Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1919)

Photoplay Can't you understand. Rose, how much depends upon you? \ ou must behave. The only way we can get away with the {urts we've got to play is to start right in living them — ewn when were by ourselves." Rose's reply was to turn a f>air of tempting lips toward his and gently slip her arms about his neck. With an etTort Burke controlled himself, and gently held her at arm's length. "Listen to me — you've got to bluti yourself thai you're really a lovely, innocent chicken — just out of the egg. Make yourself believe it, or your performance will fall down, and the game will be off. Those clothes now — gee, you look like Broadway and Forty-second Street.' "Oh. I've got the right clothes in my trunk, but I wasn't taking a chance of missing something good 1 might pick up on the train," she retorted. And so Rose was installed in the home of the Patriarch. What that gentle soul thought, no one now could know. His sight had failed him utterly, so he could no longer see even to write messages on his pad. He was isolated from all communication. He could express neither joy nor ilisapproval. He could not denounce Rose as an impostor, even had he umlerstood the scheme developing about him. Am) what thoughts were concealed behind that calm and changeless mask of his countenance, turned ever upward as if in constant communication with another world since he could no longer communicate with that about him, no one might guess. It was several days before Burke was satisfied with Rose's performance of her part. For the natives of Fairhopc, it did not so much matter, but Burke was thinking of the wealthy patrons who, he proposed, should soon be thronging the gate to the Patriarchs cottage. They would be quick to recognize any false note in Roses demeanor. When she finally came to appreciate this, she was quick to follow Burke's orders, and not imlil then did he send his second letter of instructions, summoning The Dope and The Frog. Meeting the 4:15 was the only diversion the Fairhopians allowed themselves. It was seldom an e.xciting event, but it was the on'y event there was in the happily vacant annals of the little village. The arri\-al of Burke was more than an event — it was an epoch-marki >.jke of the vari ;> recent inci nts of their :nple round of iN-s. they placed em as "the week fore Mr. Burke .me " or '"the .ond week Mr. .urke was here." But now even Burke was taken r granted, and e dramatic dis •.er\ of Rose -lie. the Patriarch's grand-niece. was New Years Day on the N-illagc calendar. That two such excitine and conversationmaklnt; incidents could occur in one month created somelfcing akin to civic pride, and the 4:15 assumed new possibilities. Who could say what might happen n e X t — what famous \isitor might arrive unannounced? But all their simple hazards of possibilities fell far short of that which traiupired and almost swepi even the cool an ^•'Isazipp^^LlBRARY 43 calculating Burke mi tf'f^'«^«.*^ ' ' • ■ T |l . The day I'he Fri.j/Vntp^' pope fet^ dqe. Baciiii ^ Rose carefulli^ ijL Jxir role anil VA^imcdVfW^fiv-.so* ibi,^tion. The unsuspfahhr^'^JiJVVOOO, al)uut C'A'*^V'|^<^Ufi|!Pi'>g groups, and Burke >inilcd as he thought oi^nchfnJmrfiNiJ^ st.iging and the sensation it would create. But when the train pulled in and he saw the car platforms crowded with passengers, baggage lailen, and obviously bound for this forgotten hamlet, he dodgeil off to one side to look things o\er. He mu>t understand before he participated. First came The Frog, stubbornly refusing aid. floundering and tumbling liown the steps of the car like a crippleil seal. Behind him and from the other cars came men and women, some intent and serious, some laughing scornfully, but all deeply curious. Antl Fairhope backed itself against the wall of the station ami gasjx-d at the invasion. "Where's the Miracle Man?" the mob demanded in chorus, and the astonished villagers were dumb with amazement. Rapidly the cars were emptied, and Burke noticed that the train, instead of pulling out. backed toward a siding. He watched for an explanation, and saw a brakeman uncouple the end car. The train then pulled out. .\ private car was being left at Fairhope! Burke was in a daze at the whirl of events, and seeing The Dupe linaily emerge from the crowd antl stroll toward him. dragged him aside where they could have a confidential chat. "Ever hear of King — .\sbestos King?" The Dope asked. "Young captain of industry — so much coin he has to hire a street cleaning department to keep it out of his way. Sister's a cripple — lived in a wheel chair twelve years. Well, that's their private car." Burke turned to the car on the siding and saw servants lifting a frail, slender young woman into a wheel chair. "Thai's King, shovin' his sister's chair." The Dope explained. "If we can string 'em along for a course of treatments on the strength of The Frog bein' cured, we got a private mint. Antl get this. I hooked a newspaper guy on the train and he's here to sec the big show. .\s a come-on The Frog is a wonder. The_whole train got excited because this poor creature h.i