Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

DINO 1, J PICTURES AND THE PIC u'.R B -. lli:i:." n ins mm.i i\, who. \ BBJ sth OF I. in; w \ I HIM. kit Paul forced his way past the untilling servant and entered the bonse, followed b\ Sonia. 1m the drawing-room ami Daphne, already a prey to tin fears aroused by her strange butlonndings. ••(>h: 1 am so -.'lad you've come," she cried; " 1 was beginning to get worried. 1 was married halt' an hour ago to Mr. Sullivan: but be «a called awai lenly. and since he left I have found ^oine photographs and letters which make me think he is not all he -." •• Come with u>." was Soma's reply, a?, taking her friend's arm. she led her down . iirs. i?he was startled bj a sudden cry from Daphne. "Oh! do you see that servant? I think -I am sure— that he was the fclergyman who married us." "Who pretended to marry you."' re "So IT fAs YOU WHO BHOT SULLIVAN, ' plied Paul, "and be thankful that it was only a pretence. 1 can't insult you by telling you what I know about Sullivan, lmt. believe me, you are well rid of him. You aie going to come home with us, and if you insist on earning your own living, I ean get you an engagement at. isino Theatre." Paul was as good ahis word, and in her new engagement Daphne achieved a tremendous success. Among the many admirers who showered congratulations on her was Robert Beaton, a young but very eminent .ludge. Robert and Daphne were mutually attracted. They saw much of each other, and in a little while when Daphne had forgotten her experiences in association with Sullivan, her engagement to Judge Beaton was announced. Sullivan, however, had by no means given up hope of getting Daphne into his power; and her engagement to Robert Beaton, when announced served only to concentrate his mind more insistently on his design. He knew that he must act quickly, and as a first step he v lot.' a letter to Daphne. "If you do not at once break your engagement to Seaton," it ran. "I will circulate a report that will blast your reputation for ever. You know how frequently you have been seen in my company; you know the reputation of the dance-hall where you appeared ; know. too. that it is my property. 1 need hardly tell you how readily certain rumours, supported by such facts as the>e. will be believed by the public." In her despair at receiving this note. Daphne did not see that the wisest course would be to show Seaton the letter. Paul, who loved her dearly, and who placed her happiness above all other considerations, could not convinceher that Bhe should do so; and, hopeless of bringing her to reason, he determined to do the only thing he could conceive as likely to help her -to remove Sullivan from her path. His opportunity was not long delayed. That night Sullivan was haunting the Btage-door of the ( lasino, as did. Taking advantage of a crowd p ing by. Paul drew hi revob i shot~ rang out in quiet sm as Sullivan fell to tie ground Paul slipped through 1 1 a u I into his dressing-room. " Sen 1 for Jndt : <n and Miss Reynolds," was the whisper that the nurse caught from Sullivan's dying lips as he lay fighting for breatb on the narrow cot in the bospitad. Knowing that his remaining span of life could be )•( ckoned in minul irried out his wishes; and as the two for whom he had asked entered the ward Sullivan half n se in his bed. "Beware of her." lie cried, his malice persisting while a breath of lib' was left to him. " She she was my mist i The words wen hi last ; for while Daphne clung to Robert Seaton's arm. imploring him not to believe the slander. Sullivan fell back heavib dead. "Dying men do not lie." was Je. Seaton's cold rejoinder to Dapfa teafful protestations. " You had bettef leave me 1 hoe my duty to do hi investigating this murder." Seeing no sign of relenting on Seaton's st.ru features. Daphne turned slowly from the ward. and made ber \\ . i \ to the theatre. Once seated in her dressing i.a sense of desi dation v ime which soon became unbeaianle. She felt that she must have companionship, and passed into Paul's room. He was not in ; her glance at once fell on a re\ olvev. on t he table, and. taking if in her hand, she found two chambers emptj . it was you who shot Sullivan." she exclaimed, as Paul entered the room. " Ye ' de i eplii d in a subdued roic •. " I did it to save yon from his i secntion." " And you have only succeeded in