Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1925)

FEBRUARY 1925 Pichures and PichureQoer 35 In one respect that hgure of Parisian life, the youth called " The Humming Bird," was a model boy. He was seen but not heard. If he had been heard, or at least heard in advance, there might have been much salt sprinkled on the tail of " The Humming Bird." But the police were baffled. They were always able to follow his footprints — up to a point — after the event; but they never could hear his footfalls before. " The Humming Bird " had a huge press, but he sent out no advance notices " It seems to me," said La Roche of the Paris police one day, " it seems to me that if we are alive in a hundred years time, and he too, we shall still be looking for our little chirper. He has a charmed life, or a charmed career. How many is it now — a hundred burglaries? And not once have we got near enough to him to lay our fingers on even his shadow. The end of it will be resignation for me. Disgrace! And all through a chit of a boy. Why, he can be no more than twenty. Or so those who have seen him vanishing in the distance assure me. Myself, I have r.ot yet had the privilege of setting eyes on my master." Dandall Carey, Paris correspondent of the New York Universe, was in La Roche's office that afternoon. " I reckon it would be as big a feather in my own cap if I were in at the snaring of this fellow," he muttered. " Look here, La Roche, I will make ycu an offer. The uniform admits, but it closes many doors when it is seen along the street. In theorv the police can go anywhere and everywhere; in practice, no. A journalist cm get where the police are often locked out. Tell rac all you know, and I'll pass along what comes my way. We'll work together, and between us, I don't see why we shouldn't snare the beauty. You don't want to lose your job. Well, neither do I. Two heads arc better than one." " There is something in your notion," admitted La Roche. " And to start with, tell me just how I can get near to our bird," said Carey. " As near as I can tell you it will not be very near!" said La Roche, with a wry smile. " All we can say is that the Bird heads always for Montmartre, but always he seems to vanish there." " There is a place in Montmartre I know well," said Carey. " A thieves' rendezvous, Le Caveau. Perhaps you have heard of it?" "Heard of it? Searched it! But the Bird was not there." " I'll go there and find out what there is to be found out. Later I'll report to you." Bird BY JOHN FLEMING CHARACTERS. Toinette Carey La Roche The Owl Gloria Swanson Edward Burns Mario Majeroni Mme. d'Amrricolrt Henrietta Rutherford Helen Lindroth Chariot Cesare Gravina Zi-Zi Jacques d'Auray Narrated by permission from the Paramount film of the same name. Many types of a certain kind of humanity gathered at Le Caveau. It was less of a kingdom of crime than a tiny world of crime, comprised of many little kingdoms. Each empire had its ruler, and there was no queen of all those queens more fascinating than Toinette. Toinette. . . Small, pretty; a girl with a way with her; regal. . . All heads were turned to regard her when she passed. In every way she turned all heads. Randall Carey found himself watchher and thinking of her and envying the crooks and apaches who were her companions. To Randall Carey respectability suddenly presented its drawbacks. " If — " But he pulled up his thoughts in time; remembering someone who waited for him across the in tar away New York. No mention of the "Humming Bira" had passed the lips of any denizen of that underworld since he had crossed its threshold an hour ago. He might ren ain here for a day, a year or forever and never be nearer to the truth about the " Humming Bird " than he was at that — I — lis thoughts jerked to pieces in the crash of a sudden altercation two tables away. A hulking brute of considerably more than six feet had plucked Toinette to himself and kissed her. At this moment she was attempting to drag herself free, and in that short glance Carey could see the red lines swelling up on her wrist where the bully was holding her. With a tingle almost of pleasure Randall swung away from his table and leapt at the big man. His fist shot out and the bully disappeared beneath the table. And then — And then, as Carey himself phrased it afterwards, in his own way, " things kind of occurred." Carey found himself suddenly a prince of Toinette's empire, leading her forces against those of the enemy's. Before the bully could spring to his feet, a dozen of his followers had done as much for him, and soon the thick air was filled with thicker shouts and the futile protests of the proprietor. It was short and crisp; and in the end the bully's warriors strode arrogantly out of the place, leaving bt/iind them the still form of Randal! Carey, with Toinette bending low above him. " He is not dead," she murmured, looking up at the faithful few who remained in the vicinity. " He will come round very soon. Get a taxi." Tnrestricted by the finer feelings of the ovcrworld, and with a touch that really had something of art in it, she flicked out the contents of his pockets and began to search his letters for his address. If she found more, how could she be called to account? When Randall Carey at length grew clear about worldly things he discovered to his considerable astonishment that he was resting in his own bed, with a bandage of linen tied round his head. He put his hand to his head and felt it suddenly tingle. He tried to remember. . . And then he remembered well enough, up to a point; but could not recall how he had managed to get home and put himself to bed. As for the bandage — Rather wearily he rose and dressed and looked uncertainly about the room. He sniffed and was aware of the last faint traces of some perfume that was