Picture Show (Nov 1919-Apr 1920)

10 The Picture Show, 'April ltd, 1920. SPLENDID COMPLETE STORY WRITTEN FOR « THE PICTURE SHOW." A Fallen Star. VIOLET MAXWELL, the leading lady at the Hilarity Theatre described in the advertisements as " The theatre others copy," was in one of her tantrums. It was one <if the final rehearsals of the new revue " We've Clicked,'' and nothing was right for the spoiled darling of the footlights who had once been glad _ to earn twenty-two shillings a week at a pickle factory in South London. She objected to the scenery because it would not match her dresses; to the American producer for some reason she did not 6tatc ; and, finally, she flatly declined to sing the song that had been specially written for her— a song which the lessee and manager, Percy Slade, felt convinced, to use his own words, "Would be put on every pianoorgan in England within a month." To all Slade's expostulations " Do be reason:it>|p dear," Miss Maxwell turned a deaf ear. " When you've sacked that American producer, and given me a song fit for me to sing, I'll be ready to talk business," she said. " I'm going to my dressing-room if you want to see me, but I sha'n't stop there long. And if I leave the theatre I leave, it for good." There was an ugly look in Slade's eyes as he watched the star leave the stage. " I suppose I've got to pacify her some way," he said. " She's going to force more money out nf me, but 6he knows she's got mc. Her name is billed all over London, and it's too late to get anybody else in the part." He followed Violet Maxwell to her dressing-room while the producer formed up the chorus. Despite Miss Maxwell's dislike to him, Al. Henry, the producer, was a smart man who knew his business thoroughly. As he was putting the girls through a simple dance he noticed a very pretty young woman going through the dance much more gracefully than the others. An idea came to Mr. Henry and he called the girl out. *' I have not noticed you before," he said. " What is your name?" " Daphne Darling," replied the girl. " I only joined the show this morning." " l?ut you've been on the stage before?" "Yes; I've played lead in the provinces. Rut for private reasons I wish to stay in town, so I must begin all over again." Al. Henry looked at Daphne's pretty face and girlish figure. " She's got Maxwell beaten to a frazzle for looks," he thought. Then aloud : " Will you come over to the piano, Miss Darling? I want you to trv this song over." It was the song Violet Maxwell had refused to sing There was a subdued murmur from the chorus Miss Maxwell was not popular, and everybody had take.n to Daphne, so they were glad she was going to get a chance. The girl took up the music, and in a singularly sweet voice, began the song. It was one of those dreamy, haunting melodies, and the composer, who wis playing the accompaniment, smiled to himself. Sung as Daphne was singing it he had no doubt that the song would be a huge success. So, too, thought the producer, for he ran off to find the manager. When he got Percy Slade from the dressing-room he told him of his discovery. " Come and hear her sing that song," he said. "Maxwell isn't on the earth with this new girl!" "Anything to stop that blackmailer!" said Slade. " She demands another hundred a week or she will throw up the part. Says she's got an offer from the Gaiety." A; soon as Slade had seen Daphne and hoard her sing he knew the producer was right. In a very few minutes he had given her Violet MaxweSI's part and pushed a contract into her hand. "Study the part and read the contract through, and we'll settle the business to morrow, Miss Darlini. I feel sure you will make good," he said. Violet Maxwell, who had witnessed the scene, bit her lips with rage. For once she had been too cunning. The oiler from the Gaiety was sheer bluff She had lost her part and she knew that while Daphne Darling had it there was no chanco of getting it back. / "I'll be revenged on that girl, and Slade, too!" she muttered savagely, as she left the theatre. Daphne felt almost delirious with happiness a; she went out into the street. Before she got n place in the chorus at the Hilarity she had reached the end of her resources. She had been more than thankful for the first position, but to tiiink that the first morning she should have ■teppeil into the star's shoes seemed more like a fair* '-ale than reality. lint she received a grim rcimnJer of the struggles and privations she had undergone as she started to walk home. A sudden faintness seized her, and she would have fallen but for the fact that a nurse, who was passing, ran up and caught her. One of the chorus girls c.imr up, and the two took Daphne back to the theatre. Here, with a little attention, she soon recovered. "Thanks very much," she said, turning to the nurse. " I'm afraid I fainted, but I'm much better now." The nurse, a handsome brunette about Daphne's own age, looked at her steadily. " You were faint from lack of food. My name Is Kitty O'Farrell. Can I do anything to help you?" "No, no!" replied Daphne hastily. "I do not live far away. I shall be quite all right now, thank you!" Once outside again Daphne took a 'bus and w.is soon in a shabby little 6treet in a quarter much frequented by the poorer ranks of the theatrical profession. She let herself in, and when she opened the door of the little sitting-room she stepped back with a stifled cry of pain. A man, with a good-looking but bloated face, was lying back in an armchair breathing heavily, and an empty whisky bottle, overturned on the table, told the story. • Horatio Darling had once been a clever actor, playing leading parts, but drink had dragged him down. It was in the hope of saving him that Daphne had thrown up a lucrative engagement with a touring company and come to London so that she could look after him. But her father was too far gone for redemption. He had lost all pride, and did not hesitate to spend the money his daughter wanted for food to satisfy his craving for drink. With some difficulty Daphne roused him and told him of her good fortune. The news had a sobering effect on the fallen star. He could see visions of an idle life and plenty of money for drink. He made a maudling attempt at a speech in which he tried to prove to Daplifte that her good fortune was due entirely to his training, and that she ought to think herself lucky that she had such a genius for a father. Then he went out to borrow money on the strength of the good