Picture Show (Nov 1919-Apr 1920)

s DESTINY (Continued frcm page 6.) wanted money, and expected Fisher to pay him back something of what he had borrowed from him from time to time. When George discovered that Fisher could givo him nothing, and that Fisher had also falsified the accounts, he had threatened to go to the head of the firm. Fisher hastened to explain that George had always lent him money, but since his marriage he had not given Fisher that help, which the man had come to rely on. Fisher had come home with Meadows on the Christmas Eve. Ho was loth to Jeavo him. Meadows had never been this way before with him, and he was feeling afraid. • He wanted to persuade George to give him the money to put back before the New Year; but George kept refusing him, and threatening to hand him over to justice, even while he drank with him at the different public bars on their way home. When they did arrive, George was furious to discover how late it was. lie kept saying lh.it he had wanted to be home by five, but Fisher, in his anxiety to keep him with him, did all in his power to get him to drink. . George had blamed Fisher for keeping him out, and had said some hard, unreasonable things. They had both been drinking, and Meadows was not particular when he had had too much. He called Fisher a parasite, and that had infuriated the man. In a sudden fit of anger Fisher had caught up the brass poker and struck at Meadows. •• I never meant to hurt him. I only wanted to make him hold his tongue !» he said wretchedly. There1 was a struggle, and they had both fallen. Meadows had caught his head on (he edge of the fender, and Fisher,' now goaded to a fury past reasoning, had lifted the poker again and again and struck at the mucking and venomous tongue. Fisher then suddenly realised what he was cluing. He was instantly sobered, and, leaning over his friend, had tried to rouse him ; but to his horror he soon, realised that repentance had come too late. George Meadows was dead ! His first thought was flight— to get away quickly, to hide where no one should find him. . , He rushed to the door, and then, suddenly remembering, he came back. He could not leave the body there. Someone might come down and find it. They would call the police.' Oh, if only he could hide that strange, inert figure, which looked so gruesome lying there ! He went back to it, and leaned over "the the man. . He was dead j there was not the slightest doubt of that. Then something seemed to snap in his head. His brain became clear and alert. He saw a chance ahead. To get rid of the body ; lhat was the first thing. Then ho remembered the disused well ! He fetched George Meadows's hat and coat, thinking that, if he was seen by chance, people would not be so likely to notice anyIhing strange in a man with his hat and coaton being assisted along by another. Having dressed the dead man, he took the body in his arms and dragged it through (he kitchen and out along the sodden ground, lie no longer felt fear or remorse. His mind was fixed on one thing, and one thingonly — self-preservation. Flinging the body in the well, he listened to hear it fall, and then peered down, striving to pierce the darkness. He must come back, he decided afterwards, and see that nothing was amiss that could give him away. The shrubs and wild black berry<;bush might bora a tell-ESle thread or paper. He must remember and return after he had straightened the house. .As he returned he half expected to be consented by either Mrs. Meadows or one of the servants. Ho and Meadows must have made a noise, In argued. One of them, or perhaps all, would be wailing. What slory should he tell'/' But all was strangely quiet. The kitchen door was open just as he had left it. This was surely a trap ! They vvero wailing for him in the sitting-room. Should he go off, or confront them? While he was debating, he had been stealing cautiously around the table, trying to peer out into tho hall, and from there through to the sitting-room. Then he stood and listened, Ids eyes fixed on the room beyond, but there was nothing to break the silence. Gaining, courage, he closed the kitchen door and walked boldly through to the sitting-room. It was just as he had left it. The poker lay on the hearthrug, lie picked it up and examined it carefully. There was a faint smear of blood on the glittering knob. A small muslin handkerchief, trimmed with lace, lay crumpled up on the seat of tho armchair by tho fireplace. Fisher used it to wipe away the offending stain, and then, to hide the tell-tale rag, he pressed it into the dying lire with the poker. ' Then, his fear returning, he looked around him hastily again. There was nothing — nothing that could give him away. He went out into the hall, and stood listening. Then he put on his hat and coat. Glancing up suddenly, a presentiment swept over him that, from the darkened staircase above, someone was watching him. lie made a rush up the stairs, and then stood listening again. Cautiously he walked along tho passage and glanced hastily into darkened rooms; and then, reassured, he was descending the staircase again when the front door opened suddenly, and Diana came in. She looked at him so calmly, and spoke in such a cool, matter-of-fact tone, that Kis courage, which had almost deserted him at the sight of her, suddenly revived, and tho story sprang glibly to his lips. To his complete surprise she