Talking Picture Magazine (Dec 1930-Oct 1932)

Pas^e 34 TALKING PICTURE MAGAZINE February, 1931 At Bordeaux Josephe receives a letter from his brother, the Duke, sayingr that Napoleon will not admit him to court with his commoner wife. Again quick-witted Anne plots. She enters Paris without her husband, pretending to be a very wealthy American widow. Captivated by her charm, the gates of the Paris nobility are opened to her. Anne's pui-pose is to meet the Duke and Napoleon and gain _ their approval without their knowing who she really is, so that they will become reconciled to Josephe's marriage. In this she succeeds — too well. For Napoleon selects her as an ideal wife for the Duke, a widower. The Duke readily falls in with his sovereign's plans, for he loves the charming young widow. A general, also, seeks Anne's favors. Anne considers it time to reveal her identity, and does so in a note to Napoleon. He is amused, but will not have his will frustrated. He forces an annullment of the marriage of the unhappy lovers, in spile of the Duke's intervention to preserve Josephe's and Anne's happiness, and gives Anne a title to make her a fitting bride for the Duke. Anne receives a mysterious summons from the Empress on the eve of her wedding, which she heeds immediately, not knowing it to be forged. On her way to the palace her coach is attacked and Anne carried to a convent. There a false order from the Emperor makes her a prisoner of the frightened Anne's non-appearance at her own nuptials causes a furore. Napoleon learns of the abduction from Anne's coachman. He sends out searching parties of soldiers. Meanwhile, in the convent, Anne pretends to be mad. She rends the air with her screams, breaks all available pieces of furniture and dishevels her hair. The nuns are horrified. They release Anne from her barred cell, dispatching a hasty message to the Emperor concerning the state of Anne's reason. As Anne is mvestigating a means of escaping from the large room in which she has been put, the general, her defeated suitor, enters. Now Anne understands her imprisonment. The general, seeking to prevent her marriage and v;ed her himself, has confined her. The general approaches Anne. The messenger from the nuns has difficulty in gaining admittance at Court. Finally he is brought before the raging Emperor. Napoleon reads the note, and immediately dispatches a group of soldiers, led by Josephe and the Duke, to save Anne. They arrive as the general is carrying Anne's inert body to a waiting coach. In the ensuing battle, the Duke is killed by the general, but Josephe avenges his older brother's death. Josephe succeeds to his brother's title and position, and Napoleon consents to his re-marriage with Anne. File No. 3100 A LEI FOR YOU Cora E. Van Deusen File No. 3134 ARMED with a book, Imogene contentedly made her way to her favorite retreat — the low balcony around which syringas bloomed in a mass, their long white feathery branches reaching to the wall of the house. She was amazed to find the place already occupied. A brightlooking, red-headed stranger was enjoying the fragrant spot as much as she always did. Imogene indicated her displeasure at the intrusion, but the charm of the man, and his plea for peace and a temporary concealment softened her. The voice of her sister Joan called Imogene, who left to greet her. Joan told her the Sheriff was seeking a man who had killed his wife's lover ai.'d who had been seen to run in the direction of their home. Had Imogene noticed any prowlers? Almost against her will Imogene lied to protect a man she had never seen before. Dinner over, Imogene returned to the balcony to see if the stranger lingered. Taylor, the intruder, said he could not leave without having seen her again and thanking her for her kindness. She urged him to hurry and to be careful. Before leaving, the man broke a length of snowy sprays, fastened the ends together, and dropped it around her neck. "A lei for you," he said, and vaulted over the balcony rail, leaving a shaken but thrilled girl behind. Imogene was still in the same spot, dazed. Suddenly a pair of clutching hands grasped her throat. A husky, panting voice whispered in her ear, "Don't scream, or I'll cut your throat. Bring me clean clothes — and not a sound, or I'll burn down the house." Too frightened to do anything But obey, Imogene cautiously crept to the room of her absent brother, pulHng down whatever clothing she could find in his closet. The brute grunted satisfaction with her supplies. Imogene caught a glimpse now of his blood-stained shirt and involuntarily scrcatned. Her scream was cut short by a hairy hand. Powerless against his strength, Imogene was borne out on her balcony and the marauder tied her arms and legs. Meanwhile Taylor discovered he had left his hat on the balcony. Glad of an excuse to return, he turned back immediately, arriving just as the marauder finished tieing his victim. Taylor jumped on him, and a fierce fight ensued. The criminal drew a gun, but Taylor, skilled in scientific fighting, knocked it from his hand. Again the criminal attempted to slay Taylor, this time with a knife, but Taylor secured the weapon, and managed to cut the rope binding Imogene's legs. She limped to the door, screamed and fainted from the wound caused by the knife's slashing her leg as well. The scream awakened her sister Joan, who rushed to her aid. as well as directed the Sheriff and his men. who were in the neighborhood, to the sj;ot, and the villain was apprehended. During the ensuing explanations it was learned that Taylor was a writer who had come to the mountain country for atmosphere and mate-ial. Not only had he found his material, but he had found his dream girl as well, said Taylor, as he fingered the