Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

PICTURES AMD TiiE PICTUREGOER 158 B RVDIXG Nov. 2 i, 1915 tion l" dissolve the partnership of ' Jim i lie Penman and < '>>. ' A fateful interview was proceeding ( laptain Red iod and Lotus Percii al. " I am Captain Redv 1 to ietj ," Baid the former j " but I am also a detective. I determined to find 'Jim tin' Penman,' and I tell yon that he is yonr friend James Ralston." Percival was dumbfounded; then his instincts of chi\ airy towards the woman he had loved asserted itself. "That may be," he said; "hut neither you nor I have tin' authority to disgrace an innocent uilV and child for his infamy.*' Nina going over her accounts that night made a startling discovery. Her husband had signed her name to a list of items one day when she was out and her signature was required. He had informed her of it, hut ou seeing the signature she was amazed at the marvellous resemblance. A dreadful suspicion entered her brain. She went to the drawer, and took out the letter Percival had declared to be a forgery, and she compared the handwriting with the imitation of her own signature to the accounts. Ralston was reclining in an armchair at the other end of the room, get even with yon for this. Hand me over thai £15,000, or I denounce yon!" Ralston was amazed and alarmed. "I have not the necklace," he retorted; '"but as lor yonr threats, I have in ray pocket evidence to -cud you to prison also -letters over your signature forged D3 me." A sound attracted their attention, and they turned to face Captain Redwood. " You gentlemen miss something, I believe. Is this it?" and the Captain pulled acase from his pocket. It contained the Drelincoui t necklace. Baron Hartfeld was Beized with a fit of trembling, whilst Ralston grew even paler, and put his hand over his heart. The detective took up the pile of notes, remarking, " I fliink I may offer these to Mr. Percival as a permanent loan from you, Jim the Penman.'" Ralston nodded. His eyes were glazing. It was evident the man was ill. The detective walked out with the notes, leaving the pair stupefied. " The game is up," said Ralston, as he felL back in his chair. Hartfeld felt vaguely alarmed; then he quickly rummaged in the other's pocket for the incriminating papers, which he ab 1 am Captain Redwood to Society, but i am also a Detective.'' for he looked ill and fatigued— the result of recent excitement on a heart that had grown weak of recent years. "John, come here ! " cried his wife. He rose to his feet, and encountered his wife's accusing eyes. "The hand that wrote this signature wrote this letter. How infamous ! " Ralston knew that his marvellous luck had departed. "It was for love of you 1 did it. If you leave me, what will yon tell our daughter ? " A compromise was arranged, for Agnei's wedding to Lord Drelincourt was arranged for t ho following day. Baron Hartfeld hung around Ralston like his shadow, and after the wedding followed him to his private room. " Well f " he qui ried, "1 have here the fifteen thousand pounds for the Drelincourt necklace," whispered Ralston. " Fetch me the necklace, and yon will have the notes." Hartfeld rubbed his hands and. remarking thai he would he l>ad< in a few moments, went to his bedroom. He returned in a very few moments spluttering with rage. ■■ You h;i\e it ! " he screamed. " It's i and j ou ha\ e tricked me. i shall stracted. At this moment he felt a hand on his arm, and again encountered the inscrutable face of Captain Redwood. "I shall want yon.'" said the Captain. The doors were thrown open, revealing the wedding-party, which had just sat down to dinner. Agnes had come to fetch her father into the dining-room, and as she emerged Redwood pulled Hartfeld into the shadow behind the door. The girl tripped up to her father's chair and pulled his coat playfully. " Come along, sleepy head. The guests arc waiting." She bent down, and straightened herself again with a gesture of terror and surprise. " There is something wrong I cannot arouse Father," she cried to several of the guests. She was right. The tired heart was stilled at last. The career of Jim the Penman had finished for ever. # * # • The east of this superbly-acted production IS as follows: John Ralston. John Mason; Louis Percival, Harold Lock wood ; Ha ron Hart fold. Russell Ha-sett; Lord Drelincourt, William Ro3elle; Captain Redwood, Frederick Perrj ; Nina L 'Estrange, Marguerite Leslie. Interviewed by "Pictures."' lVl J inquired timidly. I had come to interview the famous actor who is now playing in Centaur Star Features produced' by ' Mutual Film Corporation of America. "I'm sorry. Miss, but Mr. Wilbni engaged, and too busy to see anyone, y, ,u are almost sure to catch him at his apartments in Madison Avenue after hoars/' "Thank you." I replied as I turned from the office with a sinking heart. Nevertheless I decided I would write to Mr; "Wilbur and be sure of my prey. This I did. but the reply was again disappointing, for it conveyed the fact that for ten days he would be engaged on a big picture. If I cared to meet nim'at 1 ireakt'ast, however, at the Hotel McAlpin, where he always takes his first meal of the day, he would give me what copy " I required. On the following morning I wended my way to the meeting-place. I was ushered to the table where the actor sat waiting for his breakfast and. incidentally, for me. I had never met him before, having admired his good looks through the medium of the screen only, and when he rose from his seat 1 my heart go thud, thud, thud ! N have I seen such pensive grey eyes, such gloriously curly black hair. Mr. Wilbur is — oh ! so handsome ! "Won't you sit down?" he asked. " What is it you want to know ? " " Everything about yourself." I urged. The waiter brought as some strawberries and cream (a dish which regularly to Mr. Wilbur 865 days in the year), crisp brown toast, and con " Well." Mr. Wilbur began. " I"ve had to traverse a rocky road, but I think I have jumped the ruts very well." And between monthfnls of strawberries and cream and sips of coffee Mr. Wilbur imparted the following: — " I was born in Athens. X.Y. — my dear little mother still lives there. 1 left school at the age of thirteen and started life in a meat market some beginning that for an actor, eh F (Here Mr. Wilbur revelled in a chuckle of mirth in which ] joined.) Then 1 was a winder in a knitting mill, and when I asked for a rise the boss gave me one the nob'. fthe boot. That settled matters. I w mt to Mrs. Fiske, who was then playing in New York in ' Mary of Blagdala ' and g >t the job of leading a mule across H 1 was four seasons in that show, and then got a part in Robespierre' where I had to say 'Oui, Om, Monsieur." Three words were too much for my mental capacity, and 1 forgot my part and was fired. Later on, however. 1 was re-engaged by the same company, and from that time 1 moved some. •' 1 was on the stage twelve years, then T'went into pictures, and. if I have any saj in the matter, in pictures I'll stay." " How did you come to play for films?" I ventured, as Mr. Wilbur