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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20349-h.zip b/20349-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4204e52 --- /dev/null +++ b/20349-h.zip diff --git a/20349-h/20349-h.htm b/20349-h/20349-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..39efdc5 --- /dev/null +++ b/20349-h/20349-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6267 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch, by Laura Lee Hope</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch, by +Laura Lee Hope</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch</p> +<p> Or, Great Days Among the Cowboys</p> +<p>Author: Laura Lee Hope</p> +<p>Release Date: January 12, 2007 [eBook #20349]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Emmy,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net/c/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>The<br /> +Moving Picture Girls<br /> +at Rocky Ranch</h1> + +<h3>OR<br /> +<br /> +Great Days Among the Cowboys<br /> +<br /><br /> +BY</h3> +<h2>LAURA LEE HOPE</h2> + +<div class='center'> +AUTHOR OF "THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS," "THE MOVING PICTURE<br /> +GIRLS UNDER THE PALMS," "THE OUTDOOR GIRLS<br /> +SERIES," "THE BOBBSEY TWINS SERIES," ETC.<br /> +<br /> +<br /><br /> +<i>ILLUSTRATED</i><br /><br /><br /><br /> + + +THE GOLDSMITH PUBLISHING CO.<br /> +CLEVELAND<br /> +<small>MADE IN U. S. A.</small><br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='center'><small><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1914, by</span><br /> + +GROSSET & DUNLAP<br /> + +<br /><br /><br /> +<span class="smcap">Press of</span><br /> +THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cleveland</span><br /></small> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/p00001.png" width="250" height="400" alt=""WE ARE HEMMED IN BY THE PRAIRIE FIRE!"" title=""WE ARE HEMMED IN BY THE PRAIRIE FIRE!"" /> +<span class="caption">"WE ARE HEMMED IN BY THE PRAIRIE FIRE!"</span> +</div> +<div class='center'><i>Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch.</i> —<a href='#Page_192'><i>Page 192.</i></a></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class="smcap">chapter</span></td><td align='right'><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Spy</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Western Plans</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_13'>13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Daring Feat</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_23'>23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Cloud of Smoke</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_32'>32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Mix-Up</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_42'>42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Auto Smash</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_49'>49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Off for the West</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_56'>56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Oil Well</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_66'>66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Rivals</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_72'>72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cyclone</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_78'>78</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">At Rocky Ranch</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_90'>90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Suspicions</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_96'>96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">At the Branding</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_109'>109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Warning</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_117'>117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Indian Rites</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_125'>125</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Prisoners</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_134'>134</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Rescue</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_143'>143</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Rush of Steers</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_156'>156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Too Much Realism</span> </td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_163'>163</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In the Open</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_168'>168</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Burning Grass</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_178'>178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Hemmed In</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_186'>186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Escape</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_193'>193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Disclosure</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_201'>201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Round-Up</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_208'>208</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS<br />AT ROCKY RANCH</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE SPY</h3> + + +<p>"Well, Ruth, aren't you almost ready?"</p> + +<p>"Just a moment, Alice. I can't seem to get my collar fastened in the +back. I wish I'd used the old-fashioned hooks and eyes instead of those +new snaps."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I think those snaps are just adorable!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Alice DeVere! Using such an extreme expression!"</p> + +<p>"What expression, Ruth?"</p> + +<p>"'Adorable!' You sometimes accuse me of using slang, and there you +go——"</p> + +<p>"'Adorable' isn't slang," retorted Alice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't it though? Since when?"</p> + +<p>"There you go yourself! You're as bad as I am."</p> + +<p>"Well, it must be associating with you, then," sighed Ruth.</p> + +<p>"No, Ruth, it's this moving picture business. It just makes you use +words that <i>mean</i> something,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> and not those that are merely sign-posts. +I'm glad to see that you are getting—sensible. But never mind about +that. Are you ready to go to the studio? I'm sure we'll be late."</p> + +<p>"Oh, please help me with this collar. I wish I'd made this waist with +the new low-cut effect. Not too low, of course," Ruth added hastily, as +she caught a surprised glance from her sister.</p> + +<p>Two girls were in a room about which were strewn many articles of +feminine adornment. Yet it was not an untidy apartment. True, dresser +drawers did yawn and disclose their contents, and closet doors gaped at +one, showing a collection of shoes and skirts. But then the occupants of +the room might have been forgiven, for they were in haste to keep an +appointment.</p> + +<p>"There, Ruth," finally exclaimed the younger of the two girls—yet she +was not so much younger—not more than two years. "I think your collar +is perfectly sweet."</p> + +<p>"It's good of you to say so. You know I got it at that little French +shop around the corner, but sewed some of that Mexican drawn lace on to +make it a bit higher. Now I'm sorry I did, for I had to put in those +snap fasteners instead of hooks. And if you don't get them to fit +exactly they come loose. It's like when the film doesn't come right on +the screen, and the piano<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> player sounds a discord to call the +operator's attention to it."</p> + +<p>"You've hit it, sister mine."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Alice! There you go again. 'Hit it!'"</p> + +<p>"You'd say 'hit it' at a baseball game," Alice retorted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I suppose so. But we're not at one," objected the older girl, +as she finished buttoning her gloves, and took up her parasol, which she +shook out, to make sure that it would open easily when needed.</p> + +<p>"There, I think I'm ready," announced Alice, as she slipped on a light +jacket, for, though it was spring, the two rivers of New York sent +rather chilling breezes across the city, and a light waist was rather +conducive to colds.</p> + +<p>"Have you the key?" asked the older girl, as she paused for a moment on +the threshold of the private hall of the apartment house. She had tied +her veil rather tightly at the back, knotting it and fastening it with a +little gold pin, and now she pulled it away from her cheeks, to relieve +the tension.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have it, Ruth. Oh, don't make such funny faces! Anyone would +think you were posing."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not—but this veil—tickles."</p> + +<p>"Serves you right for trying to be so stylish."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's proper to have a certain amount of style, Alice, dear. I wish I +could induce you to have more of it."</p> + +<p>"I have enough, thank you. Let's don't talk dress any more, or we'll +have a tiff before we get to the moving picture studio, and there are +some long and trying scenes ahead of us to-day."</p> + +<p>"So there are. I wonder if daddy took his key?"</p> + +<p>"Wait, and I'll look on his dresser."</p> + +<p>The younger girl went back into the apartment for a moment, while her +sister stepped across the corridor and tapped lightly at an opposite +door.</p> + +<p>"Has Russ gone?" she asked the pleasant-faced woman who answered.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ruth. A little while ago. He was going to call for you girls, but +I knew you were dressing, for Alice came in to borrow some pins, so I +told him not to wait."</p> + +<p>"That's right. We'll see him at the studio."</p> + +<p>"You're coming in to supper to-night, you know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Mrs. Dalwood. Daddy wouldn't miss that for anything!" laughed +Ruth, as she turned to wait for her sister. "Of course he <i>says</i> our +cooking is the best he ever had since<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> poor mamma left us," Ruth went +on, "but I just <i>know</i> he relishes yours a great deal more."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're just saying that, Ruth!" objected the neighbor.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I'm not. You should hear him talk, for days afterward, about +your clam chowder." She laughed genially.</p> + +<p>"Well, he does seem to relish that," admitted Mrs. Dalwood.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Alice, as she came out.</p> + +<p>"We're speaking of clam chowder, and how fond daddy is of Mrs. Dalwood's +recipe," said Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, indeed! I should think he'd be ashamed to look a clam in the +face—that is, if a clam <i>has</i> a face," laughed Alice. "It's awfully +good of you, Mrs. Dalwood, to make it for him so often."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm always glad when a man enjoys his meals," declared Mrs. +Dalwood, who, being a widow, knew what the lack of proper home life +meant.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid we're imposing on you," suggested Alice, as she started down +the stairs. "You have us over to tea so often, and we seldom invite +you."</p> + +<p>"Now don't be thinking that, my dear!" exclaimed the neighbor. "I know +what it is when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> you have to pose so much for moving pictures.</p> + +<p>"My boy Russ tells me what long hours you put in, and how hard you work. +And it's trouble enough to get up a meal these days, and have anything +left to pay the rent. So I'm only too glad when you can come in and +enjoy the victuals with us. I cook too much anyhow, and of late Russ +seems to have lost his appetite."</p> + +<p>"I fancy I know why," laughed Alice, with a roguish glance at her +sister.</p> + +<p>"Alice!" protested Ruth, in shocked tones. "Don't you dare——"</p> + +<p>"I was only going to say that he has not seemed well since coming back +from Florida—what was the harm in that?" Alice wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" murmured Ruth. "Do come on," she added, as if she feared her +fun-loving sister might say something embarrassing.</p> + +<p>"Russ will be better soon, Mrs. Dalwood," Alice called as she and her +sister went down the stairway of the apartment house.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think so?" asked his mother. "Not but what I'm glad to +hear you say that, for really he hasn't eaten at all well lately."</p> + +<p>"We're going on the road again, I hear," went on Alice. "The whole +moving picture company is to be taken off somewhere, and a lot of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> films +made. Russ always likes that, and I'm sure his appetite will come back +as soon as we start traveling. It always does."</p> + +<p>"You are getting to be a close observer," remarked Ruth, with just the +hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Oh, Alice, do finish buttoning your +gloves in the house!" she exclaimed. "It looks so careless to go out +fussing with them."</p> + +<p>"All right, sister mine. Anything to keep peace in the family!" laughed +the younger girl.</p> + +<p>Together they went down the street, a charming picture of youth and +happiness.</p> + +<p>A little later they entered the studio of the Comet Film Company, a +concern engaged in the business of making moving pictures, from posing +them with actors and actresses, and the suitable "properties," to the +leasing of the completed films to the various theaters throughout the +country.</p> + +<p>Alice and Ruth DeVere, of whom you will hear more later, with their +father, were engaged in this work, and very interesting and profitable +they found it.</p> + +<p>As the girls entered the studio they were greeted by a number of other +players, and an elderly gentleman, with a bearing and carriage that +revealed the schooling of many years behind the footlights, came +forward.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I was just wondering where you were," he said with a smile. His voice +was husky and hoarse, and indicated that he had some throat affection. +In fact, that same throat trouble was the cause of Hosmer DeVere being +in moving picture work instead of in the legitimate drama, in which he +had formerly been a leading player.</p> + +<p>"We stopped a moment to speak to Mrs. Dalwood," explained Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Clam chowder," added Alice, with a laugh. "She's going to have it this +evening, Daddy."</p> + +<p>"Good!" he exclaimed, rubbing his hands together in a manner that +indicated gratification. "I was just hungry for some."</p> + +<p>"You always seem able to eat that," laughed Alice. "I must learn how to +make it."</p> + +<p>"I wish you would!" exclaimed her father, earnestly. "Then when we are +on the road I can have some, now and then."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are hopeless!" laughed Alice. "Here is your latch-key, Daddy," +she went on, handing it to him. "You left it on your dresser, and as +Ruth and I are going shopping when we get through here, I thought you +might want it."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, I probably shall. I am going home from here to study a new +part."</p> + +<p>The scene in the studio of the moving picture concern was a lively one. +Men were moving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> about whole "rooms"—or, at least they appeared as such +on the film. Others were setting various parts of the stage, +electricians were adjusting the powerful lights, cameras were being set +up on their tripods, and operators were at the handles, grinding away, +for several plays were being made at once.</p> + +<p>"Just in time, Ruth and Alice!" called Russ Dalwood, who was one of the +chief camera men. "Your scene goes on in ten minutes. You have just time +to dress."</p> + +<p>"It's that 'Quaker Maid;' isn't it?" asked Ruth, for she and her sisters +took part in so many plays that often it was hard to remember which +particular one was to be filmed.</p> + +<p>"That's it," said Russ. "Don't forget your bonnets!" he laughed as he +focused the camera.</p> + +<p>"All ready now!" called Mr. Pertell, the manager of the company, and +also the chief stage director, a little later. "Take your places, if you +please! Mr. DeVere, you are not in this until the second scene. Mr. +Bunn, you'll not need your high hat in this act."</p> + +<p>"But I thought you said——" began an elderly actor, of the type known +as "Hams," from their insatiable desire to portray the character of +Hamlet.</p> + +<p>"I know I did," said Mr. Pertell, sharply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> "But I have had to change my +mind. You are to take the part of a plumber, and you come to fix a burst +water pipe. So get your overalls and your kit. You have a plumber's kit; +haven't you, Pop?" the manager called to Pop Snooks, the property man, +who was obliged, on short notice, to provide anything from a diamond +ring to a rustic bridge.</p> + +<p>"All right for the plumber!" called Pop. "Have it for you in a minute."</p> + +<p>"And, Mr. Sneed," called the manager to another actor. "You are supposed +to be the householder whose water pipe has burst. You try to putty it up +and you get soaked. Go over there in the far corner, where the tank is; +we don't want water running into this Quaker scene."