Talking Picture Magazine (Oct 1929 - Nov 1930)

Page 8 TALKING PICTURE MAGAZINE January, 1930 THE CALL OF THE SIREN B Helen R. Vanderveer ILL CLOSE, escaped convict, attacks a cyclist on the road outside the prison and changes clothes with him. As he is about to mount the wheel the shrieks of the prison siren, — long, wailing blasts, tell the people of the countryside that a prisoner has escaped. At the railroad station Judge Brokaw leaps from a smart roadster and makes the train just in time. His daughter Lois waves him a fond farewell and drives back to her home. On the way, in a dark, forbidding spot, she almost runs over the staggering form of Jack Hayward. Pitying him, she takes Jack to her home, gives him her father's clothes and sends him on his way. Quitesuddenly he stoops to kiss her. Lois is near collapse from the excitement when her father returns in the evening. He tells her to see that the maid locks every room as Judge Brokaw himself sentenced the escaped convict who threatened to "Get the Judge if he ever got out." Lois is frightened and is about to confess what she has done when she is called from the library to answer the phone. As she is leaving the room, the window is raised a few inches and a coarse, rough hand covered with red hair pushes a revolver through the opening and shoots the judge mortally just as he turns toward the window. As Lois rushes back, the dying judge whispers "It was Bill Close. 1 saw him at the window." Overcome with remorse and grief, Lois Brokaw swears to devote the rest of her life to finding the murderer and bringing him to justice. Thinking that she would best be apt to meet the murderer in the slums of New York, Lois joins the salvation army as a singer. At last, on a crowded street, she sees Jack Hayward passing and her cries of "Stop Thief" serve to embarrass the Rev. Percy Pillbean, a poor missionary to the head hunters of the Cannibal Islands, who is home on leave. The crowd manhandles the Rev. Percy before the mistake is rectified. He regrets that he has ever left the peace of the Cannibal Islands for the dangers of New York and immediately takes the next boat back. Because her sight of Jack Hayward shows a' well-dressed man, Lois decides he is not living in the slums but in the upper strata, and she abandons the Army to search in other fields for him. With her wonderful voice and money, Lois gets into musical circles where she is a great success. One night, in a large audience, a bored young man suddenly gives his undivided attention to the singer. He feels that he has met her somewheres but he cannot recall the circumstances. Unconsciously he passes his hand back and forth over a deep scar on his head. He falls in love with her and induces his mother, a society woman, to engage Lois to sing at a private musicale in their Park Avenue home. There the truth comes out. Lois picks up a newspaper in which the announcement of Bill Close's death and confession is printed. As Jack takes her in his arms Lois says: "It isn't the first time you have kissed me, you know." And Jack: "How could even a fractured skull make me forget that." THE MAN OF FORTUNE George C. Craig GENEVIEVE MANDEL lies in the hammock in the beautiful garden of her father's Southern Florida estate. A dapper young gentleman comes toward her and hopes she will come over and play with the "crowd." Genevieve is not very cordial and the young man soon leaves. She wonders why she is not content. Restless from being pent up in the beautiful mansion of Florida, in spite of the daily swims in the ocean and the activity of out-doors, she tells her mother that she is going back to New York — just for a short time, to renew her interest in life. In New York an actor, William Francis, is keeping himself aloof from the rest of the world, for he is a very superior man and the frivolities of the world do not interest him. His life is well organized, for he believes in developing his physical body as well as his mind and part of the day is spent in splendid out-of-door exercise. But he is not always happy for he longs for a comrade, — a woman who is as superior as he himself, — an artist who can satisfy his soul -long ing. About the theatre he meets many women, few of them being more than rather beautiful puppets — who perform for him — but seem to have no soul. Genevieve arrives in New York, determined to find excitement, to forget her high ideals for a time. She surprises her casual friends by calling them on the phone and m insisting that they have a gay party, after which she goes to the theatre with this group of friends who tell her that they will have a party after the performance and she can meet the handsome actor, who is their friend. William has come to the performance in a cynical mood, particularly so about women. Genevieve and William are introduced. Each thinks the other a frivolous and pleasure. seeking butterfly. They join in the gayety of the evening — -give themselves to the joy of the dance without restraint. The next day they go horseback riding in Central Park — and not once does either utter a serious word, for they are but playing and their serious natures have been left behind them. It is difficult for them to keep their pretensions and gradually each begins to suspect hidden depths in the other. Genevieve tells William that she s returning to Florida, for she is afraid that she is falling in love with him, and invites him to come to see her. He