lei which had remained on Imogene through all the night's excitement. SWIFT ARROW B. A. Langridge ALBERT TEMPLETON, a lawyer, friend of Tom Brown's father, is persuading Tom, a young mining engineer, to undertake a mission for him — the location of Jacky Morgan, sought by his relatives in England, who has been lost sight of in the mining country of the Pinnacle region for the past eighteen years. This is entirely out of Tom's line, but he consents out of friendship. One month later he is plodding over the desert in an effort to reach Trail's End, at the foothills of the Pinnacles. His horse stumbles into a hole, throwing Tom off and wrenching his leg, and gallops away, leaving Tom helpless. At Trail's End a lovely young girl is sadly sitting on the verandah when a strange horse, dragging its saddle, gallops up. Dorothy guesses its meaning — a human being lost in the desert ! She is saddling her horse for her errand of mercy, in spite of the attempts of Jake Devoe, owner of Trail's End, to stop her, Devoe wants no strangers in this lonely spot. Dorothy shakes Jake off, and gallops into the desert. She finds Tom, gasping for water. Relieving him from her canteen, she aids him to mount her horse. For many happy days she nurses Tom back to healing of his hurt leg, love growing in both their hearts. Tom mentions the hostility of her father, and Dorothy explains Devoe is not her father but refuses to tell her who she is. She has been brought up from babyhood in a convent. Tom recovers and looks about Trail's End. Fearing he is sent by the government to spy on his cattle rusthng and distiUing of liquor to the Indians, Devoe has Tom lowered into a dry well and the rope cut. Dorothy overhears the plot, and with superhuman effort pulls Tom foot by foot out of the well. She insists that he fiee. Tom calls upon the Sheriff in the nearest town, inquiring about Jacky Morgan. Swift Arrow, an honest old Indian, is consulted. When Jacky Mcrgan's name is mentioned he shows signs of emotion. Tom proves he is Jacky 's friend, and Swift Arrow tells his story. Swift Arrow had arrived at Jacky 's cabin fifteen years before, with the bi-monthly supplies. Seeing a strange horse tethered without, he peeped through the window and saw Jake Devoe searching the cabin. He entered, and Jake explained that Jacky had just died and he was looking for his farewell note. Swift Arrow dug a grave for Jacky. Devoe asked him to sign a paper with his mark, which he claimed stated that Jacky had died in _ his bed. Swift Arrow gave his own peculiar whistle to call the Little Papoose, his tiny playmate, but received no response. Thinking Jacky had sent the child away when he found himself dying, Swift Arrow had left sadly and never returned to the cabin. Most interesting to Tom was the knowledge that whereabouts. They find a message to Swift Arrow to "give papers to papoose." Swift Arrow will not reveal the whereabouts of the papers to anyone but Jacky had had a granddaughter and heir. He and Swift Arrow go to the cabin to find a clue to her the papoose, faithfully following instruction's. Tom sends Swift Arrow with a note to Dorothy at Trail's End. Swift Arrow recognizes his little papoose in the lovely young lady, and from the woods his peculiar whistle startles Dorothy into childhood memories. She runs to "Lo-lo," her babv name for Swift Arrow. The note from Tom asks her to meet him at Jacky Morgan's cabin. She proceeds with her childhood playmate, who proves her identity by a scar on her upper arm. Swift Arrow inearths the papers from their hiding place. They are the deeds to Trail's End and a valuable mine which Devoe is operating! Confronted by the little group, reinforced by the Sheriff, Devoe attempts to shoot his way to safety, but is foiled by Swift Arrow. It is Swift Arrow's faithfulness, memory and affection for Dorothy which have brought about her happiness. He is rewarded two years later bv having another "little papoose" to play with, watched by Dorothy and her husband, Tom. MANDY'S ROAD Rufh Burgess File No. 3112 <<TT7HE. HEAH you-all goin'," a querulous voice ailed to Alandy as she was stepping out if the door. Mandy replied that she was just gomg to take a walk along "her road." Mandy was a good-looking colored girl who lived with her grandmother in a cabin in the woods. She could always be met on a certain road in the woods which people came to call "Mandy's Road." Full of the joy oi her youth, she danced along the green path, until she almost bumped into a huge, handsome youth she had never before seen. Bill Howard had heard of Mandy when he moved into the negro settlement, and he had come to see this lovely girl for himself. She asked him who he was. He told her his name and asked her to sit down beside him. Mandy was fascinated by the stranger, and they talked for hours. Mandy came home so late her Grandma beat her -for being shiftless. Mandy told her she was leaving to live in the city and would never come back no more, and ran out of the house. She found Bill sitting where she had left him. and told him she was going into the city alone. Bill told her he loved her 2ready, and asked her to marry him. Mandy said s already promised to Jack. Just then Jack came along on his way to see Mandy. Mandy repeated her story and Jack said they'd better get married right away. But he said she'd have to go back to spend the night. Mandy refused to do this, and said she would spend the night with her girl friend. Mary Jane, in the cMy. Bill said he hoped she'd change her mind by morning and marry him. Mandy and Jack went to Mary Jane's house, where Mary Jane was all dressed up, having just come from a party. The contrast between the city girl sh. and Mandy made Jack open his eyes. Mandy, tired, fell asleep on