(The story of the London Hippodrome Musical, presented by George Black and produced by Robert Nesbitt.)
TWO THUMB A RIDE
Denny Merlin hit the north end of Daytona Beach in the late afternoon. He drove the Lincoln Zephyr V-12 slowly past the stadium and the ornamental coquina-rock bandstand. He looked enviously at the crowded beach and wondered if he had time for a swim, but decided that he had better get on and kept the car rolling. At the farther corner of Ocean Avenue he spotted the red triangular sign of a Conoco Service Station. He pulled over and ran up the half circular drive.
Three attendants in smart white uniforms, with red triangular badges on their breast-pockets, came out of the office and began servicing the car. Denny pushed open the door and climbed out stiffly.
“Fill her up,” he said, “and look her over. I’m going over to get somethin’ to eat.”
A short thick-set guy, wearing a foreman’s armlet, came out of the office and said “Good evening.” He looked at the Lincoln with approval and then ran his eye thoughtfully over Denny. This guy was trained to recognize a good client from a bad one. He considered that Denny had a lot of money, was going on vacation, and didn’t care a great deal how much he spent. He was right on every point.
Denny took a cigarette from a heavy gold case and lit it. “Where can I get a decent meal?” he asked.
The foreman pointed across the road. “There you are, sir,” he said. “Chesney’s will give you good food and quick service; you don’t have to look further than that.”
Denny said: “O.K., that’ll do. Have the bus ready for me in half an hour. I’ve still got some way to go.”
“Yes, sir, it’ll be ready. Goin’ to Miami, sir?”