Picture Show (May-Oct 1919)

The I'irliire S/iow, Ortohfr IBth, T919. mi^mmMM The concluding chapters of the romantic racing story now being filmed by the Broadwest Film Company, in which Violet Hopson, Stewart Rome, and Gregory Scott play the leading characters. the other end, with tlie information as to the amount 'tliey had cleared by the defeat of Flat catcher. The news soothed Buckley's injured feelings, and he at once started to make his jilans for the ruin of his rival. VIOLET HOPSON as Marjorie Denton, and STEWART ROME as Frank Cunningham. Jupiter Comes Back. FLATCATCHER'S fall in the Crackthorpe Stakes was the subject of much comment in the Turf Club, of which Sir Reginald Buckley and Frank Cunningham were mernbers. The baionet was' fully aware that many people tliought the fall was deliberately planned, and he endeavoured to avert suspicion by ridiculing Cunningham as a rider to a small circle of his liangers-on in the club smoke-room. '"You'd better go slow, Reggie," wliispered his friend Goddard, " Cminingham has just come in." Buckley tiu-ned to .see the Australian standing at the end of the room and, from the expression on liis face, the baronet knew he had overheard his insulting remarks. ■ A spasm of fear passed over Buckley's face, but he attempted to bluff it out. " As I was saying," he remarked, " Cunningham is a thorough sportsman, and a better rider never threw a Icg over a horse." ■ Slimy as well as~crooked, I see." r The words, coldly contemptuous, came from Cmmingham, who had wallcedAip to Buckley. " What do you mean ? " blustered Buckley. " That you deliberately planned to down me. and I would have told you so yesterday but for the fact that I was with ajady." " A lady ? " sneered Buckley. " The only lady I saw you with was ]Miss Denton, who visits my house, and allows me to pay her racing ;debts:" '■ You ' " The words came swiftly, but .swifter still was the Australian's right fist, which caught the baronet on the side of the' head and sent, him sprawling under the table. . Half a dozen members threw themselves on 'Cunningham, who rained insult upon insult upon •BueUley to make him get up and fight. But Sir Reginald had ho desire'to sample any more of the Australian's punches, and he remained under the table imtil Cunningham's friends per^laded him to leave the club. The baronet's courage returned as soon as Cunningham had gone. He allowed himself to be helped up by Goddard, who was secretly chuckling at the baronet's humiliation. He owed Sir Reggie many a hiding himself, but he wa* too much in his debt tcf dare what Cunningham had done. " I'll make him pay for this ! " spluttered the baronet. " I'll ruin him and that girl D»nton." Ho looked a pitiable object with his bruised face, but there was a vindictive glare in his eyes as, uttering more threats, Jie left the club on the arm of Gocldard. The next morning, Buckley's eye was a sight, nnd Goddard, who had stayed with him, could not resist telling him about it. " He's not only spoilt your beauty, Reggie," he chuckled, " but he's dished your chances with Iho girl." " Shut up ! " snarled Buckley, " or " 'J'hc telephone bell cut off. his threat and ho went to the instrument. It was Billbrook at To Help the Girl He Loved. HEN Cunningham left the club, he was grimly delighted at the thought that he had given Sir Reginald what he deserved, but behind his satisfaction was the disturbing reflection ttiat Marjorie was financially in the power of the baronet. His fears that Buckley would take a despicable revenge, by attacking Marjorie through this debt, were confirmed when ho received a letter from Aunt Cynthia asking him to eome over and see if he could help her in a matter which concerned her niece. Cunningham went over at once, and the elder Miss Denton quickly told him what had passed between Marjorie and Buckley in Billbrook's office. " The scoundrels ! " exclaimed the Australian. " Only the most cowardly curs would desce(id to such villainy ! What can we do ? I suppose Miss Dentou would not let me lend her the money ? " Aunt Cynthia shook her head. " I am sure she would not. " Cunningham paced up and down the room trying to think out some plan. '" There must be a way. Miss Denton," he said at last. " I will go and think out something. At nil events we have got thirteen of the fourteen days to find some plan to outwit them." On the way from Denton Hall, a rough outline of a possiVjle means of saving the girl he loved . came into Cunningham's head. • " It might be done,'' he muttered, as he went to liis study. Taking up pen and paper, he wrote a letter to Marjorie in which he suggested that, as Jupiter did not seem comfortable in his new quarters, he should go back to his old stable on the understanding that Marjorie "should train him and Cunningham