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I get all wet; do I?" asked Mr. Sneed, in no very pleasant tones.</p> + +<p>"That's what you do!"</p> + +<p>"Well, all I've got to say is that I wish you'd give some of these tank +dramas to someone else. I'm getting tired of being soaked."</p> + +<p>"You haven't been really wet since the trip to Florida," declared Mr. +Pertell. "Lively now, we have no time to lose. Come on, Russ!" he called +to the young operator. "You're to film the Quaker scenario. I'll have +Johnson make the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> water pipe scene. All ready, ladies and gentlemen!"</p> + +<p>Various plays were going on at once in different parts of the studio. +Ruth and Alice DeVere took their places in one where a Quaker story was +being portrayed. Later they posed in a church scene, in which a number +of extra people, or "supers," were engaged to represent the +congregation.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pertell, once he had the various scenes going, took a moment in +which to rest, for he was a very busy man. He sat down near Alice, who, +for the time being, was out of the scene. But hardly had the manager +stretched out in a chair, resting one shirt-sleeved arm over the back, +when he started up, and looked intently toward one corner of the studio.</p> + +<p>"I wonder why he is going in there?" observed the manager, half aloud.</p> + +<p>"Who?" asked Alice, for the moving picture company was like one big +family, in a way.</p> + +<p>"That new man," went on Mr. Pertell. "Harry Wilson, he said his name +was. Now he's going into the proof room, where he has no business. I +must look into this. I wonder, after all, if there could be any truth in +that warning I received the other day."</p> + +<p>"What warning?" asked Alice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"About a rival film company trying to discover some of the secrets of +our success. I must look into this."</p> + +<p>He sprang from his chair and hurried across the big studio toward the +room where the films were first shown privately, to correct any defects, +mechanical or artistic. It was there that the initial performance, so to +speak, was given.</p> + +<p>Before Mr. Pertell reached the room, where the projection machine was +installed, the man of whom he had spoken had entered. And, just as the +manager reached the door, the same man came violently out, impelled by a +vigorous push from one of the operators, who at the same time cried:</p> + +<p>"Get out of here, you spy! What do you mean by sneaking in here, trying +to get our secrets? Get out! Where's Mr. Pertell? I'll tell him about +you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>WESTERN PLANS</h3> + + +<p>"What is it, Walsh? What is the trouble?" exclaimed Mr. Pertell, as he +hastened toward the proving room, where the films were tested before +being "released."</p> + +<p>"This man, Mr. Pertell! This fellow you hired as a comedy actor. He came +in here just now, and I caught him starting to take notes of the first +film of our new play."</p> + +<p>"You did!" cried the manager sharply.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He came in when it was dark; but the film broke, and I turned on +the light. Then I caught him!"</p> + +<p>"That's not so—you did not!"</p> + +<p>The accused man—the spy he had been called—stood facing them all, the +picture of injured innocence. Ruth, Alice and some of the other women +members of the company drew aside, a little frightened at the prospect +of trouble.</p> + +<p>And trouble seemed imminent, for it was easy to see that Mr. Pertell was +very angry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> As for the other, his face was white with either anger or +fear—perhaps the latter.</p> + +<p>"I saw you taking notes of the action on that film!" cried James Walsh, +the testing room expert.</p> + +<p>"And I say you did not!" asserted Harry Wilson, the new player, hired a +few days before as a "comic relief." The other members of the company +knew very little of him, and he had attracted small attention until this +episode. During a period when he was not engaged in one of the plays he +had gone into the room, permission to enter which was not often granted, +even to favored members of the Comet Film concern—at least until after +the release of the film was decided.</p> + +<p>"Don't let that man get way!" cried Mr. Pertell, sharply, as he saw +Wilson edging toward the hallway. "Lock the doors and we'll search him!"</p> + +<p>There was some confusion for a moment, but the doors were locked, and +Pop Snooks seized the new actor.</p> + +<p>And, while preparations are being made to search the man I will trespass +on the time of my new readers sufficiently to tell them, as briefly as I +can, something about the previous books of this series, and of the main +characters in this one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + +<p>The initial volume was entitled "The Moving Picture Girls; Or, First +Appearances in Photo Dramas." The girls were Ruth and Alice DeVere, aged +respectively seventeen and fifteen years. Their mother was dead, and +they lived with their father, Hosmer DeVere, in the Fenmore Apartment +House, New York. Across the hall from them lived Russ Dalwood, a moving +picture operator, with his widowed mother, and his brother Billy.</p> + +<p>Mr. DeVere was a talented actor in the "legitimate," as it is called to +distinguish it from vaudeville and moving pictures. But the recurrence +of an old throat ailment made him suddenly so hoarse that he could not +speak loud enough to be heard across the footlights. He was already +rehearsing for a new play when this happened, and after several trials +to make himself audible, he was finally forced to give up his +engagement.</p> + +<p>This was doubly hard, as the DeVeres were in straitened circumstances at +this time, money being very scarce. They had really entered upon a +period of "hard times" when Russ, a manly young fellow, whose first +acquaintance with the girls had quickly ripened into friendship, made a +suggestion.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you try moving pictures?" he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> had said to Mr. DeVere. "You +can act, all right, and you won't have to use your voice."</p> + +<p>At first the veteran actor was much opposed to to the idea, rather +looking down upon moving pictures as "common." But his daughters induced +him to try it, and he came to like them very much. The pay, too, was +good.</p> + +<p>Thus Mr. DeVere became attached to the Comet Film Company. Mr. Frank +Pertell, as I have said, was manager, and Russ was his chief operator, +though there were several others. There were, too, a number of actors +and actresses attached to the company. Besides Ruth, Alice and their +father, there were Miss Laura Dixon and Miss Pearl Pennington, former +vaudeville stars, between whom and the DeVere girls there was not the +best of feeling. Ruth and Alice thought that the two actresses were of a +rather too "showy" type, and Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon rather +looked down on Alice and Ruth as being "slow" and old-fashioned.</p> + +<p>Pop Snooks, as I have intimated, was the efficient property man. Paul +Ardite, whom Alice liked very much, was the juvenile leading man.</p> + +<p>Wellington Bunn was the "old school" actor already mentioned. He and +Pepper Sneed were rather alike in one way—they made many objections +when called on to do "stunts" out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> the ordinary. Mr. Bunn always +wanted to play <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Shakspearean'">Shakespearean</ins> parts, and Mr. Sneed was always fearful +that something was going to happen.</p> + +<p>Of a contrasting disposition was Carl Switzer, the jolly German +comedian. Nothing came amiss to him, and he was always ready for +whatever was on the program, making a joke of even hard and dangerous +work.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maguire was the "mother" of the company. She often played "old +woman" parts, and her two grandchildren, Tommy and Nellie, were +sometimes used in child sketches.</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice really got into moving picture work by accident. One day +two extra actresses failed to appear when needed, and Mr. Pertell, who +was in a hurry, appealed to Mr. DeVere to allow his daughters to "fill +in." They did so well that they were engaged permanently, and very much +did they like their work.</p> + +<p>Alice was like her dead mother, happy, full of life and jollity, and her +brown eyes generally sparkled with laughter. She was a rather +matter-of-fact nature, whereas Ruth was more romantic. Ruth was a deal +like her father, inclined to look on the more serious side of life. But +her blue eyes could be laughing and jolly, too, and between the two +girls there was really not so much difference after all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>Soon after getting into moving picture work they became aware of a bold +attempt to get away from Russ Dalwood an invention he had made for a +camera. How Ruth and Alice frustrated this, and how they "made good," as +Mr. Pertell put it, in an important drama, is fully told in the first +book.</p> + +<p>The second volume was entitled "The Moving Picture Girls at Oak Farm; +Or, Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays." The manager had made the +acquaintance of Sandy Apgar in New York. Sandy managed his father's +farm, in New Jersey, and Mr. Pertell took his entire company there, to +make a series of farm dramas.</p> + +<p>A curious mystery developed at once, and did not end until the discovery +of a certain secret room, in which was concealed a treasure that was of +the utmost benefit to the Apgar family.</p> + +<p>"The Moving Picture Girls Snowbound; Or, The Proof on the Film," was the +third book. To get a series of dramas in which snow and ice effects +would form the background, Mr. Pertell took his company of players to +the backwoods of New England. There they had rather more snow than they +expected, and were caught in a blizzard.</p> + +<p>Also Ruth and Alice made a curious discovery concerning a dishonest man, +and not only frust<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>rated his plans to swindle a certain company, but +also were able to save their father from paying a debt the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'sceond'">second</ins> time. +In addition they took part in many important plays.</p> + +<p>From the cold bleakness of New England to the balmy air of Florida was a +change that Ruth and Alice experienced later, for on their return to New +York from the backwoods the members of the company were sent to the +peninsular state.</p> + +<p>In "The Moving Picture Girls Under the Palms; Or, Lost in the Wilds of +Florida," is related what happened when the company went South.</p> + +<p>Exciting incidents occurred from the first, when the ship caught fire, +and, even as it burned, Russ "filmed" it.</p> + +<p>But the company reached St. Augustine safely, and then came busy times, +making various moving picture dramas.</p> + +<p>How the two sisters learned of the plight of the two girls whom they +knew slightly, and how after getting lost themselves on one of the +sluggish rivers of interior Florida, Ruth and Alice were able to render +a great service to the Madison girls—this you may read in the fourth +volume.</p> + +<p>The company had come back to New York in the spring, and now nearly all +the members were assembled at the studio, when the incident narrated in +the first chapter took place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here it is!" cried Mr. Pertell, as, slipping his hand into the pocket +of the accused actor, he brought forth a crumpled paper.</p> + +<p>"And wasn't he making notes, just as I said, of our new big play?" +demanded Walsh.</p> + +<p>"That's what he was!" exclaimed the manager as he quickly scanned the +crumpled document. "He didn't have time to make many notes, though."</p> + +<p>"No, I was too quick for him!" declared the tester.</p> + +<p>Harry Wilson had no more to say. His bravado deserted him and he was now +in abject fear.</p> + +<p>"What have you to say for yourself?" demanded Mr. Pertell, angrily.</p> + +<p>The other did not answer.</p> + +<p>"Now, you get out of here!" ordered the manager, "and never come back."</p> + +<p>"I'll not go until I get what is coming to me," was the sullen retort.</p> + +<p>"If you got what is coming to you it would be arrest!" declared Walsh.</p> + +<p>"I want my money!" mumbled Wilson.</p> + +<p>"Here is an order on the cashier for it," said Mr. Pertell. "Get it +and—go!"</p> + +<p>Hastily writing on a slip of paper, he tendered it to the actor, who +took it without a word, and slunk off. The others watched him curiously. +It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> was something they had never before witnessed—an attempt to gain +possession of the secrets of the company—for a moving picture concern +guards its films jealously, until they are "released," or ready for +reproduction.</p> + +<p>"Curious," remarked Mr. Pertell, "but I had a distrust of that chap from +the first. Do any of you know him?"</p> + +<p>"I acted mit him vunce in der Universal company, but he dit not stay +long," said Mr. Switzer.</p> + +<p>"Probably he was up to some underhand work," observed Walsh.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what his object was?" went on the manager. "He evidently +wasn't doing this for himself." Idly he turned over the scrap of paper +on which the other had been making notes in the testing room. Then the +manager uttered a cry of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Ha! The International Picture Company! This is part of one of their +letter heads. So Wilson was working for them! They very likely sent him +here to get a position, and instructed him to steal some of our secrets +and ideas, if he could. The scoundrel!"</p> + +<p>"He didn't see much!" chuckled Walsh. "The film broke after a few feet +had been run off, and I switched on the lights. He didn't see a great +deal."</p> + +<p>"No, his notes show that," said the manager.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> "But only for that +accident he might have learned of our plans and given our rivals +information sufficient to spoil our big play."</p> + +<p>"Have you new plans?" asked Mr. DeVere, who was on very friendly terms +with the manager.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are going to make a big three-reel play, called 'East and +West,' and while some of the scenes will be laid in New York, the main +ones will be filmed out beyond the Mississippi. One of the most +important New York scenes has already been made. It was this one which +was being tested when Wilson went in there. Had he seen it all he might +have guessed at the rest of our plans and our rivals, the International +people, would have been able to get ahead of us. They are always on the +alert to take the ideas of other concerns. But I think I'll beat them +this time."</p> + +<p>"So we are to go West; eh?" queried Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"Yes, out on what prairies are left, in some rather wild sections, and I +think we will make the best views we have yet had," responded Mr. +Pertell. "Now, if you please, ladies and gentlemen, take your places, +and go on with your acts. I am sorry this interruption distracted you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>A DARING FEAT</h3> + + +<p>"Oh, Ruth, did you hear? We are to go out West!"</p> + +<p>"Are you glad, Alice?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I am. Why, we can see Indians and cowboys, and ride bucking +broncos and all that. Oh, it's perfectly delightful!" and Alice, who had +been taking down her jacket, held it in her arms, as one might clasp a +dancing partner, and swept about the now almost deserted studio in a +hesitation waltz.</p> + +<p>"Can't I come in on that?" cried Paul Ardite, as he began to whistle, +keeping time with Alice's steps.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, I'm too tired," she answered, with a laugh. "Oh, but to +think of going West! I've always wanted to!"</p> + +<p>"Alice always says that, whenever a new location is decided on," +observed Ruth, with a quiet smile.</p> + +<p>The work of the day was over, and most of the players had gone home. +Ruth and Alice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> were waiting for their father, who was in Mr. Pertell's +office. They had intended going shopping, thinking Mr. DeVere would be +detained, but he had said he would be with them directly.</p> + +<p>And the two girls had brought up the subject of the new line of work, +broached by Mr. Pertell in mentioning the matter of the spy.</p> + +<p>"I hope nothing comes of that incident," said Mr. DeVere, as he came +from the manager's office, while Ruth and Alice finished their +preparations for the street.</p> + +<p>"I hope not, either," returned the manager, slipping into his coat, for, +like many busy men, he worked best in his shirt sleeves. "Yet I don't +like it, and I am frank to confess that the International concern has +more than once tried to get the best of me by underhand work. I don't +like it. I must keep track of that Wilson. Good night, ladies. Good +night, Mr. DeVere."</p> + +<p>The good nights were returned and then the two girls, with their father, +Russ and Paul, went out.</p> + +<p>"That was an unfortunate occurrence," remarked Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Daddy! How hoarse you are!" exclaimed Ruth, laying a +daintily-gloved hand on his shoulder. "You must use your throat spray as +soon as you get home."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will. My throat is a little raw. There was considerable dust in the +studio to-day. I like work in the open air best."