Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

10 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY morning, "for the remainder of my plan." Carefully he wrote a letter full of endearing terms to himself, and then one in reply to it. With the rest of the mail he put it, secreting it in the center. In her haste to finish her work and return to her sick husband, Agnes dashed off her signatures on the mail and left the office. She had signed the letter Vinton had written to himself. Vinton shrugged as he watched her disappear out the door. "Soon you shall be where I want you," he chuckled. The next morning he was all smiles. "Little girl," he said softly, "you are worrying about your husband too much. You should not do so. Come, we shall go to lunch together. Perhaps I may be able to arrange some cure for him." Instantly Agnes was on her guard, but the invitation seemed so innocent of any compromise that she asked time to consider it. Ever loving, eager to assist in Harry's recovery, and, little suspecting the schemer, she decided to accept. That night Vinton called, and, with his plan in mind, hinted at the fact that maybe Agnes was not so true, after all. It was done so delicately, so subtly, that the thought stayed with Harry. Vinton did not give Harry any medicine that night, and the sick fellow never noticed that he hadn't taken it. "You should seek the air, my boy," Vinton said persuasively. "To-morrow you should walk a little. Drop down to the office for a while." Little did Harry know what was to occur there. The morning was bright and clear, and he strolled down. "She's out jest now," said Jimmie, the office boy, in answer to Harry's question, "but ye kin sit at her desk an' wait." Harry accepted the invitation. Uppermost in his mind was the thought that Vinton had uttered the night before. He wondered where his wife was, and why she was out. A blotter caught his eye. On it were three words. Securing the desk mirror, he set it on the blotter and gave a gasp of dismay. There before his startled eyes was the legend : "Your loving Agnes." In his state of mind, crazed by the drug, he became insanely jealous. Vinton was right. She was not true. "God," he croaked hoarsely, "I knew it ! She loves Vinton !" As minute after minute passed, and his wife did not come, his jealousy grew worse. He worked himself into a frenzy, marching backward and forward in the little office. At each turn of the room, he became more incensed. Finally the door opened, and Agnes entered. "Why, Harry !" she cried in pleasure. "How are you? I never expected to see you here to-day." He turned on her, his eyes red with anger. "No, I guess not. You — you traitress !" He grasped the blotter. "What does that mean? You are pretending to love me, and you write letters to some one else?" His voice rose to a screech. "I know !" he screamed, advancing menacingly toward her. "You have gone back to Vinton. You love him. You are forsaking me because I am ill. God, I'll " Silently Vinton entered. With a tigerlike spring, Harry hurled himself for him, shrieking loudly : "You are the snake ! In front of me, my friend, behind my back wrecking my home!" Quickly Agnes grasped his upstretched arms and dragged him away. "Harry ! Harry, you are not well ; you're sick !" Calmly Vinton folded his arms and smiled on them. For a long time he stood, watching the panting, crazed man. "Now," he said slowly, "what of it? We have been out together ; we had lunch together the other day, and, if you want to see them, I have letters that we have written to each other." With a cry of horror, Agnes fell back. "Ha!" screamed the infuriated Harry, blinded by the passion that shook his very soul. "You see, I was right. You are untrue ; you are another man's lover ! Oh, how I hate you ! And I thought that you were true !" Frothing at the mouth, he advanced and attempted to strike his cowering wife. With a spring, Vinton put himself between the two, and seized the arm, throwing Harry back. "Out of my office!" he thundered. "And, from now on, you are no longer my wife !" shouted Harry. "As for you" — moving to the door — "you — you — snake !" He spat and bounded out the door, staggering with rage. In the corner, Agnes watched him disappear with fear in her eyes. Coolly Vinton approached. "My dear," he said caressingly, "yc see, your husband no longer loves yc The best thing for you to do is divon him and marry me, for I love you." Drawing herself up, Agnes flash' him a look of scorn. "Philip Vinton," she cried slow "don't dare come near me! Don't da touch me ! I " But he only smiled the broader, ah continued to come forward. Wildly Agnes looked about for avenue of escape. The look of lust I Vinton's eyes frightened her fearful1 From the door, Jimmie, the office bij was watching. Now he sprang to acti* To the switchboard he jumped. "C] for Mr. Vinton; important!" he bawl( Vinton turned to answer the phojj and, like a flash, Agnes darted fn. the room, sobbing. The events had happened with sJ rapidity that she was dazed. Falterini she dragged herself to her home, her knees, with Jennie to her bred she sobbed piteously. Her husbarj cruel accusation boomed in her and she swayed. Jimmie came in. 4 too, had felt the spleen of Vinton, ; was now out of a position. Things \v| in a desperate state. It seemed to I grief-torn Agnes that the whole wcj had turned against her. Harry had j owned her; Vinton had shown his hi I and had proved to be a man of J ! character, intent, for some reason! I| other, to get her to marry him. moaned. To whom could she turn? J ■ one. The worry drove her nearly I I sane, and she fell ill. Like little Trojans, Jimmie and Jeil I kept house and nursed the delirj J Agnes. As if by a miracle, the 1| | tots pulled her through. Vinton, confident that Agnes wl I some time capitulate to his dema J was satisfied to let events take 1| course. Suddenly he learned that H 1 inherited a fortune. Subtly, insidioil he pushed himself into the unfortul morphine fiend's good graces. Eve I the lookout for funds, the weak 1 Harry became easy prey. From tj L funds, Vinton decided to push his p 1 1 Learning of Agnes' whereabouts went one night to see her. "Mrs. Grey," he said haughtih have come prepared to offer you a 1 1 of money if you will turn your over to your husband, who is wealthy and wishes to take care of