Picture Show (May-Oct 1920)

Piclurt Show, October 25nl, 1920. " SISTERS THREE. Continued from cage 19.) On such occasions sbe often had as an admir' ing audience her two younger sisters, Natalie and little Constance. , . There never was a more united family than the Talmadges. They delighted in one another's successes, and no atom of envy-or jealousy ever rame to disturb the serenitv of the happv home life. In the family circle Norma was now looked upon as a very great person indeed. Natalie admired her immensely, and Cormie simply worshipped her. " Norma is wonderful," agreed the two younger girls, and at this time neither of them ever dreamed of following in their sister's footsteps. It was towards the end of her first year at the Vitagraph that an incident occurred which revealed to Norma that she was at last making some headway. Jt was a trifling incident in itself, but it meant a great deal to the hard-working and ambitious girl. She came home one evening much more grave and serious than usual, for she was naturally a cheerful, lively girl, and generally had a number of stories to tell of the amusing happenings of the day at the studio. But this evening she was exceptionally quiet and preoccupied. Mrs. Talmadge was quick to notice that her daughter had something on her mind, but made no comment. Like a wise mother, she decided to wait until her daughter should think fit to confide in her. Little Constance, alway3 full of mischief, wa.i less diplomatic, and began to chaff her elder sister and to imitate her solemn demeanour in a most comical manner. Norma took Connie's chaff good-humouredly ns she always did, but she did not respond. Clearly her mind was. engaged upon something which prevented her from yielding oven to Connie's high spirits. She went to bed early. At this time she and Constance occupied the same bedroom. " Don't hurry. Con." she said as she bade them all good-night. " Stay up as long as you like. For once I can undress and get into bed without vour cheerful chatter to keep mo company. She gave her sister an affectionate glance as she uttered the words, so as to deprive them of any suggestion of unkindnes3. It is a dreadful thing to say, Peg." remarked Constance when the elder sister had retired. " but 1 don't think there can be any doubt about it. The long-dreaded calamity has fallen upon the house of Talmadge at last." " What in the world are you talking about, child ? " asked Mrs Talmadge. Constance wagged her pretty head mournfully. Norma has got a young man ! " she declared in a hollow voice. Don't be ridiculous, you foolish child r" " What else can it be ? I've always heard love has that depressing effect upon the victim. In real life, I mean. On the screen, of course, it is different. But in real life it makes yon sad and mopy. Norma shows all the symptoms. She only had one helping of pie to-night. You must admit that looks bad. Love is a wonderful thing. Nothing else will put a healthy girl off her feed. You see if I'm not right. " We are going to lose Norma. Isn't it a shame ? Isn't it tragic ? Just when " "For goodness sake, child, stop your nonsense ! " interrupted Mrs. Talmadge, halflaughing and half-angry. " Norma is much too nice and sensible to waste her time with boys at her age. Besides, she is a worker. She loves her profession and she thinks of nothing else." Constance looked ot her mother with a mischievous twinkle in her bright eyes. *' You won't be able to keep us always, Peg," she said teasingly. " I think it quite time you went to bed. Constance," said Mrs. Talmadge, a little primly. Whereupon the girl threw her arms round her mother's neck and kissed her. " All right, Peg," she said. " I'll go, and I won't tease you any more. But Norma is queer to-night, isn't she ? Perhaps she's working too hard. Poor old girl. I'll be as quiet as a mouse so as not to wake tier. Good-night, dearest." And with another kiss she ran off. When she crept tip-toe into the bedroom, however, she found two candles burning and a white-robed -figure standing in front of the looking-glass. It was Norma in 'her night-dress, and she was panting, gasping, and gesticulating in a manner which quite alarmed the younger girl. " Oh ! " ejaculated Constance in astonishment Norma turned her head and laughed. '■ Come in, Con., I've something to tell you," she Kiid. Constance clasped her hands, and her bright eyes opened wide. " Oh, Norma, what — what's his name ? " *" The elder sister stared at the eager little face in sheer bewilderment. " Eh ? was nil she could say. " Aren't you in love ? " " In what t " Constance's face fell. Then she revealed her dark suspicions. Normo laughed again. " You ridiculous kid ! " she said. " I've got something much more important to think about. I've got a real part at last. Only a little one, but it gives me mv chance." " Oh ! Is "that nil ! " "The play is silly, too. but there is just one little bit where I can shine if — if I can only dc it." Constance, rapidly overcoming her first disappointment, became eagerly attentive. " Of course you can do it," she declared loyally. " Tell me about it." Norma was quite ready to comply, and seating herself on her bed she explained matters while Constance undressed. " In this new thing we are going to do tomorrow I am a nice little girl who lives a sheltered life in a country house. I am not the lead, of course. I am a little friend of the stately heroine, but I hare quite a nice part. A young man from the City comes and makes love to me. He is charming and I am fascinated. He is always so sympathetic and kind, and I make him my hero and dream about him, and nil that sort of thing. I am miserable when ho is out of my sight, and when he goes back to the city I follow him secretly. I disguise myself as an ugly old frump, and get a job as a stenographer in his office." • " What an idiotic thing to do I " commented Constance. She was now in her nightdress and seated on her bed cuddling her knees up to her chin. " Well, it is only a film,'' explained Norma apologetically