</p> + +<p>"So do I," confessed Alice. "Now, Daddy, you must stop talking," and she +shook her finger at him. "You listen—we'll talk."</p> + +<p>"You mean <i>you</i> will," laughed Ruth, for Alice generally did her own, +and part of Ruth's share also.</p> + +<p>They walked on, talking at intervals of the incident of the spy and +again of the prospective trip to the West.</p> + +<p>"Do you know just where we are going, Russ?" asked Ruth, as she kept +pace with him.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," he replied, stealing a glance at the girl beside him, for +she was a picture fair to look upon with her almost golden hair blown +about her face by the light breeze, while her blue eyes looked into the +more sober gray ones of Russ. "I believe Mr. Pertell intends to go to +several places, so as to get varied views. I know we are to go to a +ranch, for one thing."</p> + +<p>"Fine!" exclaimed Alice, with almost boyish enthusiasm, as she walked at +the side of Paul. "Daddy, do you want me to become a cowgirl?" she +asked, turning to Mr. DeVere, who was in the rear.</p> + +<p>"I guess if you wanted to be one, you would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> whether I wanted you to or +not," he replied, with an indulgent smile. "You have a way with you!"</p> + +<p>"Hasn't she, though!" agreed Paul.</p> + +<p>They reached the apartment house where the DeVeres and Russ lived. Paul +came in for a little while, but declined an invitation to stay to tea.</p> + +<p>"I've got quite a piece of work on for to-morrow," he said, as he left.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Alice.</p> + +<p>"There's to be a new play, 'An Inventor's Troubles,' and one of the +inventions is a sort of rope fire escape. There's a rope, coiled in a +metal case. You take it to your hotel room with you, and in case of fire +you fasten the case to the window casing, grab one end of the rope, and +jump. The rope is supposed to pay out slowly, by means of friction +pulleys, and you come safely to the ground."</p> + +<p>"Did you invent that?" asked Ruth, who had not heard all that was said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, some fellow did, and the city authorities are going to give him +a chance to demonstrate it before they will recommend it to hotel +proprietors. And I'm to be the 'goat,' if you will allow me to say so."</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Alice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm to come down on the rope from the tenth story of some building. +This will serve as the city test, and at the same time Mr. Pertell has +fixed up a story in which the fire escape scene figures. I've got to +study up a little bit before to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"It—it isn't dangerous; is it?" asked Alice, and she rather faltered +over the words.</p> + +<p>"Not if the thing works," replied Paul, with a shrug of his shoulders. +"That is, if the rope doesn't break, or pay out so fast that I hit the +pavement with a bump."</p> + +<p>"Oh, is it as dangerous as that?" exclaimed Alice, looking at Paul +intently.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry," and he smiled. "I guess the apparatus has been tested +before. I'm getting used to risks in this business."</p> + +<p>"What time to-morrow is it?" queried Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Right after lunch," Russ responded. "I've got to film him."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm coming to see you!" declared Alice. "I'm off directly after +lunch. I haven't much on for to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Alice! You wouldn't go!" cried her sister.</p> + +<p>"Of course I would, my dear!"</p> + +<p>"But suppose something—happened?" Ruth went on in a low voice, as Russ +and Paul started out together.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All the more reason why I should be there!" declared Alice, promptly, +and Ruth looked at her with a new light of understanding in her eyes. +And then she looked at Paul, who waved his hand gaily at the younger +girl.</p> + +<p>"Dear little sister," murmured Ruth. "I wonder——?"</p> + +<p>"I'll look for you there," called Paul, as he went on down the hall.</p> + +<p>"And I'll be there," promised Alice.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel better now, Daddy?" asked Ruth, in their rooms.</p> + +<p>"Much better—yes, my dear. That new spray the doctor gave me seems to +work wonders. And my throat is really better since our trip South. I +feel quite encouraged."</p> + +<p>It was after supper in the DeVere apartment. The two girls were seated +at the sitting-room table with their father, who was looking over a new +play in which he had a part. Alice was reading a newspaper and Ruth +mending a pair of stockings.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's one good thing about going out West," finally remarked +the younger girl, as she tossed aside the paper, and caught up a hairpin +which her vigorous motion had caused to slip out of her brown tresses.</p> + +<p>"What's that—you won't have to fuss so about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> dress?" asked Ruth, for +her sister did not share her ideas on this subject.</p> + +<p>"No, but if we do go there won't be any trouble about that International +company trying to steal Mr. Pertell's secrets."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," observed Mr. DeVere, slowly. "If they are +after his big drama they may even follow us out West."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope not!" exclaimed Ruth, pausing with extended needle. "I don't +like trouble."</p> + +<p>"There may be no trouble," her father assured her, with a smile. "In +fact, now that the spy is detected, the whole affair may be closed. I +hope so, for Mr. Pertell works hard to get up new ideas, and to have +some other concern step in, and rob him of the fruits of his labor, +would be unjust indeed."</p> + +<p>Rehearsals and the filming of plays in the Comet studio were over the +next morning about eleven o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Come on," said Paul to Ruth and Alice. "I'm to get a bonus on account +of the fire escape stunt, and I'll take you girls out to lunch. Come +along, Russ. It's extra money and we might as well enjoy it."</p> + +<p>"You are too extravagant!" chided Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I like to be—when I have the chance," Paul laughed. "It isn't +often I do."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, then, we may as well help you out," agreed Russ. "Right after +lunch we'll give you a chance to show us what you can do on that patent +rope."</p> + +<p>The little meal was a merry one, in spite of the fact that the two girls +were a little nervous about going to see Paul descend from the tenth +story of a building on a slender rope. Ruth had finally consented to +accompany her sister.</p> + +<p>Together they went to the place where the test was to take place. It was +a tall office structure, and, as word of what was afoot had spread, +quite a throng had gathered.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pertell had made arrangements with the authorities to have Paul work +in a little theatrical business in connection with the test, and the +inventor of the fire escape was also to be in the moving pictures.</p> + +<p>There was a little preliminary scene, as part of the projected play, and +then Paul went into the building with the inventor to prepare for his +thrilling descent.</p> + +<p>The apparatus seemed simple. It was a round, metallic case, inside of +which was coiled a stout rope. At the end was a broad leather strap, +intended to be fastened about the person who was to make the jump. The +case, and the coil of rope, were to be fastened to a hook at the side of +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> window. Then Paul was to jump out, and trust to the slow uncoiling +of the rope to lower him safely.</p> + +<p>"Are you all ready?" asked the inventor, after he had explained the +apparatus.</p> + +<p>"As ready as I ever shall be," answered Paul a little nervously. He +looked down to the ground. It seemed a long way off.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>A CLOUD OF SMOKE</h3> + + +<p>Below, in the crowd that had gathered to watch the test, were Ruth and +Alice. Russ, of course, was there with his moving picture camera, and +Paul saw the little lens-tube aimed in his direction, like the muzzle of +some new weapon.</p> + +<p>"Now, don't get nervous," directed the inventor, after he had explained +the mechanism to Paul, and also to the city officials who had gathered +to pass upon its merits.</p> + +<p>"You can't make me nervous," declared the young actor. "I've gone +through too much in this moving picture business, though I will admit I +never jumped from such a height before."</p> + +<p>"Don't look down," the inventor warned him. "You won't get dizzy then. +And don't think of the height. With this apparatus it is impossible to +get hurt. You will go down like a feather."</p> + +<p>"That's comforting to know," laughed Paul. "Well, I may as well start, I +guess."</p> + +<p>The belt was adjusted about him, and as it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> done in the open window +Russ was able to get views of it, and of all that went on. Then Paul got +out on the sill. There he paused a moment.</p> + +<p>"I—I can't bear to look at him!" murmured Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly," exclaimed Alice.</p> + +<p>"But suppose—suppose something happens?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be a Mr. Sneed!" retorted her sister, with a laugh. "I don't +believe anything will happen, and if—if he should fall—see!" and she +pointed to where a detachment of city firemen stood ready with their +life net.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't notice them before," confessed Ruth. "That makes it +safer."</p> + +<p>"All ready down there, Russ?" shouted Paul, through a megaphone. "Shall +I go?"</p> + +<p>"Jump! I'm all ready for you," was the answer.</p> + +<p>Paul paused but for a moment, and then he jumped from the sill, and out +away from the building. The coil of rope in the metal case had been +swung out from the side of the structure on an arm, so as to enable Paul +to clear the lower window ledges.</p> + +<p>For the first few feet he went down like a shot, and for one horrible +moment he felt that something had gone wrong. In fact the crowd did +also, for there was a hoarse shout of alarm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" gasped Ruth, faintly.</p> + +<p>"I—I——" began Alice, as she, too, turned aside her head. Then someone +yelled:</p> + +<p>"It's all right!"</p> + +<p>Alice looked then.</p> + +<p>She saw Paul descending as the rope payed out. He was coming down +gradually.</p> + +<p>"That will make a good film," commented Russ to Mr. Pertell, for the +manager had come to witness the fire escape scene.</p> + +<p>"Indeed it will."</p> + +<p>Paul came down several stories, and the success of the apparatus seemed +assured when, at about the fourth story from the ground, something +suddenly went wrong.</p> + +<p>Once more the young actor shot downward and this time it seemed that he +would be seriously injured.</p> + +<p>Russ felt that he must rush forward to save his friend, but he had an +inborn instinct to stick to his camera—an instinct that probably every +moving picture operator has, even though he does violence to his own +feelings.</p> + +<p>"He'll be hurt!" several in the crowd cried.</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice both turned aside their heads again, but there was no +need for alarm.</p> + +<p>For the firemen, at the word of command from their captain, had rushed +forward with the life<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> net. They were standing only a few feet away from +where Paul dangled in the air, but even at that they were only just in +time.</p> + +<p>Paul fell into it heavily, for the mechanism depended on to check the +speed at which the rope payed out, did not work. But the firemen knew +just how to handle a situation of that sort, and they held firmly to the +net. It sagged under the impact of Paul's body, but he bounded upward +again in an instant, and then was helped out of the net and to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Mighty lucky you fellows were here," observed the young actor, as the +cheers of the crowd died down.</p> + +<p>"I was afraid something like that might happen," spoke the fire captain. +"I've seen too many accidents with these patent escapes to take any +chances. Now there's another inventor who will have to make quite a few +changes in his apparatus."</p> + +<p>The man who had patented the fire escape had been in a frenzy of fear +when he saw Paul slipping, and, now that he knew the young actor was +safe, he began to explain how something unforeseen had occurred, and +that it would never happen again.</p> + +<p>"Did you get that, Russ?" the manager wanted to know, for he thought the +operator, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> his anxiety over Paul, might have forgotten to turn the +handle of the machine.</p> + +<p>"Every move," was the reassuring answer. "It will make a dandy film. But +I'm mighty glad it turned out as it did."</p> + +<p>"So am I," said the manager. "I guess that will be about all for Paul +to-day. His nerves must be on edge."</p> + +<p>Paul declared that they were not, however, and wanted to go on with the +rest of the film, which included the showing of other, but less +dangerous, inventions.</p> + +<p>"No, you take the rest of the day off," directed the manager. "There is +no great rush about this."</p> + +<p>The crowd pressed curiously about Paul and the others of the moving +picture company, and, as Ruth and Alice were getting hemmed in, Mr. +Pertell called a taxicab and sent them home in it.</p> + +<p>"Report at the studio to-morrow," he called.</p> + +<p>"Did you have any more trouble with that spy?" asked Alice, as the +vehicle moved away.</p> + +<p>"No," he answered. "I guess they'll quit, now that they know I have +found them out."</p> + +<p>The next day Paul finished with his invention-film, being required to do +a number of "funny stunts," such as shaving with a new safety razor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +that did anything but what it was intended for; trying a new wardrobe +trunk, that unexpectedly closed up with him inside of it, and such +things as that. Some of the inventions were real, and others were +"faked" for the occasion, to make a "comic" film.</p> + +<p>But nothing as risky as the rope escape was tried, though probably had +Paul been required to go through an equally hazardous feat he would not +have balked. Moving picture actors often take very big chances, and the +public, looking at the finished film, little realize it.</p> + +<p>"I have something for you to-day I think you'll like," said Mr. Pertell +to Ruth and Alice, as they reported at the studio.</p> + +<p>"I hope it is outdoor stuff," ventured Alice. "It is just glorious +to-day!"</p> + +<p>Moving picture work is referred to as "stuff." Thus scenes at a river or +lake are "water stuff," and if a play should take place in a desert the +action would be termed "desert stuff," and so on.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm sorry, but only part of it, and a very little at that, is +outdoor stuff," replied Mr. Pertell. "The action of this play takes +place in a shirt waist factory. And I've got the use of a real factory +where you two girls will pose and go through the 'business.' You're to +be shirt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> waist operators, and I'll explain the story to you later."</p> + +<p>"I can't sew very well," confessed Alice, "and I never made but one +shirt waist in my life—I couldn't wear it after it was done," she +added.</p> + +<p>"You don't really have to sew," explained Mr. Pertell. "It is all +machine work, anyhow. You and Ruth will sit at the machines in the +factory with the other girls. Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon are also to +be operators, but you two are the main characters. The machines work by +a small electric motor, and all you have to do is to push some cloth +along under the needle. You can do that."</p> + +<p>"I guess so," agreed Alice.</p> + +<p>"The forewoman will rehearse you a bit," Mr. Pertell went on. "The scene +at the machines only takes a few moments—just a little strip of film. +Then the scene changes to another part of the factory. I think it will +make a good film. The story is called 'The Eye of a Needle.' It's really +quite clever and by a new writer. I think it will make a hit."</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice, as well as the others, were told more in detail what +action the play required, and the next day they were ready for their +parts. They went to the factory accompanied by the two former vaudeville +actresses, and by Russ<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> and Paul. The latter was to take the part of one +of the male employees of the concern.</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice found themselves in a room filled with sewing machines, +at which sat girls and women busily engaged in stitching on shirt +waists. There was the hum of the small electric motors that operated the +machines, and the click and hum of the machines themselves.</p> + +<p>A murmur ran around the room on the entrance of the players, but the +operators had been told what to expect and what to do. They were to be +in the pictures, too.</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice, with Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon, were given machines +close to the camera, as they were the principal characters, and interest +centered in them.