Moving Picture News (Jul-Oct 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS 19 "Well, there, what's that one?" Jack examined a tiny picture in one corner of the page. "That's an Apollo all right, but it doesn't say what his other name is. He must be obscure or they wouldn't put him in here so little." "But he hasn't any drapery," complained Billy. "That's of no consequence." "Maybe not to you, but I've got to stand up there before those old guys in all my whitewashed nakedness ; and maybe some of your friends will drop in for a pleasant evening." "Don't you trouble about that," comforted Jack. "I promise you if anybody else comes I'll draw the curtains. Now come along and skin off." "It's too early. What time do you expect the lobsters ?" "Wall, it's four o'clock now, and the telegram said they would be here this evening. You've got to practice, you know." Billy sighed and began to take off his clothes. When he reached his underwear he stopped. "What are you stopping for?" asked Jack. "You don't think Apollo wore union suits, do you? You needn't pretend to be so modest. Didn't you show yourself with next to nothing on at the athletic contests? Come on, we've got no time to lose." Billy obeyed and they went to work at the pose. The statue was to be placed in an alcove hung with dark curtains, and portieres in front were ready for any emergency. After an hour's posing Jack prepared the wash. "What is that stuff?" inquired Billy anxiously. "Don't worry. It's all right. I've had it a long time. A friend of mine had it to whiten his casts. He said it was the stuff they used when they did the living-picture stunt in circuses." "Well, I'm resigned. Do your worst," groaned Billy. Jack took a broad brush and began. Billy yelled, pleaded and groaned, but the work went steadily on. "Now don't move," commanded jack when he had finished. "If you do you'll crack." "Oh, Lord, do I have to stand like this until they come?" "Stand in an easy position until the bell rings and then you'll be dry and can take your pose at the last minute." Billy meekly obeyed. It was not long until the doorbell told them that the dreaded hour had come. The pose was taken and Jack went to the door. Billy heard the greetings from his alcove. "Why, my dear Jack, I'm glad to see you looking so well. Work must agree with you." "I am well, Uncle, thank you. The life here does agree with me." "This is Mr. Marshal. He is a great art lover and quite a critic." "I feel greatly flattered, Mr. Marshal, that you think it worth your while to come to see my poor efforts." "Well, Jack, you had better show us the statue at once, for this is a flying visit. Mr. Marshal and I must talk over some business to-night." "Thank heaven for that," breathed the statue behind the curtain. Jack drew the portieres and stood waiting in a nervous chill. It seemed that the men would never speak. But Billy was doing splendidly. Good old Billy, he was a brick. At last Mr. Marshal spoke. "That is really remarkable. You have taken the pose of the Apollo, but have used a living model, have you not?" "Yes. It seemed to me to give it life." "Well, that is quite an original idea. It certainly has life. One almost imagines he sees, it move." Jack shot a quick glance at the critic, but saw that he meant nothing beyond what he said. "Jack, my boy, I'm proud of you. You're all right," exclaimed the uncle, enthusiastically. Mr. Marshall suddenly turned from the statue to Jack. "Do you wish to sell the statue?" he asked. "I had not expected to," Jack hastened to reply. "I'll give you eight hundred dollars for it." Jack looked at the statue. It was making wild gesticulations behind the backs of the two gentlemen. A twinkle came into Jack's eyes as he calmly drew the portieres and said : "Thank you for your kind offer, sir; I shall be glad to let you have it." "Good! Can you possibly deliver it to-night? I have some friends for dinner who leave town on a late train. I should very much like to have them see it." "Certainly," agreed Jack. "I'll have it around in an hour." The gentlemen left the address and departed. "You blooming idiot," cried Billy, coming from behind the curtains, "what on earth do you mean to do?" "Be careful, be careful," screamed Jack, "you'll crack yourself !" "I don't care if I do. I'll crack you in about a minute." "Be calm, Billy. I've an idea. You've got to carry out the rest of this affair." "Yes, I know your ideas. I suppose you want me to stay whitewashed the rest of my life." "No, listen. We'll fix up something that looks like the statue and you and I will take it to the house. Then I'll touch you up a little and put you on a pedestal. You can stay until the gentlemen have seen you and then skip. I can hide you some clothes somewhere." "That's grand for me." "Oh, come on, Billy. You won't desert me now. Mr. Marshal lives only a few blocks away." "All right, I'll do it, but I'll never get into such a mess of yours again. What did you sell me for?" "I had to. I knew if I refused, the guy would think it mighty queer. He never would have offered such a sum if he hadn't been a friend of uncle's. Of course, I'll not take the money after the statue disappears." Billy sullenly and gingerly got into some clothes and they set about to carry out the plan. The statue was set up and Jack departed, leaving Billie's clothes hidden behind the pedestal. The room where the statue stood was next the dining room. Soon after Jack's departure the guests entered the dining room by another way, and the dinner began. Billy stood it as long as he could. His stomach grew emptier and emptier as he heard the rattle of the dishes. "Those guests will never get a look at me," he told himself, and got down from his pedestal. Just as he was reaching for his clothes a door opened at the end of the room, letting a streak of light into the darkened room. Billy dived into the shadows and crept along the wall. The door into the hall was covered by portieres. He darted behind these and sped along the hallway to the front door. With one bound he reached the street. With a feeling such as one has in one of those delightful clothes-less dreams, he darted from area-way to darkened doorway until he reached Jack's apartment. Into the room he burst — and into the midst of a party of Jack's friends. Jack seized a bathrobe and wrapped it around Billy. "Wine, for heaven's sake, give me some wine to strengthen me," gasped the shivering statue. They gave him a glass of wine and all raised their glasses with a cheer. Billy arose on his tottering legs to join. So loud was the cheer that the doorbell was not heard. Into the room burst Jack's uncle and Mr. Marshal. They stopped short with staring eyes. "There stands the statue," exclaimed Uncle indignantly. "Is this a Pygmalion and Galatea act or a trick?" It didn't take the gentlemen long to find out which it was. Uncle went up to Jack and said grimly, "You had better bid your friends good-by to-night, for we shall go home tomorrow." SCliNE FROM "ASHES" Reliance (Two Reel) Release July 12th.