Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-12-02
How the Movies
Saved a Farm
BY DOROTHY WHITCoMB.

Copyright. 1921, Western Newspaper Union
When the movies came to Brook
dale Mrs. Hayden took great inter
est In their dolngs. She and her Grip
pied husband lived a mile from town
along the river. It was there that
the motion picture men assembled
John Hayden had not seen her SC
spry and animated for years He was
glad to note her interest In trlhes and
the household cares Of years wear.
Ing away from her. All the same he
did this with suppression of sad.
ness she never penetrated. II was
with an aching heart, and that heart
beating next to a certain letter he had
received and kept secret from her,
that the old man smiled at her simple
joyousness.
Just think of II, John" she said,
'only two weeks more and we start
for the boys farm Did / show you
the photograph he sent me of the dear
place, with himself and his wife,
Laura, and the two little tots on the
pretty porch? Isn't II delightful to
think Of you and me passing our last
days among such lovely surroundings,
after just negotiating In this ram
shackly old ruin ready to fall TO
pieces after century's use?"
II was indeed a veritable ruin. II
had answered the needs of two gen.
erations, however.
Don't worry Sarah Hayden had
smiled brightly. 1T will last our time
Only few days and we will bid 1t
goodby; we are going to make our
home with the dear boy, David, out
west"
The small patch Of ground around
the house had no value whatever, even
for average garden purposes. AS to
the house, mlllwright had offered
$50, Intending to tear II down and use
the old lumber to build sheds on his
own place. 1t was this that the Hay
dens had depended on to pay their
way to "the boys farm" out west.
ut will kill her when she knows the
truth, groaned John Hayden as he
moved away on his crutchfs from the
house.
Then the old man sought secluded
spot near the river and for the hun
dredth time took out the secret let
ter and pored over its contents.
David Hayden had met with dire
misfortune. The year before a scamp
Of tSavellng swindler had induced
him to specialize on a new grain. The
crop was total failure.
worst of all" wrote David, 81 had
borrowed $500 to try the experiment,
and | gave the little farm as security.
They have foreclosed, for $500 is a lot
Of money out here Unless | pay that
and penalty of $50 inside of month
my farm will he taken away from me
the dear little place Laura and I
have worked so many years to Sc
cure"
No wonder, therefore, with this
dread secret on his mind, that John
Hayden took little interest In the gay,
careless, gifted group Of men and wom-
en-actors and actresses they called
themsclves-who daily posed and ma
neuyered before the camera to supply
city dime shows with attractive mo-
ton picture films.
Mrs. Hayden did some extra cook.
ing for them The man in charge Of
the movies, one Rupert Dale, appreci-
ated all these little courteses. Twice
when he needed an old couple In the
scenarios he paid husband and wife
a substantial sum Mrs. Hayden was
as pleased as child,
81 am going to tell her-1 must tell
her" John Hayden said one day, af-
ter n long spell of deep thought In his
favorite solitude by the river side.
Yes, the blow could not be averted
longer. His wife must know the truth.
About to take up his crutches and
proceed on his cherries mission John
Hayden paused. Some one had halted
just beyond them, engaged in CONVEX
SatlOn. He recognized the tones of
one of the speakers as that of the
good-natured leader of the
movies, Rupert Dale:
Yes he was saying, were ready
to report In now, almost. There's two
more scenarios and then we're
through
"How about the finish up of that big
feature film?'
"We'ye got to burn up a house to
act that out"
swell, why don't you find one to
burnT demanded Dale's companion.
81 haven't run across an empty |
house In our travels just suited to
our purpose replied Dale.
"Why, the ideal old barracks to
work in the fire and the explosion Is
that old ruin I noticed right beyond
lere. Do you know who lives there?"
IAN old couple named Hayden.
"Offer to purchase It."
allow muchT
"Oh-say $780," was the careless
'eply Of man who made money so
last that the amount was mere in
,idental trifle.
"I'll take 1t, oh, I'll take It'll" cried
| quavering voice, and John Hayden
staggered into view and from very
oy and gratitude fell senseless heap
It the feet of the two astonlshed mo-
lon picture men.
In graphic, sensational style the old
ouse went up In smoke the next day.
secret telegram John Hay
len sent to his son, happy old couple
ook the train for that little farm out
rest. Sarah Hayden was never to ,
now how narrowly the Joy Of living