Picture-Play Weekly (Apr-Oct 1915)

PICTURE-PLAY \\'EEKLY 11 ^^"ith this aim in view, he alighted from the taxi near the home of the man w hose part he was playing, that he might walk to the reception without causing any suspicion. There was no doubt of it that he certainly knew his business. Mounting the steps, and going into the hotel, the thief presented an invitation— Draper's invitation — and advanced leisurely into the reception room. His manner was suave, and the impersonation was almost perfect, for it was the result of careful study made under disguise. The notorious gentleman burglar walked indifferently over to the stand on which the coveted jewels were being displayed. He did not even hesitate j:^ at playing the part with his double's ;| sweetheart. There was only one thing 1 for him to fear, that was his voice. But ' this was easily explained to Irma by a ' statement that he had a very bad cold, a : few vigorous coughs helped matters, and |j she accepted him as her lover. J "Aren't they beautiful?" the girl exI claimed, referring to the Armadi treaslures, after a greeting enthusiastic on the part of both parties. ''And they must be worth thousands of dollars," she continued. "They certainly are fine!" Broadway 'Jim replied, finishing with another (cough. Then he added, boldly enough, itoo, for a person in his position : "Are you able to dance, Irma, or must you stay by these all the while ? I hope you can, for I want to forget this beastly jcold." I '"A little later," she answered, "when pie crowd has stopped looking at them •;o some extent. Just now it isn't quite r^afe, with so many people around, to reave them entirely unguarded." Her apposed lover agreed, though smiled to imself as he wondered how she would eel when she discovered that they were one, later in the evening, when he had ccomplished his purpose. Broadway Jim excused James Draper rom Irma, for a time, and proceeded to lake himself sociable, as would have one the young man he was representig. Dancing was one of the tools of is business, and he had often made ood use of it. To-night he danced auch, for he knew Draper would have, ind spent the time between dances, when 3 le was not with Irma, in talking to those ho took him unwittingly for their lend. This was one of the hardest propositions with which he had to deal, for many quick, evading answers and statements had to be invented in the course of conversation. Consequently, the impostor stayed quite close to Irma, for her talk, though at times making the position intricate, was more concerning the jewels. They being in her care, were foremost in her mind, as were they in his. He had learned the history connected with them, and passed much of the time by relating it. "I'm going to take another look at them," he said once, and took them in his hand, examining them closely. He was comparing them mentally with some paste ones he had provided himself to be paneled with thin boards, and though at first he feared to break it lest it would attract some accomplices who might be listening, he finally turned to it as a last resort. In another fifteen minutes he was standing on the sidewalk in front of the building. He did not know where he was, but directed his steps to the nearest corner, where a street sign would give him the information. The first light he reached revealed to Draper that he did not have on his own clothes. He had been too excited to think of them before, and, as it had been dark, he did not notice that he was clad in the livery of a chauffeur. Feeling in the pockets of the uniform. Broadway Jim did not even hesitate at playing the part with his double's sweetheart. with, and which he then carried in his pocket. They were enough like them, he thought, to give him a good headstart before they were discovered to be missing. In the meantime, the true James Draper was faring badly. About an hour after being struck on the head, his consciousness returned, but thirty minutes more elapsed before he was able to rise from the floor, where he had been thrown, and investigate the surroundings. When at last he did get up and feel his way in the black darkness to a door, it was only to find it locked. The windows gave the same result, and appeared against him. Returnine to the door, he found it he found nothing. Then he stopped walking and turned himself to thought. What would a person want with his clothes? Why should any one lock him in a room far from the district of his home? These and manj other questions he pondered in his mind, and suddenly thought of his resemblance to Broadway Jim. He had almost forgotten it. Then theories formed quickly. His invitation was gone, as was his ewn apparel. Perhaps if he went to the reception it would help clear matters. This he decided to do. ^^'ith a bound, he started a dash for the corner, where he discovered where he was. To this he paid little attention, for he called an idle taxi and save the