</p> + +<p>"Just guide the cloth through under the needle," the forewoman +explained, as she started the motors on the girls' machines.</p> + +<p>"Ready!" called Mr. Pertell to Russ, who stood beside the camera. The +action of the play began, as Russ clicked away at the handle of his +machine.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a girl screamed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what is it?" demanded Miss Pennington, jumping up.</p> + +<p>"Sit down! You'll spoil the film!" cried Mr. Pertell.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a little confusion for a moment.</p> + +<p>"It's only one of the girls who has run a needle into her finger," the +forewoman explained. "It often happens. We take care of them right +here."</p> + +<p>"All right—get that in, Russ," suggested Mr. Pertell. "It will make it +seem much more natural."</p> + +<p>The girl's injury was a slight one, and Russ got on the film the action +of her being attended in the room set aside for the treatment of injured +employes.</p> + +<p>"I'll have something written in the script to fit to that," said Mr. +Pertell, as the action of the play resumed.</p> + +<p>The plot of the little drama called upon Miss Pennington to write a note +to Alice, pretending that it came from a young man, whose name the +former vaudeville performer was supposed to forge. Alice was to +"register" certain emotions, and to show the note to Ruth. Then Miss +Dixon came into the scene, the sewing machines were deserted and, for a +moment, there was an excited conference.</p> + +<p>Considerable dramatic action was called for, and this was well done by +the girls, while the real operatives looked on in simulated surprise as +they kept at their work.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>The play was almost over, when from a far corner of the room came a +startled cry.</p> + +<p>"Someone else hurt with a needle, I wonder?" queried Paul, as he stood +near Alice's machine.</p> + +<p>"I hope not," she answered.</p> + +<p>And then the whole room was thrown into panic as the cry broke out:</p> + +<p>"Fire! Fire! The building is on fire!"</p> + +<p>Shrill screams drowned out the rest of the alarm, but as Ruth, Alice and +the others of the moving picture company looked around they saw a cloud +of smoke at the rear of the big room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>A MIX-UP</h3> + + +<p>"Stand still! Don't rush! Form in line!"</p> + +<p>Sharp and crisp came the words of the forewoman. The screaming of the +girls ceased almost instantly.</p> + +<p>Clang! sounded a big gong through the room. Clang! Clang!</p> + +<p>"Fire drill!" called the efficient forewoman, and afterward Ruth and +Alice felt what a blessing it was she kept her wits about her. "Fire +drill! Form in line and march to the fire escapes!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh, I know I'm going to faint!" cried Miss Pennington. "This is a +regular fire trap! All shirt waist factories are. I am going to faint!"</p> + +<p>"Miss Dixon, just—slap her!" called Alice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Alice!" remonstrated Ruth, looking about with frightened eyes.</p> + +<p>"It's the only way to bring her to her senses!" retorted the younger +girl. And to the eternal credit of Miss Dixon be it said that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> did +slap her friend Miss Pennington, and she slapped her with sufficient +energy to prevent the fainting fit, even as a sip of aromatic spirits of +ammonia might have done.</p> + +<p>"Fire drill! Form lines! March!" again called the forewoman, with the +coolness a veteran fireman might have envied.</p> + +<p>"Can't we get our wraps?" asked one of the workers.</p> + +<p>"No! You can come back for them," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"But it—it's a real fire!" someone cried. "Our things will be burned +up!"</p> + +<p>"It isn't a fire at all—it's only a drill!" insisted the forewoman. +"And, even if it were real, and your things were burned, the company +would replace them for you.</p> + +<p>"To the fire escapes! March!"</p> + +<p>In spite of the forewoman's assertion that it was only a fire drill the +pall of smoke in the corner of the room spread apace, and there was the +smell of fire, as well as the crackle of flames.</p> + +<p>"This way, girls," called Mr. Pertell to his four actresses. "Here's a +fire escape over here."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said the forewoman, firmly. "But please have your company +follow my girls. They know just which way to go, and if your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> actresses +make any change it may result in confusion, and——"</p> + +<p>"I understand," responded Mr. Pertell, at once. "Girls, consider +yourselves shirt waist operatives, and do as the others do," he +concluded. He stood aside, as a sailor might on a sinking ship, when the +order "women and children first" is given. Paul took his place at the +manager's side, waving his hand reassuringly to Ruth and Alice.</p> + +<p>"Oh—Oh, must we go with them? Can't we go to that fire escape?" +faltered Miss Pennington, who seemed to have entirely recovered from her +desire to faint.</p> + +<p>"That is for the operatives on the upper floor," explained the +forewoman. "If you will follow my girls you will be all right. There are +plenty of fire escapes for all."</p> + +<p>"Come on!" called Alice, as she marched behind the nearest shirt waist +girls. "There is no danger—and plenty of time."</p> + +<p>"That's the way to talk!" declared the forewoman, admiringly.</p> + +<p>But, even as she spoke, there was a burst of flame through the cloud of +smoke. Several girls screamed and those nearest the fire hung back.</p> + +<p>"Steady! Go on! There is no danger!" the forewoman called.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you getting this, Russ?" asked Mr. Pertell of the young camera +expert.</p> + +<p>"Every move!" was the enthusiastic answer. "It's too good a chance to +miss, and I guess there is really no danger."</p> + +<p>He continued to grind away at the camera while the girls, now in orderly +array, marched to the fire escapes and so down and out of the building. +Ruth, Alice and the two other actresses went with them. And not until +the last girl had left the room did the forewoman make a move toward the +escape.</p> + +<p>"You gentlemen will please leave now," she said.</p> + +<p>"After you," returned Mr. Pertell, with a look of admiration in his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"No," she said, firmly. "The rules of the fire drill require that I +leave the room last. You will please go first."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear young lady!" exclaimed the manager, "this is not a +drill—it is a real fire!"</p> + +<p>"I know it," she said, quietly. "But that makes no difference. I must +leave last. You will kindly go ahead."</p> + +<p>"I guess we'll have to, Russ," remarked the manager. "But I don't like +it."</p> + +<p>"Those are the rules," insisted the forewoman, and she would not go out +on the fire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> escape until Russ, Paul and Mr. Pertell had preceded her.</p> + +<p>By this time the street below was filled with fire apparatus, puffing, +clanging and whistling. And not until the girls were down and out of the +building did they realize what a big fire it was. For the entire +structure was now ablaze.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the same efficient fire drill instituted by the forewoman on +the floor where Ruth and Alice had been prevailed in other parts of the +building, and not a life was lost, though there were many narrow +escapes.</p> + +<p>And you may well believe that Russ did not miss this opportunity to get +moving pictures. Of course the plot of the play had been spoiled by the +fire, but a far better drama than the one originally planned was +afterward made of it.</p> + +<p>As the building continued to burn Russ found that he was not going to +have film enough. He sent Paul for a new supply and also to telephone +for another operator from the Comet studio, so that pictures of the big +fire from various viewpoints might be secured.</p> + +<p>And it was a big fire—one of the largest in New York in many years, but +aside from a few persons who received minor injuries there was none +seriously hurt. The Comet concern scored heavily in making films of the +blaze.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, that was one exciting day, yesterday," remarked Russ the next +morning at the studio. "I never worked so hard, not even when we were +lost in Florida."</p> + +<p>"I had a premonition something would happen," declared Mr. Sneed, as he +was making up for his part in a play. "When I got up yesterday morning I +stepped on my collar button, and that's always a sure sign something +will happen."</p> + +<p>"It's sometimes a sign you'll be late for rehearsal if you don't find +the collar button," laughed Paul.</p> + +<p>Orders for the day's work were issued, and Paul, Ruth, Alice and Mr. +Bunn found that they had to go to the Grand Central Terminal where, once +before, some film pictures had been made.</p> + +<p>"There is quite a complicated plot to this play," explained Mr. Pertell, +in issuing his instructions. "Mr. Bunn has some valuable papers, and +Paul, as the villain, takes them from his pocket in the station. That +starts the action."</p> + +<p>Fully instructed what to do, the moving picture girls, with Paul and +Russ, went up to Forty-second street.</p> + +<p>As the use of the train platforms was not required in this act of the +play nothing was said to the station authorities, but Mr. Bunn, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +Alice and Ruth, mingled with the crowds, as though they were ordinary +travelers.</p> + +<p>The operator began taking the necessary pictures, and then came Paul's +"cue" to abstract the papers.</p> + +<p>He had done it successfully from Mr. Bunn's pocket, seemingly without +the knowledge of the actor, and Paul was going on with the rest of the +"business," when a policeman stepped up and clapping his hand on Paul's +shoulder exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I want you, young man! I saw you take those papers. You're under +arrest!"</p> + +<p>"But—but it's for the movies!" cried Paul, not wishing the scene +spoiled.</p> + +<p>"Tell that to the taxicab man! I've heard that yarn before! You come +with me. And you too," he added to Mr. Bunn. "I want you for a witness. +You've been robbed!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE AUTO SMASH</h3> + + +<p>"The scene will be spoiled!" exclaimed Alice, as she saw a crowd surge +up when the officer grasped Paul.</p> + +<p>"Too bad!" declared Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Keep away—get back, please!" cried Russ, as he saw his camera screened +by the throng.</p> + +<p>"You come along with me!" the officer kept insisting to Paul, dragging +him along toward the doors of the station. "Hi, Jim!" he called to a man +in plain clothes, evidently a detective. "Grab the other fellow; will +you? I've got the pickpocket!" and he nodded to Mr. Bunn, who could not +seem to understand that from a simulated robbery it had turned out to be +a "real" one.</p> + +<p>"I tell you we're moving picture actors!" Paul cried. "There has been no +theft!"</p> + +<p>"And you expect me to believe that!" sneered the policeman. "You can't +get away with that story."</p> + +<p>"Well, there's the man who is taking the pic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>tures!" Paul went on, +pointing to Russ, who, with a look of chagrin on his face, stood idle +beside the camera. He did not want to take a film with this scene in it, +for the whole plot of the story would have to be changed to make the +policeman fit in.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see him," agreed the officer, nodding at Russ, "and I guess he's +in the game with you. I'll take him into custody, too."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you'll get yourself into a whole lot of trouble!" said Paul, +vigorously. "You're making a mistake!"</p> + +<p>"I'll take that chance," observed the officer, with evident disbelief.</p> + +<p>"What's it all about?" asked the detective, sauntering up, while Alice +and Ruth, rather alarmed at the turn of affairs, shrank back out of +sight behind the crowd, that was increasing every second.</p> + +<p>"Pickpocket!" spoke the policeman, laconically. "I saw him rob that +elderly gentleman," and he pointed to Mr. Bunn. "And then this fellow +has the nerve to say he was only doing a moving picture stunt."</p> + +<p>"That's right, and he could see for himself, if he'd take the trouble to +look," retorted the young actor. "There's our camera man over there," +and he nodded toward Russ. The detective glanced in the same direction, +and then a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> smile came over his somewhat shrewd face, as Russ nodded to +him.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Dalwood!" exclaimed the detective. Then to the officer—"I guess +he's right, Kelly, and you're wrong. I know that young fellow at the +camera. He's been at headquarters once or twice helping our rogues' +gallery men when their cameras needed fixing."</p> + +<p>"Is—is that so?" faltered the officer, and his hold on Paul relaxed.</p> + +<p>"That's right," the detective went on. "I guess you've sort of mixed +things up, Kelly."</p> + +<p>"That's what he has," said Russ. "But if he'll let things go on, and +keep this crowd back, I think we can still make the film."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll do that!" the policeman replied hastily, willing to make +amends for the trouble he had caused. "Then it wasn't a case of pocket +picking at all?"</p> + +<p>"No, we're making a moving picture film," Paul explained. "I took these +papers—they're worthless, as you can see," and he showed that the +bundle he had extracted from Mr. Bunn's pocket consisted only of some +circulars, and blank pieces of paper with imposing looking seals on. But +on the film they would appear to be valuable documents.</p> + +<p>"Huh! That's a new one on me!" the officer exclaimed. "Now, you people +move back!" he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> cried, "and give 'em a chance to take their pictures. +Move back there!"</p> + +<p>Affairs had turned in the direction of our friends, and a little later +Russ was able to complete the film, from the point where the policeman +had stepped in and spoiled it. The small portion that was of no use, +however, could be cut out when the film was developed, and the audiences +would never be the wiser.</p> + +<p>Again Paul went on with his acting from the point where he had been +interrupted, and Ruth, Alice and Mr. Bunn did their share. Eventually +the film was made.</p> + +<p>"Something new every day!" laughed Paul, as they were coming away from +the terminal. "I wonder what will happen next?"</p> + +<p>"As long as you don't have to go up in an airship you'll be all right," +observed Alice, trying to keep a refractory wisp of hair from coming +down into her eyes.</p> + +<p>"That's right," agreed Paul, "and yet I wouldn't be surprised to get +orders to go up to the clouds any day. In fact, I'm pretty sure we've +got to take a queer auto trip soon."</p> + +<p>"Is that so? When? Where?" demanded Ruth, pausing a moment to look at a +shop window where some lingerie was temptingly displayed.</p> + +<p>"I don't know the particulars. I happened to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> overhear Mr. Pertell +talking to Pop Snooks about it. I expect it will be given out in a few +days, before Russ has to film it."</p> + +<p>The next few days were filled with work for the moving picture actors +and actresses. There was much to be done before the Western trip was +undertaken, and many of the films made had a bearing on the new play +"East and West."</p> + +<p>"My idea," announced Mr. Pertell, in explaining some matters to his +company, "is to portray briefly the story of the East and West, and to +show how the civilization of the East made its way West. I want to show +the various sports and industries of both sections, as well as various +phases of life and science. Automobiling will be one and——"</p> + +<p>"Don't say airships!" interrupted Mr. Sneed.</p> + +<p>"That's just what I was going to say," finished Mr. Pertell, with a +smile. "I will want some of you to take a trip in an airship. But that +will come later."</p> + +<p>"I'll never go up!" declared the "grouch."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll settle that later," the manager went on. "Just at present I +am going to have some automobile pictures made, and in one of them an +auto containing you young ladies," he looked at Ruth and Alice, "goes to +smash down a steep hill and over a cliff."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Ruth, clutching at her heart.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How exciting!" exclaimed Alice, apparently not in the least disturbed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Pertell, with a smile. "But don't worry. This will be a +'substitute' film. That is, you'll be in the auto up to a certain point. +The chauffeur loses control of it, and it starts to run away down hill. +Then it is stopped, the camera is closed for a moment until we +substitute an old auto for the real one in which you are. There are +dummy figures in the old auto, and they are the ones that go to smash +over the cliff. Think you can work that, Russ?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I've done those trick pictures before. Where are you going to +plant the smash?