Picture Show (May-Oct 1919)

8 Tlx I'lHiiic Shotr, O'tfjlj,, l,tli, 1910. The Gentleman Rider'<'°";;;;f/f<"" The following day, while superintending the work of her horses on tlie Downs, Marjorio had a little adventure with a touch of romance in it. As she was going to ride away her girth slipped, and with an exclamation of annoyance ehe dismounted. As she was tugging at the girth, a young man rode up, and, with a genial Excuse me, may I help ? " he swiftly adjusted the leather. Ho was a tall, good-looking man with a strong, clean-cut face, and the sort of eyes that denote honesty and courage. Marjorie thanked him, and was abovit to ride off when she saw a strange string of horses preparing for work imder the' direction of an elderly man with a hard-bitten face. " That must be Mr. Cvmningham," she said aloud. '■ Where is his yellow waistcoat ? " " Has he got one 2 " said the young man at her side. " Oh, yes," laughed Marjorie, " and big diamonds. He's quite impossible, they say." The yoiuig man looked at her strangely for a moment, then a curious look came into his eyes. " I know the man," he said. " And you are light, he is impossible. The sort of man that wpuld beat his wife if he had one." " Then let us hope he has not got one," said Marjorie, with a smile. As the stranger turned his mount's head, Marjorie called after him. "' To whom am I indebted for this assistance ? " she asked. " Oh, say Mr. Nobody from Xowhere," laughed the stranger, as he cantered away. The Selling-Plate Race. IT was a glorious day for the opening of the Gatwick meeting. The sun shone from an almost cloudless blue sky, and the ladies in the club enclosure did full justice to the weather, by appearing in a bewildering variety of gorgeous frocks that would not liave disgraced an Ascot meeting. In the cheaper parts a large crowd of holiday makers jostled each other with that genial good hamour which is a characteristic of all race crowds, ilarjorie, who had not been to a race meeting for a long time, revelled in tho sunshine and the atmosphere of the great game. Even the raucous voices of the boolcmakers roaring the odds in Tattersall's sounded pleasantly in her ears. Aunt Cynthia was in her element. This sports-loving Englishwoman was a keen racing enthusiast. Like her niece, she loved a thorouiihbrcd, and both were sound judges of a lioi-se. As they strolled roxmd tho paddcck inspei tiu'j; the runners for the first race, their words of commendation or disapproval drew many a tribute from the eyes of the hardbitten stable-lads who were leading the horses round. As they leaned over the paddock r:;i!s, tho voices of two men came floating to Marjorie s ears. I hear Cunningham lias taken Oakhurst House, at Epsom, and set up a racing stable there." ■" Frightfully rich, isn't he '■ Vcs, and as lucky as he is rich. They say his real business in this country is to find a brido to share his great wealth. In the meantime, tlio bookies are wishing he would go back to Austi'alia. He's liit the ring hard since he came over." " Better find him and get him to give you a tip." "I would, but lies not l)ere to-day. I met him at the club last night, and he told me he had a big business deal on in town that wovild prevent him coming." The \oices of the two men faded away, but Jlarjorie caught a last sentence as they turned to tho enclosure. "Yes, one of tlioso strong, silent, men, you know. If he wants anything he'll got it." Somehow tho conversation had grated on Marjorio's oars. Perha])S it was because she was having such a hard struggle to carry on that the luck of Mr. Cunningliani irritated her. She pictured liim as one of the new type of profiteer millionaires ; self-taught, self-made, domineering and vulgar. " It's a good job he Isn't here to-day," she thought, as 'iho and her aunt went to see the Etart cf the first race, " or he might have taken a fancy to Jupiter, and , with his disgustingly swollen bank balance no one could stop him." ' T ■ • The antipathy she ha<l fonned towards Mr. Cunningham inai.le Marjorie put a small wager on an outsider to beat a horse of his, wliicli was an odds on favourite in tho first race, and to her mortification her fancy, after looking all over a winner, was caught on tho post and beaten by tho shortest of heads by the favourite. " Cunninghiim's luck," said tho crowd. And J.Iarjorie felt i-hc had uiiotlier grievance against tho rich .\iistralian. But her thoughts were soon tunied to Jupiter, and, wliilo they were shouting tho odds for the second race, she went to superintend his saddling. Jupiter, who was being given a final polisli by Tom Harris, turned round and gave l>i r a little whinny of welcome .IS sho entered tho stall. The saffdling having been completed to his njistress's satisfaction, old Tom gave his horse a montli wash, but, though the lad gave a tug at his leading rein, the wily liorse planteil his forefeet firmly and looked lit his mistre-s with begging eyes, and refused to budge. " He's ;iiter that bit of siigar, MLss Marjorie. He knows you've got it. He knows," chuckled Old Tom. With a laugh Marjorie oxtracteil a lump of sugar from h-!r bag and gave it to Jupiter. " -Another -one when you've won, old boy," .she .said, patting his neck. And, nodding his head as though he understood, Jupiter walked sedately into tlie parade ring. The favourite was Ronnie, a reliable old jumper who could be depended upon when his owner backed him, provided the oppo.sition was not too classy. He wss ridden by a crack jockey and was speedily in.stalleJ a five to four favourite. .lust before the horses started for the post, old