Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

PICTURES AND THE PICTUREGOER 332 Wu.K F.NDING Jan. 8, :u:b EVENING had fallen upon the little farm. The toil of another daywas over, and two fond, tired parents watched their only son John as lie pored over a musty tome which si emed to him the gateway to a life more useful than coaxing an almost 1 anen farm to yield an increase. Life to the Ballards had not been a walk along a iiower-strewn pathway. Rather had it been a long, hard grind, and if they could lift their boy out of the mi they would die content. With a gleam of hope. John's mother remarked to the elderly man : " He's going to be 3 big lawyer some day, father." * * # Away in the city, at another fireside, a lather awaited the return of his son, but it was late at night when the butler admitted him. Philip Hardin was the son of the president of the N.Y. and V.C. Railroad. His conduct was fast breaking his father's heart. " My boy." said the old man sorrowfully. " do you ever slop to realise what your future will be if you continue this sort of life ? " The son made no reply, and another day dosed upon a father bitterly disappointed in the failure of his only boy to realise the responsibility of life. A Few weeks later . lames Hardin, accompanied by Philip, hoarded his i cial " to tour the line. The railroad was a mere i'ibbon"Of metals across the land. The company ran the road to make money, and its condition was awful. That morning Ballard's father left the farm to drive to the town with produce. Be was fated to meet the icial, The horse took Erighl . and the farmer was killed. A man ran to the farm with the news, and the wife and ion saw the dead body of the husband and father in front of the engine. '• It's your damnable railroad system," shouted John'; "no gates, no signals. It is murder: " He would have struck the president had he not been held hack. .Mrs. Ballard never recovered from the -ho-k following her husband's death. and within a few months John was left alone in the world. -Sell the farm, my wnmw Adapted Irom the Wonderlul Vitagraph Drama SO By ALEC J. BRAID. hoy. and follow your ambition," were his mother's last words, whilst the doctor advised him to "Cheer up; to college, and study law.'' Thus it came to pass that John Ballard studied hard at the college at which Philip Hardin was also an undergraduate. There Was nothing in common between the young men. John was a serious worker; Philip gave no serious thought to anything. Where he failed in the mid-year examination. John won a high place in the lists. The memory of the past remained with the successful student. He could not bring himself to be friendly to the s n of the man whom he considered morally responsible for the death of his parents. Even Philip's small soul saw this. and one day he said to John : ' I know you don't feel very kindly towards me; but what happened was no fault of mine." "Perhaps not : but if your father had improved the state of the toad, I should not have lost my parents." "'Let's call it off and be friends," said Philip cheerfully. "I shall want a tutor. and we can work together," and they shook hands. upon a compact to which John proved his loyalty. Philip brought his gambling instincts to college, and one evening during a crooked game among crooks, he was found out. The discovery was the signal for a fierce fight, and matters were turning out badly for the young fellow when Ballard passed the h;nse. Through the window he saw Philip being hard pressed. Without a thought for himself. John burst into the room and laid about gamely to extricate him. -Red Hogan," their leader, was in the act of shooting down Philip when John saw the action, and felled the leader to the floor with a chair. Then the young men escaped. The morning papers brought dire intelligence. "Gambler found dead. Examination proves that blow on the head caused death. No clue to the murderer." •You did that for me," said the gambler, "and it shall be a _ secret between us which I shall never violate." Graduation da; ea neat last. John had won premier position in his class, and Philip was among those who expressed their congratulations. He had long ago come to regard John as a real man. and when a girl friend crossed the quadrangle he said tq John, " 1 want you to meel Mi- V iota Buskin." * * * . * When he let! colleu-e Ballard started at the bottom of the ladder, but SOOU nave signs that he was capable of rising to eminence' in his chosen profession. One day he met Viola, who. explaining that they had just returned to town. im ited John to call. He paid his Brst \i-i. when Philip was at the house, and the amiovan ■■ that young man at tit? preference Vi Ma John was .reflected in the face of Mrs. -Buskin, who was am that her daughter should marry the railroad millionaire's heir. Vi.la. however, was imc i of the strain. " I am going -to my first din • on Tuesday evening, -he -ail. gaily, must b 'Hi promise to Ih? thefe." Philip Jiad real lovr for the girl: and between the dances would have told her of his love; but Viola preferred John, and skilfully avoided the avowal Philip anxious to make. ; 1 and thi of a high position in the commercial world did not wean Philip from his dissolute ways. His card-playing left hiin short of money, and regularly his unpaid bills were sent to his father. The old president stood this as long as he could, but his patience was exhausted when hi said : '• My boy. I mean business thi time. You have got to marry and settle down, or I will cut you off without a cent." Then Philip realised that hi fajher was in earnest, and made haste to carry out his wishes. He was too late, v: had already accepted John and in reply to Philip she said. "I am only free to regard you as a very good friend." "' Well. I might have lieen more if ii had not been for John Ballard." he retorted savagely. Then he poured out his trouble to Mr-. Ruskin. "'Don't be foolish," sail her mother. "Viola is not old enough to know her own mind. Be patient." The turning-point iu Philip's ea was reaehed that day. His father died w i\ r YO! M ISS Kl'SKlN.