Samuel Hopkins Adams

[from Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Feb 1939, byline Mary Sears]

The author of that entertaining movie, "It Happened One Night," and of those fascinating books "Gorgeous Hussy" and "Revelry," Samuel Hopkins Adams, chose a sure-fire subject for his newest novel, "Both Over 21." The theme of the story concerns two movie contest winners (an heiress, who substitutes for the actual winner, the family secretary, and a young milkman), with an all-expense cruise to Bermuda as the prize.

Complications in the story are presented by the family publicity-agent (hired to keep the family off the front page), and by the man to whom she is supposed to be engaged -- not to mention a professional dancer who has pierced the girl's identity and has designs on her money. The girl, who travels under the name of Maida McCabe, and the man, Wallis Kane, are susceptible to the beauties of the ships which make the Bermuda run, to the romance and color which make the islands glamorous, and the outcome is as expected -- happy for all concerned.

[from back of Dell Ten-Cent Book, 1951]

"Propriety," jeered Elspeth, "after we've been traveling together for nearly a week."

Pullman drawing rooms were Elspeth's accustomed mode of travel -- not the night bus she took to New York. The bus was natural for Peter -- when he didn't use his thumb. They met on the bus, and that's when the excitement started -- and kept right on -- through a wreck, a flood, tourist cabins, hot-dog stands, as they hitch-hiked their way to New York.