Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-31
CHAPTER III.

Jane went to the showing on Sun
day night. as she had previously
gone TO that of knights and
k%naves," accompanied by Ben Hardy.
She had asked Tony TO be one of the
party; it seemed only right that the
three of them should be together on
this memorable occasion; but he had
failed TO put in an appearance at the
time set, and after vainly trying 70
rech him by telephone, she and Ben
had gone on alone. He was not at
his club. az his apartment no one had
seen him all day. Ben hoped that he
vas sleep. and both he and Jane
were a bit worried when he did not
join them ~ the thctaeT. Still. a.
Jane said. he disliked crowds. and
might readily have hidden himself
away somewhere in the gallery. sur
rounded BY people he did not know.
II seemed 10 her incre ,ible that he
should not be on hand to sec how the
riCture was received by the audience.
No doubt they would find him wait
ing for them in the lobby at the con-
clusion Of the performance. She
turned 10 Hardy. who. in spite Of an
assumed gaiety. was excessively ner-
WINS nv hHGN MUAHEiE vi NHt HAN-
tu-e, having seen but a few discon-
nected shots in the projection room
Mt the studio.
"How 40 you feel, Benz she asked.
Like q fellow about TO 70 over the
top. Talk about your zero hour!
Whv the devil don't they start?'
When the overture had been play
"a. however. and the first scenes
shone out on the screen, both his
nervousness and James vanished,
blotted out by their keen interest in
the picture. 1t was a beautiful
thing. rarely lovely and compelling,
with a poignantly thrilling love story
in addition. Both realized, as they
had never realized before, not only
Tony's marvellous skill - a dirst6r,
but his ability as an author. a writer
of scenarios. As scene after scene
flashed before their eyes. building TO
series Of dramatic climaXes. they
were amazed that he had been able
to get such splendid results from
what had seemed. at first sight, a
rather slender story. Jane. although
she knew the poem by heart, had not
| dreamed that il contained such 2
wealth Of material, in fact; much of
what she saw was the product Of
Tony's own Imagination. Yet sc
skilfully had his interpretations been
made. with such perfect understand
ing Of the story and its require
ments. that few could have said
which was his. and which a part OF
the original legend.
When the final scenes had com
pleted their brilliant course. and the
house lights once more came on.
James and Hardy sat in absolute ST.
lence. as did everyone else in the au-
dience. Composed, as il was. largely
OF friends, a certain amount of IN
thusiasm was to be expected, but
this queer. almost uncanny silence
was. IA Jane mt least. something new,
Then came the applause. hesitant ut
first, but mounting-mounting-to a
thunderous, exultant roar. The
house was in a tumuit. What the
people felt. expressed, was no con
ventional Appreciation; IL came from
the heart. They were standing now
cheering. calling for Tony Hull. Jane
grasped Ben's arm.
"Isn't it wonderful" she wills
pered.
He made some reply, but she could
not heart it, owing to the din. And
in spite Of the calls. Tony did not
appear. Jane knew his aversion 20
speaking in public. but she regretted
that he did not come forward and
say a few words Of thanks for what
was in reality an ovation. Mr.. Len
gel finally appeared before the
screen.
"Mr. Hull" he said, "is not in the
house. He telephoned me this morn
ing that he feared he could not DE
present. Let me thank you, on his
behalf, for this magnificent recep-
ton" After that, the crowd slowly
melted away.
In the lobby Jane was surrounded
by an excited group of acquaintance
and friends. Their congratulations
were unstinted.
"A knockout" one hard-boiled the
~atrical man told her. 1T will gross
at least three millions" "The finest
costume picture I've ever seen," said
another, n well-known writer. Little
Alice Carroll fairly Rugged her.
Superb. my DEAR" she gurgled,
Lew Davidson and his sweetie WILL
be pleased. A friend Of mine went