Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

PICTURES AND THE PICTUREGOER 12 Wees ending Oct. 2, 1915 you to withdraw your candidature from the forthcoming election," be interposed meaningly., rising as Philip entered the room. " Upon what ground, might I ask', am I indebted to you for the honour of this \ isit P " asked Philip, coldly. "Upoa any grounds you, like," retorted Barfoot, insolently. " But unless you withdraw immediately -from the Contest 1 -hall be reluctantly compelled to state some of the astonishing and painful facts that I have heard concerning your wife ! " Philip started back a step, as though he had been struck. " So that's the frame, is it ? ',' he cried hoarsely. " And how do you suppose that any information you may possess concerning my wife will influence my future arrangements ? " " I should not like to say. Only if it became known generally that Mrs. de Gardieu was an ex-criminal, perhaps " "Silence! you blackguard! Say another word at your peril. leave me ! If you come back in two hours you shall then have my answer.'' "Philip! Philip!" distractedly cried his wife, coming from behind the curtain as Barfoot left the room. " I have' heard everything that has passed be-: tween you — every single word." Philip buried his head in his hands and groaned. " Listen, dearest." she continued. " There is only one thing to do now, and that must be done at once. I will ti'o away for awhile — until the election' is over. When your opponent returns, tell him that his news has been the cause of our separation, and that you have turned me out." " But, my darling" broke in Philip, •J really can't " '"Please do as I wish. Believe me.it is for the best, and there is no other way. So good-bye. my darling! Say good-bye to me here, (hen you will not be seen letting me nit." And with one long, passionate embrace she had gone. "My wife has gone! I have turned her out !" flashed Philip upon Barfoot 's return. " So perhaps you may be satisfied at last— now that you have ruined my home. (4o." he added, pointing towards the door, "before 1 have you thrown out." When Raoul heard of Barfoot '3 failure his anger knew no bounds. "Meet me to-nigbt outside Philip de Gardieu's villa," he cried, "and leave the rest to me." * # # # As Philip sat alone in his study that night, pondering over his wife's hurried departure, the tinkling of the telephone bell on the table by his side suddenly attracted his attention. Answering the call, he was astonished to hear his beloved's voice vibrating across the wires. " I'm so thankful you are sate. my darling," he cried. " i\e been worrj ing awfully about you ever since yotl left me. What's that ? .lust a moment, little one. There's some one knocking at the door. Hold the line. I shan't be a second." Placing the receiver down upon the table, be rose and crossed the room to the door, finding no one there, he walked down the steps and looked along the drive. As he did so he was seized from behind by Raoul and Barfoot. who had been in hiding, and who. after chloroforming and roping him. bore him off in triumph to their waiting motor, Helen, patiently waiting at the 'phone, could not understand why her husband did not return to finish their conversation, and it was only when the butler, who had been left for dead on the doorstep, had recovered consciousness and tried to 'phone for the police, that she learned what had happened. Returning at once to the house, she found a ring belonging to Raoul, lying upon the drive. Immediately suspecting foul play in consequence, she hurried with all speed to the Crook's headquarters — the old cellar workshop — the place she had known so well in former days. With the aid of the doctor and chauffeur who accompanied her, she succeeded easily in removing the padlock that fastened the door, and, bursting into the cellar, found that she had just arrived in time to save her husband from a terrible»and hideous death. Philip had been securely chained against the wall. In front of him. on a tiny wooden platform, stood a highly explosive bomb, connected by means of several electric wires from a battery to an iron rod projecting out of the wall. His wrist, encircled by a broad iron bracelet, was attached to a mechanical pulley which was slowly dragging it higher and higher towards the project ing-rod. " When the plate you wear round your wrist." he had been told by Raoul, '" touches the iron rod in the w^all the electrical current will be completed, and the bomb will explode." Thus was he placed when discovered by his wife. "The fiends! the fiends!" she cried*, hysterically, rubbing Philip's wrist betweenher-bands. Heaven will su. punish them for tl.' Stay, little one." cried Philip, bending down and placing two pieces of is >n near to each other behind the d' "They are sure to come back to see why the bomb has not exploded. Whenjhey do so, in opening the door th--y will cause these two irons to touch, and. completing the circuit, they will be killed by their own device.'' As Philip had prophesied, Raoul and Barfoot. puzzledatthenon-action< f their bomb, returned to investigate the cause. " He must have slipped the wristpiece." swore Raoul under his breath. as he inserted the key into the lock. "There is plenty of time to readjust it. " smiled Barfoot, fiendishly. " and he will " But the sentence was n finished. As Raoul threw open the door a terrific crash, followed by an avalaneh falling debris, occurred. The two archplotters had paid the price of their villainy. A just retribution had speedily followed upon the heel of all their criiv. * * • This sensational Nordisk three-reeler, with its unusually interesting story, is quite fascinating to watch. It is beautifully played, and tHfe magnificent for which the company is so noted are one of the features of this particular production. Helen, the heroine, is plaj ed by Eblia Thomson, and Philip, the hero, by Robert Diuesen. "WtfKN THE n kTB TOl ui w; ROUND TOUH WRIST rOUCHES llir [BON BOD IN THE WALL THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT WILL BE COMPLBTBD, AND THE BOMB WILL EXPLODE,