Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1913)

77^ THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD menced and left bis daughter bis blessing and 5200 tbat be got from the sale of a book. Tbe poor orpban bunted up an employment agency. About tbis same time tbe parent was wishing that he coold control tbe tomboy, who liked to throw apples at all sorts of things, himself included. Tbe parent decided upon a goyerness as tbe only possible solntion of tbe tomboy's disposition. He wired the employment agency for one. The parent bad been a customer and the lady boss of the employment bureau is loatb to disappoint bim. He specifies an elderly woman and sbe offers the post to the only available old maid. But the proffer Is rejected wltb scorn. The neglected orphan suggests that she has tbe education necessary and can impersonate an aged woman. The lady boss clutches at the straw and off to the ranch is packed the poor orphan, now rich in the promise of $25 a month, with room and board free. The tomboy is much incensed at her presence and mistreats her shamefully, but eventually the orpban wins her over and becomes her confidante. This puts tbe "grand high kibosh" on the governess stuff and the parent sees that his idea Is not the right one after all. What the tomboy really needs, he thinks, is a mother. He asks the orphan to be one to her, but the orphan has seen tbe parent actually being cruel to tbe unwelcome suitor and she decides will not take the risk just •^e.t of incurring his displeasure. Putting off an answer, she agrees to help the tomboy wed tbe unwelcome suitor, who is not a bit unwelcome to the tomboy. She has determined that her usefulness is ended and has vague thoughts of resigning, a decision which is crystallized into actual effort when the parent catches her false hair and discovers she is really not as old as sbe looks. But fond persuasions prevail at the last and the parent agrees to become "the charming husband to the orphan, and dear old dad to the tomboy and the unwelcome suitor, now no longer unwelcome. THE EYES OF THE GOD OF FEIENDSHIP (August 23). — It was on the far southwestern frontier that Joe and Jack became fast friends. It was under the same condition that their friendship prospered as their acres grew in number and their cattle in fatness. Tom it was who found the Indian ruins and persuaded them to dig there with him. Tom it was who told them that the ancient image they discovered represented to the Indian mind. He said it was the God of Friendship and the books bore him out. This being the case, it was but naturally that tbe three friends should swear friendship upon the image and each wear on a chain about his neck one of its ruby eyes. Tom's time in the West came to an end all too soon for the ranchmen; but their down beartedness did not prevent them from extending hospitality to the gambler Clinton, when he came shouting at the corral gate. Food and drink for himself and his horse were freely given, as freely accepted and a card game arranged for his entertainment. But not heeding the splendid hospitality showered upon him by bis hosts, Clinton must needs find fault with a card Joe held. The quarrel grew and when it was ended Joe was unconscious from a blow over his head and Jack was dying from a bullet wound. Clinton took the rubies from about their necks and fled. He caught a freight train east even as Joe, returning to consciousness, was vowing vengeance npon his friend's ruthless slayer. Time went by. Joe sent the checks for half the ranch proceeds to Enid. Jack's sister, each month, but no clue came. Meanwhile prospering upon the money he had won in the West, Clinton returned to Blakeville. where Enid was attending a seminary. He met her and pressed a clandestine birt innocent flirtation. Enid went home to visit Margaret, Tom's sister, when vacation time had come and Clinton followed her. He saw her much and at last won her consent to marry him. Instead of a ring he gave her one of the rubies be had taken from the ranch friends long before. But wrong brings its own punishment with it, and Tom chanced to see the ruby, still strnng on its long cabin as in the days when be bad got them back from the jeweler and he and the Western pardners had worn them. Life In the West had taught Tom the value of a closed mouth, so he only wired Joe that Enid bad the rubv. A clue was enough for tbe sharp-witted fellow, made sharper by a desire to see bis friend's murderer brought to book. Joe got himself appointed a deputy sheriff there where warrants and requisition papers Issued and he went east to visit Tom. Clinton came, the talk was twisted to rubies, and Enid innocently displayed the one Clinton had given her. Both Tom and Joe identified it and presently Mr. Clinton found lilmself arrested and bound west to a prompt trial, while Tom foond it easier to press bis suit for the hand of his sister's pretty visitor than it had been while the artful ex-gambler was around. REX. THE HARVEST OF FLAME (2 parts— August 21), — The factory owner's daughter, Pauline, is engaged to the young inspector of factories. At the opening of tbe story the factory owner is given notice that on the morrow his factory will be inspected as to safety appliances and compliance with the city fire laws. He, knowing that his factory la painfully deficient, endeavors that evening to bribe the young inspector when the latter calls on Pauline. The