Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

18 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY sources, Fordyce decided to return to the cafe and lay in wait for the kidnapers, but on his way he stepped into a pawnshop and purchased a revolver. It was the first time he had ever carried one, his weapon in the classic drama being a sword, but he had done some gallery shooting, and knew, at least, how to shoot straight, and how to handle the thing. Arriving at the Richpax. he made his the uniform of the Salvation Army. So this was a wholesale mousetrap ! As one of the men stepped forward and laid his hand on the girl's arm, Fordyce sprang into the corridor, revolver in hand. At sight of him, the two Italians — for they were the two men in the hall — threw up both hands, exclaiming, "The boss.'" and fled toward the entrance as fast as their legs would carry them. As the leading man staggered back against the manager, Fordyce grasped the man who had fired the shot. way, unobserved, to the little room where he had hidden in the afternoon. He could hear some one moving about in the next room, but heard no one speak. He had waited perhaps half an hour, and his muscles were beginning to ache with nervous strain, when an electric buzzer sounded sharply in the adjoining room, and immediately afterward he heard the swish of a woman's skirt come down the corridor. The woman, whoever she was, was walking very rapidly— almost running. She came to an abrupt halt before the door of the next room, and turned, as it seemed to Fordyce, uncertainly. Two men followed her. "In there, lady," said one of them. Fordyce thrust the door open a crack, and saw a young woman standing with her back to him. She was dressed in "Come in," came a voice from the interior. "I will, thank you !" said Fordyce, stepping into the room. Sigmund, who had expected no more formidable antagonist than a defenseless woman, and who had confidently counted upon the assistance of his two hirelings, was taken completely by surprise. He made a rapid movement toward his hip pocket, but Fordyce was before him. Wrenching the weapon from the musician, the actor sent him spinning with a well-planted blow on the point of the chin, and when he scrambled to his feet again, sent him crashing into the corner, where he lay, cursing and groaning. Fordyce was for finishing the job, when the lassie — whom he had almost forgotten in his excitement— touched him on the arm. "I think he has been punished enough," she said to Fordyce. "And I think it is time you spoke to me." Fordyce turned slowly, and, as he looked into her face, his jaw dropped. It was his Salvation lassie! The very] same girl who had worked his conversion. "I don't know how you happen to be] here," he said, "about to walk into the I trap which these ruffians laid for an-| other woman, but I believe God must! have sent me here to save you, as He once sent you to save me!" "No doubt you are right," she said, smiling. "But will you not see me outJ of this dreadful place?" Fordyce blushed at this reminder ofJ his lack of gallantry. "I will, indeed; and I will see youJ home," he answered. "I am afraid I cannot allow that," she replied, "for I am in rather a hurry, and I am going to do an unprecedented thing, for a Salvation lassie — I am go, ing to take a taxi." "Will you not tell me how you came to be here?" he insisted. "I will write you about it." she said. "I know all about everything, and I can assure you that you have no further cause to fear for the safety of the woman whom you came here to protect. So let me ask that you will promise me that you, too, will go home." Touched at the solicitous tone in her voice, and assured that what she said must be true. Fordyce gave the promise, and, having seen her into her taxi, returned to his own quarters, where he spent most of the night thinking of her. What a splendid little woman she was, to be sure ! Going fearlessly into the most dangerous places upon her errands of mercy and of redemption. How she got wind of the plot against the actress, he could not imagine, but evidently she had come to save her, and come, good little soldier that she was, unattended. How she had protected the man who, but a moment before, had been readyto bring about her ruin ! Fordyce thrilled to the recollection of her touch upon his arm. He was up early the following morning to get his promised letter. Sure enough, before he had half finished his breakfast, the letter came by special delivery. He ripped it open hurriedly and read : "My Dear Rescued and Rescuer: I don't know just how to tell you, but