The Picture Show Annual (1928)

94 Picture Show Annual THE GIRL THEY CALLED " LUCKY." (Continued from page 92.) the worry and anxiety she had almost forgotten about the show on Monday. On Sunday afternoon Lionel Hickman arrived to take her to Richmond in his car, but she refused to leave Jackie. " Please don't be disappointed that I cannot come, but he wants me ; he can t bear me out of his sight when he is conscious," she told the young man, and something in her voice stirred a long-forgotten memory in his mind. His mother had been this kind of woman who could forget herself completely in the service of others. " You'll be at the theatre, anyway, to-morrow, won't you ? " he said anxiously. A faint flush spread over the girl's delicate features. " Oh, of course," she said, " that is, if I can leave Jackie with safety." Lionel went away at last feeling as if he had lost hold of something that mattered very much to him. Suppose she did not appear ? She would ruin her future career for the present, anyway, if not altogether. Such a chance of publicity did not come often, and he had made arrangements for his management to be in the house to-morrow evening to see her. It would be madness for her to cancel her engagement. The following morning he called again. She had been up all night, and there were dark rings under her eyes. She looked very frail, but very sweet, in the plain cotton frock and a big white apron she was wearing. She came into the room and held out her hand to him appealingly. I've written Mr. Greasby and sent him the frock and things," she said, " so that he can send them on to whichever girl he chooses to take my place. I can't possibly leave. My sister has made herself ill with grief and the doctor has ordered her to bed as well, so I can't leave, it would be impossible." Lionel crushed her small hands between his own. " But surely, just for an hour," he said. " It means so much to you. Your future depends on your appear- ance to-night, Peggy. You know that, don t you ? His dark eyes were searching her face, and her mouth quivered piteously. She felt that she was giving up more than her career if she refused him. Lionel Hickman had the reputation for being ambitious, and his love might not stand the test if she were always just one of the crowd. And then, as she hesitated, there came from the room above a child's feeble cry. I must go," she said. " Good-bye. I wish you all success to-night. And then, with the tears streaming from her eyes, she hurried upstairs to where the tiny form was feverishly tossing in the cot, and Lionel went away cursing himself for a fool. He loved her with all his heart and soul, and yet he had not taken her in his arms and told her so. " The Broken Spell " had been shown at the Imperial Theatre, and the well-dressed audience settled comfortably back in their seats, while the producer made the usual little speech. The notice that by a regrettable circumstance Miss Peggy Brandon would not appear, but that Miss Kitty Belton—another gifted actress whose performance they had just witnessed—would take her place, passed almost unnoticed except by certain members of the Press who made a mental note of the fact. And then the manager introduced the stars. Lionel Hickman appeared instantly, and there was a round of enthusiastic applause, as the young man was a favourite and personal friend of many who were present. And then Kit appeared in the gold frock, her face wreathed in smiles. Lionel took her hand and led her forward. The usual gust of applause began, and would have ended, had not a most extraordinary thing happened. Suddenly from certain places all over the house came a whirlwind of cat-calls, boos, and other unpleasant evidences of utmost disapproval. It was impossible to locate the centre of the storm ; it seemed to rise and howl from every corner of the great building. Those in front appeared surprised, and people stood up in their seats looking around them with that in- stinctive curiosity that makes the best of mortals ill-bred in the unexpected circumstance. The cries continued —whistles, screams, boos and howls—the noise grew deafening. Kit blinked—grew pale—stared at Lionel, who was gasp- ing at the audience with his mouth open, and finally fled just as an irate and bewildered manager pressed the curtain bell. Behind the scenes Mr. Greasby leant against a " pro- perty pillar displaying all the symptoms of potential apoplexy, his whole mind one huge question mark. It was Kit herself, however, who gave the clue to the mystery. She was crimson and crying with rage. It's that imbecile Val St. John ! " she said ex- plosively. " He told me he had something up his sleeve. I see what it was now—he thought Peggy Brandon was coming on to-night and he meant to take it out of her for pinching my thunder—the fool ! He set his gang on to make a row—he does things like that—and, of course, they didn't know I was the wrong girl. Oh, it's too maddening for words ! The idiot ! The fool ! Oh ! if I could get hold of him—— Mr. Greasby, what can I do to pay him out ? But Mr. Greasby was not sympathetic. On the contrary he was exceedingly angry. Don't you show yourself at the studio for a while or I shall have something to say to you, young woman, he said bitterly, " and you tell your friend to keep out of my way in future or I'll put the police on him. Then he caught Lionel by the arm. " You go on again, for heaven's sake, and say something —anything, but send them all away in a good humour. Lionel opened his mouth to retort, but suddenly forgot what he was about to say. Greasby turned to see what he was staring at, and then dashed forward. A girl, in a simple cotton frock in which she had come straight from the sickroom, was approaching them. Greasby uttered a delighted ejaculation as he caught hold of her, and hustled her on to the stage. (Continued on page 96.)