Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1916)

<$ij 7?'a?7cis fPi'/Ziam Sii££ii>ari Author of "Stdr of the North." "Alloy of Gold," "Children of Banishment," etc. Illustrated by R. VAN BUR1 N CHAPTER Ml AT the same time that .Marcia Trent was seeking some means by which to ruin Jtine Magregor's career before it had begun, thus insuring her own continued supremacy in the Graphic Company, Tom Briscoe was working toward exactly the opposite end. For years it had been Briscoe's steadfast ambition to disr and launch some screen artist whose name should be perpetually linked with his in greatness, and whose work should embody Ins beliefs and theories regarding the photo-drama. The accidental discovery of June in the North and her subsequent revelation of talent had led him to believe that she was the find he had been seeking. She was ideal material to work with — modest, eager to learn, and unhampered by former training. More important still, she believed in him, and they were joined by strong bonds of mutual respect and regard. Onlv one thing he had against her — "this d d love business ;" but as time went on he was delighted to encounter very little interference from it. This was as he had planned, for he had stipulated in making his final offer to June in New York that she and Paul should separate until June had either proved or disproved her ability. He had flatly refused to direct her under any other circumstances, and the lovers, perceiving the sound reason in his demands, had consented. As already has been said, Briscoe had been training June thoroughly in the technique of her art since their arrival in Los Angeles, and at the same time providing her with experience by actual work in the pictures. Harsher with her than with others, so afraid of prejudice in her favor that he leaned in the other direction, he had at last come to the conclusion that she was ready for bigger work, the work he had planned so long. This conclusion was strengthened by the press comments on the "Woman to Woman" picture, comments which in several instances had awarded the triumph of the piece to June rather than to Marcia Trent. It was the commonest of jealous remarks in the studio that June was a produd of favoritism — man and a girl love, A' had a "pull." This was of course true, since she was Briscoe's pro tegee, but it implied no novel situation. Almost without exception every man or wo m a n playing leading parts in the pictures did so through some influence, and it was a fact illustrated continually that a known talent without influence could circle forever in the backwaters of obscurity. Tune had a "pull," but as yet even her bitterest enemy could not have assailed it. No person who knew Tom Briscoe, even by hearsay, was capable of the usual suspicions connected with the word "influence," for sex, age, beauty or charm seemed to bound alike from his invulnerability. June had "influence" according to the necessity of. the business, but it was clean influence, acknow ledged and open. One morning, in pursuance of his convictions regarding June, Briscoe went to 107 ented, world-forged and trouble -tempered, still young, and poor. She stands at the threshold of life, hesitant, flushed, facing a career. They are affianced. An incident of business separates him from her by thousands of miles. And — The Other I Man steps into her path I — a ruthless connoisseur, j one who states rather than boasts that when he wants a thing he gets it, be it a treasure of art or a girl's surrender. The question is old as | the jungles. With the milesbetween, will loyalty be stronger than the spell of contact, than the exquisite appeal of admiration felt through the subtle veil of sex? Will | the girl — lose? Which | man will win? How will I they fight each other for I her, with the dressing j j rooms and hectic studios | of photoplay for battle 1 | ground? BnnaDfflinnil')iri!IIIIl!!!Illlil!!!l]UltHltll!lll!l!lUIII!llllltlll!ltllUUllltni!llli:i!lll!llIlUillU!IIIltl!ll!t!IS