Reel Life (Sep 1913 - Mar 1914)

Supplement REEL LIFE THE BELLS OE AUSTI Domino Two Part Feature CAST Pedro Walter Edwards By Richard V. Spencer and Thomas H. Ince Don Luis Ray Laidlaw Chaperon Gertrude Clair Produced by Walter Edwards ETWEEN pretty Mercedes, daughter of the rich Don Rafael, and the gambling hall run by Pedro, where might be found the fascinating dancing girl, Paquita, Jose, the handsome son of the wealthy plantation owner, Don Luis, scarcely knew which to choose. Mercedes was the only choice which any man in his right senses could make, to be sure. Jose realized that when she was around. But at other times distracting thoughts of the tables covered with the green cloth, the songs and the jollity and the bright eyes and ever welcoming smile of Paquita would creep over Jose. Jose was not a tardy lover. Mercedes was his goal in life. So he wooed Mercedes ardently at every opportunity, although most frequently under the eyes of the old duenna, who fell asleep as often as possible, all of which was in strict accordance with the precedents in dreamy, old Mexico, below the Rio Grande. The afternoon sun beat down upon the corner of the whitewashed patio where Jose found his loved one. The old duenna nodded more and more slowly and then her head drooped forward. While she slept, the sweethearts stole around the corner "Mercedes, I love you," softly breathed Jose. But Mercedes only drooped her eyes under their long lashes and fled, provocatively, maiden-like, not so quickly but that Jose overtook her within a few steps. Just then the old duenna awoke. That night, Jose's thoughts and steps again turned to the gambling hall. There preparations had been made in anticipation of his coming. Pedro and Paquita planned to ensnare the rich young man. So Jose found it easy to gain Paquita's smile. "Softly, my little one," she whispered to the evil-faced Pedro, who was eager to get his prey to the card table. "The senor will play cards, all right, and he will lose ; yes, lose much." Lose and lose much Jose did. When he arose from the table Pedro held promissory notes for a considerable sum. These notes Pedro later took to Don Luis, but he refused to pay. To the father they were like a blow in the face. They revealed his son as a gambler. His first thought was how to curb his son's wayward ways. The Death of Jose, "The Bells of Austi," John Keller, Clara Williams, Ray Laidlaw, L. A. Emerson — Domino "A bethrothal to Mercedes, daughter of the good Don Rafael, that is the very thing," thought the father. So he arranged a meeting between the parents and the young folk. Thus confronted, Mercedes could not refuse the man she loved and Jose was only to happy to see his suit forced to a successful issue. While Mercedes blushed and Jose looked supremely happy, the troth of the young couple was plighted. Happy was Don Luis that night, happy in the consciousness of two good deeds well done. For he had just settled the future of his son, to the entire satisfaction of two Spanish families, and he had another deed of which to be proud. For that afternoon the Padre Cortez had visited him and told him of the new mission being built at Austi. For this good cause the venerable priest sought funds. The new mission would contain a set of bells finer and with a tone sweeter than any others in the district Even then it was rising under the blows of the carpenters and the trowels of the masons. The two old men talked of the future of the mission. Don Luis promised to contribute his 'share. When the bethrothal of Mercedes and Jose became known, Pedro, the gambler, saw his chance to collect the notes. With hatred written on every line of his face, he rode his grey horse up to Jose's home. "I want you to make good on these notes," he stormed, or ere another sun has set, everybody in the village will know that you are a gambler and in my debt, and then what will your fine lady say?" His sneer on the words "fine lady" made Jose's blood boil. The young man clenched his fists, but forced them open again. "Meet me at ten o'clock this evening and I will pay you," he nervously promised. "All right, but if you fail me, I will have vengeance," was the gambler's reply and, drawing a long Mexican knife from its sheath he flourished it menacingly. The hours passed slowly for Jose. With knitted^ brow and trembling fingers he sat • revolving his plight in his mind. He could see no way out until desperate means suggested themselves to him ad his face cleared. Then the lines in his face changed and it grew hard and set. That evening Pedro visited the mansion, straggling moonbeams played on his sinister features. Jose had not met iv.