Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

PICTURES AND THE PICTUREGOER 5:0 ■I NO March jS, 1916 Mule faintness I am subject to such lit-. If you will excuse me for a little while, nnd continue I shallsoon be all 1 ight again." Bh) as the door closed behind her a of triuni)ili trembled <>n her lips. 1 hi-i ily donning ber hooded cloak, she stol • unnoticed from t lie hotel, and a shffrp drive bronghl be? to the house of ih" man she was aboulTto victimibe. The d ■ yielded t" her .-kill, and a few moments later the meat pearl lay in her hand, fehe hid it in tier corsage, then prepared to leave the room, bul at the door .-In' paused. Again she ■saw tin strong figure and handsome of the man who cleft the water for her rescue; again she heard his voice. ' No, I cant. 1 won't do it," she cried aloud: "I won't rob him —T yes. even 1 have discovered at last that I am not heartless— that I would sacrifice anything for the man who gladly offered his life for mine, for " a sob choked her utterance—" God help me ! I know that at last 1 love." # ft »; When George Hearn heard that their plot had miscarried, he was furiously angry. " [ knew you'd make a mess of it.' lie raved. " Now we shall have to think out another scheme." "No,"' she answered, "there will lie no fresh attempt to gain possession of i lie jewels. I refuse to rob Tom " "Tom." he sneer d, "you're mighty familiar— maybe» you're sweet on him. mil you're going to chuck me over! " "' \ es ; 1 am sweet on Mr. Harvey ; the lo< e in my heart would take me to him if he was a beggar. Now I'm through with yon. 60! " "Curse you!" Hearn hissed. "You promised yourself to me. and no other man shall have you. You " "Go!" Still swearing madly, the wretched man stamped out of her apartment; and Lenora was left face to face with the most hitter moments of her Lie. '" It's no good," she sobbed. "leant -hut him out of my thoughts, out of m\ heart; and I'm not tit to take his hand. To-morrow I'll return to the city." But the morrow and many succeeding "to-morrows" found her still by the sea, and each day only increased tin' love she felt for the diver and her hatred lor her one-time lover who. also staging on, spent his time between drinking and threatening the woman v. ho had lured him to destruction. Then, one summer's day. when alone with Tom in his motor-launch, she acted 011 a sudden impulse and. scarcely knowing what she did, confessed. For a moment ilarvcy was dumbfounded. "You m -ant to rob me went to the house that night " She shrugged her shoulders. "I was hard up. The ra 11 who waa my 1 iver could scarcely pay for my shoes out of his beggar^ cierli's pay: B 'tween us we planned the eon,,. That failed. Now you know all. Mr. Ilar.ev all but the reason why your pearl was not stolen, and t tat ,v i <\i ai I u ver kno . Harvey's face set in rigid lines. Who v\ is your a toiii >li :e ? " " Oli. d .n't a -I • i-tt r for (he s.ike of you . .1 . Answer ' \v bo.-v.iH rh.s cur r " K. ^ ■** Shrieking oat us. He ark rushed at her. Her eyes fell beneath his compelling gaze. " George Hearn," she whispered. "George!" he gasped — the man who was more to me than any brother the man I " With an oath, he swung the boat round, and brought it to land. Without another word he leaped ashore, and ran towards the town. Outside a saloon he met the object of his search. " Hulloa. Tom." exclaimed George, i: why you're white as a ghost, man — surely, nothing has happened " " By Heaven " Harvey cried, "if guilt was not written .on your trembling lips 1 should hardly believe the truth now; you you infernal cur ! " "' What do you mean r " " That I know you for a thief that if you dare to enter my house Again I'll break every bone in your body : you miserable hound. Oh. don't worrj to lie your accomplice tic woman who sells her love has told me everything." " Lenora '' " Yes; Lenora -now quit the town "Steady; two em play that game! So you'\e : ought her love, have you. and paid her a bit extra to betray me? Well, you're welcome to your shopsoiled I 'area in — llardly had the words lefi his month, when 'i blow from Harvey's beavy.fist stretched him on the floor. In a second lie «;ii up and each was struggling to = slay the man he had once loved for the = sake of a wanton's money lust, until the = bystanders separated them. = llalf an hour later G . urge Hearn =S found Li nora on the cliffs. = ' Se yo a've added treachery; to your ol her accomplishments," he cried. "Stand aside, and let me pass, >r he fell. and. rollirg down ti crashed to his death on the rocks below. For a moment Lenora listened, bat no sound save the screaming of gulls broke the silence. Then, burling the weapon far away from her. she crept back to the shelter of her h * * • » ''One moment I must .. ou!" With a stare. Lenora Carewe swung round to look into the dark Grace, who had accosted b about to leave. the bote ha train. " Last night," began Grace, excitedly. 1 rge Hearn was done to death, and this morning my " tin veet voice trembled' Mr. Harvey was arrested for his murder.1 All the colour left Lenora "Tom —Mr. Harvey arrested t leorge Hearn's murder ? " she gasped. " What ha it to do with D "Everything" —the girl's calmness grew as the woman trembled — " you can prove his innocence by giving yourself up for the crime you committed." Grace made her accusation boldly enough, then once more her enforced calmness deserted her. "Oh! -can't you understand — Oeorge and Tom quarrelled—each swore to kill — " Why do you accuse nie ? " " I I it< i'-. I saw it all in a dream. You and he quarrelled on the cliff, and you -you shot him. Refuse to do the right thing and I'll — oh, God k> what I shall do. but even if I give m\»self up Tom shall not suffer! Deal 'Tom so brave, so gentle, so good ! " For a moment the adventuress hesitated the girl could not prove her charge, and she she seemed to live again that day when the diver had run to her assistance: again she heard his voice, and her eyes filled with tears as she turned to Grace. '* Tell me. child what is he to 5 on ': " "I lore him. and until you came 1 knew that iie loved me! " "Then go home." the adventuress answered softly. " before many hours have passed he will be with you again I— I love him too. Yes. 1 shot Tom Hearn -shot him in self-defence, bat she laid her hands appealingly on the e!.!'s arm — "try to think of me as kiiull.v as yon can. and one day. who knows! you and the man you love will 1)3 able t<> forgive." Without another word she turned, and leaving the girl standing in the summer sunshine, walked slowly towards the grey building, where the only man she had ever loved lay. charged with the crime she had committed. * *■ * for cast .11 1 " ' >' ki</< " 0* a nickel-plated revolve, flashed in the sou " I'll shoi t in self-defence ! " Shrieking obscene oaths. Hearn rushed at \<<-\ The oistol nvacked.and ^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiHiiiiiiiiniimiiimiiiiiiMiiiiimiiiiiL = Scots wha hae wi' Wallace = § bled hive never seen I THE COMMUTE S' I -iiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiitiiii;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiin?