Picture Show (May-Oct 1919)

The rirture Show, Scptcmhcr 20th, 1919. Don't Miss this Thrilling Serial, being the Adventures in the Life of a Cinema Star. READ THIS FIRST. Last week's instalment told how Janice, who Jiad become engaged to Koy Sugden, keeps the news from her jealous sister Marigold. When Janice goes to bed however, her mother discovers the ring when looking in her daughter's bag for some patterns which she asked her to get when in London, in spite of Marigold's repeated questions tlie next mornina, Janice remains defiant, and goes off to tlie studio to take her sister's place in the new film still m possession of her secret. You Can Now Head On. Janice at the Studio. " 'T'AKE caro o£ yourself," Marigold said, as J[ casually as tho strained relations between them warranted. " No fear," Janice replied. And then, because there really wasn't a mean streak in her, sho turned back, and suddenly gave Marigold a hug and a kiss. " Silly old bean ! Of course I won't wear the ring at Hurstfiold. It's / who's engaged to be married, not you." That was all the satisfaction Marigold got, but it cleared matters up a bit. All day long she puzzled over who the man could be, but such was her high opinion of herself that the fact that he might be Roy Sugden never occurred to her. To-day it vpas not so hot, but the air was oppressive, and as she neared Hur-stfield Janice's mood suffered a change. Tho sun sweltered behind a grey blanket of sky, the hedges were white with dust, and every growing thing hung forlorn and limp for lack of moisture. Janice had decided to do without a dresser for her scenes, since the woman who attended Marigold would be sure to detect the masquerade, and it would then be a matter of moments for . the news to go flj.ng through the company. At first it had be«n planned for Marigold to disguise herself as a maid, but this was found to be impractical and . hazardous. It was so much, simpler for Lawton to arrange the scones in such a way that when Janice was required Marigold could fake a holiday. So Janice was alone in the car with the dre.ssbasket holding her costumes, and feeling desperately shy as well as depressed. Would Roy be there ? Would he know thatshe was not Marigold ? So much depended upon that. She took off the ring, and slung it on to a thin chain she had brought for the purpose, fastened the chain about her neck, and slipped the ring imder her blouse. It was there safe and soimd, and she liked the feel of it. In the dressing-room, tacked on the wall beside the mirror, was the typewritten " Order of tho Day." From it sho learned that Miss Clare was expected to present herself for the bathing-pool and diving scenes at 10.30. Tlicro was not too much time, and Janice hurried out of her street clothes and into the fetching bathing-dress as fast as she could. It was a satisfaction to find herself ready, with ten .-ninutes to spare. The call-boy knocked at her door just as she was wondering if any further improvements were needed in her make-up, and announced that Mr. Lawton would like to see her as soon as she was dressed. So she wrapped herself in tho waterproof cloak Marigold had provided, and went to find tho producer. He was not in his office, as she had suppo!5cd ho would be, but down by the pool where the Bcenes were to bo filmed. Some of the others were sitting about on the grass under the, trees, and the camera-man and his assistant were busy with their machine. Lawton stood apart with a stranger in grey flannels. No, not a stranger ! With a gasp of dismay, .lanico recognised the infatuated Lord Theodore Reame. " Here's a friend of yours. Miss Clare," Dacre Lawton annovmced, with a Eolemn wink. " Wants to know if you object to his watching tho show this morning. Better say you'd be By ELIZABETH YORK MILLER, " Then ■ yoxi — you know the diflercnce ? " Janice faltered. " Between Jane and Marigold ? " " Yes," she whispered. " Tho moods of a woman are as varied as the climate of England," he replied enigmat; ■ cally, " and that is saying a great deal." So she was left pretty much as before. charmed. He's tall ing about putting ;i few thousands at our disposal." 'Wto If over money was •j^^^'^^ being got on false ^rm,^'' Oiare. pretences, this was an occasion ; but no doubt Lawton saw no reason why he should refuse it. ^ , Eager and afraid how she would take it, the irrepressible young man began to explain his sudden passion for the moving picture industry. " England must buck up, you know ; and wo chaps with a few brains are needed, or the Yanks will have a clear field. What ? " " The chaps with money are needed most of all," said Lawton drily. " I can supply all the brains that the Stella Company neods." Fortunately, Janice did not have to talk very much, but she did wish, with all her heart and soul, that this had been one of Marigold's days at Hurstfield. Furtively her eyes searched for Roy Sugden, but the rehearsal was wU on before he appeared, and by that time she had no chance to think of anything but the difficult work in hand. There was that dreadful scene which Marigold had decided was beyond her— a scene, which but for Dacre Lawton's stubborn insistence upon realism, could have been " faked " — when Janice had to lay at tho bottom of the tank while Mersthanr dived for her three tirnes before he brought her up unconscious. The first time .she came up gasping and kicking with the abandon of a half-drowned puppy. Ajid then, of course, it had to be done over again. Unconscious people don't thre-sh about. Then it was done again, '.' just to be sure," and then it was done to the tune of the camera. At the end, wrapped in her waterproof cape, Janice found herself sitting on the grass with Roy Sugden beside her. They lookedjnto each other's eyes, and in a whisper he asked: " Where is your ring ? " : Did he think she was Marigold ? She put a hand to her breast and replied huskily, "Here." " I see," he said. " You were wise not to wear it. But I'm glad you've got it with you. You're mine, little Jane — all mine ! " And so she was. What did it really matter if he thought she was Marigold 1 It was she he loved. But so long as he kept up the pretence — if it was a pretence — of accepting her as Marigold, she could not be really sure. An insane desire took possession of her to see him with Marigold when he, at least, did not know. Then, only, could she be sure. Are you very; ti^ed, darling ? " ho asked, as they sat side by side on tho grass whilff a comedy scene was arranged in which Janice had no "part. " A bit breathless," she confessed. , He glowered in the direction of Lord Theodojo who, much against that young gentleman's will, was being firmly button-holed by Dacre Lawton. " Ho didn't lose any time, did he ? " Roy said gloomily. " But I can't help feeling sorry for the idiot. Lawton says he's putting ten thousand pounds into the company." " Isn't it a sound company ? " Janice asked fearfully. " The beH, and Heaven knows we need the monev." " Well, then ? " " Dear ' little. Jane ! ' Now Marigold was never as simple as you are." Lawton asks Some Questions. " ¥ OOiC here, Janice, what's this between I . you and Sugden ? " The day's work was over, and Janice was just ready to step out into the car that was to take her back to Brighton. Dacre Lawton liad appeared and told her to como back into the dressing-room, as he wished to have a word with her. She stood before him frightened and abashed. Was he angry with her '/ Thank goodness, no need to pretend before him. She could be herself. " Mr. Sugden thinks I'm Marigold," she faltered, " and he's in love with Marigold." " Nonsense '. He doesn't think anything of the sort." " Has he said so ? " " Not a word — to me." " Then 1 " " Janice, you're in love with him — aren't you ? " ller hands flew to her face. " Oh, dear Heaven ! " " Well, why not 1 What's there to cry about ? He's head over heels in. love with yo"-" ' ■ ' ■ . "But Marigold " ' " I have a dim idea that Marigold will survive the blow," Lawton said in his curt, dry way. Her hands dropped and she stared at him fixedly. Little remarks let fall by her mother and even by Marigold herself had made her wonder at times about Dacre Lawton's interest in her sister. Lawton had always been taken so much for granted by Marigold, yet lately there was a difference. " Janice, are you prepared to stand aside and let Marigold marry Sugden ? " he asked. In her own consciousness nothing had got as far as that. A shiver of protest ran its cold course down her spine. " If Marigold cares for him " " And if he doesn't care for her ? " " I don't know — oh, I don't know ! It's — it's like stealing." Lawton laughed harshly. " That's what I thought. To steal another man's girl ! But that sort of theft isn't accomplished without the consent of the purloined party, is it ? Suppose that Marigold doesn't care for Sugden ? " Janice's face cleared. " I don't think she does." "Ha! Neither do I. Come on, are you ready ? " " Are you driving back with me ? " " Of course I am — and so is Sugden," he added. " Oh, but that's impossible .' " Janice exclaimed. " Marigold didn't want Roy to know " " It s her own fault that he does know. However, we'll play this merry game as long as she likes. As long as both of them like, when it comes to that. You and I will take a walk over the downs and leave them alone — only Marigold will know, and perhaps bo worried because you and I are together." " I don't cjuito understand," Janioc said. " You don't need to, my dear." " But if she comes out to meet the car " " She W-on't. I've telephoned that Sugden if coming back with us. She didn't like it a bit, but she'll have to put up with it. I rang ofi in the midst of a heated argument." (Continued on page 8.)