The Washington herald., 1916-08-04

FRANCES NELSON is a pretty
little girl with great. wide
apart hazel eyes, a pouting
rosebud mouth and heavy dark
brown hair. The other afternoon l
saw her riding in her limousine on
the way to the studio at Fort Lee.
We stopped and talked for a few
minutes. for she, too, was one OF
the girls wnom l had known in
those old Biograph days l have
written so much about.
l have never forgotten a little
story Frances Nelson told us when
we were first introduced, and will
try to remember it just as she de-
scribed it.
81 was strolling along a country
road one summer afternoon when
suddenly l heard the noise of gal
Looping horses hoofs coming around
the bend of the road. l climbed,
quite terrified, up a steep bank, as
a young, good-looking man on
horseback went flying past me, fol-
lowed in a few minutes by a rough
looking band of Western cow
punchers.
Felp! Help" the Young chap
WIS crying, and my heart leaped in
great, terrifying bounds. Then the
Villains who pursued him were yell
ing and bowling for his blood!-his
life!-his death!-and his ct cetera!
in strange, incoherent voices.
AS fast as my legs could carry
me | fed down the road after them,
but in spite of the whirl OF dust |
lost their trail at the fork of the
road, and instead of going along the
level country | turned off down hill.
And then, above me, standing on
the brink OF the hill, saw the
young man. He was still screaming
Help! at the top OF his lungs, but
the dust of his pursuers was draw
ing nearer and l saw the fash of a
sun and then a shower of shots.
Help! l echoed, as loud as l
could, but alas! my cries were hope
less. Already had the young man,
on his horse, leaped over the preci-
pice and fallen plump into the deep
est pool of the creek which wended
its way through that part of the
country.
"Ohl OhP / screamed in terror,
rushing to the edge OF the pool, but
breathing a sigh Of relief when l
saw the horses head and then the
young man appear.
al hN,-a the ,-;II,;.e Stin Er
ing upon him, but so excited was
that l paid no heed to them, nor
did | really care whether a shot took
duty and my destiny to save this
young mans life. The horse reached
the shore first-the young man made
an exhausted effort to follow.
Take hold of my hand, | cried,
beginning to wade into the water,
when a score of screaming voices in
back of me arrested my attention.
They came from a group of men
standing in back of camera and all
were yelling at once, Get out of the
picture! Get out Of the picture. you
darn fool girl; get outr'
"'Who do you mean" | shouted
back. What arc you doing there?
Wh. don't you come over ana help
this drowning man"
"'Get out Of tbs PICTURE!
yelled the director through mega
phone, and his voice roared and
echoed through the hills. At the
same time he threw up his hands in
despair and motioned for the others
to follow him.
Don't you know that this is
moving pictures? the director shout
ed in my ear, though | am quite
sure if | had stood a couple Of
blocks away, | wouldn't have missed
what he was saying.
The young man stretched him
self, rubbed his aching bones, turned
upon me and glowcred.
"'Of all the idiots that ever lived!
he began, but already | was speed
ing down the roadway, my face scar
let to the roots of my hair. The