Tom Harris came up to Marjorie. "We've gotten to one to our ten pounds," he said, " I wish we'd got it to a tho-asand." He turned to Jordan, the stable jockey. Let hiin run his own race," he said, " unless he starts to lose it. "Vou understand. We want him to win, but not by if mile." Jordan nodded his head as old Tom gave him a leg up, and he cantered out of the paddock after the others. When Marjorie reached the club stand, Ronnie was a six to four on chance, while Jupiter had drifted out to a hundred to eight offered. Through her. glasses she noticed that while some of the others were very fractious at the starting gate, Jupiter was standing as quiet as an old .sheep. " Tliey're off ! ' The familiar roar .sent her blood tingling as she glued her' eyes to her glasses. " He's nicely placed, just behind Ronnie, Satrap, and Doris," came the quiet voice of .\unt Cynthia. Two hopeless outsiders came to grief at the EUGENE O'BRIEN, who has been seen chiefly in productions featuring Norma Talmadge, has been accorded a popular following such as very few leading men enjoy. As a reward, he has just been asked to sign a contract which will make him a star in his own right, and although the amount of salary is not divulged, it is said to be one of the highest ever paid to an actor at the commencement of his career as a star. Eugene first entered public life on the spoken stage, becoming a member of a musical comedy company under the maiiagemerrt of Charles Froliman. From almost the first he was a great success, and soon won recognition from the critics and the jiublic. Appeared With Elsie Janis. SHORTLY after his debut, he signed a contract to appear with Elsie Janis. Another season found him with Ethel Barrymore, another with Margaret Illington. and then with Kyrle Bellew. Eugene's first screen work was in a film entitled "' Just Out of College " ; later he was .seen in Essanay's " The Chaperon." first jump, but Jupiter was taking his fern < very smoothly, and running well within himsHi. Ho was still third wlien they came round for the Bccond time, but he came close up to thr leaders, Ronnie and Doris, after the fiiiiil jump. Just inside the distance .Tupiter drew up le\< 1 on the outside. Jordan was risking nothing I . , waiting for a chance on the rails. And so tli< > came into full view of the stands, as pretty .i race as man could wish to watch. The jocke\s on Ronnie and Doris had their whips out, but Jordan was sitting still. His eyes were fixed on the winning-post and he refused to be rattled by the shouts of tho other jockeys. " Now ! " He his.se<l the word at Jtipit< i ears, and settled down in t.ho saddle for tli final rush. It was all over. Whips rose and /ell, Iml Ronnie and Doris were finished. Jujnter had his head in front and meant to keep it there. " I'll lay twenty to one bar the favourite ! ' yelled a bookmaker, and even as he spoke Jupiter flashed past the post a good winner. Marjorie dashed down from the stand to pnt her horse, and, as soon as he had had his rub down, she gave him the promi.scd lump of sugar. Though it was only two .seUing pL-iteis .Jupiter had beat''n, the manner in which he had tlone it had created a favourable impression i n owners and trainers, and it was with a sinking heart that Marjorie went to tho sale ring. Someone started the bidding at 125 guineas, and Marjorie made it 130. And so it went on till 200 guineas was reached. Marjorie could not sec the man who was bidding against her, but it was always the same voice that topped her bid. At four hundred Marjorio felt the chill fear of defeat creeping over her. ■■ Four hundred and twenty -five ! " she cried desperately. " Five hundred," came that deadly, calm voice from the crowd. Ai\A so the duel went on till the unknown topped Marjorie' s bid of six hundred with six hundred and fifty. White with anger and fear of losing her favourite, the girl was about to. bid again when Aunt Cynthia expostulated. " You can't, dear," she .said. " You haven't got the money," "■ I must — I must save Jupiter ! I couldn't lo.se him ! " cried the girl pitifully. " For the last time," came the voice of the auctioneer. " Any advance on six fifty ? " Marjorie was about to speak, but Aunt Cynthia laid a restraining hand on her arm. The hammer came down. Marjorie had lost Jupiter. AVith a heart full of bitterness Marjorie went up to the auctioneer and asked the name of tho buyer. " Your horse was sold to Mr. Cunningham, of Ep.aonij" came the reply. (Another long instalment next Monday.) One of his most entertaining characters, and the one which gained for him his first prominence, was with ilary Pickford in " Rebecca of Simnybrook Farm." Another big success was with Elsie Ferguson in " Under the Greenwood Tree," and " Tho Heart of the Wilds." Eugene also played an important part in Frank Keenry's " A Romance of the Underworld." An Actcr of Distinction. THEN came the series of Norma Talmadge productions, ui which his distinctive support of that sterling actress was an outstanding feature. In this .series, he played in " Poppy,'' " The Moth, ' " Ghosts of 'Yesterday," " De Lux© Annie," " The Safety Curtain," and " Her Only Way." In all his work; his sympathetic, intelligent, and dignified acting has iinpres.sed itself vividly on all who have seen him. Picture-goers will thus welcome the news that this polished artiste has now been " starred," and his new picturt'j will be eagerly awaited. RITr'PlUI\ A'^nfPM Norma Talmadge s Leading CUIldliv U DKiL^ri* Man Now Becomes a Star. Charles Ray : Character Studies of this Popular Favourite in our Centre Pa^es Next Week.