The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-05
THE EVENING STORY
Seeds of jealousy.
by Colin s. Collins. ]


to greet Marcia as she entered. but the
gravity of the girls face arrested the
greeting that hung upon his lips, and
instead he gasped.
Whats the natter" he cried, when
he had found his voice. us 1t anything
serious? Some of the family ill?''
There is no illness in the family"
said Marcia colby.
Then, why this funeral counter
ance?" demanded Blatchford. Here I
am, just back from the west, and you
don't even say how dye do Didn't
you get my letters every, day or what
is the natter"
Il was induced to visit a motion pic
ture performance yesterday" began
Marcia. II believe that they are called
nickel theaters.'
I've heard the Photographs outside"
murmured Jimmie. IF the pictures
are as bad as the music, your look of
to patronize such a placer?
1T was curiosity" explained Marcia
Il happened to meet Belle Brewster and
George Taylor and Henry Towne. Belle
ton pictures, and they were on their
way to one Of these places. I foolishly
let myself be persuaded to go with
them They had a picture Of you on
the screen"
THAT is fattering," cried Jimmie.
mockingly. IT find you looking as If
the end Of the world was near, and you
explain that you saw me in the motion
pictures. which accounts for your state
of depression"
TT was taken at the shore last sum-
mer,' said Marcia, meaningly.
/ Il admit that 1 am not dream OF
beauty in bathing suit" said Jimmie
with smile, but I did not know that
was almost fatal to the beholder."
You were entirely dressed" inter-
rupted Marcia. You had on that gray
suit liked so much, and the tie I
gave you for Easter, the one you said
you never would wear except when you
were with me-
And I never did," said Jimmie
promptly. "Only the thought of being
with you would tempt me to wear that
circus necktie. What else did have?"
IA girl" said Marcia explosively. "A
girl who looked like an actress. You
had your arm about her waist and you
were kissing her, and the people walk
ing along the beach stopped and laugh
ed at you, and suddenly you saw them
and got up and ran away"
And here's where I get the engage
ment ring and my letters back, and you
tell me that have destroyed your
faith in the honor Of men just because
some motion picture actor happens to
look like me-"
ct was you," insisted Marcia. There
can be no possibility of mistake
I'm from Missouri" declared Jim
mie. would you mind taking me TO
the place where can be confronted
with the evidence of my perddy?
"Since you will not admit your guilt"
said Marcia coldly, II do not see how
you can deny the picture when you
must recall the circumstances.
Please said Jimmie pleadingly, and
Marcia nodded an assent. The Nickelo-
edon was but few blocks away, and
presently they had paid an admission
and had passed into the darkened hall
For half an hour they sat there
watching the pickering pictures thrown
against the screen of whttewashed wall,
then Marcia turned to Jimmie.
1--WE must have seen all the pictures,
she said, with embarrassment. This
seems to be the place I was in yester-
day, but I recognize none of the pic
lures. I hope you do not think =
II think you are unfamiliar with
picture theaters,'' said Jimmie, with a
laugh. wait here moment"
He slipped away in the darkness, and
Marcia closed her tired eyes to shut out
the tiresome flicker.
She felt more miserable than ever.
Jimmie's attitude had somewhat
shaken her confidence in the identif-
cation, and now she had even failed TO
prove her case with him. Presently
a hand rested on her arm and she
opened her eyes.
"slip OUT" said Jimmie. IT have
solved the mystery in part. The same
people come here every day. SO they
change the pictures each morning.
The proprietor says there's a regular
circuit, and he told me where 1 can
find our scan dalous film"
He hailed a street car. and ten
minute ride brought them to another
place almost exactly IKE the first. One
Of the first things to greet their eyes
Sad Sea Waves. Very Comic"
I'm glad some one sees humor in
the situation" said Jimmie grimly. as
he laid a ten-cent piece on the CASH
ier's shelf. and led Marcia through
the door.
They had not long to wait and
Jimmie gasped as Marcia convulsive-
ly pressed his arm. A girl and a
man were sitting on the sand in the
shade Of a huge umbrella. Oblivious
and cooed until a well directed pebble |
hit the sunshade and attracted their
attention to the audience in the rear. |
The man wa4s 30 exactly like him. |
self that Jimmie stared in fascination |
Then he sought the box office, where |
two men were counting money.
ct want to make some inquiry about |
that film Just shown said Jimmie |
as he attracted the attention Of one |
of the men.
"I've nothing to do with the pic
other man turned.
Pm the man who makes them. !
Want to hire the service ?" he asked |
eagerly. 1--WE get all the big French |
stuff before any one else. We're /
the most up-to-date and We get the |
crowd every time"
ct am merely curious about the pic
ture BY the Sad Sea Waves" ex-
planned Jimmie. The man grinned.
Friend of yours?" he asked.
"Great sell. wasn't it? It was made to
order for a chap. He wanted to
spring it at a bachelor dinner to the
other fellow. He got US a suit of the |
chaps clothes, even to shirt and shoes.
The picture stood him 5000, but he
said it was worth it. He let us use
II for exhibition. toe"