The Washington herald., 1914-10-03
ToDAY's PHOTO DRAMA

Playing With Fire" a SeIig two-reel
drama. featuring Bessie Eyton and
Thomas SantschI. will be released by that
company October .. Miss Eyton. Mr..
Santschi and Harry Lonsdale take the
parts, respectively Of John Ransom.
Mary Ransom and Horton The story
is as follows: Mary Ransom, a lovely
and charming young wife, lives happily
| with her husband, John Ransom, and
| their two-year-old boy. Ransom Is a
prosperous business man and nothing\has
| occurred so far to mar the happiness
and joy of their married life.
Horton is an old friend of the family
and takes advantage OF this fact to in
trude his attentions upon the young wife
OF his friend. MARY is not unwilling to
receive homage and pleasant little at
tentiops from Hortonl although she is
wholly honest and has no intention of
doing anything which would arouse the
criticism of her husband, whom she
loves dearly. But Horton is clever and
resourceful. and realizes that many weak
women are fond of receiving attentions
from their male friends, and while inno-
cent in spirit, will permit themselves TO
become entangied in the meshes OF a
Irritation. Horton cleverly takes adyan-
tage of these conditions, and while pos
ing as friend Of the family. so compOrts
himself that Mary, with whom he has
fallen deeply in love. cannot complain of
his attentions, yet she is embarrassed by
them and would be free from his friend.
ship
One evening John returns home to
find Mary entertaining Horton in the
parlor. He notices the familiar way
which Mary uses toward Horton and the
manner in which Horton goes a little
too. far in his attentions for genuine
friendship Still, there is really nothing
ah ant rEuf,f ba In n n
undue familiarity between his wife and
his friend. She places a flower in the
buttonholeS Sof Horizons coat upon his de-
partlIre and accompanies him to the
door. John Ransom realizes what this
familiarity may lead to. and he talks Sc
riously with Mary upon the subject. He
insists that she shall not be so familiar
with Horton, whereupon she, perfectly
innocent Of any wrong intention, declares
that her husband is too strict, and the
interview concludes with hot words.
while Mary dissolves into tears. She
does not realize that the interference is
based upon his deep love for her. She
considers that he is intruding upon her
liberties, but later on, after putting the
little boy to bed. they. become recon-
ciled and Mary promises to be less fool
ish in the future in her conduct toward
Horton.
The best intentions which Mary has
formed are disregarded upon the follow
ing day when Horton, in his automo-
bile, espies her on the sidewalk. He in
vites her to enter his car and join him
in ride. Mary declines politely. but Hor-
ton. whose passion for Mary is only in
creased by her reluctance, insists that
she shall accompany him, and taking her
by the arm. urges her into the automo-
bile. Poor, foolish Mary cannot resist. As
result of their trip the car breaks
down, Mary is late for dinner, and there
is another scene with her husband. who
detects Mary in falsehood because she
denies having seen Horton, while John
saw her in the automobile with him.
Other Observation-Disclosures follow. Horton
writes a warm letter to Mary which
John intercepts. Horton forces his at
tertions upon Mary in a restaurant,
and John discovers them together with
out >perceiying where the fault lies. How
ever. for the sake Of their boy, John en-
deaYors to believe Mary.
The Ransoms visit their summer bunga-
low in the mountains. Horton traces
them there and lays in wait until Mary
visits the village for provisions
Horton adopts . subterfugs for getting