Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY 9 Upstairs in the library, Jack and several of his friends played poker. The stakes were high; Jack lost repeatedly. "No luck," he said. "Confound it, anyway !" His cash was low, and he signed an I O U for five hundred dollars and passed it along. For a while longer they played, interspersing the tricks with drinks from the glasses kept full at their right hand As the cards grew monotonous, some one suggested that a little cabaret would be entertaining, and the plan was met by the young castaways of society with great favor. "James," said Jack, as the butler | came in answer to his ring. "Call up J Johnson's, and have him send over a couple of singers." "If you please, sir," replied the butler, his face beaming with a smile. "There is a young person downstairs who is wonderful. She dances, sings, and makes merry like a performer." "There is I" shouted Jack. "And I never knew it? Send her up!" Struggling, Marian was pulled up. into the room. In her apron and large shoes she cut a comical figure. "Let me go !" she pleaded, tugging toward the door. "Nothing doing!" cried Jack, entering the fun. "You're here to entertain." Into her heart sprang the thought of more material, and Marian agreed. Around the floor she whirled, giving her imitations, and setting the crowd of young fellows laughing hilariously at her capers. "Up on the table !" howled Jack. In an instant she was up on the table, dancing as if her life depended on it. "She's good enough to be a bride !" shouted one jocularly. "Jack ought to marry her !" In his slightly intoxicated condition, Jack hailed the suggestion with a wild shout. At that moment Marian's feet stopped suddenly, and she slipped sheepishly to the floor, her eyes fixed on the doorway. Every one turned. Into the room Mr. Rogers, senior, stepped. "Young lady," he whispered, drawing the girl to one side, "I'll give you a hundred dollars if you help me try to cure that young fool. I'll get a minister if you'll marry him. It need not trouble you, for you need be his wife in nothing but name, and I'll keep you well. It's only to tame him." She looked up with wondering eyes, her countenance and manner suddenly serious. For some time she remained silent, struggling with her thoughts, before she reached a decision and announced, half determined, half timidly : "I'll do it — to make a man of one who isn't !" The elder Rogers smiled, and left the room immediately to procure the minister who was to tie the flighty young man down to a position of responsibility while he was under the influence of liquor and his high-strung temperament to such an extent that he did not realize the importance of what was taking place. The others in the room, joyous at the uniqueness of their escapade and the joke they were about to play on their friend, dressed Marian as a bride with a portiere pulled from the doorway and a table cover, while their operations were delayed by frequent bursts of laughter at what young Rogers would say when he was sufficiently sober to come to a realization of things. Just as they had finished pinning the last pin of her comical raiment, Marian felt a pang in her heart. Jack did not know what he was about to do. And she was taking advantage of his condition. With a' dash, she attempted to run from the room, only to find herself in the arms of John Rogers, senior, who was entering with the minister. The elder man pressed a note into her hand, and she saw, as she looked down at it, that it was a check. With flashing eyes, Marian took it and tore it into little bits. "I don't want your money," she grated, "and I don't want your job, either! I quit to-night!" She ran from the astonished publisher, unpinning her unbecoming servant's garb. In the other room, Jack sat heavily in his chair, while his friends trooped out. Mr. Rogers took him by the arm and led him to his room. "Perhaps," he murmured, "this will bring him to his senses, when he realizes that he is married to a common servant girl." The clatter of the heavy dishes filled the air. About .the busy little restaurant, Marian hurried to and fro with the dishes. At one of her tables sat a young fellow whom she thought she had seen before. An instant later another young fellow sat alongside of him. Neither noticed the other, until both had ordered. "Are you game?" she heard one ask. Her ears pricked up, and she hovered about. "Yes," answered the other. "When?" "To-night. The young fellow is going the pace again, and the old man will naturally suspect him of robbing the safe. Young Rogers is sure a boob !" Marian pressed nearer. "Well," said one, "I'll meet you corner of Dean Street and Lexington." He rose and sauntered out. Breathlessly, Marian went to the proprietor. "Oh, sir, could you let me off for an hour? I have something important to do." He agreed. Hurrying along, Marian followed the two conspirators. "About midnight," said the one. "I'll wait for you. The safe is in the library inside of a taboret. It's a cinch, and we'll tap it for quite a sum." They smiled as they moved off. "So," said Marian, with determination in her eyes, "they are going to rob Mr. Rogers' safe and let the suspicion fall on Jack, eh ?" She hurried along, thinking deeply. Into a photography shop she went. "A camera with one of those fast lenses, and a flash," she said to the clerk. After a few instructions she left, and went back to the restaurant. That night Marian was at the Rogers mansion before the two came. Skulking close to the walls, they slipped into the window. Like a shadow, Marian was in after them. There they were, one holding a flash light, and the other opening the safe. It was but the work of an instant, and she had the snap flash of them and was away. The morning papers were full of the account of the robbery of the Rogers safe. Jack Rogers, the scapegoat son, was accused of the crime. He had been seen by the butler opening the safe earlier in the evening, but protested that he was innocent. The detectives would hear nothing, however, and he was now safely ensconced in a cell. Mr. Rogers, senior, refused to believe that his son was guilty, and offered a reward of five thousand dollars for the capture of the real thieves. That afternoon Marian resigned her