inspector very quietly refuses the bribe. Tbe next morning when the inspector comes to the factory the owner tells him that unless a favorable report is made, the engagement of the inspector to Pauline will be broken. The young man is considerably tempted; but when comi^ring the safety of the lives of hundreds of girls and the happiness of two young people — himself and bis fiancee — his conscience will not permit him to hand in any but a truthful report. The owner tenders the inspector the engagement ring, which he accepts, and leaves. The young foreman of the factory Is an inveterate cigarette smoker, and, although he has been severely reprimanded on several occasions by his employer, persists in his habit, irrespective of orders. He is just al>out to light a cigarette when the factory owner, coming from his office, where he has just left Pauline in tears, interrupts bim. The foreman drops the flaming match and hides his cigarette. The factory owner goes out on a short errand and in the meantime the match has started a flame of fire in tbe scraps and cuttings in one of the finishing rooms that tbe foreman Is unable to put out, and, as the factory owner returns, he finds the factory In flames, most of his employees safe, but he realizes tbat bis daughter is trapped in the office behind the wall of flame. In the meantime the foreman has run out and sent in an alarm to the fire department He meets the inspector and the two return to tbe scene of the fire. The factory owner apprised them of Pauline's " whereabouts in the burning building, and the foreman, realizing that he has been the cause of it, slinks away. The inspector attempts to go through the door, but is driven back by the flames, and at this point, looking up, sees Pauline silhouetted in the window against the roaring flames. At tbis window is only a coil of rope — the onl.v means of escape. He climbs the rope, lifts Pauline on to his shoulders, and climbs down safely to the ground, where they are met bj* the frenzied father, who receives them with open arms, while the foreman, with grim determination, eschews the further use of cigarettes. JTTST LN TEME (August 24).— The services of Detective Lyons are engaged by a prominent railroad to stop, if possible, tbe dynamiting outrage.'* that have followed unfair demands, resulting in destroying several of the company's bridges. During the interview between tbe president and Lyons, a note comes mysteriously to their presence, warning tbe Company to come to immediate terms or expect further disaster. Manifesting their sincerity of purpose by stating that the round house will be blown up at twelve o'clock. Lyons glances hurriedly at his watch, which registers twelve. A moment later the explosion is heard and tbe round house is seen in ruins. They hurriedly enter an auto and are driven to the scene of the calamity, where Lyons carefully examines the structure of a remnant from tbe infernal machine. Mack, the d.vnamiter, is seen to enter his room and tell his companion tool of his success. A later notice, received In a mysterious way, demands that the president's wife use her influence with her husband In behalf of the strikers, calling to her notice tbat disaster would befall her should she fail. The family immediately prepare to leave the city by a special train. In the meantime, Lyons, having successfully traced tbe purchasing place of a certain cog used in the construction of the machine, follows his clue further, which leads him to a nearby hotel, where Mack Is quartered with his tool. Lyons engages the adjoining room and upon first opportunity, wires a dictaphone t)eneath Mack's bed to record all conversation in the next room. The d.vnamiters. having secured information of the leave of the president's family, lay plans to destroy the bridge as the special passes. They discuss the matter and this is recorded b.v the dictaphone, and the "tool" departs, with dynamite in bis suit case. The plot is overheard by Lyons, who is suddenly surprised by the confrontment of another "tool." who has become aware of tbe dictaphone by an accident. The two men struggle near tbe telephone, tbe receiver of which is knocked from its holder by Lyons. This causes a natural response from the office. Assistance is sent to Lyons and the "tool" is taken away, a prisoner. Tbe detective sets off to baffle tbe efforts of the dynamiters. The "tool" Is seen to enter a fast motorboat and set off under full speed to fulfill the outrage against tbe president's family. Lyons is seen in hurried communication over the telephone with the president, whom he instructs to hold the special. The traffic manager is called and they immediately telegraph to a way station. The operator wires back, "Too late — she has gone by." Great excitement prevails in tbe president's office and an engine is ordered for porauit. The operator at the way station, upon learning tbe vital character of bis message, hails a passing racing auto, hurriedly explains the situation to the driver and they set off to overtake the special. The dynamiters are seen to timely arrive and plant their mines beneath the bridge. The president and Lyons, together with his secretary, are seen to enter the engine and set off at full speed. The racing auto gradually crawls up on the special. After an exciting chase they succeed in reaching a position opposite engine and signal. The engineer immediatel.v responds by drawing the special