The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-01-15
THE PICTURES
BY COLLIN S. COLLINS.

lou don't want 10 stay for the
pictures, do your" asked Laura in the
tone of one who expects the answer to
be NO"
Beth blushed. She took a childish
delight in motion pictures, but from
the chatter about her, she gathered
that IL was considered childish TO sit
through the whole performance. Her
cousin Laura seemed to regard the
taste for vaudeville itself rather in
dicative OF elementary development.
do you mildT- Beth asked timid-
~. They're fire department pictures"
With a shrug OF her shoulder, her
cousin settled back IN the seat as the
lights went out and the first picture
was thrown on the screen. The prop
erty man and his fellows on the stage
supplied the changing Of the bells and
the screech Of the whistles and to
Beth IL was all very real. Then the
street with its engines vanished from
the screen TO be replaced by a con-
trasting picture Of three firemen sit
ting in quarters engaged in a game OF
cards. Their faces were large enough
TO show the play OF expression and the
audience shrieked at the pantomImic
! humor.
But Beth had leaned forward and
was looking eagerly at the screen. Lau-
"a tugged at her skirt, but the girl did
not realize il. There upon the screen
was Thad Burnham: She was sure OF
ii. The picture changed again and she
sank back into her seat quivering in
every muscle.
Rapidly she explained TO Laura how
( Thad had gone away from home, how
| his letters had stopped and his mother
/ could find no trace of hRm. His moth
er's heart is breaking for him." she
| declared. II must find him and tell
! him TO write home"
She left her seat and with trembling
/ limbs started up the aisle, Laura fol-
lowing her country cousin curiously
An usher directed her to the balcony
where the machine was operated, and
she waited until the operator had fin
: ished.
He could give her little information
other than to furnish her with the ad-
dress Of the firm which had taken the
/ pictures. She could scarcely wait until
the next morning to continue her
search, and she started Immediately
after breakfast with a male cousin as
! an escort.
The manager was courteous and
seemed to take an interest In her
\ quest. The pictures had been made I'm
\ town, he explained, and he gave her
the number and address OF the engine
company. 1t was far uptown, but she
could not rest and I'm a short time she
stood I'm front OF the tiny desk beside
the gllttering engine.
'Is Mr.. Durham, a fireman, herer
she asked with trembling voice. The
man I'm blue shook his head.
Tommy Burnham is with seven
truck" he explained.
81 am looking for Thadwick Burn
ham," she explained. "He was photo
graphed here for some motion, pic
tures7
"Wickes, Roe and Casey posed for
that picture" he declared ''You mean
this3'
He took down from the wall a small
framed photograph, evidently an en-
largement OF the picture film-
THAT'S Thad," she cried. I'm sure
Of IT."
"Call Roe down." commanded voice
behind her. The fireman sprang &c
salute and Beth turned to face a kind
ly-faced man with gold instead Of sill
yer buttons, and crossed trumpets OK
his cap front.
| "Stand where you win be In the
light" directed the newcomer M ne
stepped into the background. Wonder
ingly she obeyed his directions as In
answer to the call man same slidina
down the brass pole.
Before she could speak he had
iurned around and came toward her.
"Hello, Beth" he cried. where die
you come fromT
"What Is your Manner demanded
the battalion chief. Instinctively the
mans hand went TO salute, and he
gave a puzzled laugh.
'Tt's Burnham. ne said, yet know
I'm called Roe. What's the matterT'
"You remember the Jane street fire
In the shop where you wOrkedf" sug-
gested the chief. Thad nodded. 'But
you forgot that in jumping TO the net
you fell short and struck on ycur head.
When you came out OF the hospital
you had forgotten who you were"
al remember now" Thad exclaimed
''The boys were interested In me and
kept me going until could get In the
department. You gave me Richard
Roe for a name, eh?"
81 saw you In the pictures at the
theater," Beth explained Il knew II
was you"
(Which is more than I did" be
laughed. I've been some one else for
nearly a year now. Is mother"
Beth nodded, as his voice faltered
; "She Is alive" she assured. "but very
lonesome. She thinks you are dead"
. The chief stepped forward. I'm