Pictures and the Picturegoer (April - September 1915)

PICTURES AND THE PICTUKLGOER 53 •A'EEK ENDING Al'KlI. 2.1, Iyl5 TH? WARNING Adapted from the Film by MICHAEL DEANE. Y()l"N<! Lester Goodrich was, as he would have said "from circumstances over which he had no control." decidedly in a blind alley— the said circumstances being a pahuul insolvency which formed the cud wall of nis particular cul-de-sac, and prevented him troin joining Ins boon companions in a mgnt out. and tin: equally painful '"circumstance" that his clergyman father had ''got his back up," and no amount oi cajolery or sulkiness would persuade him to open his fat pocket-book and taiie thereiLom the means for the longanticipated lark. All Lester's strategy was of no avail against the old divine's determination, and he was reluctantly compelled to leave the study no better off than when he entered it. However, one road still lay open, and this he approached without delay. "Mother, dear,'"' he whispered, winding his arm abound the old lady's necK, " 1 wonder if you'd do something for me." "Dear sakes alive!" she exclaimed; "what ails the lad to ask me such a question ?" .But whenLester turned out his pockets to show their emptiness, she shook her head sadly. " Oh, laddie, laddie, 'tis always the same. Your lather " "Jj'atber is busy, dear." — Lester lied glibly "and I didn't want to disturb him." " Well, well, boys will be boys. Bring me my bag from the coat-cupboard yonder." A little later the boy joined his companions at the appointed place, and gleefully exhibited the bills he had been given, "bay."' he cried, "let's cut the <>ld neat for to-night. What do yon say to a supper at Bargarnie's and a run uptown t<> finish Y " "Gee!" one of his friends answered admiringly : " you are a swell guy, and no error." Liester winked knowingly as the strolled off arm-in-arm. Hour after hour slipped by. and. as he made no appearance, ins parents began to grow alarmed. " i thought I'd managed to put the break on his nonsense," Mr. Goodrich exclaimed as he paced the room, "'the young donkey came to me for money. But, knowing how il would be spent and with what companions, J refused to be his banker." Then catching sight of Ins wile's face, " Did you give him am . Mary?" " ,\ litt le .lame-, dear." she answered tearfully; "could I see the boj walking round w it hout a ear-fare in his pocket r " " Car-fa, e ! bah ! " her husband snorted wrathfiilly. " What we think is kindness is only loo often cruelty. Well. I. suppose l must turn out and look tor him. Bert " — he shook a warning finger at her — "never give him a dime again unless it is with my knowledge and permission." He soon got a clue to Lester's whereabouts, and, trying to stifle the fear that was making his heart ache, he strode into the crowded supper-room at Jjargarnie's. " Sure he's right here." said the manager, none too pleased at seeing the colour of Mr. Goodrich's coat iu his " gay " establishment ; "and. if you're his pop, I'll be mighty obliged if you'il settle the score." A_ few seconds later, as he bent over the inert figure of his only son, he knew the worst. Repressing his sorrow and anger, he shook the lad until the lacklustre eyes were raised pitifully to his own. " Lester, I have come to take you home." " Father ! " With a sob the boy bowed his head once more upon the winestained table, thankful even then that the " friends who had helped him to spend every cent of his money before deserting him were not present to see the climax of his shame. " That's right, take him home," the manager jeered, as, the bill being paid, Mr. Goodrich led his reeling son past the crowded tables ; " he's getting off mighty light. If I'd done my duty I'd have given him over to the police." " The police," the clergyman echoed, his eyes blazing; " ah, if they were only doing their duty, you would be placed where you could do no further harm to man or woman." The meeting between mother and eon of a painful character; but Mi. ' toodrich oat short the intoxicated lad's protestations of repentance, and curtly ordered him to his room, where he soon fell into a heavy, troubled sleep. Presently he woke feeling much better, and immediately began to think how he could raiSe sufficient funds continue the debauch he and his cronies had planned and which had commenced so dis Suddenly he saw the way. When getting his mother's bag from the cupboard h< had noticed a well-tilled p ik in the breast-pocket of one of his fat! -. and he knew that it was sufhV to nuance a jollification which would make him the envy of his Rising stealthily, he crept down-fairs into th" deserted sitting-room. Five minute later he was racing down the street to once more join his friends. He was received with acclamation as and. the first greetings over, they about racking what little brain they bad in an endeavour to rind some i and novel way of spending the nis.rht. " I know." L,est-r cried at last. " let's go down to Tubby Moore's dive. May I. we'll be able to break the bank." Xo sooner said than done; but before long the bold gambler found that, instead of him breaking the bank, nearly all the pilfered money had pa from his pockets into those of the trickster, who was grinning aruiably across the table to his equally villainous assistant. " Now, my sportsmen." that worthy cried. " put your money on. The I dou t mini being cleare.l oat by such straight guys as you." Bat hardly had the words left his lips than a noise outside sent the colour ebbing from his bloated cheeks. "The police!" he' gasped, grabbing; the money that was already on the table. "Quick, douse the lights and clear out as quickly as yon can. b An hoar later, just as the dawn was STOD UK.Uv, WRETCH -XHES TIM1' THERE BEST BE no MISTAXHi