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, over in Jersey. There are several places in the Orange Mountains +that will answer. Near Eagle Rock is a good place."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed the young operator. "I'll be ready whenever you are. +But where are you going to get the auto that goes to smash, Mr. +Pertell?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I bought a second-hand one cheap. It's now being painted and fixed +up to look as much like the good one as possible."</p> + +<p>A few days later all was in readiness for taking the auto smash film. +The story to be depicted was part of the big "East and West" drama.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +Ruth and Alice were supposed to be pursued by persons in another auto, +and in the smash both girls were to be "injured."</p> + +<p>The two automobiles were on hand at the appointed time on a steep slope +of the Orange Mountains, where the road turned suddenly near a steep +cliff. It was over this cliff that the "smash" would occur.</p> + +<p>The auto that would really come to grief was an old rattletrap of a +machine, but it would serve the purpose well enough for the film, since +only a momentary glimpse of it, and that showing it going at full speed, +would be given. The dummy figures, made up to look like Ruth and Alice, +were in readiness.</p> + +<p>"Now, girls, take your places, if you please," said Mr. Pertell, waving +Ruth and Alice toward their car.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so nervous!" exclaimed Ruth.</p> + +<p>"What about?" asked her sister, as she buttoned her jacket, for the wind +was sharp on the hillside.</p> + +<p>"Oh, suppose our car doesn't stop in time? Suppose we go over the cliff, +instead of the stuffed figures?"</p> + +<p>"Don't suppose anything of the kind!" cried Alice, gaily. "Come +on—they're waiting for us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>OFF FOR THE WEST</h3> + + +<p>Ruth and Alice, taking their places in what might be termed the +"regular" auto, were told just what to do. They were supposed to be +escaping from their pursuers, who were in another auto that was to come +up from the rear.</p> + +<p>Then their chauffeur, in an endeavor to make speed, would go too fast, +would not be able to make the turn in the road, and would go over the +cliff. But, at the proper time, the dummies and the old auto would be +substituted.</p> + +<p>"All ready now?" asked Mr. Pertell, when he had carefully repeated his +instructions to the girls.</p> + +<p>"All ready," answered Alice, and Ruth nodded, though a bit doubtfully. +She was really nervous, although she tried not to show it too plainly.</p> + +<p>"All ready here," answered Russ, who was beside the camera.</p> + +<p>"Then go!" cried the manager, and the auto started.</p> + +<p>In order to give the idea of a long chase Russ<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> had to set up his camera +in several different places. He changed from one stretch of road to +another, the auto being brought to a stop, to wait until he was ready, +and then started up again.</p> + +<p>But the public saw none of this when the film was exhibited, for only +motion was shown, the various sections of the celluloid being joined +together in such a way as to preserve the continuity.</p> + +<p>"Now ready for the big scene," called Mr. Pertell, after one of these +stops. "It's going very well."</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice who, with Paul, were in the regular auto, had shown or +"registered" all sorts of emotions during the chase. Sometimes the +pursuing auto would be almost up to the one in front, and again it would +lag far behind, in order to conform to the requirements of the script, +or the story of the film play.</p> + +<p>"You will run your car up to here," said Mr. Pertell to the chauffeur of +the machine containing Ruth, Alice and Paul. "Then you will stop, and +the substitution will be made. Come on with as much speed as is safe, +right to this mark," and he indicated a stone in the highway.</p> + +<p>"And be sure you <i>do</i> stop!" exclaimed Paul, with a short laugh. "That's +rather too near the edge of the cliff to suit me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I know it is," agreed Mr. Pertell, "It has to be. I only want a few +feet of the film showing the actual smash. If it runs too long the +public may see the dummies too plainly. I want this as real an accident +as it's possible to have it."</p> + +<p>"It seems like tempting Providence," murmured Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Don't get 'Sneedified'," was the retort of Alice.</p> + +<p>Russ had set up his camera to get views of the auto coming down the +steep slope, and now, at his signal that all was in readiness, the +chauffeur of the car started it again.</p> + +<p>"Business! Business!" called Mr. Pertell to the moving picture girls and +Paul, meaning that they were to use the proper gestures, and register +the desired emotions to coincide with the play.</p> + +<p>On rushed the auto, straight toward the dangerous turn in the road. +Paul, who had risen to his feet, was talking vigorously to Ruth and +Alice, as called for in the scenario. Now and then he would look back, +as though to see if the other car was coming.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as the auto was dashing down hill, there came a snap as if +some metal part had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> broken, and the car's speed was quickly increased.</p> + +<p>"What is it? Oh, what has happened?" cried Ruth, springing to her feet. +But she was at once tossed back on the seat, owing to the swaying of the +car, which was going very fast.</p> + +<p>"Something's broken!" cried Paul.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the foot brake. But I have the emergency one still!" the chauffeur +yelled.</p> + +<p>"Is there any danger? Shall we jump?" demanded Alice.</p> + +<p>"No! Sit still!" the chauffeur cried. "I'll stop her in time, I think."</p> + +<p>It was evident the car was beyond control. There was no need of +pretending this.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" warned Russ, who in his excitement did not forget to work +the camera.</p> + +<p>"Stop! Stop!" yelled Mr. Pertell. "You're going too far—you'll go over +the cliff!"</p> + +<p>The chauffeur realized this as well as any one, and he was pulling with +all his strength on the emergency brake lever.</p> + +<p>"I've got to stop her!" he panted through his clenched teeth. "I've got +to stop her!"</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice were in a frenzy of fear now, and Paul, standing up in +the swaying auto, and holding to the back of the front seat, was trying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +desperately to think of some plan whereby he could save the girls.</p> + +<p>The car was now at the turn. Now it was beyond the marking stone +specified by Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>"They'll go over the cliff!" shouted Mr. Sneed, who was to take part in +the play later.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pertell rushed forward as though he would halt the auto by getting +in front and pushing it back, and for one wild moment it looked as +though there would be a veritable tragedy. But with a last desperate +pull on the brake lever, while the metal bands shrilly protested against +such strenuous work, the car came to a slow stop.</p> + +<p>And so near was it to the fence railing off the descent over the +cliff—which fence was, later, to be crashed into by the make-believe +auto—so near was the girls' car to this fence that the front wheels +bent one of the rails.</p> + +<p>"A close call!" said Russ, and his voice was unsteady as he stepped away +from the camera.</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice were pale, and Paul, too, had lost some of his color. But +it was Alice who first relieved the strain of the situation.</p> + +<p>"A miss is as good as a mile," she said, and tried to laugh, but it was +not easy.</p> + +<p>"There must be some defect in that brake connection," the chauffeur +said, as he got out to look at it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, as long as we're all right, the film will be so much the better," +observed Paul, as he alighted from the car. "It will look realistic +enough; won't it, Russ?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed it will. I thought sure you were goners; but I kept on grinding +away. It will be realistic enough for even Mr. Pertell, I think," and he +glanced at the manager.</p> + +<p>"I'm awfully sorry this occurred," declared the latter. "I assure you +ladies that I never would willingly have let you run such a risk."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we know that," responded Ruth, quickly. "It was no one's fault. +Only I'm glad daddy wasn't here to see us," she added in a low voice to +her sister.</p> + +<p>"So am I!" was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Now then, you had better get back to New York," went on Mr. Pertell. +"This ends the scenes in Jersey, and your nerves must be pretty well +shattered," he said, looking at the two girls.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I want to stay and watch the other auto go to smash," Alice cried. +"That will be something worth seeing, especially as no one will be hurt, +except the dummies."</p> + +<p>"I'll stay, too," said Ruth. "It will be novel to see ourselves as +stuffed figures."</p> + +<p>Preparations were now made for having the second auto plunge over the +cliff. This car was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> set in the exact position the other had occupied +when brought to a stop. The dummy figures were put in, veils effectually +concealing the faces. Then the motor was started.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Russ had taken his camera to the foot of the cliff where he +could get a view of the car plunging over, and smashing.</p> + +<p>"All ready!" came the signal. By means of long wires, which would not +show in the finished picture, the gears were thrown in, and the brakes +released.</p> + +<p>"There she goes!" cried Russ.</p> + +<p>The car containing the dummies started off at a fast rate. It crashed +through the fence, just as the other car might have done, and the next +instant was hurtling through the air.</p> + +<p>It turned partly over, one of the dummy figures—that of Ruth—toppled +out—and a moment later, with a crash that could be heard a long +distance, the auto was crumpled into a shapeless mass at the foot of the +cliff.</p> + +<p>Russ got every detail of this, and when the wrecked auto caught fire +from the burst gasoline tank it added to the effectiveness of the scene, +though that feature had not been counted on.</p> + +<p>Then several men came rushing up. They had been stationed in readiness +for just that pur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>pose, and they picked up the figures of the dummies.</p> + +<p>That ended the scene, for the next act took place in a hospital, whither +Ruth, Alice and Paul were supposed to be carried. That would be a studio +scene, and filmed later.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's over," said Mr. Pertell, with a sigh of relief, as he and +his company of players prepared to return to New York. A throng of +curious bystanders, attracted by the actors and actresses, gathered +about the burning auto at the foot of the cliff. As it was of no further +service it was left there.</p> + +<p>"Well, ladies and gentlemen," announced Mr. Pertell to his assembled +company a few days after the auto film had been made, "I am ready now to +tell you something of my plans for the Western trip. Arrangements have +been about completed, and we leave in a few days."</p> + +<p>"Where are we going?" asked Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"Our first destination will be a place called Rocky Ranch," the manager +went on. "It is a typical Western place, with some broad prairie +stretches, and yet near enough to the mountains for diversified scenes. +There will be cowboy and Indian pictures to be made, and——"</p> + +<p>"<i>Wild</i> Indians?" Mr. Sneed wanted to know.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not wild enough to scalp you," returned the manager.</p> + +<p>"And can I have a gun?" little Tommy cried.</p> + +<p>"Indeed and you won't!" said his grandmother, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Well, you can be cowboy and have a lasso," promised the manager.</p> + +<p>"Oh, goodie!" Tommy exclaimed, dancing about in delight.</p> + +<p>"In this play," went on Mr. Pertell, "I want to get scenes showing our +progress West, so we will be rather longer on the trip than otherwise. +We will wait over on some trains, to make views in particularly good +spots. So you may get ready for the journey. Our Eastern scenes are all +made, and I want to thank and congratulate you all on their success. It +was the good acting of all of you that made the films what they are."</p> + +<p>Preparations for the big trip went on apace. Properties and baggage were +gotten in readiness, and Ruth and Alice spent days going over their +clothes, to decide what to take and what to leave behind.</p> + +<p>"Though if I'm to be a cowgirl, and ride ponies, I don't suppose I'll +want this," said Alice, holding up a filmy white dress.</p> + +<p>"Better take it," advised Ruth, who was seated tailor-fashion before a +trunk, which she was packing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It crushes too easily," objected the other.</p> + +<p>"Fold it around some heavier things," suggested Ruth, "and don't put it +in the trunk until the last thing. Oh, I believe I've put my suede +slippers in the bottom, and I'll want them to-night. Well, I'll have to +dig 'em out, I guess," she sighed.</p> + +<p>"No, there they are!" cried Alice, fishing them out from under a pile of +stockings. "What have you in them?" she asked her sister, as she saw the +slippers were filled with something.</p> + +<p>"I always stuff the toes with old stockings," said Ruth. "It keeps them +out almost as well as if I used shoe-trees."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," laughed her sister.</p> + +<p>The packing was over, the trunks were at the station and also was +gathered there the moving picture company.</p> + +<p>"Ho, for the West!" cried Russ, who was standing with Paul, Ruth and +Alice.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" called Mr. Pertell. And, as they moved off toward the +train Russ, turning, saw a man staring after the players.</p> + +<p>"Look!" said the young operator, in a low voice to Mr. Pertell, "that +International Film Company spy—Wilson—is keeping tabs on us!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THE OIL WELL</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Pertell paused and looked back. There on the depot <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'plaftorm'">platform</ins> stood +the man he had caught in his testing room taking notes of the films of +the big drama.</p> + +<p>"Those fellows mean business!" the manager commented. "They are trying +to get my best ideas, I think. It's a wonder they wouldn't originate +something themselves!"</p> + +<p>"I'd like to have it out with him," declared Russ.</p> + +<p>"It would only make trouble," responded the manager. "I think I can stop +them in another way. I'll try legal means first, and if they don't +work—well, perhaps we can put up some kind of a game on them."</p> + +<p>"Let me have a hand in it," begged the young operator. "I want to pay my +respects to that fellow."</p> + +<p>Wilson, for so it was, had by this time seen that he was observed, and +he slunk out of sight behind a pillar. Then, as Mr. Pertell and Russ<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +went to take their places in the coach with the others, a truck, piled +with the baggage of the company, came along.</p> + +<p>The spy darted out from behind the pillar and with a quick glance noted +the destination as shown on the checks.</p> + +<p>"So that was his game!" cried Russ. "I'll put a stop to that, all +right!"</p> + +<p>"It's too late. He's seen, and, anyhow, he could have found out," called +Mr. Pertell. But Russ did not stay to hear, for he had made a rush +toward the fellow.</p> + +<p>He was too late, however, and perhaps it was just as well, as Russ was a +bit hot-headed, and there might have been a scene. Wilson, seeing Russ +coming, hastily thrust into his pocket a card on which he had evidently +been copying the name of the place to which the trunks had been checked, +and ran away.</p> + +<p>"Come back, Russ," called Mr. Pertell. "You'll miss the train!" for the +warning whistle had sounded.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had caught him," panted the young operator as he returned. "I +never saw a fellow with such nerve."</p> + +<p>"His company is in bad shape," said Mr. Pertell. "They have been losing +money, and their films are not taking well. They have not much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> of a +company of players, and I suppose they think they can use some of our +ideas, and maybe some of our actors and actresses."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean—by hiring them away from you?" asked Russ.</p> + +<p>"Well, they might do that, though I don't believe the International +people will pay the salaries my people are getting. So I think none of +them would leave. Even if more money were offered I think my friends +would stand by me. But what I meant was that we'll have to be on the +watch to see that they don't actually take some of our films."</p> + +<p>"You mean after I have made the reels?"</p> + +<p>"No, they might even try, on the sly, to film the action of our players +when we're going through some scene."