Motion Picture Classic (Jan-Aug 1919)

MOTION PICTURE CLASSIC From the desk drawer other objects were emerging, in billows of pink chiffon and ivory lace. In the austere office these intimate feminine garments looked strangely improper, furtive. Graves held up a kimono, diaphanous as a dieam, and pointed to the embroidery on the sleeve. “Your monogram,” he smiled. “It’s no use, my dear! Besides, the servants in my Westchester house will all swear — to anything I ask them to swear to. Better be reasonable. Such things simply didn’t happen. The deep boom of a clock on a nearby church-tower brought Alice out of the dizzy tumult of her world with a shock. Four o’clock, and at halfpast four Rob would be waiting for her. She must plead with him, but the magnitude of his forgeries, his cleverness in compiling his evidence appalled her, drove the words from her lips. And, after all, she had no need to utter them, for as she groped for speech the door was flung tempestuously open, and a tall, handsome woman of the type that men stare at and women avert their gaze from rustled in, in an aura of imported scent. Oblivious to the presence of a visitor, she spoke with a kind of angry triumph that played traitor to all her carefully acquired youthfulness and flamboyant beauty, bringing out telltale lines about her mouth and eyes. ‘ ‘ Maybe you’ll listen to me some of these days, Ben Graves ! Didn’t I warn if you ‘‘Hush, Rose !” Graves said sharply. “Mrs. Burton, excuse me a moment ; my — secret a r y wants to speak to me.” Ensued a subdued buzz of whispering, broken by an ejaculated curse. “Miller has them ? The devil you say ! So Loomis played informer — a nice mess we’re in I There must be some vray out — hold on !” He turned to Alice with a short laugh, and she saw, with dull surprise, that his face was purplish and his hands shook as if he had been drinking. “Miller, the district attorney, has got hold of some papers I want. In fact. I’ve got to have them, and quick, too. Bring them to my house tonight— 496 Madison Avenue — and I’ll give you back your promissory note and this evidence here.” His gesture drew the pile of flimsy pink ruffles into the words. “It’ll be easy— you’re staying at his house, your husband and he are old friends, and no one will ever suspect you. You didn’t seem inclined to my other proposal, perhaps this will suit you better.” She of the flamboyant hair and figure flung herself upon him, raging. “So you were planning to can me, eh? You were fixing to set up another woman. Well, I tell you I wont stand for it ! I’d kill you and myself first. I’d — I’d ” He swept her aside with a rough gesture. “Rose, shut up ! Do you want to take the whole place into your confidence? This is a business matter. How about it, Mrs. Burton? Will you exchange evidence with me, or do I see your husband tomorrow ?” Afterwards, sitting in the cool gray peace of the hotel tearoom, with Robert’s pleasant voice in her ears, Alice tried tc remember what she had promised, tried to plan what she was going to do, while outwardly she chatted, drank orange pekoe ate English crumpets and seemed to listen to what her husbanc was saying. Rob her host’s safe! Like a common thief — absurd! Ye' he had said tomorrow morning. Her whole body burned a' the thought of the hideous forgeries and the unspeakable sig nificance of the monogramed garments. Would Robert’ faith stand up under such overwhelming onslaught as that Would any man’s? No ! No ! She must protect that faith a a mother protects her child. She wondered whether her agonj was not plainly written on her face for the whole world to see' and glanced into the mirror opposite, shockec at her own calm. What was it Robert was saying Something about a visit with Jad Miller to police court and prisoner they had seen. “I told Jack he had to( darned much sympathy for a lawyer,” Rober was chuckling, “bu he insisted on tryinj out his theories tho I do think when it comes h hiring a sus pected gunmai as a chauffeui he’s going bit too far.” In some wa Alice Burto: managed t live thru th rest of tha wretched da] On the plea c a headache, sh freed herse from the en gagement tlu had been planne for the evening, dance, and watche her husband lea\ “We’re awake now, you and I,” h e answered gravely, “and no matter what comes, dear — no matter what, we must remember that doubts and disbelief are nightmares and only love is real” with the Millers, protesting to the last that he would rath stay with her. Then, waiting until the house grew quiet ai the servants had betaken themselves to their quarters, .s wrapped a lacy negligee about her shuddering body and ere into the library. The combination of the safe, as she had observed ^yh Jocelyn had put some jewelry into it a day or two preyiot was scrawled on the back of one of the pictures.^ With growing steadiness of nerve Alice drew the curtains acre the window and switched on a single reading-lamp. A m ment’s search yielded her the figures, and she moved swift to the iron safe, sunk into the wall by the book-case, and be {Continued on page 69) (Thirty)