news. Slade's prophecy that Daphne would make good was more than fulfilled. From the first night her 6nccess was assured, and very 60on she became the rage of London. The Hilarity was packed nightly, and there was every prospect of a record run. The only drawback to Daphne's happiness was her father. Certainly he was outwardly more respectable, but he was drinking more than ever. ■Twice he had called at the theatre the worse for liquor, and Slade had given orders that he was not to be admitted through the stage door on any account. Daphne had not forgotten Kitty O'Farrell's kindness, and she often sang to the officer patients at Kitty's hospital. Among the patients was Lieutenant Talbot a fine young man who had been severely gassed. Kitty had tended him very carefully, and the young officer had shown his gratitude in many ways. Unfortunately for Kitty, she had mistaken that gratitude for love, and a responsive echo had been awakened in her heart. Talbot, totally unconscious of the love he had unwittingly awakened, made Kitty a confidant in the passion he felt for Daphne, with whom he had fallen in love the first time she sang at the hospital. He did not mention the girl's name, for Talbot was as modest as he was brave, and Kitty thought that his obscure references to a girl he loved, but lacked the courage to propose to, were meant for herself. And so the misunderstanding, begun with a simple mistake that might have, been removed by a few words, became more and more complicated. A Plan for Revenge. VIOLET MAXWELL was not the woman to forget, and her hatred for Daphne only increased as the latter went from success to success. A shrewd woman of the world, she had noticed that Percy Slade had fallen in love with his new star, and the knowledge gave her a plan for revenge. She called at the manager's office one day, and under the pretence of a regret she did not feel, she asked him to let bygones be bygones and give her an invitation to a dinner that was to be held on the following night to celehrate the hundredth performance of the revue. Then, very artfully, she turned the conversation to Daphne Darling. " Look here, Percy," she said, " I'm not a bit jealous. I made a mistake riding the high horse, and I've suffered for it. The girl is clever* and she looks like making her fortune and yours. But, as an old pal, lat me give you a tip. You're madly in love with her, but anyone can see she is simply playing with you. It's the talk everywhere, and if you don't pull yourself together, you will be the laughing stock of the profession." "Oh, there is talk, is there?" said Slade "I've heard rumours myself. Well, I don't mind admitting to you that I am in love with the girl, and that I have already proposed to her She has refused me, but if I thought she was making a fool of me, well " He stopped suddenly and looked at Violet Maxwell as he reached for a .glass of brandv and sod* that stood at his elbow. "What would you tlo in my place?" he asked. The drink was in his head, or he might hive seen that the woman was only leading him on. " Why, I'd kiss her at the supper to-morrow night," replied Miss Maxwell. " But," she went on, as she shot a 6wift glance at Slade, " you haven't the pluck to do it. I'll bet you a fiver you daren't!" " I'll take that bet!" said Slade. Violet Maxwell was Hoo cunning a woman to stay when her object had been secured, and with a dazzling smile and a wave of her daintily-gloved hand, 6he went away. Percy Slade was a man with many faults, but he knew his business. The supper he arranged to celebrate the hundredthperformance of the revue was a triumph. He had taken care to invite the managers of other theatres who were taking shillings to his pounds. And he had also sent invitations to a large number of wounded officers, among them those at Kitty O'Farrell's hospital. One of the biggest firms of caterers in town had charge of the supper, and he had spent hundreds of pounds on the floral decorations alone. On one of the tables was a huge cake which was advertised to be the surprise of the evening Everybody looked at it and speculated on what it. contained. Outwardly it was just a giant cake, and the curious-minded who secretly tested some ot the icing, found that at all events that part was not only genuine, but wonderfully nice. The secret was disclosed when the hidden orchestra struck up the waltz song that had made Daphne famous. As the first strains flooded the room the top of flic cake lifted up and a beautiful girl appeared and danced down the table. She was followed by the whole of the beauty chorus amid the plaudits of the guests. It was at this moment when the excitement was at its highest that Violet Maxwell whispered to Percy Slade. " If you w-ant to win your bet, now is vour time !" Slade had taken his full share of the champagne, and he felt that it was only right that the man who had set London on fire in the theatrical sense should prove that he was not a man to be trilled with by the obscure actress from the provinces he had made into a star of the first magnitude. He came over to where Daphne was sitting, and, with a smile to the company, he kissed her full on the cheek before the girl realised .he was at her side. Slade prided himself on being a judge of human nature, but he had never made a bigger mistake than on that occasion. Two little spots of pink blazed on Daphne's cheeks as she rose to her feet and smacked the bounder's face with a resounding blow that could be heard all over the room. For a few minutes all was confusion. Daphne, crimson with mortification, hung her head, and when she lifted it she saw Lieutenant Talbot in front of Slade with his fists clenched and fury blazing in his eyes. Slade was hurried away by friends, but the excitement had been too much for the young officer and he began to cough. Some of the other officers caught hold of him and helped him to an ante-room, and one of them telephoned to the hospital. They feared that the coughing might effect Talbot's lungs, which were still weak on account of the gas. Daphne followed them in and did all she could for Talbot. In a few minutes the young man recovered, and, as he lifted his head, Kitty O'Farrell came in. The hospital was close at hand, and at the matron's order she had run all the way to the theatre. Talbot looked up at her and said : " I'm sorry we troubled you, Sister, but the coughing has passed off now. I shall be all right in a little while now." (Continued on page 18.) I