Picture Show (May-Oct 1920)

Picture Shou; September 2bth, 1920. 17 mother's heart was wrung with grief as she saw her son in prison garb. With a try of " Mother 1 " the young priest took her in his arms. " My boy ! My boy ! " was all the distracted mother could say. " You shouldn't have come, mother. They ought not to base lit. you come. Heaven knows how thankful I am to see your dear face, but this meeting w ill only add to your sorrow." He clasped her still tighter in his arms as his lips moved in prayer. " I suppose it is no use me asking if you will speak ? said Mrs. Cosgrovc, pleadingly. " Don't ask me, mother I Don't ask me ! " replied the priest. " You know I am innocent, but more I cannot say — not even to you ! " " I know. 1 cannot understand it all, but I know you feel you are doing your duty. 1 tell that to them all. They all believe in your innocence." " Thank heaven for that ! " cried the priest. " Mr. Travers told me so, and it has been my one comfort in these walls." For a few minutes they were silent, and then the gaoler came quietly to say the interview must end. W ith another tender embrace mother and son parted. The trial was as short as it was terrible, charged as it was with the intensity of emotion among those who witnessed it. The people railed for the prosecution gave their evidence in a manner which plainly showed they would sooner have given evidence on the prisoner's behalf, but still the remorseless facts came out. The blood-stained wallet bad been found on the prisoner's table ; the thumb print on the wallet was his ; the knife with which the murdered man had been killed was the prisoner's. Seated near Ids mother, the priest listened to the evidence which was sending him to a murderer's fate. Now and again he looked at the kind face, now drawn with suffering, and his lips twitched in pain. But in his eyes there shone the light of a great resolve. As he entered the witness box and took the oath, it seemed to the hushed audience that he waTlooking tar away from the court into another world. In quirt, low tones he answered the prosecuting counsel's questions. He had borne no grfldge against the dead man. Mr. Parker was one of the best friends he had ever had in the cause of charity. The witnesses for the prosecution had only spoken the truth, and he thanked them for the good opinion they had of him. ■ Then Travers, his counsel, rose iu his seat and played his last card. " Tell us now, even at the eleventh hour, all you know of this terrible crime. I, as your counsel, feel that if you tell us all you know you will at once step from the witness box, not back to the dock, but into Uod's pure air — a free man ! Your aged mother sits in court waiting for you to speak. See how she silently beseeches yon to speak the word that will remove the load of anguislf from her heart ; the word that will convince the world that the faith she has had in your innocence — a faith which has never wavered, and a faith that is shared by all those who know you — is justified. That word which will prove iu the eyes of man that you are not guilty of this crime." The young lawyer paused with dramatic suddenness and pointed to the prisoner's mother. The young priest followed the outstretched hand. He saw the lips of the mother he loved so dearly anil who loved him with even greater love, moving in silent supplication, and he felt they were framing the words he knew so well — the words he had heard her speak so many times in happier days. " "My boy. I feel that I would not care to live without you." For one short instant he seemed to waver, then his hands gripped the rails in front of him till the whites of his knuckles showed through the flesh. Turning to the judge he said in a low but clear voice : " I can only repeat what I have said before. I have nothing to say except that I am innocent." There was a hush in court, and then came the calm words of the judge. " I am doing a most unusual thing, but one which I am well within the confines of my duty as a judge in doing. I add my advice to that of your counsel. There is yet time. Have you anything to say in your defence ? If so I beg of you to speak." And once again came the clear, low words : " Nothing; except that I am innocent." It was the end. Never had Travers pleaded so eloquently as in his final speech. He laid stress on the fact that the prisoner bore an unblemished character ; that the witnesses for the prosecution had given testimony to the prisoner's character ; that there was an entire absence of motive; that it was obvious to all that the prisoner coidd clear himself if he chose to open his lips. But despite his eloquent pleading, he could not remove the evidence of the prosecution any more than he-had been able to make his client speak in his own defence. The. verdict was guilty, and the sentence death in the electric chair. MARGARET SHELBY. The Charming Staler of that Talented Lxftle Film Star — Mary Miles Minter. The Fatal Hour. IT was the day before the execution. Travers and I Helen had moved all the forces at their command to get the governor of the state to rescind the sentence, but in vain. At eight o'clock the next' morning the piiest would be taken to the electric zehair. Impossible as the chance of saving Cof<|fcove seemed, Phillip Travers and Helen would not give up hope'. While the young lawyer made a last effort to find the (Con'inued on page 18.' WHEN one is beautiful and attracts a great amount of attention from the opposito sex, it is sometimes rather embarrassing to have to say " No " to an invitation when one cares moro for study and reading at home than for the delights of the dance floor or stalls at a first-night performance. But in the case of Mary Miles Minter, the popular and charming little Realart star, the problem is easily solved, for sister Margaret never fails to come to the rescue. For Margaret Shelby is a perfect foil to her sister. YVhero Mary is serious, Margaret is gay ; where Mary prefers a book before a blazing fire, Margaret delights in the company of jolly friends. So Margaret is only too glad to assume her younger' sister's social obligations. For the the two understand each other thoroughly, and the elder completely respects Mary's desire to attain complete culture, oven though she cannot attend college like other girls because of her work in moving pictures. Margaret Shelby is the official hostess of tho Minter household, and many are the pleasant parties she lias planned during tho present engagement of herself and sister in their latest Realart picture. With her mother. Margaret is a charming singer, and spends many happy bours singing to her mother's accompaniment. A charming picture of MARGARET SHELBY in gown of satin and eld lace.