The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-11-23
How the Movies
Saved a Farm
By DOROTHY WHlTcOMB.

Copyright. 1921, Western Newspaper Union
When the movies came to Brock.
uale Mrs. Hayden took a great inter-
est In their doings. She and her Grip
pied husband lived a mile from town
along the river. 1t was there that
the motion picture men assembled.
John Hayden had not seen her so
spry and animated for years. He was
glad to note her interest In trifles 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. It 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 1t, John" she said,
"only two weeks more and we start
for the boys farm! Did 1 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 1t delightful to
think of you and me passing our last
days among such lovely surroundings,
after just vegetating in this ram
shackly old ruin ready to fall to
pieces after century's use?'
It was indeed a veritable ruin. It
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, millwright had offered
$50, intending to tear 1t down and use
the old lumber to build sheds on his
own place. It was this that the Hay
dens had depended on to pay their
way to "the boys farm" out west.
1T will kill her when she knows the
TRUTH" groaned John Hayden as he
moved away on his crutches from the
house.
Then the old man sought a secluded
spot near the river and for the hun
dredth time took put the secret let
ter and pored> over its contents.
David Hayden had met with dire
misfortune. The year before scamp
Of a travelling swindler had induced
him to specialize on new grain. The
crop was total failure.
"Worst Of ALL" wrote David, II had
borrowed $500 to try the experiment,
and gave the little farm as security.
They have foreclosed, for $500 Is lot
Of money out here. Unless pay that
and a penalty Of $50 inside Of month
my farm will be taken away from me
the dear little place Laura and I
have worked % many years to De-
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
themselves-who daily posed and. ma.
neuvered 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 courtesies. Twice
when he needed an old couple In the
scenarios he paid husband and wife
a substantial sum. Mrs. Hayden was
as pleased as a child.
II am going to tell her-I must tell
her." John Hayden said one day, af-
ter 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 cheerless mission John
Hayden paused. Some one had halted
Just beyond them. engaged in conver-
sation. he recognized the tones OF
one Of the speakers as that Of the
rollicking, goOd-natured leader Of the
movies, Rupert Dale:
Eyes," be was saying, we're 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've got to burn up a house to
act that out"
swell, why don't you find one to
burnt" demanded Dale's companion.
~ 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
here. Do you know who lives theref1
IAN old couple named Hayden.
"Ofrer to purchase It."