accompanies her home. Finally the news is broken to Genevieve's parents who are delighted, for they believe the actor to be an excellent husband for their artistic daughter. CURING HIM Marion H. Addington THIS short deals with the persistence of a marriageable bachelor. "You might do worse," said her sister Emma. "He has a good position — head salesman isn't so bad — and you say he likes children. What if he is a little bit bald? Look at Jim and — answer that phone, will you, Delia?" "Hello," said Delia. "This is Miss Wallace. Oh, it's you," she added in a voice not calculated to reassure any man. " — No, I car/t; I have an engagement. No, I can't; I have an engagement. No, — nor tomorrow; I'm going to a concert. — Nor Friday. No, — you can't plan on anything this week." She hung up the receiver with an annoyed look, and gave what might almost be considered a snort. "Just why I, a spinster, and proud of it should be plagued by a fat, and — to give him his dues, — good-looking middle-aged man is beyond me. Why don't he pick someone else? J wish I knew how to cure him." ''Marry him," laughed Emma Ringer. "There's the 'phone again. You'll have to own that he has persistence, — and courage," she added slyly. "Oh, it's you again!" said Delia into the transmitter. "Saturday afternoon? No, — I promised Emma to stay with the children while she and Jim go out for golf. — Take them along? — Are you crazy? There are five of them! Five! F-I-V-E! The youngest is four and the oldest is eleven, — and worse, a Boy ! A heavenly afternoon that would be! — Well, you wouldn't be by the time we got back! They'd cure anybody. I wouldn't even — " She stopped as Emma touched her elbow. "Good way to cure him," she motioned with her lips. Ella did not see the twinkle in her eye. Two o'clock Saturday arrived. John Dalton surveyed the five with a cheerful eagerness and a look of anticipation which somewhat disconcerted his scornful love. After all, it was Delia who was embarrassed. Just why she should have felt awkward and ill at ease, and John Dalton. the bachelor, appear so comfortable and happy and quite in his element, Delia could not understand. On the street car, despite their pranks, he maintained his composure. Finally they reached the shore. There while the children tore madly up and down the beach in the sun, Delia, almost an alien, realized that she was not deriving the amusement she had anticipated from the situation. Just how everything happened, Delia n'ever knew. She was sitting, magazine in hand, listening to the confused sound of childish voices in play, when John Dalton quickly removed his shoes. Then he ran toward the pier, tearing off his coat as he went. Almost before she could take even one panic-stricken step, Dalton returned, ushering Frank, dripping wet, and yelling lustily. After all, men were, in' a way, a protection, and — That night Mrs. Ringer came downstairs, smiling at the childish reviews of the day's experiences. "Poor Mr. Dalton! I imagine you won't be troubled with him, after this. It was clever of me to think of that, wasn't it?" "Very clever," said Delia complacently. It was two weeks before Emma realized its full significance. DREAMS DO COME TRUE Charlie Norman THIS comedy drama covers the adventures of young Onalee Boyd and her maid Katchel Johnson. Onalee is in love with Jack Curry, driver of the local bakery wagon', and their difference in stations make Jack's courtship very unpromising. Onalee lives with her parents but attends a select girl's school during the day. She has her own car and chauffeur. Bill, who is in love with Ratchel. Onalee's parents want her to marry Sylvester Townsend, one of the idle rich, but her heart belongs to Bill, despite his poverty. The story affords ample opportunity for musical numbers. "Shadows," "Dreams Do Come True," "I'm Crazy, Just Crazy in Love," etc. are some of the numbers available. A beauty contest also affords opportunity for jazz numbers and dancing. The lucky girl is to reign supreme over Harlem for one year. She is to be called "Queen of Harlem." The colored night clubs, the talkies and stage are to be open to her. Ratchel determines to enter, being encouraged by Doodle-de-do, one of the judges imported from New York for the contest. The aspirants for the contest are many and it is not surprising that Old Man Mose and Sleuth Foot Johnson should be tempted to accept bribes for their votes. Mose and his son-in-law are two of the judges of the contest. When' Ratchel receives the award there is a free-for-all fight from the disappointed candidates. Doodle-De-Do attempts to persuade Ratchel to run away with him after the ball. He tells her that he has fallen for her and wants to take her from her drudgery; — that she will be more than the "Queen of Harlem." But she recalls Bill's love for her and his many kindnesses — he has furnished her with the clothes for the beauty contest, not telling her that they came from Onalee's boudoir, — and she refuses him. They are all in Jack's car. Jack and Onalee are in the act of embracing when Bill swerves the car to keep from running over two men. They are Old Man Mose and his partner in crime. They have dropped a bulky object upon the road. Bill jumps out of the car and finds it is a black hand bag. It is the money taken from contestants. Bill closes it up, puts it in the seat beside him and Ratchel, gets in the car and whispers to Ratchel, ''Dreams do come true." He hums the