Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-03
CHAPTER I.
Spirit NIovirs.

Creepy. uncanny things are hap
en!ns in my own p!cturc--nnd I'M
er my very eyes. Kcnnedy-and
ant explain thcm!"
Murray Miller. director OF new
notion picture serial. Radio Ro-
rance" was almost appealing to
.cnnedy--Miller. whom knew to
engaged to his star. little Angela
! rnold. that exquisite cameo OF n
irl who commanded salary big
8nough for couple of bank preli-
ents and got on tho front page OF
ne papers II sho 20 much as sneczed.
| Craig and l were alone with Muir
T. ~ In tho executive Office at tho
MrenhborouGh studio.
\ Something about the movies has
l%ays Interested me. Probably IL IL
q no big money many OF my former
i ewspaper friends are getting now
successful scenario writer's. AT
: ny rate, whenever Kennedy was
allied In on anything connected with
lotion pictures. always managed
1 } be on hand. Then. too. knew
I good deal about Murray. who used
/, DO a newspaper artist before he
7ook up illustrating magazines and
A1en became "a quite successful direc-
or OF photonlays. The movies had
red many good newspaper man
the studios.
4 you know. Kennedy. tho public
: in just that unreasonable frame Of
silnd today when ~ wont think
vice before II fastens a scandal on
ny one in motion pictures. :"
Murray Ecsticulatcd excitedly as
lie paced up and down. III ! can't
atnom what is going on-and stop
my picture Is ruincd--I am
yl t.. Il
1 There was tap ut the door and
boy entered with a couple Of Hat
ircular. shiny tin cans and re-
eint book.
Murray checked a hasty cxclama-
on. signed the receipt hook. which
saw bore. stamped In black. the
anne beaumont Laboratory" The
o. shut the door quietly. Murray
ioked anxiously al the cans.
Here's yesterdays take, developed
nd printed and back from tho
iborntory. Kennedy. you've go.
4, help me, ! can't think! E.
ONE down into the projection room
NJ I'll show you what mean
lis thing has cost me thousands OF
oilars already. And have the
9cputation OF being an economical
irecior and producer"
We followed Murray by back
'ay downs;ays into the cellar of the
: tudio building. The steps them
eiyes we're rickety. the cellar al
Iost ecric. AS we entered the gloom
,was conscious Of strange wh!rr
u the air
"'yh!. used TO be an old armory."
Explained Murray. When the troop
uilt new on. my company h!rca
his: made - into studio" We
picked our way past huge, hum
mtg transformer. Local curren,
"a. g. We must have u. G. for
lectures"
- passagcway and a door. behind
putierinE white light. Through the
rst door ] could scc a huge squarc
Ii light with rounded corners. and
knew that II was the projection
3aom and that on the other side OF
7he second door the operator was
Zdius,ing his sputtcring carbons.
we entered the projection room.
shivered. felt a sort OF dank.
ar.hy dampness.
Used to he the rifle range for the
loop" explained Murray. We out
mis-, end OF. built the screen. made
objection room; gives us a long
Itfow Tor the picture
He had paused only long enough
. hand the cans In TO the booth
here the man was working
."All right, Blll." he shouted. This
| Yesterdays take. Shoot"
Hastily noted that there were a
Oxen or twenty chairs ranged in the
acK OF the room under the beam or
light that cleft from the safety
Doth back OF them and an ordinary
1mall deal table with q shaded
1t.np, evidently for taking notes. II
I'as,not a sumptuous room like many
rejection rooms I had been in. but
recalled Murray's remark about
Economy.
Various shots and scenes began to
nroll on the screen, each followed
~ few feet OF boy holding
late. on which were chalked some
e,ystic numbers. such as "Ep l-l32."
f,hlch, I learned. referred 10 episode
OF the serial, scene 1872. and was
Jagged on for Identification.
we came at last to scene OF
Kerry party OF young people in
tnost lavish room. evidently at a
ouptry house. In the left fore
round ono of them was adjusting a
|plsndid radio set as tho others
anocd.
Suddenly the upper part of the pic
lure seemed to BLUR.
Eaintly now could make out a
lace, n shadowy face. OF man, an
lldlsh man. a face some three or
|ouE times as large as that OF the
ctor In the closest foreground.
There! There 1t is" cried
Iurfay, leaping up. his own form
ow. blackly silhouctted on the
Green rs he came between It and
ha Spr ojection machine. do you sec
Kennedy nodded. s,rainlng for
|Safd.
'4Thousands OF feet OF my film have
cen rendered worthless by the pres
|nc8 of that-that spirit facet"
as it always the same?"
always the same: only two poses"
swell. who Is the old guy?" I askd.
|tDSes any ono recognize him?"
"Old John Garland-Angela's step
|nther"
Murray stopped the projection as
drew us closer to him and in
ewawhispered sentences told us the
tory which he had purposely post
,oned until he could tell il to Ken
lelY with the best effect.
Maybe you connect it now. An
elias mother is the rather famous
elena Arnold. who has mcdiumistic
believes she has-pe-
feyes Angela has, too. Only think
hngela's got too much sense. y
|ouple of summers ago she and An
= "a