Picture-Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY 17 less at the critical moment. He must go Ibefore it was too late to warn her. As he rose from his chair, he heard one of the Italians Exclaim: "'Good! That is a very good plan. When will you get the word to her?" "'Between the second and the third Jacts. She will then come in haste and alone. It is not far from this place to ? the theater, and she will want no one to -'know that she is absent — even for a moment. If she brings any one, it will only tc her maid." Fordyce waited for no more. Carefully pushing open the door, he hurried down the corridor and out into the street. Glancing over .his shoulder to -ee if he were followed, he walked rapidly to the corner, where he entered a drug store. The clock over the pre^ription counter informed him that it was exactly eight o'clock. "'She should be in the theater now." he thought, as he fumbled the leaves of the telephone directory. At last he found what he sought. He stepped into a booth. "Bryant 07767." "Crescent Theater," came a thin voice over the wire. "T want to speak to Miss Ferdon." "I think she is in her dressing room. One moment, please." Then came a woman's voice : "Hello! What is it?" "Is this Miss Ferdon?" "This is her maid. Who is speaking?" "I must speak to Miss Ferdon at once I on a matter of the utmost importance." The maid laughed. "That's what they all say," she retorted saucily. "This is no laughing matter, young woman." he exclaimed angrily. The girl's voice changed suddenly. "If you have any business with Miss Ferdon," she said sharply, "you can transact it after the performance. She is busy now, and I have orders that she is not to be disturbed." "But, look here " Fordyce began, when the receiver clicked sharply. "What was it, Fifine?" asked Miss Ferdon, turning from her mirror. " "A stranger, trying to make a date," laughed the maid. "I never heard his voice before, so I told him you were busy." "Quite right," commended the star, dabbing her lips with her color stick. "I can't be bothered with these johnnies." The manager, grasping him by the hand, exclaimed joyfully: "Cecil Fordyce !" Fordyce, meanwhile, was madly jiggling the receiver hook, trying to get central. When he did get her, she said calmly: "Your party hung up, and the line is busy again." Cursing the maid for her officiousness, Fordyce set off for the theater at a rapid pace. He knew that the violinist, being in touch with the stage hands, could get a message to her without difficulty. For himself, it seemed he must go in person. Arriving at the stage door, he attempted to enter, but was stopped by the doorman. Fordyce breathlessly explained his errand. The doorman leaned over and took a step toward him. "Step into the light, young fellow." Fordyce did so. The doorman scanned him carefully, and then shook his head. "I don't know where you got it," he said at last, "but it certainly must be a good brand. So some one is going to run off with the star, eh? Well, if that's the case, I guess I won't let any one in !" And, so saying, he gave Fordyce an unexpected push, and slammed the door in his face. Seeing that it was useless to attempt to warn the young woman in person. Fordyce took his story to the police, and again he ,was met with incredulity. . "You didn't happen to notice a poisoned needle sticking out of any of those guys' pockets, did you, now?" the lieutenant asked, winking at the sergeant. "It's scandalous, the way them white slavers act !" he continued, shaking his head mournfully. "Well," demanded Fordyce hotly, "aren't you going to do anything?" "Oh, sure !" said the sergeant pleasantly. "We're going to put a nice little piece in the paper about it, with her name right in the headlines, and maybe a pretty photograph and a few pictures of the suspected gangsters who might have done it — that's what you want, ain't it?" Cursing them all for incompetent numskulls, Fordyce stalked out of the station house. They were not even ruffled. "These press agents," grinned the lieutenant. "What they won't try !" Thrown entirely upon his own re