Picture Show (Nov 1919-Apr 1920)

The Picture Show, January 2\th, 1920. THE MIDNIGHT STAGE. (Continued from page 14.) pierced the heart at wliich it was aimed. The benumbed brain of the old prospector gradually began to work, and the bound figure .of Twisted Tuttle brought back recollection of what had happened. Dragging himself along old Lynch managed to release Ids friend and the two looked at each other. Before they could speak there came to their cars the sound of galloping horses. " I reckon that will be the stage " mumbled Tiitllc, placing liis hand on his aching head. Between them they managed to lighl a lantern, and. holding on to each other, thev went to the door 01 t lie hotel. It was a terrible sight that met their eyes. Hanging over the driver's seat with the reins still In hi3 hands was Six-Horse Sam. Never would he drive coach again. But though Death hail called tingame he played liis cards to the end. He mumbled out his story of the attack on the coach and then with the ribbons still in his hands he fell hack dead, while the horses pawed the ground lookiimat old man Tuttle and wondering why he did not bring the feed that his gnarled hands had always brought them when they pulled up at liis roadside house. Wrongly Accused. EL MONTE was awakened from its slumbers the next morning by the sound of galloping hoofs and shouts of : " Turn out ! The stage has been robbed." It was old man Tuttle bringing the news of the attack on the stage and the scenes at the roadside hotel. While he told his story some one assembled the sheriff and his posse. Seated on their pniucing horses they listened to the tale and, just as they were •bout to ride off, the rumble of the stage-coach was heard. It was driven by a stranger who had called at Tattle's place, and the only passenger was Llias Lynch. While willing hands helped the old man from the coach and placed him on a comfortable couch in the best hotel El Monte could boast, John Lynch joined the crowd. He helped to make his father comfortable and sent a man over lor a doctor. When the medical man arrived he gave it as his opinion that, though the wound was very dangerous, it was possible that old Lynch would recover. As John Btood holding his father's hand, looktng down at the now unconscious man, old Tuttle burst In. At the sight of John he pointed an accusing finger and shouted : " That's the man who hit me over the head and shot Elia3 Lynch." " Shot my father ! " exclaimed the gambler, looking at the crowd. " What madness is the man saying ? As the crowd stood silent at this dramatic accusation Tuttle went to the side of Elias Lynch who had ju.t opened his eyes. "It's your son who shot you and hit me over the head. And it's your son who robbed the coach and killed the driver and guard," he said. Wearily the old man turned his head and looked at liis son. Then he fell back on his pillow with his lip3 shut tightly. "Look at the old fool." almost screamed Tuttle, " He's trying to shield liim." " Gentlemen " began John Lynch, but he got an further. . The stricken man turned on his couch and, looking his son straight in the face, said : " John, you know yon shot me I " As though struck with a sudden paralysis, John I.vnch looked helplessly around, but in the eyes of the crowd there was no look of sympathy. " I reckon a father knows his own son," said one. There was a murmur of assent and the crowd began to act. With drawn revolvers they surrounded Lynch, and, railing the sheriff, a court was formed. Tuttle repeated his evidence and then a miner stepped lorward and .said he had seen tluee mounted men heavily laden with something in bags, enter Cal Martin's stables. " One of them was that man," he said, pointing to John Lynch. Leaving John in charge of a strong escort, some of the miners rushed off to the stables and, in a few minutes, returned with Boggs and the Mexican heourelv bound. They had been captured just as they were getting away with their share of the gold which they had hidden in the stables. As the two prisoners entered the room. Hoggs looked at John Lynch. " Well, so long as you have got him. I don't care," he said. " He's the man who planned the hold "'That settled any lingering doubt that the court ii,;<dit have held. John Lynch was found guilty and 'denced to be hanged witti the other two. localising that all was over, the gambler called one of his men. "Ride to the ranch and tell my daughter Mary." h. baid. " I should like to say good-bye to her More I die." . Then, with head erect, he walked cabin) out, -urloaaded by tLe hfriff's men. Her Atonement. WESTERN" law moves swiftly. Within an hour of John Lynch having been found guilty he was led out into the square of El Monte bound to a horse with a noose round his neck. But while he waited for the sheriff to appear and give the order for the place of execution, a grim drama was being enacted within a pistol shot of the crowd that surrounded him. Nita had overheard the message brought by John Lynch's messenger and in a flash she had seen that her rescuer had been mistaken for Jtivcrs. With a woman's intuition she had realised that her story of the men being doubles would not convince the crowd unless she could find Rivers. In her desperation she rode in to El Monte and made straight tor the Red Flare in the hope that she might pickup from some of Iiivers's gang tin hiding-place of the road-agent. While she waited at the bar tin slinking figure of Sat McGfough came in and asked the bartender for a flask of brandy. Nita's heart beat like a trip hammer. Where that brandy went she knew she would find Bigc Rivers. Like a shadow she followed the Bat to the top room of the Red Flare, which was kept as a supply store. As soon as McOrough had entered Nita placed her ear to