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled Russ. "If they do that you could have them arrested."</p> + +<p>"Well, be on the watch—that's all."</p> + +<p>None of the other members of the company had seen the spy, and Russ and +the manager said nothing about him. The train pulled out of the station, +and thus the Western trip was begun.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pertell planned to stop off with his company at several places and +make films along the way. This was in accord with his idea of showing a +big drama indicating the development of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> this country from East to West. +The rush of the gold seekers, and the advance of the farmers to take up +Government claims, were to be depicted, along with many other scenes.</p> + +<p>One stop was made in the coal mining regions of Pennsylvania, near +Scranton, and there some fine films were obtained. In one scene Ruth and +Alice were shown in the interior of a mine, with the black coal all +about them. Powerful electric lights gave the necessary illumination.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to get a scene showing an explosion," said Russ, as they left +the coal regions.</p> + +<p>"Why, Russ Dalwood!" cried Ruth. "I'm surprised at you!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't mean by accident," he replied, quickly. "In fact, a little +one would do. And I don't want one to happen on my account. But if +there's going to be an accident I wish I could be on hand to film it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's different," said Ruth, with a smile. "But I'm glad there is +no accident."</p> + +<p>Three days had been spent in and around Scranton, and now the moving +picture players were ready to start off again. Mr. Pertell was +reconsidering some plans he and Russ had talked over, and it had not +been definitely decided what to do as yet.</p> + +<p>"We'll just keep on," said the manager, "and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> perhaps something will +turn up to give me an idea for a novel film."</p> + +<p>They had taken a train on a small branch line of the railroad to connect +with a through express, and about an hour after starting, and when about +half-way to the junction, they came to a sudden stop.</p> + +<p>"Ha! An accident!" cried Russ, reaching for the small camera he kept for +emergencies.</p> + +<p>"Wait, I'll come with you," said the manager. "We may be able to make it +into a film."</p> + +<p>But when they got on the outside, followed by several of the members of +the company, they saw no signs of anything wrong. There was no other +train in sight, so there could have been no collision, and their own +train was safely on the track. Off to one side, however, gathered about +a tall structure of wood, was a knot of people.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Russ of one of the trainmen.</p> + +<p>"They're going to shoot an oil well over there," was the answer, "and +it's so close to the track that they signalled us to stop."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't they wait until we got past?" asked Mr. DeVere who, with his +daughters, had gone out to see what caused the delay.</p> + +<p>"Why, they had already lowered the charge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> of nitro-glycerine into the +well," the brakeman explained, "and something has gone wrong. The shot +didn't go off, and they're afraid it may at any minute. So they're +holding us back a little while."</p> + +<p>"Is that an oil well?" asked Alice, pointing to the tall, wooden +structure.</p> + +<p>"That's the derrick, by which the drill is worked—yes, Miss," the +brakeman said. "They bore down through the sand and rock until they +think they're close to the oil. Then they blow out what rock and earth +remains, with nitro-glycerine. The well may be a 'spouter,' or they may +have to pump. Can't tell until after they fire the shot. I guess she's +going off!" he added quickly. "Look at 'em run!"</p> + +<p>"I've got my idea!" exclaimed Mr. Pertell. "We'll have a film of boring +for oil. That will fit in well with my big drama. Get the company +together, Pop," he said to the property man. "And, Russ, get ready to +film the shooting of the oil well."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THE RIVALS</h3> + + +<p>Though there was a rush of spectators away from the oil well it appeared +to be a false alarm, for nothing happened, and Mr. Pertell, who was +afraid the well would "spout" before he could get his company of players +on the scene, was relieved when he heard one of the workmen call:</p> + +<p>"False alarm. She isn't going off yet."</p> + +<p>"Now hurry and get around the well," urged the manager. "I want some of +you grouped near it when the oil spouts up."</p> + +<p>"Won't it be dangerous?" asked Mr. Sneed. "I don't want to be blown up +by nitro-glycerine."</p> + +<p>"You needn't get too close," returned Mr. Pertell. "I just want the +spouting well as a background."</p> + +<p>"It will be all right if you keep about thirty feet back," said one of +the well borers.</p> + +<p>"How do you shoot a well?" asked Paul, while Russ was getting ready his +camera.</p> + +<p>"By using nitro-glycerine," was the answer. "This explosive comes in tin +cans, about ten feet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> long and about five inches in diameter. We lower +these cannisters down into the iron pipe that extends to the bottom of +the well."</p> + +<p>"How deep?" queried Alice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, a well may run anywhere from three hundred to three thousand feet, +or even more. This one is about one thousand. We have about a hundred +quarts of nitro-glycerine down in the pipes now; but it hasn't gone off +yet."</p> + +<p>"Can you—er—tell me when it <i>will</i> go off?" asked Mr. Sneed, looking +about him nervously.</p> + +<p>"Any minute, if not sooner," replied the oil man, with a smile. "Oh, +don't run—you're safe here," he added, as Mr. Sneed began to move away. +At the same time Claude Towne, the "swell" of the company, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to stay here and get this new suit spoiled by the oil." +He was very careful of his attire.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the oil won't spray as far as this," the workman assured him.</p> + +<p>"How do they explode the glycerine?" asked Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"Well, the old plan used to be to drop an iron weight called a +'go-devil,' down on top of the cannisters containing the explosive. The +top can was fitted with a firing head, and when the iron weight hit +this, after a long fall, it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> explode, and the concussion would set +off the rest of the glycerine."</p> + +<p>"But this time we tried a new plan. We used a 'go-devil-squib.' That's a +sort of torpedo, holding about a quart of the glycerine, and it has a +firing head of its own. We drop that down the pipe and when it hits on +the top cannister it goes off, and sets off the rest of the explosive. +But, somehow, it didn't work this time. The charge missed fire, so now +we're going to drop down an old fashioned 'go-devil' and see what +happens."</p> + +<p>Mr. Pertell asked, and readily obtained, permission to make moving +pictures of the shooting of the well, and was also accorded the +privilege of posing his company at the scene when the well did "spout."</p> + +<p>"I'll have to think up some sort of a scenario to go with it," the +manager said.</p> + +<p>"Have some poor man get rich suddenly by striking oil on his land," +suggested Russ, "and then show what he does with his money. You can +easily get the later scenes."</p> + +<p>"Good idea—I will," exclaimed the manager. "We'll use this as the +first, or opening, scene in—let me see, we'll call it 'The Rise and +Fall of the Kerosene King.' How's that?"</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"All right. Paul, you'll be the king. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> you'll have to start as a +poor lad, and those good clothes won't do. Slip on a pair of greasy +overalls—borrow them from one of the men—then you'll look more +natural."</p> + +<p>Paul was soon fitted out as one of the oil men, and then, after a brief +rehearsal, the improvised drama was ready to be taken on the sensitive +film. A few preliminary scenes were made by Russ, and then, as word was +given that the iron weight was about to be dropped on the cans of +glycerine in the well-pipes, Mr. Pertell got his company as close to the +derrick as was safe. Then, while Russ clicked away at the camera, one of +the workmen called:</p> + +<p>"Let her go!"</p> + +<p>A man dropped the iron weight down the pipe and ran.</p> + +<p>"Look out, everybody!" he cried as he sprang away.</p> + +<p>"Are we safe here?" Mr. Sneed asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"You're all right," one of the workmen assured him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so nervous!" faltered Ruth.</p> + +<p>"No need of it," answered Alice, as she leaned forward to watch the +spouting of the oil from the well.</p> + +<p>There was a dull rumble beneath the surface of the earth. The ground +seemed to heave and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> shake. It trembled, and Miss Pennington and Miss +Dixon looked at each other with frightened eyes.</p> + +<p>"It—it's like an earthquake," observed Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look!" cried Alice.</p> + +<p>At that moment something like a dark cloud shot upward from the pipes +and spread out, plume-fashion. At the same moment the air was filled +with the rank odor of oil and gas.</p> + +<p>"She's a spouter! She's a spouter!" cried the men, in delight.</p> + +<p>"Cap her up!" came the command.</p> + +<p>But it was not easy to do at first, so great was the flow of oil, and +considerable had run to waste when the internal pressure of natural gas, +which forced out the oil, was reduced sufficiently to allow of the pipe +being capped, and the flow of petroleum regulated.</p> + +<p>All this time Russ had continued to get pictures of the novel scene, and +Paul, as the Kerosene King, went through the act that had been +improvised for him, the others of the company doing their share.</p> + +<p>"This will make a novel film," said Mr. Pertell in satisfied tones. "I +hope you got it all, Russ."</p> + +<p>"Every bit. I think the views showing the oil spouting up will be first +rate."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But what are you using two cameras for?" asked Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"Two cameras?" repeated Mr. Pertell, questioningly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there's a man over there with another machine," and he pointed to +a little hill, not far off, where stood a man working away at the handle +of a machine similar to the one Russ was using. And this camera was +pointed directly at the oil well and at the Comet players.</p> + +<p>"What does that mean?" cried Mr. Pertell. "I didn't order two films +made, and besides——"</p> + +<p>"That isn't one of our men!" interrupted Russ, as he sprang away from +his camera.</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" Mr. Pertell wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"It's one of our rivals. Someone from the International concern!" cried +Russ. "They've followed us to steal some more of our ideas!"</p> + +<p>"You're right!" shouted Mr. Pertell. "This will have to stop!"</p> + +<p>Together he and Russ, followed by Paul, made a dash in the direction of +the rival photographer. But the latter saw them coming, and hastily +picking up his machine he ran toward a clump of woods not far off. And +by the time his pursuers reached there he was not to be found, though +they searched about for some time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE CYCLONE</h3> + + +<p>"All aboard!" called the conductor of the way train that had been held +up to allow the shooting of the oil well. "All board!"</p> + +<p>"Come," summoned Mr. Pertell to his moving picture players. "We'll get +along now. That stop was a lucky one for us."</p> + +<p>The train could now proceed, all danger from the delayed charge in the +well being over. Just what had caused it to "hang fire" was never +learned. But the shooting of the well was a success, and as the train +pulled out, Paul having gotten rid of his borrowed clothes, the workmen +were seen hurrying about, taking care of the valuable flow of petroleum.</p> + +<p>"What do you make of the action of that International man?" asked Russ, +as he took a seat beside the manager.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what to make of those fellows," was the answer. "They must +be following us pretty closely; but I don't see how they knew we were +going to film the oil well."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They didn't know it," decided Russ. "They've had a spy on our trail, +following us; that's how it was done. You know we saw that fellow Wilson +looking at the destination marked on the baggage checks. He probably +sent word to the concern and they started out a camera man to follow us. +It would have to be someone we hadn't seen before, so of course Wilson +himself would not do, though I understand he can operate a machine +fairly well."</p> + +<p>"I guess you've got the right idea," agreed Mr. Pertell. "This fellow, +whoever he was, made inquiries and learned where we were headed for. +Then with his camera he simply kept on the same train with us."</p> + +<p>"And when we stopped here to get the oil well pictures," resumed Russ, +"he trailed along and set up his machine. He got all the benefit of our +players' acting and his company wasn't out a cent for salaries or +transportation. Of course he probably had as good a right to get +pictures of the well as we did."</p> + +<p>"But not to film my company!" exclaimed Mr. Pertell, with energy. "I +won't stand for that; I'll have a stop put to it!"</p> + +<p>"First I'm afraid we'll have to catch him," observed Russ. "He certainly +made himself scarce when we ran after him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, he isn't on this train, that's sure," went on the manager, "and +he'll have some trouble picking up our trail after this."</p> + +<p>"How's that?" asked Russ.</p> + +<p>"Why, I'm going to change our plans. We'll skip the next stop. I was +going to go up around the Great Lakes and make part of a drama there, +showing the effect the lakes and their trade had on the growth of our +country. Now I'll wait until we are on our way back from Rocky Ranch."</p> + +<p>"That will be a good idea," agreed the young camera operator. "Those +International people must be pretty hard put to it to steal your ideas."</p> + +<p>"They are," said Mr. Pertell. "They want to do me an injury. I had some +trouble with them years ago, and I won out in a lawsuit. Since then they +have been injuring me every chance they could get; but it really +amounted to little until lately. Now they are evidently getting +desperate, and they are using every means to make trouble for me."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll just have to be on the lookout for them at every turn," +Russ declared.</p> + +<p>Owing to the decision of Mr. Pertell that he would not, at this time, +take his company to the Great Lakes, a change in the route had to be +made. This necessitated stopping off for one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> night at a small country +town, where the company put up at the only hotel the place afforded.</p> + +<p>"What a miserable place!" exclaimed Miss Pennington, tilting up her head +when she entered the office with the others.</p> + +<p>"And such a horrid smell!" added Miss Dixon, as she stripped off her +long gloves with an air of being used to dining every day at the most +exclusive hotels. "I believe they are actually cooking—cabbage, Pearl."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, my dear! Isn't it awful! Can it be—cabbage?"</p> + +<p>"Yah! Dot's right!" exclaimed Mr. Switzer, rubbing his hands. "Dot's +cabbage, all right—sauerkraut, too. Goot!"</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" protested Miss Pennington, making a gesture of annoyance.</p> + +<p>"I am glat dot ve come here," went on the German. "I haf not hat any +sauerkraut—dot is, not any to mention of—since ve left New York."</p> + +<p>"Why, I saw you eating some the other day," laughed Paul, as the odor of +cooking cabbage became more pronounced from the hotel kitchen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I hat a leetle—yust enough to know der taste of it," agreed +the German, with a genial smile. "But I ain't really hat vot you could +call a meal of it."</p> + +<p>"You're like a man I heard of," said Russ,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> joining in the talk. "He was +a German farmer, I guess, and when his neighbor asked him if he was +putting away any sauerkraut that season the German answered: 'No, ve +ain't put none down to speak of dis season. Only yust seven or eight +barrels in case of sickness!'"</p> + +<p>"Goot! Goot! Dot vos a real German!" laughed Mr. Switzer.</p> + +<p>There was sauerkraut for supper that night, and the German actor +certainly ate enough to ward off any possible illness. And, in spite of +the rather homely character of the hotel, the meal was an excellent one, +and the moving picture players were more comfortable in the matter of +rooms than they had expected. About the only ones to find fault were +Miss Pennington, Miss Dixon, and Mr. Sneed. But they would have had some +objection to offer in almost any place, so it did not much matter.