Picture Show (May-Oct 1920)

f 8 THE SILENT DUPE. {Continued from page 6. ) not seem particularly pleaded when she heard that Mona was going to stay. "; Mr, Slick is a friend of Jack's,'" she hastened to explain. " I don't know him very well, but 1 think he rather admires me. Sometimes he takes me out when Jack is too busy." Sylvia was being dressed in a gown of green silk net over gold tissue. Emeralds glittttcd i n her slender neck and in her hair. Mona, in her serge frock and simple muslin collar and cuffs, looked strangely out of place beside this gorgeous creature, and Sylvia smiled to herself. There was a time when Mona had had pretty clothes ; now it was her tum. Tl\e foolish girl quite believed that Mona felt about these (lungs just as she did. In the handsomely appointed drawing-room Jack was waiting for them. Sylvia ran up to him and held up her face to be kissed. Jack remembered that only that morning she had repulsed him, and he wondered why Sylvia always behaved so differently when Mona was present. He glanced across at .Mona. She was looking very thin and pale, and she did not look very happy. She had aged these last lew years. He remembered her in the old days, when he had always gone to her, certain of her sympathy and undei standing, and he sighed. He was worried now. The Wilsons, had been strangely silent since that night when lie and Sylvia had gone to the dinner-party. There was no further suggestion about the compxny which there had been so much enthusiasm about before, and his capital was dwindling rapidly. Sylvia did not understand. She did not seem to care. She was sitting on the ami of his chair, ruffling his hair and talking to Mona. Jack was not naturally observant, but his eves were attracted suddenly by the gleam of the jewels she was wearing. He put out his hand and touched the necklace round her neck. " Wherever did you get these, Sylvia ? " he asked sharply. ilis wife put up her hand, while a staitlcd expression came into the blue eyes. ' 1 have had them ever so loiig," she said, Striving to speak naturally. " But wheie did you get them ? " persisted J ark. " 1 bo u ah t them : they are only glass, just imitation," she said defiantly. Jack had not let go 1 is hold of them, huwi \ or. Sylvia wrenched herself away, and the necklace came off in his hands. Jack examined it thoughtfully. ' Surely theso arc not glass ? " he said ; and then, as a terrible suspicion crossed his mind, he put the necklace in his pocket. ' What are you doing, Jack ': " cried Sylvia, r.s she noticed the action. "Give me my beads ! " " Not until 1 know how they came into your possession," he said. Sylvia laughed hysterically. '' Don't he silly!" she said. "Show them lo Mona ; she will tell you that they are of no value. Does he think his little wife has been wasting his money on expensive jewellery, (hen ? " Jack, without a word, handed the necklace lo Mona. He noticed how the -lim white hands trembled »> she bent her dark head. She raised her head suddenly and found his eyes fixed on her face, and a wave of colour dyed her checks. Sylvia was leaning over her shoulder, and r.he felt the girl's hot hands pressed again-.! Iicr. ' Well '! " asked Jack. And Mona knew instinctively that Whatever ♦lie said he would abide by. " They get these things up so wonderfully well these days, Jack," she said. '1 have llVIUd that experts are often deceived." " Do you believe they are an imitation ? " persist ed Jack. Mona was relieved from answering, for at that moment Mr. Slick was announced ; and as lie came forward to Jack, his hand outstretched and an apology for being late on his lips, Sylvia snatched at her necklace and placed it in the bosom of her frock. Then she, too, went forward to join the two men. Mona had half-risen in her chair. She scarcely noticed that Sylvia had taken the jewels from her ; she was too engrossed in staring at the newcomer, for she had recognised him. He was the man who had come into the houso at Golder's Green in the middle of the night. And as she stood, Jack turned and introduced her to Slick, and the next minute dinner was announced. . ' Mr. Slick offered his arm to Sylvia, and Jack followed' with Mona. Her fingers rested lightly, on the sleeve of his coat, and Jack experienced the same electric thrill that he had known in Manchester when, ill and blind, he had held her in his arms. He wanted her now. The pretty doll-like creature who sat on the other side of him he knew that he had never loved as he was capable of loving the silent, shy little ficure beside him. He knew, too, in his heart that she cared, and he, -in las foolish chivalry, had cast her aside ! Sylvia was chatting to Mr. Slick in her happy, girlish way. Now that she had the necklace back, she. was quite herself again. Miss MIRIAM FERRIS, who, after an absence of eighteen months, during which time she has been doing film work, is returning to the legitimate stage. Her last picture, " The Right Element," was a "Granger " success. She must get a paste one made in the morning, she told herself. She would g^t Mr. Slick 'to see to it for her. Better still, she would give him the necklace now. " 1 have a couple of stalls for the new play at the Empire: 1 was wondering if Mr. Arlington! would object to me taking you," remarked Mr. Slick suddenly, speaking to Sylvia, but glancing at Jack. Sylvia clapped her hands. " Jack, do let me go ! " she said eagerly. Jack hesitated. He was in a state of uncertainty. He believed that Slick was a thoroughly decent fellow, hut Slick was spending quite a lot of time in his wife's company. His face grew pale as his thoiights dwelt on the fact. Slick was a detective. Was it possible that lie was watching his wife ? Ever since that irieetinu with Mrs. Oraioe he had felt at times a terrible suspicion. In vain he had tried to shake it off, hut it would come back. He felt ■strangely undecided. Mona was no less uneasy Minn Jack. She recognised Mr. Slick as a burglar. What was he doing in Jack Arlingford's house as 'an honoured guest ? She raised her eyes Suddenly ami found Mr. Slirk looking at her. He turned at ones and addressed a remark to Sylvia, but Mono Picture Show, July 10th, 1920. realised at that moment that Mr. Slick remembered her, too. The gentlemen accompanied the ladies back into the other room, and Sylvia turned at onco to Jack. ' What are you doing this evening, Jack ? " she asked him. " I don't know," he said listlessly. " 1 will take you out, if you want to go." " But I tJon't want you to, you silly boy ! I am going to the Empire ! " " 1 suppose we can all go ? " said Jack. " You will come with us, Mona ? " " No, thank you ; I must get back," rep!:cd Mona quickly. "Then you Jake Mona home and then follow us on," suggested Sylvia briskly. " 1 will go and. put my cloak on, or we shall be late : and 1 hate to miss the beginning ! " She went from the room as she wa>( speaking. Mr. Slick had taken up his stand on the hearthrug. He was smoking a cigar, and was apparently engrossed in watching the rings of smoke he blew ir.trv the air. . Mona left the room to put on her things, and the two men were alone. Jack took a thoughtful turn tip and down the room. Suddenly he stopped in front of Mr. Slick, and as he did so his face changed colour. From the trousers pocket of Mr. Slick's dress suit a green stone was hanging. It belonged to the necklace. Jack gave a hoarse cry and caught hold of :t. " What does this mean, Slick ? (Jood heavens, man, tell me the truth ! " he cried. Mr. Slick glanced round the room and then looked Jack squarely in the face. He did not change a hair. 1 knew you would have to be told sooner or later, Arlington!." he said. "It is an unpleasant business altogether. The truth of the matter is that your wife is a kleptomaniac. Now, don't get excited," he went on fuuriovsl} . as Jack made a threatening attitude toward* him. "Just keep quiet and ljiften sensibly to what I have to say. " Your wife is suffering from a disease. Hers is a remarkable case, because she honestly is not accountable for her actions when the mood is on her. I, as a detective, have many peculiar cases brought to my notice, and your wife is terrified at tho consequence*? of what she has done when she finds certain articles that she cannot account, for in her possession. She recognises that I am her friend, and so she hands the articles over to me, and 1 see that they are returned to their proper owners. 1 know that this must be a terrible shock to you, and 1 blame myself for not telling you as soon as I made your acquaintance, so that you would be on your guard. " But don't you realise, man, what 1 his must mean to her — to me ? " cried Ja<;k. -Mr. Slick took him by the hau l. " I know," he said, " and I greatly sympathise •with you. But you can trust me to keep the secret." Jack did not reply. He could only staie at the man before him in a dazed way. ' Then was it true 1 " he said at last. " Was. it my wife that"— tho words stuck in his threat — " that affair of the bap ? " Mr. Slick hesitated for a fraction of a second. " it was true," he said. " But I was able to convince Mr». Craige that she hod been mistaken." JacR threw out his hands in a blind way. " Good heavens ! " he muttered hoarsely* Mr. Slick patted him on the shoulder. There was a smile on his face and a cruel tspicusion in his ligh» eyes. " 1 hear Mi-. Avlingford outside. 1 will go out lo her. She must not know that you have lieen told." He was moving towards the door, when Jack Sprang forward and caught him roughly by the arm. ' if this is true, I will look after my wife myself ! " he said, very steadily. " What do you take me for, mat) ? If this i° true, it has got to stop, here, now, and at once ! " Mr. Slick looked startled. He had mistaken bis man. " If you interfere, I warn you, your wife may be arrested any time I " he sai I. And just at that moment Sylvia entered the room. (This dramatic ttcry ui I end in r.cxt Monday's ''Pi. tare Show. ')