the door and heard Rivers cursing UeGrough for being away so long. She was just going to dash away and give information to the sheriff when the door was thrown open and she was grabbed by the ' hair. Staring at her was the evil face of Bigc Rivers. Without a word he dragged her inside and threw her violently to the floor. " So it's you, is it ? " he snarled. " Well, I warned you what would happen. You can say your prayers now, for you will never live to say you have seen me. Then he turned on Me' I rough w ith a juddeii fury. " As for yon, you rat, I'll -" He did not finish the sentence. Nita had made a dive for the window and Rivers rushed at her. Picking her up he threw her against t)ie panes, smashing the gla'S to atoms. As the girl swayed, half in and half out of the window, he drew his revolver and fired. L Nita fell like a log on to an out-house aud dropped from there into the Square, almost at the foot of the sheriff's men who were guarding John Lynch. She was mortally wounded, but she lived long enough to tell the story of the resemblance between Johu Lynch and Rivera, The noose was quickly taken from John Lynch's neck and, as the sheriff's men were hastening to tho BUpply-room, John Lynch shouted : " I reckon this is my funeral, boys ! Leave liiin to me." In the meantime, another crime had been added to the long list that had stained the soul of Bigc Rivers. After shooting Nita, the road-agent drew his gun 011 the only friend he had ever bad in his career of crime. With a mocking laugh he shot Bat Mi Grough in the back as the man lie had used as a tool was making a frantic attempt to escape through trie drvor. Then, draining the flask of brandy, Bige Rivers reloaded his revolver aud sat down waiting for the end. Some of the sheriff's men had already rushed to the supply-room and begun firing through the door when John Lynch, armed with a revolver that someone had given him, appeared. The gambler had climbed in at the window and just as ho was putting his leg over the sill Bigc Kivers turned from firing through the door which he had barricaded. He saw the double of himself, the man who had stood on the brink of death for the crime the roadagent had committed, and in the face of the gambler he read his doom. He fired at the same moment as John Lynch, but while the outlaw's bullet went wide, that from the revolver of John Lynch went straight to its billet. When the crowd broke through the door they saw the double of the living and the dead, and as John Lynch claspciWtiis daughter to his breast the glad news was brought that his father was old of danger. Aud always, while the gambler lived, at the foot of the simple grave that marked the last resting-place, of Nita the outcast, were to be found white flowers — the tribute of John Lynch to the woman who ga\e her life to save him from the sheriff's noose. (Adapted from incidents in the Photo-play featuring Frank Keenan as John Lynch and Bige Killers, by permission of the Pathe Film Company.) Character as Told by the Face. THE lace is the best index to character. Most of us pride ourselves on being able to tell character in this way. In this series of readings of well-known stars, given by a lamoas expert, readers will be able to realise their own or their friends' characteristics, by comparing the definitions given on those they resemble in feature. Thus many will resemble, say. Antonio Moreno in some way or another, and by reading carefully what the expert has to say about this particular feature, they will gain an insight to their own character. No. 12— ANTONIO MORENO. nature, the one thing really absolute in liiuoan life that will always have its own. The eye itself, indicative of the intuitive knowledge of the difficulties of life ; the worship tor talent, that is one of the rarest vagaries th.it ever beat its way in the human soul. Tenacity of Purpose. THE nose is rather short, but has a very fmo curve, showing determination, tenacity of purpose, a born leader, and a man of genius. A 6trong character. An ambitious man with an expansive temperament. Note the mouth, with its full, thohgh finely curved low er lip, satirical in expression, betraying iove of pleasure, extravagance, self -confide nee, genius.. What privileges he command.-, they are rightfully Lis, due to this temperament of loTty aspirations. A Soldier Every Inch. TAKE the jaw — a soldier every inch of him. He has honour, integrity, sound principles) a very good judge of character, and strong affection. The chin .shows fondness for the fair sex, and can be very tender towards them. Temperament and Personality. A LARGE imagination, wliich helps tho realism of every detail to forget the* realism of the lifo of yesterday, the morrow, and the future. Also 'a good combination is here depicted, with tenderness combined with great strength of will. A man whose word is his bond. A strong personality, craving the luxurious; in art, poetry, and nature, combined with tho subtle and tender qualities of a woman. An actor born. High-minded, stooping to no mean things. Tho length of the face is indicative of strength of character, organisation, diplomacy, and a man very much taken by appearances. A personality of great powor over others. ANTONIO MORENO. HERE wo have the Oriental type. Take the squareness of the forehead, showing individuality, sublimity, generosity, the latter large ; note the eye, where candour lights for the mastery with the most accomplished irony. The eye that can tako. tho salt from tears, the bitterness from judgment, and tho keenness from despair. The clear, searching gaze. Thero is no two ways with a man of this type. The eyebrows, how close wo find them to the inner corner of the eye, denoting suspicion of id hers, jealousy, and a very passionate