Picture-Play Weekly (Apr-Oct 1915)

The Moonstone (WORLD FILM) By Kenneth Rand "On him who possesses, or who seeks to possess it, disaster will fall." That was the • curse of the Moonstone, which Captain Herncastle defied by stealing the jewel from the forehead of an idol in India. Two months and two weeks later, he was dead. But where was the Moonstone? Who took it? That is the question you will find yourself asking a dozen times throughout this story, based on the World Film Corporation's five-reel detective play — and you can't guess the answer until the last line is read. The cast: Franklin Blake Eugene O'Brien Rachel Verinder Klaine Hammerstein Rosanna Spearman Ruth Findlay Godfrey Abelwhite ..William Resell ADI.^MOND as big as the top of a drinking tumbler !" Captain Herncastle repeated the words to himself half aloud. His bags were packed; he was leaving India on the morrow. "I wonder if there could have been anything in Chilchester's yarn, after all?" he continued musingly. "Let's see •how the story went. I'd had a bit too much to drink at that farewell mess dinner, but I believe I can patch the facts together — if facts they are. The Temple of the Moon God. That's where the thing is supposed to be. Four generations ago, it was placed in the forehead of the idol by the high priest of the temple. 'On all who possess it, or who seek to possess it, disaster will fall !' So the high priest decreed, when he set the jewel between the image's eyes. Chilchester declared he'd seen it, on a visit he made to the temple, disguised as a native. It was as big around as the top of a drinking tumbler, he said. A diamond like that would be worth — it would be worth having, that's sure! I've half a mind to make a try for it!" The English officer paced the floor, his brows knit in thought. "I'm leaving for home to-morrow," he muttered. "It might just be my luck to get away with it !" He smote his fist against his palm, in sudden decision. "I ivill make a try for the prize — if it exists !" Disguised as a Hindu, three hours later. Captain Herncastle entered the Temple of the Moon God. All his doubts were swept away, as he saw the marvelous stone that glowed in the forehead of the idol on the temple's altar. It was as big as his friend Chilchester had said. A diamond, the like of 'which probably existed nowhere in all the world. Kneeling on the temple's bare stone floor. Captain Herncastle seemed to be praying to the Moon God with the other worshipers around him. In reality he was waiting — waiting for the others to leave, and for the three guardian priests of the idol to fall asleep. The hours passed, and still he knelt there, with his forehead pressed to the cold stone pavement. But he used his ears to check off the number of worshiping natives his eyes had counted upon entering the place. Now there were only three left besides the priests and himself in the temple. Now only two. .\ longer interval and then the last pair of worshipers departed together. Captain Herncastle waited a full hour more. And then, slowly, silently, he lifted his head and looked toward the three priests. They were fast asleep ! He stole forward on the balls of his feet, drawing out a dagger from under the nati\e robe which he wore. Between the sleeping priests he picked his way, and mounted the altar. Then, working swiftly but soundlessly, he proceeded to carve the diamond out of its setting in the forehead of the idol. The stone dropped out at last into his hand. He put the knife away, and turned to descend the altar. One of the priests rose, and, with a warning cry to the others, sprang upon him. Captain Herncastle struck out with both fists, and scored two clean knock-downs. The third priest he met, football fashion, with lowered head and shoulders, as he sought to s;op him in his rush for the door. The Hindu sprawled head over heels on the temple floor. And the next moment Captain Herncastle was gone, and the precious IMoonstone went with him. One of the three guardian priests of the idol, rising, struck a gong that hung beside the altar. It had scarcely ceased reverberating when the high priest appeared in response to the alarm. He saw the despoiled idol ; he heard the storj' of the three priests, and his lips set in a thin line. "Go !" he ordered. "Recover the IMoonstone. Wherever it has gone, there ye must follow. Until the diamond is replaced, ye three are without caste !" Two months later, Captain Herncastle arri\ed in England. He reopened his bachelor apartment, which had been closed during his three-year sojourn in India, and renewed his acquaintance with all his old friends. But to none of them did he make any mention whatsoever of the Moonstone. Not even to Franklin Blake, the young lawyer who was his attorney and his closest friend, did the captain speak of the matchless diamond that he had brought back with him as the result of a theft. It was a fortnight after his return, when one morning Captain Herncastle called his valet to him. He showed him the Aloonstone. Then, placing it in a jewel bo-K and locking it in a drawer of