Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

K END1NO 0< r. •. 1915 11 PIC TURKS AND THE PICTUREGOER A WOMAN WITH A PAST Adapted from the Nordisk Film by CLAUDE WILSON. " n\ Jove! what a charming girl!" D muttered Philip de Gardieu, as, I > : 1 — ^ i 1 1 l^_ through the entrance-hall of the hotel, lus eye fell upon Melon tcl. " Must try ami meet her again," he mused, little dreaming, as he strode through the door into the street that his wish was about to be gratified in a very different way from the one he imagined. .lust then, however, Helen Montel felt very far from charming. Having been left an orphan at an early age, she had fallen into the hands of ;i gang of "crooks," and incidentally into the 1 ow er of their chief, a man named Raoul, under whose direction and in whose company she was staying in the hotel at that moment. "Oh! if only [ could get out of his clutches," she thought, and start all over again!' companying Raoul to his room. Helen soon learned what was to be her "part" in the night's programme. " .Now 1 ho] e you understand exactly what you have to do." concluded Raoul, looking the girl squarely in the face. '■ I want no blundering, remember, and I don't feel disposed to run through it iin." " 1 quite understand.'' she falteringly replied. "Good! then the sooner you get to work the better." Helen quietly left the room without further argument. Passing stealthily along the corridor, she paused outside the door of Philip de Gardieu's room, and peering fearfully round to make certain that she was unobserved, quickly turned the handle and entered. Her search for '* booty." however, was of short duration, for Philip, feigning sleep from the moment he heard the door open, and noticing the mission upon which his fair intruder was engaged, sprang out of bed and seized hold of her. Helen at once drew her small revolver, but before she could attempt to make any use of it he had overpoweied her and sent the weapon crashing to the floor. Upon recognising the girl he uttered a cry of surprise. '"What! What do yon want here?" he asked inquiringly, in low and even tones. " Surely yon have made a mistake wrong room, or something like that, perhaps; or— er " " No! There's no mistake." cried the girl defiantly. "I am a thief, and it is in that capacity that I am here in your room to-night. But you don't understand! How could you It is not my fault. I assure you. I— I!— oh. for God's sake, save me from him ! It is he that compels me to assist him in all his foul work and undertakings; and I cannot help it." And. throwing herself down upon the bed, she sobbed out to Philip the whole of her miserable life-story, telliug him Helen quietly left the room. how she had got mixed up with the gang and of the evil influence that Raoul had exerted over her. Philip listened to her in silence. Then, overwhelmed with an uncontrollable desire to avenge his poor and unfortunate acquaintance, he rushed straight into Raoul's bedroom. Opening the door unnoticed, he tackled the "crook" from behind, and, picking up the revolver which Raoul had dropped during the struggle, forced a confession from him. " You miserable hound ! " he cried, still covering Raoul with the revolver, "you have only Providence to thank that I do not hand you over to the police immediately. It is only out of consideration for this young girl that I spare you. from the punishment you so richly deserve." Next morning Philip took charge of Helen. He placed her under the care of his sister, believing that time and environment would restore the girl once more to her proper position in life. # # # * Within six months Philip had fallen a hopeless victim to Helen's charms, and, pleading his cause without delay obtained her willing consent to tlcir marriage, On their return from the church after the ceremony thej encountered Raoul, who, ha\ ingread the marriage announcement in the papers, had determined to seek Ion revenge, Climbing the verandah of Philip's bouse, and locating Helen's boudoir, he forced the windows and entered the room, In an instant his hands were about h,-r throat, and he would have strangled her had not be* ams attracted Philip's attention. Rushing into the room, Philip threw aside the intruder, but while be attended to his half-fainting t >i id> Raoul had made good his escape. • "*"■•• Some weeks later Philip, acceding to the request of the "Deputation Committee" which visited him. agreed to represent his party at the forthcoming election. Opposing a Mr. Barfoot, a man much disliked on account of hisj most erratic ways, Philip felt no uneaei with regard to the ultimate issue of the " poll." With Barfoot. however, the news of "opposition" came as a great shock. " I can't afford to risk opposition at a time like this! he cried, cursing and stamping up and down his study. "A Mr. Raoul to see you. sir.'' announced the small page. " In connection with the election I think, sir." 'Raoul! Raoul! I don't knoxf^the fellow. Still, show him up. " '* Good evening, Mr. Raoul," began Barfoot, suavely, as the latter entered the room. " Something to do with the election. I think 'i " " Yes," returned Raoul. obscurely. "It has something to do with the election right enough. How much is it worth to you to be returned unopposed, to have a clear field without opposition ! " " I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you are driving at. You mean " " I mean that I can give you astrong weapon to use against Philip de Gardieu, if you care to pay the price. Hia wife is an ex-criminal. I can prove it." In a flash Barfoot realised the strength and possibilities of the situation. " Your own terms," he agreed readily, " when our object is finally accomplished." "Good! One thousand pounds to start with, say, and another instalment at the finish. Is that agreeable ? " " Quite." Then Raoul disclosed to his new confederate the whole story. "Go," he added in conclusion. 'and see de Gardieu at once. I fancy ho will be only too anxious to withdraw from the candidature when he learns how much you know." An hour later Barfoot was seated in Philip's study. " I've come to request