verse. THE MURDER'S SEQUEL L. M. C. Lewis EL WOOD HEATH, a successful New York lawyer, returns to his old home in Cheatham, a small Maryland village, to find his sister's murdered body in the kitchen of her home. On reporting to the sheriff he finds that his old friend, Alfred Billings, has been elected to the office of State's Attorney despite the opposition of the corrupt political machine of his own party. The preliminary investigation produces no clues as to the identity of the murder. Nevertheless, Billings tells Heath that he suspects one Ben Lyon, who had threatened Miss Heath several days before. Lyon's daughter, Sarah, had been Miss Heath's maid, but had compromised herself with a hand from a nearby farm and had been discharged. It was this that had caused the trouble between Miss Heath and Lyon. Billings arrests Lyon on the strength of this evidence. An' inquest finds the murderer to be "person's unknown." In spite of this verdict Billings holds Lyon. Smith Heeny, a lawyer and political Boss, chides Billings for holding a man who has political influence among the lawless element of the community and secures the release of Lyon' by habeas corpus proceedings before a corrupt judge. Meanwhile Sarah Lyon, who might have direct knowledge of the crime, has disappeared. Billings applies to the County Commissioners for permission to engage a detective to investigate the case. His request is denied through the negative vote of one, Carnage, whom Billings has accused of receiving stolen goods, though he cannot prove the charge. Heath offers his services as a detective. Disguised as a professional chicken thief and under the alias of Elmer Roberts, Heath presents himself to Carnage late at night with a truck load of presumably stolen poultry which he sells to the latter. He says that he wishes to operate in the locality and asks Carnage to recommend a place to board. He is sent to Lyon. On the pretense of plying his assumed trade, he goes out nightly to investigate the activities of Lyon and his gang of moonshiners. He finds a still hidden in a glen in the woods attended by Lyon and two assistants. He hears Lyon threatening to get even with Billings, but cannot find out his plan. He goes away and the next day Carnage persuades him to sign an affidavit to the effect that Heath had tried to hire Roberts to murder the former's sister. In the meantime Heeny visits Billings and tries to persuade him to give up his fight against the machine and join forces with him. When Billings refuses, Heeny threatens to ruin him and departs. Sarah reappears at the Lyon home and Roberts hears her recounting to her mother a tale that proves that Lyon and herself were at the scene of the murder soon after its occurrence. Hoping to obtain more evidence, Roberts says nothing but goes out to the still that night, arriving there in time so see Lyon appear with Billings' wife, bound and gagged. Meanwhile Billings is summoned by the Governor who requests his resignation after acquainting him with a series of false charges presented by Heeny. The Governor promises an investigation before making the charges public and appoints Heeny to investigate. Billings returns home to find his wife missing. When Lyon's partners realize what he has done, they express their unwillingness to be connected with such a serious crime. Lyon is enraged and becomes insane, killing his assistants and wrecking the still. Roberts rescues the woman and carries her home. In his real character, Heath visits the Governor and presents evidence that he has gathered. Billings is exonerated and the arrest of Heeny ordered. Lyon is found dead in the woods and his daughter tells how and why he committed the murder. THE PAST Anna Melcher ACK. in 1905, near the Austrian border, in a small town of Russia, lived a PolishJewish family, — mother, father, three sons and two daughters. The younger one was a girl of ten, — rather good-looking and with a promise of greater beauty on maturity. Her name was Regina. One Sunday morning, while playing with Stanislaw, her neighbor friend, they quarrel and then it is that Stanislaw tells her that on the morrow all the Jews will be killed. Regina repeats this to her mother, and since Stanislaw is the son of the local Justice, they take his comment seriously. Their belongings are packed in bundles and in the morning they prepared to depart. The father is killed by a cossack and Regina is stolen' by one of the soldiers. Stanislaw has seen her in his arms. A search reveals Regina unconscious beside a desolate house. The family proceeds to the border. After they safely pass into Austria they take the first ship for America. Here Regina has developed into a beautiful young woman. Her voice is gifted and she is extremely popular among the younger set. There are many opportunities for her to marry, but always the hideous memories of the past keep her to herself. Finally Regina marries a wealthy young man, George Roster. Two children are born to her. But her happiness is short-lived. Her past has become known to George and he deserts her. Tragedy pursues her unrelentingly. It is not until she meets Stanislaw on the street that happiness comes to her. Quite accidentally she collides with him and from then her life is worth living. Her musical voice, which she had lost, comes back to her and she and Stanislaw, mindful of their youthful love, join hands in wedlock. 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