Motion Picture Magazine (Feb-Jul 1927)

when she turned away ! But after she had stood f rozenly still for a moment, and Irma did not come in, she knew that she must move — to break a spell which was stealing over her. "She cannot be so cruel as to leave me here long!" the girl told herself. "I shall go out of my mind if she does." But minutes passed. They might have been ten, tho they seemed ten times ten, before Irma Rimaldi at last entered the room. "Ito will try to save you," she announced, pausing on the threshold. "He'll do what he can for my sake, tho you are nothing to him. of course! He is very faithful !" Oswald Downing had said those very words, chuckling with warm anticipation as he be so innocent as not to know that many a girl starts off for a spin in a motor-car and spoils her shoes walking home! If you are seen, you ought to be very well able to make up a perfectly good story about an adventure. It's up to you to do that! You live in Hollywood?" "Yes," Jolette said, "in a boarding-house." "Well, I dont need to know the address ! At least, let us both hope that I wont need to ! And if I do, it will be easy to find — for the police." "Oh!" gasped the girl. "You wouldn't " "I wouldn't! Of course, not. I'm helping you, not to give you away ! And as for your trying to save yourself by lying about me, I have Ito to bear witness when I came, and how. So dont expect to brought the pretty young girl to the house he called his. How little he had guessed then, in what way the Japanese would next prove that boasted quality of "faithfulness" ! "We have planned out what to do, Ito and I together," Irma added. "I am to go away now in my car. Fortunately for you — I dont say for myself, because this is more your business than mine, tho he was my husband ! — fortunately for you, I bought a new car in New York, and had it taken off the train in Pasadena. W7hile I had something to eat there, it was got ready for me to drive, by a man from a garage I know very well and wired to in advance. I like motoring alone, by day or night, so I wouldn't take a chauffeur. I can drive to the house of a great friend of mine in Pasadena, and spend the night with her. I've a bag in the car. My big luggage has gone on by train. I'll tell my friend that I came to her, as it will be my one chance for a visit, before I begin work with Yaughan, directing my picture. She wont think it strange. She'll be delighted. And late in the night Ito will phone a doctor at Los Angeles that Mr. Downing ^eerns to have had a stroke, or some kind of fit. When I've gone, you can go too. Or you may go now, if you choose." "Oh, I will go now!" exclaimed Jolette. Then, stumbling on a new snag of difficulty — "but — if I walk — in this dress — it's such a long way from home! If anyone should see me " Irma shrugged her shoulders and frowned. "It would be worse for you, if you were seen with me, than if you were seen walking along a country road alone. You cant "I do not! I do not!" protested Jolette. "I'll go— I'll walk. All I. ask is to get away." "All !" echoed Irma. "It's a good deal, considering that you have killed a man, and his wife is helping you to escape. No use my saying I grieve for Oswald's death. I dont. But I'm human. I'm not glad he had to die like this. And I wont allow myself to be unjustly suspected of putting him out of the way. If the newspapers get up a sensation at my expense, I warn you I shall order Ito to tell the truth, and all the truth." "My God!" faltered the girl. "That would be worse than — than if I went to the police now and confessed everything that has happened." "Dont be a fool !" Irma said sharply. "There's hardly, a chance of trouble. The newspapers have got nothing against me. On the contrary. I'm in their good graces. I thought it was fairer just to warn you of what might occur! Be careful, and dont give yourself away by losing your head. That's the principal thing ! Now, I shall get out of this ! I dont like the look of the room here, and what's in it, any better than you do, Miss — Miss — did you say your name is Jeffreys?" "Jolette Jeffreys," the girl repeated mechanically. 40