the couch, and Jack and Mary Jane went to sit on the porch until she would awaken. Jack was fascinated by the city girl, while Mary Jane admired Jack's country physique. Both were very sad at the thought that he had to marry Mandy, for they had fallen in love with each other immediately. Jack was a courageous fellow, and determined to tell Mandy he did not love her, though he hated to do it. Mandy woke up and foun'd herself thinking about Bill Howard. "Why," she said to herself in surprise, "it's not Jack I love, but Bill. Grandma is the one who wanted me to marry Jack." She thought it was too late now, and began to weep. Jack and Mary Jane came into the room, and Mandy knew before they said anything how they felt by the way they looked at each other. She told them she would not marry Jack, and hoped they would be very happy. She said she was going to live with her grandmother and be an old maid. Jack did not want to let her go back alone in the dark, but Mandy said nothing could hurt her on her road. On her way home she was surprised to hear someone saying her name softly over and over again. It was Bill Howard, mourning that he had lost Mandy just as he had found her. United, the two lovers approached the cabin, and found Mandy's grandmother dying. She blessed them, and told Mandy where she would find some money, then died. Mandy and Bill returned to the city and were married, living happily ever after. T. Lyall ScoH SATAN RELENTS File No. 3116 AN uncomprehending child watches the bold conduct of her mother through the parlor door. Nor does she understand when officers remove her to an orphanage. Here for many vears little Marian is happy with her playmates, the horror of her former hfe with her worrthless mother almost wiped out. One day, when she was about thirteen years old, the matron took her to Mr. Sterling, telling her it was her new father. Then indeed Marian knew happiness. Mr. Sterling was always kind to her, a real father. She was taking the place of his dead wife and daughter. The servants, also, wei-e fond of her as the daughter of the house. Only Lyle, her foster brother, seemed remote, yet very dear. Many times Marian would open a crack in the door of her bedroom in the early hours of the morning, to see Lyle stumbHng up the stairs, intoxicated. To spare her foster-father the pain of this sight, Marian would slip on a kimona, and aid Lyle up the steps and to his room, so as not to awaken his father. Lyle's waywardness, now that he had loving Marian with him, was the only source of Mr. Sterling's unhappiness. Since LyTe was away at college they saw him only on short vacations. At Lyle's commencement it was a proud father and foster-sister that attended the ceremonies. Then it was Lyle first noticed Marian's budding beauty, for his classmates were very attentive. He showed his possession of the seventeen-year-old beauty by taking her away from his rivals and canoeing with her on the beautiful Marian loved this handsome brother in no sisterly manner. On their return home Lyle resumed his bad habits. Again Marian would aid him up the stairs. But this time he insisted upon entering her room. Fearing to awaken Mr. Sterl?ng, perforce Marian had to consent. He attempts to make love to her while she quiets him, until she is caught up in the stream of her love. Next day Marian returns to boarding school. She is alarmed at what she has done, but secure in her love for Lvle writes him daily loving letters. On her next vacation she tells Lyle he will have to marry her. He repHes he does not love her. Marian is forced to tell her kind foster father of her condition, but refuses to name the man. Mr. Sterling finds a letter of Marian to his son, and forces Lyle to marry her. Shortly after Lyle absconds with $75,000 belonging to Mr. Sterling. This blow makes Mr. Sterling an invalid. LTnable to attend to his affairs, he loses his fortune, and Marian with her baby boy is forced to seek a cheap apartment for themselves. The old housekeeper refuses to leave them, and cares for the boy and the old man while Marian seeks employment. Inexperienced, she is unsuccessful. Lyle dies in an unsavory accident. This final blow kills Mr. Sterling. Hardened by her misfortunes, Marian becomes the mistress of one of Lyle's rich friends. She leaves her baby with the old housekeeper, and her life is a whirl of pleasures. Her mother's influence holds sway. The old housekeeper is unable to keep her from the world of luxury, Marian is on her way to meet the housekeeper and her baby, when she sees a trolley car has had an accident in the street before her. Jumping out of her expensive roadster, she runs to the scene, and recognizes the housekeeper and baby, lying still. She grabs the small form in her arms, her hardness rapidly melting in her tears. The doctor pronounces the housekeeper dead, and a bare chance for saving the life of the child. Marian kisses the housekeeper's forehead in farewell, and _ holds the baby tightly in the mad ride to outstrip Death to the hospital. Marian prays all during the operation, promising if the baby be spared to her she will give up her ghttering life and live only for her baby's sake. The baby lives. At last Satan has relented. In a small town far away, Marian is living happily with her hearfliy baby. She has been successful with her millinery shop, for she enjoyed creating hats for the countrywomen's pleasure. Bob Cameron's huge form blocked the doorway. iMarian blushed, for Bob had become her ideal. Bob had asked her to marry him, but she had refused because of her past. She saw she would have to explain now. When she was finished, Bob, bless his heart, drew her to him and nnirmured "Nothing matters, dear, it is you I love. The past is but dead yesterdays."'