Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY 13 waited him. He gathered his wife in s arms. Lovingly she clung to him. Their lips met in a kiss that was full affection and devotion. In another oment he was in his motor car, speedg toward his office. As the machine bore him on his way business, he thought over the events I: the night. For a long time he had icretly cherished an ambition to enter clitics. He realized that he needed 1 •mething beside business to divert his ind from the ever-increasing tortur-:gs of conscience. That morning there as to be a meeting of a committee of dependent men to name a candidate >r governor. Why shouldn't he seek iie nomination? He had money enough '> defray the cost of a campaign, and le honor gained from the office would lease him. Then, too, his wife would jave greater social advantages as first ,dy of the State. He picked up the speaking tube, and irected his chauffeur to proceed to the : where the politicians were in conerence. "Gentlemen," began the chairman of le meeting, "we are gathered this lorning for the purpose of naming an idependent candidate for governor. We re all disgusted with the graft and coruption which exists in this State to-day, nd we must have a strong reform candate. I feel confident that with the aming of any clean, decent man we will weep the State. Have any of you genlemen a candidate in mind?" As the chairman concluded his renarks, the door opened, and Martin fenchford entered. For a few seconds e engaged in low-toned, earnest conersation with the man nearest him. he man rose to his feet. "Mr. Chairman and gentlemen," said le, "I have in mind a man who has neen a success in business, a man who tands for everything that is fair and ean and decent. If you nominate the nan of whom I am speaking, I feel condent that he will be elected by one of he largest pluralities ever given any andidate in this State. Gentlemen, I nave the honor of placing the name of Martin Henchford before you." At the mention of the name, a volley f applause greeted the speaker. The hairman pounded with his gavel to retore order, but every one was enthusiastic over the prospect of Henchford's omination. "Speech ! Speech !" cried the men. Henchford rose to his feet, squared his shoulders, and bowed acknowledgment to the ovation he had received. "Gentlemen," began Henchford, "I want the nomination for governor. Not only do I want the nomination, but I also desire to be elected. I feel that this State has too long been the prey of crooks and grafters, and I believe I can clean this political Augean stable. If elected, I pledge you my sacred word that I will give the people of this State a clean, honest, efficient administration." He resumed his seat amid a thunder of applause. The vote was polled, and the chairman announced that the conference had unanimously selected Martin Henchford as their standard bearer. A storm of applause greeted the announcement. Once again Henchford was on his feet. "Gentlemen, I thank you for the honor you have conferred on me." He gathered up his hat and coat, after shaking hands with all present, and made his way to the door. He paused and faced the men who had nominated him. Extending an impressive forefinger, he said : "The people of this State will have the very best that is in me. I will labor solely for their good." The door opened, and he was gone. Election Day came and passed, and two months later he was inaugurated as the governor of the State. In the excitement of the campaign he had found complete surcease . from the tormenting visions. Again he was beating God and conscience. When affairs settled into their usual routine, the visions of that scene in the lonely Valley Road reoccurred with nerve-shattering frequency. Gradually he lost weight. His health was becoming undermined. His friends said that he was working too hard, but in his heart Martin Henchford knew that it was the scarlet stain upon his soul that was crying for vengeance. His wife insisted that he take a vacation. Eagerly he grasped at the idea. An irresistible, intangible something seemed to be calling him back to England— back to the scene of his crime. Putting his affairs in order, he left the capital for New York, where he embarked on an outward-bound liner. With leaden feet, Martin Henchford made his way along the Valley Road. Just ahead of him lay the crumbling stone wall. Opposite it was the tree around which he had wrapped the rope. A paroxysm of pain racked his body. His face was livid. His hand clutched his breast. "My heart !" he gasped, in a voice of pain. "Oh, merciful Father, don't let me die !" With savage ferocity he ripped off his collar. "Give me air ! Oh, God, give me air !" he pleaded in a choked whisper. "Oh, God in heaven, don't let me d " But He who doeth all things well stretched forth His hand and gathered the soul of the wretched man unto Himself. An Entertainment Thermometer. DRESIDENT JOHN R. FREULER, * of the Mutual, has just put into operation an effective system for accurate reports on what individual pictures on the new eight-million-dollar program are doing for the exhibitor. By turning to a special file of daily reports the man who guides the makeup of the Mutual's program can tell on the instant how the exhibitor is prospering or failing to prosper with any particular release in any part of the country. The daily reports give Mr. Freuler data on the program used by the house on each day : The attendance afternoon and evening, the weather, the advertising used by the house, and the same data for the corresponding day of the year before. If a popular comedian brings a big attendance on a certain Friday in a house that has suffered dull Fridays, this release gets due credit. If a new feature is going out, it is easy to trace the course of its success by these same attendance figures and the controlling factors of weather, advertising, and house conditions. Mr. Freuler was interested to note the other day the first reports of the new plan. "These reports give me a finger on the pulse of the public, and a sort of thermometer for the temperature of the trade," observed Mr. Freuler. "The exhibitor can expect to see the program continually being built up with the films which this system proves are making money as box-office attractions, and anything that falls down in this test of public opinion will disappear in a hurry."