Picture Show (Nov 1919-Apr 1920)

8 The Picture Show, NovemUr 15///, 1919. HER DOUBLE LIFE c^;; ;; " I'm worried quite a lot about Harry," elio went on candidly — so candidly. " I'll help you trail her. And I'll talk to Bethia. She'll tell me till she knows, and I'll phone you I imo and place later." George agreed reluctantly to the adventure. It was the strong, silent thing to do. hut ho didn't want to do it in Delia's company. And he was horribly afraid of trailing his Harry to the point of " cracking a crib," ho believed it was callod — and of catching her coming out of somebody's bedroom window with their valuables in her pockets. It was too horrible to think about. _ What was her game ? Who, above all. wore her accomplices ? Was she the tool of some cunning gang who used her innocence for their own evil ends 1 It was like one of those impossible stories they showed at tho " movies." J niagine him, sane, sober Gcorgo Battersby shadowing the girl he loved ! Three days later ho found himself waiting with Delia near the booking-oftice at Waterloo, keeping a sharp eye on the ticket queue. Delia had not missed a recent Waterloo label on tho well-worn suitcase at " The Night jars." And Bethia had lot out Harry's usual hour of leaving in the morning. It was early for Delia. She did not favour the morning ; her skin and temper preferred breakfast in bed. Still, it was worth it to be with George Battersby, even though his eyes were kindled with expectation for another woman. Harry was late that morning. It was a near thing for the train. She dashed past the ticketwindow without stopping, a smile on her iips, suitcase in hand, and — showed a season at tho barrier. The watchers wore foiled. Quickly Delia ran and booked for the first junction on the line she could think of, and the detectives were just in time to spring into the train as it started. Delia thrust her head from tho window.. She saw what she expected — the white, horrified face of Harriet Marvell thrust out of a compartment a bit lower down. " She's spotted us," said Delia, withdrawing her face after a mocking nod. " However, we've got her now ! " George was lost in meditation. What was the strong, silent thing to do with her when lie bad caught her ? " Excuse me ! " Tho solitary fellow-passenger, a tall young fellow with' a scar on his forehead, and a scrap of rainbow ribbon on his waistcoat, jumped up at the next station, after curiously studying both their faces. George had to give up his watch on Harry's compartment for the moment as he got out. He stood on the platform, leisurely lighting a cigarette ; but George didn't see him, as the train moved out, swing himself nimbly in at Harry's side. " Say, what's tho game '! Is it really yo» I hose t wo are shadowing ? " His voice was hard with indignation. Ted Lambert liked his new comrade altogether too well to let anybody molest her if he could prevent it. " Yes, it's me they*want," said Harry wearily. " I'll break every bono in his •" " No, no, you won't. You mustn't. It's my — ■ my fiance, you see. And he's on my track. It's my own fault. I was a coward, and I deceived him instead of telling the truth about my work. He hales the cinema ; ho'd rather see me dead than on the screen. And, you see, I lied to him. Ho has every right to want (o know." She hated to tell Ted Lambert this. Somehow, it made George seem rather narrow, stupid, and tyrannical. Lambert clenched his fists again : then studying the distress in her face, his look became pathetically rosigned. ''Look here, (hough, you're doing nothing wrong. Own up, tell the truth and shame tho devil," he Counselled. "I can't," sadly. " Not now, after what I've told him — and beforo Delia Fawley. I've been living a double life. I hoped soon to be able to give up tho cinema work altogether — before ho found out, and that would have been horrid, too, for I love tho work. But if George catches me now " Tho joy of battle shone in Ted's eye! " Ho won't catch you. Listen ! You must pop out on tho wrong side at our station. I'll keep 'em busy on the platform, and get them off on tlio wrong track, somehow : I hen yon eomo quietly across, and go homo over the lields. Quick ! We're there ! " He opened tho door for her carefully. " Give mo your hand. Now, jump ! There's no traffic on the other line. Get across and into the waiting-room. We'll dodge tho sleuthhounds in great style." A schoolboy chuckle told that Lambert dearly loved a practical joke. " I've an idea," ho threw over his shoulder as he turned away. Harry was quick to see the fun of the thing, as she alighted between tho rails and made her way to tho opposite platform. Even if she weTe seen, slid could easily explain herself to tho station people by saying that she was practising a picturo stunt. They were quite used to tho cinema actors. Lambert got leisurely ovit on the platform. Ho handed down first his own bag, then Harry's. Ho stood protending to talk through the window till the train moved. Then as he stepped back. Goorgo Battersby made up his mind, leapt out, and seized him roughly by the shoulder. Delia was just in time to follow him. George's first thought was to grab (ho two suitcases, one of which he recognised as Harry's. Delia, who had been kept from seeing all that wont on, rushed distractedly towards the exit, thinking thai Harry had gone on with the other passengers. From the back of the bookstall on tho opposite platform, Harry watched tho littlo comedy. She saw Tod Lambert, with a flash of the ready wit that had pulled him safely out of many a daredevil escapade in No Man's Land, grasp George's soft felt hat by tho brim at each side, and pull it firmly down over his eyes. It was the action of an instant only ; then Tod snatched tho two bags, and was off like a dart beforo anyone had. taken in the situation. The grinning ticket-collector stood aside to let him through, but punctiliously demanded George's and Delia's tickets, which were for the wrong station. This gave the fugitive some precious mpments. He sped to a handy car that was waiting. " Ss ! Dan ! " The big driver and general service man of the company was all attention. " Tyjo of 'em after me — tall chap and ginger lady. Get 'em in the car — any old tale will do — and drive like fury up to the bungalow, but go three or four miles round, see ? Trickle about the roads a bit— I want to get in first. Offer tp drive them anywhere." It sounded bewildering, but Dan was used (o cinema situations. He watched Lambert hide behind a hoarding ; and met the excited faces of the pursuers with bland inquiry. " Did you see a man along here — a tall ' Imp w ith two portmanteaus ? " " And a young lady ? " added Delia. Dan nodded obligingly. " I fancy I did see the parties," lie said slowly. ' Went off in a ear. Big speed, too." " Which way ? " George looked impatiently along the winding lane. " Want to overtake them ? I've nothing else to do. I don't, mind " HB. WARNER, the well-known stage actor, # who has just signed a new contract to appear in films, for a year, has a sincere admiration for moving pictures, and he wishes that his existing contracts would allow him more time to devote to this art. In spite of his success he is very modest, as witness his recent declaration, stating that he considered he was too old, and not quite tho right man to play romant ic juvenile parts. No doubt many readers will disagree w it h his point of view, for he is in reality quite young, and also exceedingly handsome. The Small Family. MR. WA I ! X BR is married, and he has a lit t le chiltl. The baby's name is Joan. She lias blue eyes and light hair, and looks exactly like her dad. Joan is being brought up in tho old-fashioned ■way by her mother, who is giving her entire tiino to (he care of her daughter, who has already begun to occupy a very large part, in the lives of her adoring parents. ' Thanks ! " George bundled Dolia in, and started to crank up. With a groat show of ha£te, Dan got off. George leaned eagerly forward, mire of catching a glimpse of the imaginary car ahead when they rounded the corner. Ho looked grim and determined — tho strong, silent man again ; and ho felt like that. He could picturo Harry's face, looking back maybe, frightened and white and ashamed. Georgo gulped something in his throat. His Harry ashamed ! That hurt ! Well, she w as a girl. He would let her down easy. She must just confess, and he would forgive her freely. " Something wrong with the engine, I'm afraid, sir." Dan stopped the ear, and dived under tho bonnet. " Never mind, sir, if I don't overtake them, 1 know where tho car comes from, and I'll take you there." Meanwhile, Ted Lambert and Harry were making their way briskly along a field pat I towards the red-tilod roofs of the Hollows settlement. They went rather slowly, for as well as carrying two suitcases Lambert was frequently convulsed with laughtes Harry laughed at first ; then she fell behind, and was silent. " What's up ? " Ted turned back, still chuckling. " Oil, I can't — I can't bear it ! " A white. • agonised face was raised to his, despair in the arch of the black brows. "I just can't bear it ! We're laughing at George — making a fool of him. And you bonneted him — I played a trick on him. Oh, how could I ? I wish I'd never seen the cinema — or you — or anybody ! " "Poor litrle girl !" said Ted. compassionately. ' It's too bad. I won't laugh at him any more." " Oh, but look what we've done ! He'll never, never forgive me ! " Again that look of despair, as of Eve shut out of Paradise. And it hurt Ted Lambert — hurt him dreadfully. !■' Look here, I'll fix him ; leave it to me. He shall never know you are here. In any case, you know you were going off to get those street scenes in Winchester to-day. Leave him to me, and I'll promise to have him converted to tho cinema. I'll make a frame-up of some sorb to get round him with — and the crowd will fall in for the sport of tho thing. I tell you, we 1) manage George all right." " You don't know George," said Harry. " Don't I '! " thought Lambert. " I can read him like a book : and I know the stuff to give his sort. Meanwhile he spotted your suitcase, so before we part, take your things out, ami swap with me. That will throw dust in his eyes. Now, into the house, and put tho girls wise. Never fear, I'll tix him." When at last the car containing George and Delia stopped at the Hellows' bungalow, Ted Lambert stood on the verandah with two suiteases beside him, and a young woman George had never seen beforo. (Another Fascinating Instalment of this Serial Next Monday.) He is taking his small family to California with him, so that ho can be near them when his day's work at the btudio is done. What the Eyes Tell. MR. WARNER considers that the mechanical movements of the lips of some artistes spoil many a picture. ' The absolute silence and quietness is what constitutes, in my opinion," he said, "tlx: proper acting in pictures. " There should be almost no lip movement, no forced action — the entire thought should be /conveyed by the expression of the ey/s. " You can tell instantly, if a man or woman is lying by their eyes, you can tell if they are in pain, or suffering, or are happy — the eyes should bo Hie medium by which every emotion is registered." H. B. Warner lias a great admiration for Charlie Chaplin, who is, he considers, tho greatest of any screen artiste on the screen to-dn.w H. B. WARNER Converted from Stage to Screen.