</p> + +<p>Plans were made for taking a train early next morning, to continue on +out West, but something occurred to delay matters, though it resulted in +the making of an excellent film.</p> + +<p>It was just before everyone was ready for breakfast when Ruth, thinking +she heard her sister's knock sharply on the door, opened it.</p> + +<p>Instead of confronting Alice, Ruth jumped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> back in terror as she saw a +bear standing upright in the hall opposite her door.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" she screamed as the beast put out his red tongue. "Help! A +bear! A bear!" and she slammed her door shut with such energy that she +knocked a picture from the wall. Ruth shot home the bolt, and then, in a +frenzy of fear, pulled the washstand against the door.</p> + +<p>"What is it? Oh, what is it?" cried Alice from her apartment across the +corridor. "What is it, Ruth?" for she had heard her sister's frantic +appeal, though not catching the words.</p> + +<p>"Don't open your door! Don't open you door!" begged Ruth. "There's a +bear in the hall!"</p> + +<p>"A bear?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a great big one!"</p> + +<p>But in spite of this Alice did open her door a little. She closed it +quickly enough, however, at the sight of the shaggy brown creature and, +pounding on the door of her father's room, which connected with hers, +she cried;</p> + +<p>"Daddy, get help, quick! There's a bear in the hall!"</p> + +<p>There was a speaking tube from the actor's apartment to the hotel +office, and he was soon transferring his daughter's message down this.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Mr. Sneed, coming out of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> room from the lower end of the +hall, encountered the beast, and turned back with a yell. He nearly +collided with Mr. Towne, who was at that moment coming out of his room, +faultlessly attired, even to a heavy walking stick.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" cried Mr. Sneed, racing along.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Mr. Towne.</p> + +<p>"A bear. Look out! Here he comes!"</p> + +<p>And, in fact, the bear was shuffling down the hall, his head lolling +from side to side, and his red tongue hanging out.</p> + +<p>Either Mr. Towne did not hear what Mr. Sneed said, or he was so +surprised that he did not think to run, for he stood there and, a moment +later, the big beast confronted him. Stretching out his paw the animal +took from the nerveless hands of the actor the heavy walking stick, and, +shouldering it, began to march around in a circle.</p> + +<p>Then the hotel proprietor, having been alarmed by Mr. DeVere, came up on +the run. As soon as he saw the bear marching around he broke into a +laugh.</p> + +<p>"That's a trained bear!" he exclaimed. "It belongs to that Italian who +stopped here last night. I made him chain the brute out in the wagon +shed, but I guess he got loose. That bear won't hurt you. I've seen him +before. Tony,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> the Italian who owns him, often stops here with him when +he's traveling around giving exhibitions. He's real gentle. Down, +Bruno!" commanded the hotel man, and the bear, with a grunt, dropped on +all fours.</p> + +<p>Alice, hearing this talk, opened her door, and then called to Ruth that +there was no danger. Mr. Sneed was induced to return, and when Tony +himself came to get his escaped pet Mr. Towne's cane was returned to +him. The bear had taken it for the pole he was used to performing with.</p> + +<p>"You want to chain your bear up tighter, Tony," chided the hotel man as +the Italian led Bruno away.</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes. Bruno, he ees a very bad-a-de bear! I wheep heem for dese."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't!" pleaded Alice. "He didn't mean anything wrong."</p> + +<p>"No, mees, but he very bad, just-a de same. He make-a you to be +a-skeert."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's all over now," declared Ruth, who ventured out, seeing that +the bear was in leash. "But I <i>was</i> frightened for a moment."</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you," said Paul, as he heard what had happened. "Rather +an unusual morning caller, Ruth."</p> + +<p>"Say! I've got an idea!" cried Mr. Pertell, who had come out by this +time. "We'll have a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> film with the bear in it. A sort of Little Red +Riding Hood story for children. Something simple, but it will be great +to have a real bear in it. Tony, will you let us use Bruno?"</p> + +<p>"Of a course, Signor. I make up for de scare. Bruno he do-a just-a +whatever you tell. He very good-a bear—sometimes!" and he shrugged his +shoulders, philosophically.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, we'll wait over another train, and I'll get up some +little scenario with a bear in it. Mr. Sneed, you will take the part of +the bear's keeper, and Miss Alice——"</p> + +<p>"No, sir!" cried Mr. Sneed. "No bears for me. I won't act with one. Why, +he'd claw me to pieces!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, no, Signor!" interrupted Tony. "Bruno he very gentle just-a like-a +de little babe. He no hurt-a you, Signor."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not going to take any chances," declared the "grouch." "This +is too dangerous."</p> + +<p>"Ha! I am not afraid!" cried Mr. Switzer. "I vill act mit der bear +alretty yet," and to prove that he was not afraid he fed the big animal +some pretzels, without which the German actor seldom went abroad.</p> + +<p>And, a little later, Russ made a film, in which the bear was one of the +central figures. Alice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> took part in it, and the simple little play made +quite a hit when shown.</p> + +<p>"You seem to have the happy faculty of making use of everything that +comes your way—accidentally or not," remarked Mr. DeVere to Mr. +Pertell, when the company was once more under way in the train.</p> + +<p>"You have to in the moving picture business," chuckled Mr. Pertell. +"That's the secret of success. You never can tell when something will go +wrong with a play you have planned carefully and rehearsed well. So you +must be ready to take advantage of every change in situation. Also, you +must be ready to seize on every opportunity that comes your way."</p> + +<p>"You certainly seized on that bear," agreed Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad he wasn't a wild one," went on the manager. "I am sorry your +daughters were frightened——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, pray do not mention it," the actor said. "They are getting used to +strange experiences in this moving picture work."</p> + +<p>"And I want to tell you they are doing most excellently," the manager +went on. "I have had many actresses of experience who could not do half +as well as Miss Ruth and Miss Alice. I congratulate you!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>Little of moment occurred during the rest of the trip; that is, until +the next stopping place was reached. This was at a place in Kansas where +Mr. Pertell planned to have some farming operations shown as a +background to a certain part in the big drama.</p> + +<p>On the way a careful watch had been kept for the appearance of the +spies, or camera operators, of the International company, but no trace +of them had been seen.</p> + +<p>There were no hotels in Fostoria, where the Kansas stop was made, and +the company was accommodated at two farmhouses close together. A number +of scenes were to be made, with these houses and outbuildings figuring +in them.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it nice here?" asked Alice as she and Ruth were in their room on +the morning after their arrival, getting ready for breakfast.</p> + +<p>"It does seem so," agreed the older girl, as she leaned over with her +hair hanging in front of her while she combed it out.</p> + +<p>"Such wide, open spaces," went on Alice. "Plenty of fresh air here."</p> + +<p>"Too much!" laughed Ruth. "Grab that waist of mine; will you, Alice? +It's going out of the window on the breeze."</p> + +<p>Alice was just in time to prevent the garment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> from fluttering out of +the room, for the breeze was certainly strong.</p> + +<p>As the younger girl turned back to hand her sister the waist she +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a queer looking cloud! And what a funny yellow light there is, +all about. Look, Ruth."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it?" agreed Ruth, as she coiled her hair on top of her head. "It +looks like a storm."</p> + +<p>Off in the west was a bank of yellowish clouds that seemed rolling and +tumbling over and over in their eagerness to advance. At the same time +there was a sobbing and moaning sound to the wind.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Alice. I think there is going to be a terrible storm," gasped Ruth +a moment later, suddenly realizingly that danger impended.</p> + +<p>Indeed the wind was rising rapidly, and the clouds increased in size. +Now confused shouts could be heard out in the farmyard, and some men +were running about, rounding up a bunch of cows.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" called Mr. Pertell, coming out on the side porch.</p> + +<p>"Cyclone coming!" answered the proprietor of the farm. "It's going to be +a bad one, too!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>AT ROCKY RANCH</h3> + + +<p>With a howl, a rush and a roar the storm was upon them. Never had the +moving picture girls or their friends ever seen, heard or imagined such +a violent wind.</p> + +<p>The sky was overcast with yellowish clouds, edged with black, which were +torn and twisted in swirling circles by the gale. The air itself seemed +tinged with a sickly green that struck terror to the girls' hearts.</p> + +<p>There was a crash that rose high above the howl of the wind, and someone +called:</p> + +<p>"There goes the roof off the corn crib!"</p> + +<p>Inside the house there were confused shouts and calls. The house itself +rocked and swayed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what shall we do?" sobbed Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Let's go out, before it falls down on us," cried Alice.</p> + +<p>Clinging to each other they made their way downstairs. Their father came +after them, followed by other members of the moving picture company.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is—is there any safe place?" faltered Mr. Sneed, as he look anxiously +about.</p> + +<p>"The cyclone cellar," answered one of the farm men. "All hands had +better take to that. We're out of the path of the worst of the +'twister,' but it's best to take no chances. To the cyclone cellar!"</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" asked Mr. Bunn, looking around the room, as though the +place of refuge were kept inside the house.</p> + +<p>"There!" cried the man, pointing to a small mound of earth, in which was +set a sort of trap door. "Go down in there!"</p> + +<p>A number of farm hands, as well as members of the family, were making +for this haven. It was a veritable cellar, covered over, and used for +just such emergencies. A flight of steps led down into it.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, Russ?" cried Ruth, as she saw the young operator +turn from the side of the porch where he had been standing.</p> + +<p>"For my camera!" he answered, shouting so as to be heard above the noise +of the wind. "I'm going to film this—too good a chance to lose."</p> + +<p>"But you—you may be hurt!" she faltered.</p> + +<p>"I'll take a chance," he replied, as he turned into the house.</p> + +<p>Into the cyclone cellar rushed the frightened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> members of the film +company, as well as the farmer's family and helpers. The wind was +howling and shrieking, and several crashes told of further damage being +done to the buildings.</p> + +<p>Russ, in spite of the commands of Mr. Pertell, set up his camera to get +pictures of a cyclone in actual operation. The bending, and in some +cases breaking, trees showed the great force of the wind, and the +unroofing and demolishing of small outbuildings gave further evidence of +the power of the storm.</p> + +<p>Russ took his position in an open spot, where he would be in less +danger, and got picture after picture, showing the retreat into the +underground place of refuge.</p> + +<p>The wind was so strong that he had to force the legs of his camera +tripod deep into the earth to prevent the apparatus from being blown +over.</p> + +<p>With a crash the roof of one of the smaller barns was sent sailing far +away in the air, and Russ got a fine view of this, though he narrowly +escaped being hit by a piece of wood.</p> + +<p>"Russ, come in here!" called Mr. Pertell, through a crack in the trap +door of the cyclone cellar. "I forbid you to risk your life any +further."</p> + +<p>"Just a minute!" begged the operator.</p> + +<p>"Please come!" cried Ruth.</p> + +<p>"All right," he answered, and catching up his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> camera he took his place +in the cellar. And then, as suddenly as it had come up, the wind storm +died away. The sullen black and yellow clouds passed onward, and the sun +came out. Those in the cellar emerged.</p> + +<p>"Well, it might have been worse," the farmer said, as he looked about. +Considerable damage had been done, but his place, and that of his +neighbor, were out of the direct path of the cyclone, so the larger +buildings escaped. No one was hurt and after the excitement Russ went +about, making views of the demolished places, and of the standing grain, +which had been blown almost flat.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I'd like to live in Kansas," said Ruth as she +re-arranged her hair, tossed about by the wind.</p> + +<p>"Nor I," laughed Alice, in a similar plight.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we get used to it," remarked the farmer, with a laugh. Yet how he +could laugh as he surveyed the ruins of his buildings was rather +strange. "We don't get a 'twister' every day," he went on, "and we're +glad when we escape alive. A few shacks more or less don't matter. We +count on that. I'm sorry you folks got such a bad opinion of Kansas, +though."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll give her a chance to redeem herself," said Mr. Pertell. "I +guess we'll have to change some of our plans."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, don't let this storm hinder you," urged the farmer. "We won't have +another in a couple of years. Once a cyclone sweeps over a place we feel +relieved. It doesn't often pay a return visit."</p> + +<p>He and his men were soon busy taking an account of the damage done +which, fortunately, was not as great as seemed at first. One cow had +been killed, but the farmer remarked, philosophically, that anyhow he +was to have sent her to the butcher shortly.</p> + +<p>There was a little delay in making the moving pictures, but finally the +work of getting out the films was under way, and, if anything, the storm +rendered them more effective. Russ was able to work in the views he took +of the cyclone, and altogether the drama that was made in Kansas was +quite a success.</p> + +<p>Once again the players were on their way, and this time they were not to +stop until they reached Rocky Ranch, unless something occurred to make +it necessary.</p> + +<p>The remainder of the trip was uneventful, if we may except a slight +accident by which the train was derailed. No one was hurt, however, and +it gave Russ a chance to make a little film.</p> + +<p>Then, late one afternoon, the party of moving picture players with their +properties and baggage reached the station of Altmore, the nearest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +railroad point to Rocky Ranch. The station was little more than a water +tank, and there was not much of a town.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a dreary place!" complained Miss Pennington, as she and her +friend Miss Dixon surveyed the scene.</p> + +<p>"The end of nowhere," agreed the other. "We shall die of loneliness +here."</p> + +<p>"I guess it will be lively enough for you out at the ranch," said Mr. +Pertell. "But I don't understand why the wagons aren't here to meet us."</p> + +<p>"There's something coming down the road," said Russ, pointing to a cloud +of dust.</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed the manager.</p> + +<p>The dust cloud drew nearer, and then from the center of it could be +heard an excited shouting and yelling, and the galloping of horses. +Added to these were the sharp reports of revolvers.</p> + +<p>"Something has happened!" cried Mr. Sneed.</p> + +<p>"Something <i>is</i> happening!" corrected Paul, while Mr. Bunn looked about +for a safe retreat.</p> + +<p>"Hi! Yi!" were the yells coming from the dust cloud, as the shooting +increased. "Hi! Yi!"</p> + +<p>"It's an Indian attack!" gasped Miss Pennington. "Oh, where can we +hide?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>SUSPICIONS</h3> + + +<p>On came that rushing, swirling, swaying dust-cloud, and out of it +continued to come those nerve-racking shouts, yells and shrill screams, +accompanied by a fusillade of pistol shots.</p> + +<p>"Can anything have occurred to gain us the anger of any of the +inhabitants of this place?" asked Mr. DeVere, as he looked about +apprehensively, and then at his daughters.</p> + +<p>"It sounds like a lot of cowboys," spoke Alice. "At least I've read +that's how they act when they paint the town red."