to a halt at the edge of the bridge. Tbe dynamiters blow tbe bridge and hurriedly leave in the motorboat as the president's family descends from the rear of the train, where they are met by Lyons, the president and his secretary, they having arrived upon tbe engine. IMP. IN SEARCH OF QUIET (August 21). — Robert Morton, a popular young novelist, is unable to finish a novel he is working on because of the amount of noise made by the erection of a new building next door, and hastily departs for an old hunting lodge in the mountains that be has owned for some time. He absent-mindedly neglects to make any arrangement for food or supplies on bis arrival, and lands at the lodge hot, dirty and dusty from a long tramp from the railroad station in the nearby village. Unknown to him, the entire county is in terror because of an escaped convict. To complicate matters, a young girl has been using the lodge as a daily reading and lounging place, Morton has brought some shabby but comfortable old clothes for his stay while finishing his book, and dressed in them, meets the girl. He is ravenous for food by tbis time, and promptly requests her to tell hjra where he can obtain food in tbe neighborhood. He also tells her tbat be does not wish to be disturbed by callers. She jumps to the romantic conclusion that he is the convict, and, partly for fear of his supposedly desperate character, and partly for pity and admiration for bis youth and appearance, agrees to supply him daily wltb food. He soon finds out that the girl believes him to be the criminal, and for amusement, plays tbe role for her benefit until finally she brings bim money and ber father's automobile and clothes to make an escape. He enters into tbe spirit of tbe affair, thinking to laugh over the matter later. But, unfortunately, the real convict enters into the situation, and steals both girl and the car in an effort to get out of the country and across to Canada. It is only after a mad chase after the auto by tbe novelist on a motorcycle, and a daring leap into the flying car from tbe motorcycle that the convict Is overcome and the girl's life saved. The novelist has now finished his book, but finds he has a new plot to work upon, and a most charming character to develop, and an undoubted love story ahead of him, in which the little girl who was so anxious to save him fits as tbe heroine. THE STATUE (August 23).— Mrs. Swell visits tbe studio of a young sculptor and purchases a lifesize statue of Gladiator tableau. The young artist, fearing tbat bis customer may change her mind, hurriedly engages the services of Mike and Jake, two expressmen of unusual eccentricities, to convey the costly statue to the home of bis customer. After carefuUy instructing the expressman In the handling Of the statue, the inexperienced handlers of art fall over the tableau and hopelessly destroy it. The artist, pressed for the need of money, goes into a frenzy and is only pacified by tbe possibluchance of replacing the tableau by the two expressmen in statue pose. Mike and Jake, in sympathy, offer their services and are immediately posed for the final Inspection by Mr. Swell, who is forced to question his state of mind by tbe various positions assumed by the Gladiators at different intervals of his inspection. However, he complies with his. wife's desire, and gives orders for its immediate delivery. Mike and Jake are crated in statue form and suffer to endure rough usage enroute to tbe Swells* residence. Upon arrival they are met by the artist, who uncrates and poses the expressmen in the wellkept grounds of his purchaser. A lawn party is given in celebration of the magniflcent unshrouding of the statue and wine and food are plentifully spread before tbe half-famished statues. At last the temptation becomes unbearable, and to the surprise of the entire party, the bold Gladiators invade the feast and take their fill, bringing about the exposure of tbe youDg sculptor, whose art they had so greatly appraised. At the police station their voices are raised in protest, but to no avail, and another scene shows these three serving a like number of years In the rock pile. NESTOR. THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS (August 18). — In the heart of tbe Blue Ridge Mountains of Kentucky, Jim Rutland, a moonshiner, his wife and their daughter, Mary, live a happy and unrestricted life, A young mining engineer, Harvey Bryce, whose interests have carried him into the mountains, happens npon the home of Rutland, where he is received in a courteous, although suspicious manner. Mary, the daughter, is naturally attracted by Bryce, and a certain alliance is effected between the house of Rutland and the stranger from the outer world. One day, while in search of a trout ^stream, Bryce accidentally discovers a whiskey still, and is immediately endangered through the suspicions of the moonshiners, which now seems confirmed. One of their men, who bad been detailed to watch Bryce, reports the discovery and the moonshiners set out to effect their customary reception lo revenue officers. Upon arrival at the bouse, they find the young engineer making an honorable proposal for the hand of Mary. His errand to the mountains Is made evident by communications on his person, and to the satisfaction of all. Rutland's bouse becomes his home. Bryce" s proceeds are ample for all and their distillery is no longer required as part of their livelihood.