had believed it. Never had a man a more easy task. Her pride had suffered more than her love, and she was on the defensive. He^ mode of taking it had helped him immeasurably to cover up the deed. The story she told those who were at all interested, made him safe. The secret would not have been revealed to the world if the railroad people had not agitated for the site. Fisher confessed how he had tried to prevent Diana from selling, but when he realised that her mind was rjiute made up, he had conceived the idea of finding the body himself and putting the crime on to the young wife. When the case was tried at the assizes, the jury did not lake long to decide. A verdict of " Wilful murder " was brought in against Bertie Fisher, and he was sentenced to suffer I lie penalty of his crime. But the wretched man, worn out by remorse and fear, was discovered one morning by his gaolers completely out of his mind. A padded room now holds him, and his terrified voice breeds terror in the heart of those who hear him. Ih the Land of Beginning Again. IT is early spring. Along a country lane there stands a gabled old farmhouse, with a farmyard on one side and an old-fashioned garden on the other There are white feathered fowl, and a sow with a litter of pigs foraging in the farmyard, and "a small boy in a sailor suit peeps at them through the gate. He likes the fowds, also the little pigs, but of the mother he stands somewhat in awe. As the old sow comes towards the gate expectantly, uttering short, quick grunts, he recedes, and finally runs to the garden on the other side. A bed of bright yellow crocus, holding up their heads gaily towards the sun, quickly attract his attention, and he runs forward, his' bright, expressive little face alive with emotion. " Oh, you pily, pity fowors!" he cries. And, bunding down, he buries his chubby hands in them. Beside a window in the pleasant sitlingroofti sits a woman. It is Diana; The lecture Show, March bth, 1920. Her face is thinner, and has lost the roundness of girlhood. It is the face of a woman who has passed through great tribulation, but there is a totally new expression in the soft, grey eyes; a tenderness around the mobile lips, and a sweeter note in her voice than was there in the old days. Six months had passed since the trial, and Diana was beginning to forget the terrible ordeal that she had been subjected to. Little Eric came softly up to her, the flowers in his hands. He put them in her lap without speaking, and stood silently beside her, gazing up into her face, his own alive with silent sympathy. Diana often wondered how much her baby could possibly know of the past. There was something uncanny in the way he had clung to her after her release, and when she was sitting as she was now, he never obtruded on her thoughts, but always wailed patiently until she spoke to him. " What lovely flowers, darling ! How beautiful they are !" The young mother bent and kissed the child as he smiled happily up at her. His arms went round her neck. " I do love you, mummy I" he cried, nestling up to her and climbing on to her lap. There is a sound in the passage outside, rnd Eric scrambles down very quickly and runs towards the door. " That's Uncle Dicky !" he cries excitedly. "I just know it is him!" Then, as the door opens, he rushes forward to meet the tall man who is entering. Dick Forlesquo catches up Eric and swings him on to his shoulder. " Well, young man," ho remarks as ho does so, " I hope you are not getting tired of the country?" Diana had risen to her feet. A wave of colour dyes her face and neck. The man comes towards her, and, holding her child with one hand, catches her round the waist with the other. " Well, dear, it is all settled," he say9 smilingly. " The banns are to be published next Sunday." She raises her face, and their lips meet. Then she lets him hold her close to him, as though he could never let her go again. Without speaking, all three pass into the garden, where the big bed of yellow crocusee seems to smile at them a* cheery welcome, and a thrush in the bushes calls loudly to ils mate. (Next week our splendid new serial begins, entitled " The Secret Husband.") JOYCE DEARSLEY. One of Britain's Prettiest and :: Most Youthful Star Artistes. :: JOYCE DEARSLEY, the rising young British film artiste, is taking an important part in the screen version of the successful Haymarket play, " General Post," which has been produced by the Ideal Company. Joyce is in tho proud position of being one of the youngest cinema stars at present playing for films. As you will see by our delightful portrait, she is exceedingly pretty,! with a somewhat wistful expression, and an almost perfect type of camera face. She is also (he possessor of glorious hair. Joyce Dearsley is, by the way, the wife of (he famous British producer, Thomas Britley, who has numberless screen successes to his credit. But her prominence in the photo-play world is due entirely to her own talent and efforts. " General Post," which will undoubtedly add to the fair name of British films, has an excellent cast. In addition to Joyce Dearsley, it includes the popular WesJ. End actress Lilian. Braithwaite, Henderson Bland, who has achieved fame as the artiste who played Christus in " From Manger to Cross," and Douglas Monroe. It will be remembered that Madge Tilheradge played the leading part in tho popular .-(age version of the play.