Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

PICTURES AND THE PICTu'REGOER 172 .: EKB ^ SINS of GREAT CITIES Adapted from the Nordisk Film by KEADLEY BRIDGE. YES, i r. M r. 1! eyno Ids is in. Will you gointo h\< room?'' JakeSullivan nodded, and. c ros sin g i he "'it' v office, opened tlie dour of tlie merchant's private sanctum and passed through. He was a tall, powerfully-"built man, with a jaw that spoke of strength and eyes that told their tale of vindictiveness and cunning. But his sleek, wellgroomed figure gave no hint of what ho really was— owner of a gaming saloon, managing director of a shady dancehall, and to sum him up in a word a panderer to the worst instincts of the depraved habitue* of the underworld. Scarcely had the door closed behind Sullivan when it was suddenly opened again, and his voice rang out, spreading consternation among the clerks in the outer office. '"Here! come quickly!" he cried, '• Mr. Reynolds has had a sudden seizure of some sort. Send for a doctor at once— though I'm afraid it is too late.'' He had guessed rightly. The merchant was beyond the need of any earthly aid; but none of those who crowded round his body knew that Sullivan had slipped into his pocket the explanation of the tragedy— a letter from a firm of lawyers informing Arthur Reynolds that an adverse legal decision had wiped out at one blow the fortune he had built up, and left him bankrupt. " J will go to so.' Miss Reynolds." said Sullivan, his strident voice breaking in on the hushed whisper of the clerks. " Some one must break the sad news to her, and as a friend of her father I will take on myself the painful duty.'' But his thoughts far different from his words ran in t his wise. "Now.you little spitfire, I'vegot you. You wouldn't listen to me when I called at your father's house a- his guest. You turned a deaf ear to my advances. Now we'll bi e how you will face poverty. Something tells me you will lie in my power within three months." He dissembled his feelings well during the heartbreaking interview with Daphne Reynolds, and when he left In V to the consolations of her friend, Sonia M< rriman, his tactful sympathy had gone far to wipe out the unfavourable impression he had firs! made on her. He devoted himself to her service relieved her of the painful tasks connected with her father's funeral, and generally played the part of the self. effacing and unobtrusive friend. The winding-up of her father's business disclosed lo Daphne what was already known to Sullivan: and at the earnest request of Sonia she went to live with her and her brother Paul until -h. should see some way to earning her own living. The Bierrimans were both on the stage, and both had achieved no little sue :ess in their career. Sonia was at the time studying the leading part in a new play in which she was to tarred, and Daphne, ever seeking a way to repay the kindness of her friends, offered to assist her by prompting her during her rehearsals at home. Sonia's discerning eye soon saw in Daphne evidences of no slight artistic talent. She persuaded the' girl to study for the stage, and Paul gladly gave up his eveningB to assisting her in her work. She rapidly gained proficiency, got rid of the self-consciousness that at first embarrassed her. and in a little while felt confident of her ability to take at least a small part as a commencement. Sullivan had meantime not been idle'. He was aware of Daphne's intention to adopt a stage career, and when he judged that the moment was ripe he ordered the manager of his dance-hall to write to the girh offering her an engagement at a very liberal salary. Daphne's delight at receiving this offer was unbounded. She felt chat she need no longer be a burden to her kind friends and when Sonia returned from the theatre she ran to her. waving the letter gleefully as ^he announced her good news to her friend. "Oh," cried Sonia, "how glad I am. for your sake, dearest ! Let me see the letter. Why." she added in a changed voice as she saw the address of the dance-hall, you can't go there, Daphne ! You really can't." "Why?" asked Daphne, somewhat bewildered by her friend's altered manner. " Why can't I go there ? " •'Don't you know that it is the lowest place in the' town ? " '" No." replied Daphne, thoughtfully. " I didn't know it. 1 am sorry to hear it. But I'm afraid 1 must accept this offer all the same. Beggars cannot choosers, you know."' To all Sonia's arguments Daphne returned the same reply. Her spirit of independence; bade her face any unpleasantness, any inconvenience. rather than be a continued burden to her friends : nor was all Paul's eloquence of any greater avail. She remained stedfast in her resolution io accept the offer, even though now it looked much less tempting than it did let, .re her eyes wereopened to the character of the place at which she was to appear. To her surprise and relief, the terror* that Sonia had predicted did not at first materialise. If somewhat boisterous and uncouth, the men who thronged her dressing-room between her performances were, on the whole, fairly civil and Well-behaved. Perhaps for that reason it came as a greater shock to her when one evening a half-drunken manubout-town, pestering her with bis atten :■!)•_ red by her chil towards him. suddenly roughly, at i 1 his v.ine-taii . she screamed for help, which without de-lay. Sullivan forced 1. through the throng of la ._ ers an . d him firmly from the io en. The obeying his glance, foil I closing tie door he turned to D . now almost on the "Poor little girl," he said, a • vanced towards her. "It ithat you should have to put uj rt of thing. Won't you gi ight. dear, to guard you agah Yo:i know how 1 love yo'.;. Say y« care for me a little." Worn out by the strain of wl. had gi >!!•■ tin i >ugh. Daphne, more th gratitude than for any either i almost cheerfully listened to his i ings. At Sullivan's earnest named an early date for the mai and. deceived by his plau-i ments, she agreed to keep their mgagjB ment se The night l>efore her wedd ever, she wrote to her friends Paul and Sonia telling them of her coming kappu uess, and naming the clergyman at whose house the ceremony was to lw performed. •' Why ! " cried Paul, when L note. " that's one of Sullivan's ! and there's no clergyman living tl He looked up the directory to verify his suspicions, and, glancing 'at his watefl saw that the hour named by Daphne was almost at hand. Together the brother and sister rushed out. and, calling issing ta\i. drove to the house Daphne had mentioned. They were at first refused admit lii£ HOCK. HAUKUaJK CEKLMoXT,