Annie isn't being swept off her feet by all the excitement in the air? She's beginning to think there might be a catch in all the good things that Mr. Flint is promising to do. And you can bet she'll keep her eyes wide open and find out if there is something wrong. Yes, sir, she's a real Ovaltine girl. Peppy and lively, right upon her toes every minute of the time. And if you'd like to be peppy like Annie, don't forget there's nothing like drinking your Ovaltine regularly every day to help you keep going with plenty of energy. Because every single cupful of Ovaltine gives you important nourishing food elements that help build up extra strength and energy for you. So be sure to drink plenty of that good tasting Ovaltine every single day from now on. And don't forget, be here right on time tomorrow at 5.45 to see the exciting things that'll be happening to Annie next. Until tomorrow at 5.45 then, goodbye.