in response to the sisterly criticism. " My idea," she went on, " is to see my hero as he really is in the stress and battle of city life. Of course, I get a shock. Instead of the gallant and courtly knight, full of loving kindness, whom I knew, I find a cruel and avaricious young man who has no pity on the widow and tht orphan, and who is only anxious to make himself rich at the expense of others. I am horrified and return home a disillusioned little girl. In the solitary grandeur of my rich and comfortable home I nurse my grief. Are you listening ? " " Ye3, yes, go on. I think it awfully thrilling," replied Constance eagerly. " Well, now I am coming to the important bit where I get my chance. Behold me on a marble seat in a retired corner of the grounds of out ancestral home. I am the picture of desolation. My romance is shattered. The very sunshine seems to mock my grief. Suddenly along the winding road a motor-car is seen approaching. A young man descends, vaults the park railing, and comes towards me. He is handsome and smiling. It is my fallen idol — my one-time hero — Algernon Bruce. You sec what a fine situation it is t " . v*.-S — ^^fe'^gKWI " Yes, go on." " I am so overcome that I can say nothing." resumed Norma. " I am agitated and trembling, but I have no power either to welcome him or to send him away. Then he begins to make love. I listen like one in a dream. He takes my hand in his, and at the same time produces something from his pocket. It is an engagement ring. Whispering tender words of ndoration. he attempts to put the ring on my finger. Then I look up at him. His face is smiling and kind, but suddenly it fades away, and I see another face — hard, cruel, and avaricious, the merciless face of the grasping money -getter. Then comes my bit." As she spoke she sprang from the bed to the floor. For a moment she stood erect, and her whole personality seemed to change. She was no longer the half-grown girl but n woman faced by a tremendous emotional ordeal. "No, no, no ! " she cried, and as she uttere;! the word with over-increasing emphasis slu> shrank back, and the whole of her lithe youn™ body, as well as her extraordinarily mobile face, seemed to express an indescribable loathing and disgust. The next moment she had flopped on to the bed again, and was n girl once more. " What do you think of it ? " she demanded anxiously. Constance, who hrwl been quite carried au.r, by the scene, was clutching at her throat t.i prevent herself from screaming. For a moment she could not speak, but could only stare at her sister with big. adoring eyes. Norma ! " she said at length, in an awestruck whisper. " Norma, you are wonderful ! " (More of this interesting life story next week.) "The BOND BEWTEEN " Wo°*Zed17fr out, when suddenly his eye caught sight of another painting underneath. Taking a preparation. he began to wash the canvas, and when he had removed t lie first layer he caw, to his astonishment, that he was looking at the stolen picture — " The l>nches» of Angoleme." • He at once ran out of the studio to challenge Vans with his discovery. On the landing he passed a man who looked at him closely, but Jacques was too excited to pay any attention to Mm. The stranger, who was a detective from Fawnea's office, snrilcd quietly to hlmscll. aud then dodged in the shadows as he saw old Pierre coming up the stairs. The old man had come to we his son, but as he entered the studio and saw the missing picture he staggered back. So the fear that had haunted his mind ever since the night of the robbery that his son was the thief was only too true. He remembered how he had thought It strange that Ills son should have been able to get into the gallery when he was certain he had locked the clonr, and also Jacques's anxiety thnt he should be allowed to take his place as caretaker. P Covering his face with his hands, the old man sat down. As he did so the detective stepped Inside the studio and fadd a hand on his arm. " How did that picture come here ? " he said. " This is your son's studio, Isn't it t " " It Is not my son. I took the picture," said old Pierre, very quietly. As the detective was taking him away Ellen came in. In a few words, the detective told her what had happened. "You've got the wrong man," said Ellen ; " but I suppose you must take him." She at once rushed to Fawnes's office, and was there informed that the man who bad lieen shadowing Jacques had telephoned that lie had gone to the dealer's shop. " And that is where we shall clear up the mystery.' said Ellen. Accompanied by two detectives Ellen went In a taxi to the dealer's shop. As they reached a private room they heard voices. Jacques was accusing Raul Vans of having stolen the picture. thirsting the door open, the detectives saw the dealer covering Jacques villi a revolver, while Raul was evidently making preparations to escape. In a few seconds Raul Vaux and the dealer were handcuffed. Then Jacques explained the way In which Raul Vaux had for so long evaded capture, and, im ideut.ilK cleared his father's name and his own. ' " Yon sec this picture, gentlemen." he said, gnin? up to. a canvas. "I Innowntly brought this ir.n Paris at the request of Raul Vaux. It m a vt\ poor painting, and not wortli more than a few poundBut observe ! 1 wash off this painting, and, behold you see underneath the masterpiece Which w4| stolen from a Parts gallery." He washed the picture as he spoke, and under Hie daub ttiere was revealed a painting which even tin;, detectives could see was a work of art With this evidence before them, the detectives li id no ditncultv in proving the innocence of Pierre da Val, despite the fact ttiat the old man had eonfesse I to a crime he had not committed In order to save In ■ son. And in the happy gathering that followed old Pierre's release from gaol. Jacques added to tin jn\ of the companv by announcing in engagement to Ellen. (AilaiM from inciilentt in the ' Ideal" phrto plan, entitled " The Bvn-I llehretm," featuring (.A.'O/il.ft bi:ba.\ a* nr.ititr: i>r val.)