The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-14
THE VAN THORNTON
 DIAMONDS" WILL BE SHOWN AT ODE0N
Story of a Clever Thief Who Preys on Society, But
 Dies at Last

The Van Thornton Diamonds. ' which appears at the Odeon this week, is a play of great dramatic interest. It is Selig production. The story of the play:
 Alan Thurston is a clever thief, who preys on society, selecting as his vic tims the wealthy. He poses as a re- tired broker and his successful depre- cations have supplied him with funds so that he carries out the role of a man of ample means.
 Katherine Selwyn, an orphan, is all art devotee. She earns a preearious living by painting, her favorite sub- jects being landscapes. She is a hard worker, but her artistic ability IS ques tioned by those whom she hopes to make her patrons.
 One day while working at her easel al the seashore, Thurston spies her and with modest gallantry, introduces himself an admirer of her pie lures. This acquaintance ripens into mutual interest. which the clever rascal Thurston directs into channels calculated to create of the beautiful young artist a mate and an assistant in his thieving.
 Katherine is entirely ignorant Of Thurston's profession. His attentions are pleasing and agreeable and being without anyone to guide or assist her. she falls an easy victim to his wiles and agrees to marry him.
 Thurstons reason for marrying the Beautiful orphan is the result of a carefully prepared plan. As his wife he can train her to become a clever confederate. while their marital rela- tions, he believes, will prevent her from hni lA1 in case of detection. As his wife, he also believes that he can force her to become his accomplice, whereas other wise her conscientious scrup1es and natural honesty would prevent her from joining him in his robberies
 After they are married Thurston tells his bride what he expects of her; that he Is society thief; that he requires her aid as an accomplice and that she must help hmi.
 In horror, she realizes for the first time that he has not married her for love. She hears his explanation and plans for future thieving with horror and amazement. lie suavely urges her to accept the conditions quietly, but her innate honesty impels her TO de- clare that the house of thief shall not shelter her. Heartbroken, and horror stricken, she flees from the roof of
 II to her precarious existence of painting landscapes for the market
 Thurston continues his thieving ex- petitions with such cleverness as to avoid detection. He receives an inyi- tation to attend house party at the villa of Mrs. Van Thornton, an ,nvi- tation which he accepts with avidity because he realizes that such invita- tons supply him with opportunities for abstracting valuable jewelry
 on the street. one day. he accidental ly espfes Katherine returning to her humble apartment filled with Gejec- tion and anxiety because she has been unable to dispose of her art Carefully he follows her to the tenement house where she has a poorly furnished room He hears a voice raised in anger and discovers that the landlady is threat ching Katherine with eviction if she does not pay her arrears in rent i'm mediately.
 Thurston intrudes, with polite apol- ogies, and being we'll supplied with funds, pays Katherine's rent Then with clever argument he tells Katherine why she should return to him and help him in his nefarious profession Driven to desperation, she agrees to come back to him.
 Thurston attends the house party He directs Katherine to come in the guise or newspaper reporter to interview Mrs. Van Thornton in reference to the approaching festivities. He directs that Katherine shall sprain her ankle in order to permit her to remain in the house and locate the depository for Mrs. Van ThorntOn's diamonds.
 The trick succeeds. Katherine locates the jewel casket, but in a fit of re- morse she refuses to disclose the whereabouts of the jewels to Thurston She places them in another hiding place so that he cannot find them.
 Mrs. Van Thorntons brother hes be- come suspicious of Thurston and suc- ceeds in rescuing Katherine from the thief's anger when she refuses to tell him where the jewels are concealed. The brother mercedes, upon which Thurston draws a rvolver and attempts to shoot the intruder. A struggle fol :. lows and the revolver is accidentally discharged by Thurston so that the bull let enters a vital spot in his own body with fatal results.
 The body of the dead thief is hastily carried to his room and the inference is drawn by all that he has committed suicide.
 Katherine Is forgiven and the inter- est shown by Mrs. Van Thornton's brother in the beautiful artist indicates that they are candidates for future happiness