should ride him in hia races. He added that, in view of the fact that the horse had so many engagements in the immediate future, it was essential that the arrangement, which would be beneficial to both, should be arrived at without delay. Putting the note in an envelope, he went to the stables and led out .Jupiter. Fastening the note to the horse's headstall, he said : " You shall be my postman, old fellow. She will think more of my plan if yea carry it to her.". Giving Jupiter a smack on his haunches, he sent him on his mission with an inward prayer that Marjorie %vould consent. Marjorie Denton was in the stable-yard talking to Tom Harris when the clatter of hoofs made her turn her head. " Look, Tom ! Here's Jupiter again ! " Her old favourite came rimning towards her, and, as he laid his head Over her shoulder, the girl noticed the letter. Tears came into her eyes as she read it. The innate nobility of Cunningham's nature was apparent in every line. " I don't think yovi are wise to leave such a wonderful man," she confided to Jupiter. "What shall I do ? " The horse answered the question by making for his old box, and, half swayed by this omen, Marjorie went slowly to the house to talk the matter over with Aunt Cynthia. I.iko a wise general, Cunningham quickly followed his note to Denton Hall, and he speedily got Aunt Cynthia on his side as the three discussed the project. " You see," said Cunningham, " my idea will bo of mutual benefit. No hor.se can do ju; ti<o to his training if he is not happy in his surroiuidings. Fit and well, I think he is a certainty for the Whissenden Steeplechase, and we could land a nice stake with him." " I quite see the importance of making a decision," said Marjorie. " The only objection I have to your ofier is that I think it is too generous." " Not at all," replied Cunningham ea4J:crly. " I give you my word that youwill be helping me to wipe out Flatcatcher's defeat.", " Very well," said Marjorie, " it shall' bo a-s you wish." " You'll not regret it," said Cunningham, holding out his hand. " Geod-bye Mar — I mean Miss Denton." A quick blush mounted to the girl's cheek at the slip of the tongue, but it was a blush of shyness, not of anger. She gave him a reassuring smile. " We are partners r.ow," she said, "so we need not be quite so formal," And Cvinningham, afraid that if he stayed any longer ho would tell her just what he really thought of her, made a hmried exit. The time was not yet ; he must wait until he had done something to deserve her love, he told himself. Revenre. SIR REGINALD BUCKLEY and Billbrook were seated in the latter's office a week before the Whissenden Steeplechase. The baronet was looking very pleased with himself. " You needn't worry," he said, turning to Billbrook with a cunning smile. " Jupiter willnot win. I have arranged for everything." " An accident again ? " said Billbrook, lifting his eyes. . ' ■ ', '""Yes; and this tinie I hope a fatal one,'* replied Buckley, with an evil leer. ■ . , Bad as he was, BilTbrook shivered at tl»6 malignant note in the baronet'^ voice. ■'"I don't like this business," he began. But Sir ■ Regii»ald cut him short. : ! " You leave that part to me," he said. " All you've got to do is to see that Cunningharit'.^ money comes in this office. He's riding Jupiter himself, and he is sure to want to have a plunge. It is your business to see that we get the bulk of the money." " There will be no difficulty about that. As a matter of fact, his commission agent, Benson, has already hinted that he was going to have a cut at the firm, and he added something about ' if we are big enough to stand it,' " said Bill' brook quietly. " Did he ? " said Buckley. " He needn't worry. We sha'n't have to stand it." While the two men were talking, the telephone bell rang. Billbrook went to it, and then, putting down the receiver and covering the mouthpiece with his hand, he turned to Buckley. " It's Benson ! He wants to know if we will take a thousand Jupiter, starting price." , " Tell him yes, and ask him if he wants any more," snapped the baronet. The Race For Love, THE great day arrived at last. The Wiissenden Steeplechase was not an important race in the ordinary sense, but the fact that Cunningham was renewing his duel vtdth Lefirey, Sir Reginald Buckley's jockey, made the race the big event of the day. Marjorie and Aunt Cynthia arrived on the course early, but, despite their keen love of racing, they could take but little interest in the events that preceded Jupiter's race. It was two days before Billbrook's bills came due, and Marjorie's fortunes were in the hands of Cunningham and the speed and courage of Jupiter. ■ Her hopes rose high as she went in the paddock and saw Cunningham. He looked so strong, so fearless and confident. [Continued on page 13.]