Reel Life (Sep 1914 - Mar 1915)

REEL LIFE Seventeen Our Mutual Girl Hears Royal Romance By Marc Edmund Jones ONLY t h e other day Our Mutual Girl had the wonderful privilege of being presented to a very famous person, whom hundreds of American girls all joy to meet. CAST Margaret Norma Phillips George Barr McCutcheon By Himself Captain James Curtin William Bailey Princess Olga Ruth Rose Her Father Ezra Walck Ludovici Arthur Forbes Prime Minister Arthur Donaldson Director, Lawrence L. McGill Chapter Forty-nine over the country would be wild with She was attending a soiree at the very exclusive home of a New York society leader when a large, pleasant-faced man approached with their hostess — and the next moment Margaret's hand was genially clasped by George Barr McCutcheon. "Oh, Mr. McCutcheon !" gasped our delighted heroine, "would you mind taking me into an author's secrets and telling me how you think of such lots of exciting things to write about?" "How do I think of them?" he laughed. "Why, my child, this world is just as full of romance today as it was hundreds of years ago — and all anybody has to do is to keep his eyes open and he'll see more thrilling stories going on right around him than he could hope to write in a life-time." "You don't mean to say that there are really runaway princesses and things in New York, and — oh, let's go into the library where it's quiet and then you can tell me all about it." So it happened that Our Mutual Girl and the popular novelist settled themselves for a cozy chat, and the end of it all was that he related to her — just for Our Mutual Girl's benefit alone — incidents he had happened across which have provided character and plot for some of his famous romances. On the screen the story he told Margaret is retold in pictures for the entertainment of Our Mutual Girl's friends all over the country. It seemed too bad, Margaret said, to keep such a wonderful experience to herself, so she persuaded Mr. McCutcheon to have the story made into a short photoplay. This is the tale as he told it to her : Captain James Curtin is a United States cavalry officer stationed at one of the garrisons in New York City. He is escorting a party of visitors about the grounds at headquarters when he falls head over heels in love with one of the young ladies of the group. She is not like the other girls — not, in fact, like any other girl he ever has met. There is an air of old world breeding about her, combined with the independence which American women show on occasions — and she completely fascinates Curtin. Our Mutual Girl and George Banr McCutcheon A few days later, strolling down Fifth Avenue, unconsciously the observed of all observers, the handsome young captain sees again the mysterious girl. Evidently a stranger to the traffic regulations of New York streets, she attempts to cross just as the stream of limousines and carriages bounds forward at the policeman's whistle — and surely she would have met her death but for the timely action of the cavalry officer. In the moment that he holds her, safe on the curb, in his strong arms, he feels that his love is reciprocated— but the same instant an elderly man whom he takes to be her father, hurrying out of 'Sherry's, peremptorily orders her to leave her deliverer and go with him. Almost beside himself at this cruel intervention of fate, the cavalry captain seizes the bell boy at the door of Sherry's and commands that astonished young person to turn out his pockets. He has seen the elderly man tip the page — and it occurs to the officer that here may be a clue. A strange coin among the American dimes and quarters catches Curtin' s eye. Hurrying to a coin expert, he learns that it was minted in one of the Balkan states — and a few days later sees him aboard a fast sailing liner bound for the kingdom whence the money came. In Barmania he learns that the girl to whom he has lost his heart is none other than Princess Olga, the only daughter of the ruling monarch. The elderly man assuming authority over her is the Prime Minister who is at the head of a conspiracy to usurp the throne. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and the Princess return from the United States. The conspirators announce to their leader that the plot is now ripe — but that since the advent of the distinguished American they have grown uneasy. "We must act at once," is their leader's verdict. Captain Curtin, who has concealed himself in their secret chamber overhears everything, and recognizes that his opportunity has come. He warns the king, who quickly mobilizes a small force of loyal men whom Curtin gallantly offers to lead against the traitors. The reigning family is saved through the brave American's efforts — and the grateful king gives him the Princess Olga in marriage.