Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

Wkkk ending Nov a >, 1915 157 PICTURES AND THE PICTUKEGOF.R 1 ' '■ M j^^Hww^ [ M Br -■ ^k W\ IS 9 LJH 1 El ^^^^ ?«jj 1 lS w IT It \ SHOCK OF BORPRISE 1 HAT FtE ENCOUNTERED EiOU] I'l result. The newspapers began to crack • i be expense of Scotland Yard, ;md because the detect i\ es could give no name to the forger, the newspapers gave him one themselves. Thej called him u Jim the Penman," and suggested that the Scotland Yard officials was "Jim the (Penman " himself. Readers wrote hnrried lines to the papers, saj ing what they would do to catch the forger, whilst some had the hardihood to write wishing thej themselves wen half as clever as "Jim the Penman." The public took up the name with alacrity There were 'Jim the Penman" hats and " Jim the Penman " ties, eaeli nicelj worked with hieroglyphics to testify idmiration of the unknown hero. The years followed eaeli ether, and the Penman" remained unknown. Sometimes after a very big couphere ■d <|iiiet for sex eral year*, and e\ erj >ne was beginning to forget him when another amazing forgery brought his glamorous personality again before the public attention, and the battle of words started afresh. * • * Twenty years passed, and Jim Ralston had gone into that mysterious business known as " company promoting." That he was company promoting during 'the day was correct enough, but in the quietness of his study, with locked doors, lie performed those miracles of handwriting that earned him the secret admiration of the crowd, and paid much ' than company promoting-. Notwithstanding his successes, he knew he was engaged >n very dangerous enterprises. His hair was fjrey, and sometimes there crept into his eyes the look 1 >f a hunted animal. His wife Nina and his daughter Agnes were naturally the chief cause of ins anxiety, lor diseovery would ruin them us well as him. They little knew of the volcano beneath feet. Nina had hecome a matronly woman, and only occasionally wondered why the lover of her youth, Louis Percival. had thrown her up so suddenly, and whether he had married. At this* time her daughter Agnes was beginning to qccupj her thoughts, for her engagement to Lord Dreli court was about to be announced. It was this that in J Ralston's anxiety. He was rich c iw, and had no further desire to exploit hi. talent with the pen. He wished -: on his laurels, but in the background was the sinister figure of B.iron Hartfeld, who. [ike the proverbial tiger, was nei er sal isfied. "We have made large profits ; let as stop now before it is too late," pleaded Ralston, on seeing the figure of the Baron luxuriously ensconced in an armchair in In study. The Baron eyed Ralston narrowly. II" realised that Ralston wished to turn his back on his career, and he smiled at the idea of'Jimthe Penman " becoming respectable. Ralston had performed his bidding so far; but the time was 'coming when he would not. He must not break the straining cord. " Very well, my friend." replied the Baron, "it shall lie a \,.u wish. But just one more coup, and then we'll cry quits, and finish it." •• What is it ? " asked Ralston, somewhat relieved to know that it would be the last time for iisine' his pen. The Baron rc-e and whispered in the other's ear. " The Drelincourt necklace. Thej are worth twenty thousand pounds. I have a specimen of Lord Drelincourt's handwriting, and you can copy it to write an order on the bank to open the safe and hand it over." "I can't do it." replied Ralston. despairingly. ' He is the last man in the world I would rob." This was news to Hartfeld, and for a moment he was nonplussed. Then his cupidity overruled him. and he stormed, cajoled, and threatened until he wrung an unwilling consent from the wretched man. Then he departed. Ralston went into the drawing-room, and saw a aentleman in conversation with bit «it'' whose face ami figure see mi 'I uniliai He ] I for a Hi' 'mi-lit .1 ud i < irise t I1.1t he enei nintered Louii P. ruival. I 1 ■ England on In I Percival pi i intlj I done I ■ 1 I'M ill J ' 'U |"l ll I ! ' I'lielh I \ I a I .ill hi. 1 1 • Ralston, ci hi idem blj relievi il rent l_\ Perch al knew not Inn ins t lial led I" t he In caking match, nor of i hi • >'■ tini the old a sum < replied "IV of fuel thai mi Baron Hartfeld was AROtriKG i Ralsi in, ie atlv al'st racted from Peron a! a ing account hj .1 im t he Penran ti Did Perch al saj n he l hei married or notP" Ralston asked oi his w ife with assumed carelessness. " We did nol speak "I the replied Nina w it h a pout. Ralston breathed again, and turned to an' 'ther Bubject. •■ Who i t hit new gue -i . ( -aptain Red od, who arrived a few days ago?" lie continued. " I don't like t he man.'' " He is an acquaintance of I.' ird Drelincourt's," replied Nina, in surprise. "He is a charming man. and knows everybody. By the way, Lord Drelincourt has asked Agnes to !"■ his wit'''. and he awaits your sanction to th< it engagement." ••That's all right," returned Hal-ton. hurriedly. " | have nothing t" saj against it." Five minutes later Ralston called up Baron Hartfeld. "That Drelincourl deal must ii"f go through. I'll explain to-morrow," .said Ralston. " You're late." replied Hart feld. with a smile as he hung up the 1 eiver at the other end. Ralston went into the smoking-room where his guests were gathered. and saw that they were listening to some ol I' i cival's remarks. "I must tell you tin odd circumstances that broughl me to England," said Louis Percival. A few weeksago 1 received a letter from a detective "lam very sorry to interrupt your story." remarked Captain Redwood. " but I think the ladies are waiting Ralston felt very uncomfortable. .Meanwhile events moved rapidly. Next day, for the first time. Nina learned that the latter she had received from Percival breaking off their engagement had not been written by him. "No," replied Nina to Louis's guarded inquiries, "1 wrote you no letter. It was your note to me that broke off our engagement. 1 still have it. Wait." Nina ran to her desk and brought out the fateful letter. Percival looked at it with knitted blows, then remarked. strangely, "A wonderful forgery, and like the one that robbed me of 615,000." Baron Hartfeld, in the other room, was arguing with Ralston. " It's too bad." commenced the Baron, "that this complication should have arisen. The necklace has already been secured, and if you want to restore it to your future son-in-law it will cost you £15,000, Besides. I intend to be your guest lor a few dax s." " WhyP"asked Ralston, angrily ; "why do you force yourself upi n ns? ''Because of your sudden determina