Universal Weekly (1917-1934)

16 THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY EPISODE TWO "THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE" Harry Carter, Eddie Polo, Priscilla Dean and Emory Johnson in Above — The Gray Ghost orders his men to get Hildreth. Below — We see Hildreth. T HE second chapter of "The Gray Ghost" is called "The Mysterious Message" and refers to the -telegram from the young Englishman Hildreth, to the Fifth Avenue jeweler, Arabin, which is intercepted by Williams, the jeweler's secretary, who is in the pay of the Ghost. The screen story follows pretty closely the original tale by Arthur Somers Roche, published in the Saturday Evening Post under the title of "Loot,' adapted and produced by Stuart Paton. Hildreth, the English attorney, is ready to go to New York, and Carlow commissions him to get a necklace worth two million dollars from Arabin in New York, saying that he will cable Arabin in code that Hildreth is coming. On the steamer Hildreth receives word from Arabin that he will be unable to meet him at the dock, but will call at the Hotel Battenberg that night, where Hildreth's room is already engaged for him. Meanwhile, The Gray Ghost reads the copy of the cablegram from Carlow, which says that Hildreth will arrive in New York on the 25th; that the necklace is to be delivered to him per order, he having Carlow's certified -zheck for two million dollars. One of CAST. The Gray Ghost Harry Carter Morn Light Priscilla Dean Wade Hildreth Emory Johnson Jean Marco Eddie Polo Williams Francis MacDonald Ashby Wilton Taylor Cecelia Gypsy Hart Brenner Carlow T. D. Crittenden The Gray Ghost's men as a taxi-driver is sent on a commission at once. Morn Light, in her dressing-room, awaits a message from Gray Ghost Her maid watches furtively and closely; she appears to be a woman not to be trusted. The Gray Ghost arrives, first phones to some men and then proceeds to try to make love to the girl, but though he loves her, she hates him and eludes him at every turn. Hildreth lands from the steamer and is met by a man who presents a card from Arabin & Company, and leads him to a taxi. But just as he is about to enter the machine, Hildreth suddenly remarks that he prefers to walk. Behind his back, the driver and the other man glare at each other. In the Battenberg Hotel, other men are waiting. Hildreth learns that a room has been engaged for him by Mr. Arabin on the sixth floor, but 'The Gray Ghost'' THE second chapter of the new serial. Adapted for the screen and produced by Stuart Paton from the Saturday evening Post success, "Loot," by Arthur Somers Roche. when he gets up there he shudders as he looks down into the street — such a distance below — and tells the bellboy he thinks he will have to change his room. The men in the adjoining room hear his words and are furious. They manage to stand near Hildreth as he procures' another roorri near the ground floor, so that they see the number of it. Then they phone The Gray Ghost at Morn Light's apartment of the change of rooms. The Gray Ghost curses them for bungimg things. William, private secretary to Arabin, but really a co-worker of The Gray Ghost, comes to the apartment and the former tells him of their disappointment. William is worried about having intercepted Carlow's cablegram, but The Gray Ghost merely nods grimly. The three crooks enter and The Gray Ghost flays them for their failure to do as ordered. He tells them of the two million dollar check and of the pearl necklace — he wants them both. Morn Light is fearful of what is going on. The Gray Ghost phones Hildreth that he is Arabin and is very sorry he couldn't meet him at the dock, but has booked seats for a show at the Brooks Theatre, after which they will have a supper party. He will be unable to go with Hildreth to the theatre, but will join him as soon as possible. Hildreth is delighted at Arabin's thoughtfulness. Morn Light blames The Ghost for lying and saying that he is Arabin. She declares that she is going to telephone Hildreth. She picks up the telephone, and he grabs her. They fight, and he chokes her into submission as the picture fades out.