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Alice!" cried Ruth. "What language!"</p> + +<p>"I used it merely in the technical sense," was the retort. "I believe +they do not actually use red paint."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what shall we do? What shall we do?" cried Miss Pennington.</p> + +<p>"I'm going back to New York at once!" sobbed Miss Dixon. "Make that +train come back!" she cried to the lone station agent, who,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> with a set +grin on his face, was looking alternately from the group of picture +players to the approaching dust cloud that concealed so many weird +noises.</p> + +<p>But the train was far down the track.</p> + +<p>"We must do something!" insisted Mr. Sneed, nervously pacing up and +down. "We men must organize and protect the ladies. I think we had +better get inside the station and try to hold it against the savages. +Pop, you have some guns in the baggage; have you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yep!" answered the property man; "but they ain't loaded, and before we +could git 'em out those fellers will be here."</p> + +<p>"Well, we must protect the ladies at any cost!" insisted Mr. Sneed. +"Come with us, we will protect you!" he shouted as he hurried inside the +little shed that answered for the station. Probably he wanted to go +first to prepare the place for the others. At any rate he was first +inside.</p> + +<p>"Whoop-ee!"</p> + +<p>"Ki-yi!"</p> + +<p>"Rah!"</p> + +<p>"Bang! Bang! Bang!"</p> + +<p>That is the way it sounded. The noise grew louder. The dust-cloud was at +the station now. And then, with a fusillade of shots that was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> well-nigh +deafening, the cause of it all came to a sudden stop.</p> + +<p>The dust settled and blew away. The cloud parted to reveal several +wagons drawn by small but muscular horses. Surrounding the vehicles were +half a score of cowboys of the regulation type, save that they did not +wear the "chaps," or sheepskin breeches, so often seen in moving picture +depictions of the "wild west." Probably the weather was too hot for +them, or these cowboys may have gotten rid of them because the garments +figured so often in the "movies."</p> + +<p>"Cowboys!" cried Russ, with a laugh. "And we thought they were going to +attack us!"</p> + +<p>"It's one on us, all right," spoke Paul.</p> + +<p>"But I have often read of cowboys going on a—on a rampage, I believe it +is called—or is it stampede?" asked Miss Dixon, as she stood behind +Paul.</p> + +<p>"Rampage is right," he informed her.</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe that's what they're on now, and they will shoot us after +all," she resumed. "Oh, there's one looking right at me!" and she +covered her face with her be-ringed hands.</p> + +<p>"Probably he hasn't seen a pretty girl in a long time," said Paul, for +Miss Dixon was pretty, in a way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" she exclaimed again—and took down her hands.</p> + +<p>"And one of them is loading his pistol!" cried Miss Pennington. "Oh, +dear!"</p> + +<p>"I guess they'll have to load up all around after the shots they fired," +laughed Russ. "I wonder what in the world it's all about, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>He learned a moment later.</p> + +<p>One of the cowboys, evidently the leader, rode his fiery little horse up +to the station platform, and taking off his broad-brimmed hat with a +flourish and a bow, asked:</p> + +<p>"Is this the moving picture outfit?"</p> + +<p>"It is," said Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>"I reckoned that I'd read your brand right," the cowboy went on. +"Welcome to Rocky Ranch!"</p> + +<p>"But where is it?" asked Alice, and then she blushed at her own +boldness, for the glance of the half-score of cowboys was instantly +drawn in her direction, and bold admiration shone in their eyes.</p> + +<p>"It isn't far from here, Miss," was the answer. "It lies just over that +little rise. You can't see it. We've come to take you out there. That's +why we brung the wagons, and some of the boys thought they'd like to +ride in and see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> you, seein' as how the round-up is over and we ain't so +terrible rushed with work."</p> + +<p>"We heard you coming," said Mr. Pertell. "Some of the ladies were a +little apprehensive."</p> + +<p>"I don't quite get you," spoke the cowboy.</p> + +<p>"I say some of the ladies were a bit timid on account of the firing."</p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks! That ain't nothin'! The boys was feelin' a little bit +frisky, I reckon, and they maybe did let out a few whoops. But land love +you! Mustn't mind a little thing like that. Still, if it's goin' to +cause any uneasiness among the females, why I'll tell the boys to cut +out all——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, really we don't mind it!" declared Alice, impulsively, and +again she blushed as the broadside of eyes was trained in her direction.</p> + +<p>"Do be quiet!" whispered Ruth. "I don't know what they'll think of you," +and she adjusted her dainty lace cuffs, brushing some engine cinders +from them.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," Alice retorted, "if they're going to be cowboys let them +be natural."</p> + +<p>The same thought must have been in the mind of Mr. Pertell, for he said:</p> + +<p>"Don't put yourselves out on our account, gentlemen. We don't want you +to change your ways or customs just because we have come. We want to get +moving pictures of the ranch and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> cowboys, and we want them true to +life. The ladies will soon get used to the firing. We have gone through +worse things than that."</p> + +<p>"Well, I sure am glad to hear you say so," was the hearty response. "You +see it's jest plumb natural for a cow-puncher to shoot off his gun, and +it would come a bit hard to stop. But I reckon the boys has had enough +for to-day. Now, who's the boss of this outfit?"</p> + +<p>"I guess I am," replied Mr. Pertell. "I'll introduce you to the +different ones when I get a chance. Just now I think we are all anxious +to get to the ranch."</p> + +<p>"All right, jest as you say. My name is Batso—Pete Batso, and I'm +foreman of Rocky Ranch. The Circle and Dot is our brand—you can see it +on the ponies," and he showed on the flank of his mount a circle burned +in the hide—a circle in the center of which was a dot. Each ranch owner +brands, with a hot iron, all his cattle, that he may pick out his own +when they mix with another bunch at the grazing. Each ranch has a +different brand, and they consist of simple marks and symbols, each one +being properly registered in case of lawsuits.</p> + +<p>"Now then," went on Foreman Pete, "if you're ready we'll start. The boys +will stow away your traps in one of the wagons, and if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> you'll +distribute yourselves in the other wagons we'll git along. I could have +brought horses for all of you, but I wasn't sure how many could ride."</p> + +<p>"Very few of us do, I'm afraid," observed Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>"But I'm going to learn!" exclaimed Alice, promptly, and this time, when +the eyes were turned toward her, she smiled back at the owners thereof.</p> + +<p>"I'll be very pleased to show you how, Miss," declared the foreman, with +a low bow to the girl. Alice blushed, and Ruth looked annoyed; but Mr. +DeVere smiled indulgently. He understood Alice.</p> + +<p>Trunks, valises and the various properties Pop Snooks had provided for +the different plays were put in the wagon and then in the other vehicles +the players themselves took their places.</p> + +<p>"All ready?" asked Pete Batso.</p> + +<p>"All ready," answered Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>"Let her go!" cried the foreman, and the cavalcade started off to the +whooping and yelling accompaniment of the cowboys, though this time they +did not fire their revolvers.</p> + +<p>The pace was fast. In fact, everything out in the West seemed to be +fast. No one walked who could, by any means, get a horse, and the +horses,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> or cow ponies, seemed to be always on the trot or gallop when +they were not standing still. A slow walk seemed to be the one thing +they could not do. Even the teams attached to the wagons were off at the +same fast pace.</p> + +<p>It was a little breathless at first, but the players soon became used to +it, and liked it. The rapid motion made a cooling breeze.</p> + +<p>Rocky Ranch was located in a fine part of the country. The land was +rolling, with occasional wide, level stretches. About two miles away was +a timber belt, through which ran a stream of good water, and about eight +miles to the west was a chain of hills, reaching finally into mountains, +with an occasional <i>mesa</i>, or flat, table-like, isolated hill.</p> + +<p>The ranch owner, Mr. Haladay Norton, possessed many cattle, which roamed +about his broad acres. There were a number of ranch buildings, and +accommodations for all the players, as well as for the necessary help in +the line of cowboys. In fact, it was one of the largest and best ranches +in that part of the country, which is the reason Mr. Pertell selected it +for his purposes.</p> + +<p>For some time, as the players rode along with the cowboy escort, they +saw no signs of habitation. Off in the distance were dark moving +bunches, that the foreman said were some of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> Rocky Ranch cattle, and +farther off could be seen the foothills.</p> + +<p>Then, as the dust blew away, and the cavalcade topped a little rise, +they all saw, nestled in a sort of hollow, or swale, a group of red +buildings.</p> + +<p>"There you are!" cried Pete Batso, pointing with gloved hand toward the +collection. "That's Rocky Ranch, and I kin smell supper cookin' right +now."</p> + +<p>"Some nose you got!" observed a blue-eyed cowboy riding close to the +wagon containing Alice and Ruth.</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Bow Backus; but I kin, all the same," asserted Pete. +"We call him Bow Backus because he's got such crooked legs, from ridin' +a horse so much," the foreman explained in a low voice to Mr. DeVere, +who sat with his daughters. "Most every cow-puncher gets bow-legged +after a while, but Backus is the worst I ever see. You could almost roll +a barrel through him when he stands up. That feller next to him is Baldy +Johnson," he went on. "His head is like a <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'billard'">billiard</ins> ball, or an ostrich +egg. He's tried all the hair restorers on the market; but they don't do +no good. He'll ask you if you ever heard of one he ain't tried, as soon +as he gets on speakin' terms with you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What odd characters," observed Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Aren't they? But delightfully quaint—I like them!" her sister +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, so do I. It's so different from what we've seen. I know we shall +have fine times out here."</p> + +<p>A little later the cowboy whom the foreman had designated as Baldy +Johnson, spurred up beside the wagon in which Mr. Bunn rode. The actor +had taken off his hat, and his rather thick and heavy hair was blown +about.</p> + +<p>"Whoop-ee! Look at that!" cried Baldy, in evident admiration. "I say, no +offense, stranger," he went on, "but what brand do you use?"</p> + +<p>"Brand?" queried the actor, much puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Yes. What sort of stuff do you use on your hair? You've got a fine +bunch there. I'd like to get next. Look at me!" and he pulled off his +hat and showed a head shiny and bald.</p> + +<p>"I—I don't use any," faltered Mr. Bunn, for he saw the cowboy taking a +revolver from its holster, and the actor evidently thought he was to be +"held up" then and there, and perhaps scalped.</p> + +<p>"Too bad. I wish you did, and could tell me what to use," sighed Baldy, +and then, with a whoop he raised his gun in the air and fired.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +Instantly all the other cowboys were doing the same thing, as their +horses broke into a fast gallop. Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon +screamed, but they need have had no fears, for it was but a repetition +of the scene at the station. The cow-punchers were merely celebrating +their return to the ranch.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you all," Mr. Norton, the owner, greeted them as he came +out to welcome the party. He had met Mr. Pertell in Chicago, where +arrangements for the use of the ranch had been made.</p> + +<p>Introductions were soon over, and then, under the direction of Mrs. +Norton, who proved to be a motherly, home-like sort of person, the +ladies of the company were taken to their quarters, and the men shown to +theirs.</p> + +<p>"You won't find marble halls and electric elevators here," laughed the +ranch owner. "In fact, everything's on the ground floor; but you'll find +some comforts. I want you to have a good time while you're here. You'll +find us a bit rough, perhaps; but you'll find us ready to do our best +for you."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it," agreed Mr. Pertell, heartily.</p> + +<p>The players had scarcely removed the dust of travel, and freshened +themselves, before the mellow notes of a gong sounded through the air,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +and at the same time a strident voice cried;</p> + +<p>"Glub leady! Glub leady!"</p> + +<p>"What in the world is that?" asked Alice.</p> + +<p>"That's the Chinese cook, Ling Foo, announcing that grub, or supper, is +ready," replied Mr. Norton, with a laugh. "This way to the dining room."</p> + +<p>As the company, the members of which were to eat by themselves, filed +out, Russ, who was walking beside Mr. Pertell, saw a familiar looking +box on a bench.</p> + +<p>"Look!" he exclaimed to the manager.</p> + +<p>"A moving picture camera!" was the surprised comment. "Is that one of +yours left out by mistake?"</p> + +<p>"No, mine are in the room with the other props."</p> + +<p>"<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'But's'">But</ins> that's a camera, sure enough, though the lens has been taken off. I +wonder how that got here," and he looked anxiously at the young +operator.</p> + +<p>"I'll ask Mr. Norton," Russ volunteered, and, as the ranch proprietor +came along at that moment, Russ had his chance.</p> + +<p>"That? Oh, that belongs to a new man I hired the other day," said the +ranchman.</p> + +<p>"What sort of a man is he?" asked Mr. Pertell, suspiciously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, not as good a sort as I thought he was. He knows a little about +cow-punching; but not much. Still, I was short of help and had to put +him on."</p> + +<p>"What—what does he do with that?" asked Russ, pointing to the camera +out on the bench.</p> + +<p>"That? Oh he says that's an electric battery. He uses it for rheumatism; +but I haven't seen him work it yet. He said it was out of order, and +he's tinkering with it the last few days. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I was just—just wondering," returned Russ, evasively.</p> + +<p>Then, as he passed on to the dining room, he saw, through a window, a +man hurry up to the bench and remove the camera. Russ could not recall +ever having seen this man.</p> + +<p>"There's something queer about this," said Mr. Pertell to his operator. +"What would a cowboy be doing with a moving picture camera?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>AT THE BRANDING</h3> + + +<p>Russ did not answer for a moment, but kept on beside the manager through +the long corridor that led to the dining hall. Then, just as the two +entered the room, Russ said:</p> + +<p>"I reckon, as they say out here—I reckon, Mr. Pertell, that you're +thinking the same thing I am."</p> + +<p>"What's that, Russ?"</p> + +<p>"That maybe those International fellows are still on our trail."</p> + +<p>"That's what I do think, Russ. Though how they got out here ahead of us +is more than I can tell."</p> + +<p>"It would be easy enough. They learned we were coming here, and just +took a short cut. We've been on the road quite a while."</p> + +<p>"That must be it, Russ. But you say you had a glimpse of the fellow who +took the camera off the bench. You didn't know him; did you?"</p> + +<p>"Never saw him before, as far as I could tell. But there are a lot of +camera operators nowadays, so that isn't strange. The International firm +could hire anyone and send him on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> here to try and steal some of the +scenes we're depending on. He could pose as a cowboy, too."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll just have to be on our guard, Russ. It won't do to let them +get ahead of us. There's too much at stake."</p> + +<p>Nothing was said to the players of the suspicions of Russ and Mr. +Pertell. They wanted to wait and see what happened.</p> + +<p>Though the meal at Rocky Ranch was served without any of the elegance +which would have been expected at a hotel, the food was of the best, and +there was plenty of it.</p> + +<p>"Ah, again sauerkraut!" cried Mr. Switzer, as he saw a steaming dish +brought on the table, topped with smoking sausages. "Dot is fine alretty +yet!"</p> + +<p>"Disgusting!" scoffed Miss Pennington, turning up a nose that in itself +showed a tendency to "tilt."</p> + +<p>There was time, in the twilight that followed supper, for the players to +look about the buildings at Rocky Ranch. All the structures, as Mr. +Norton had said, were of only one story. There were broad verandas on +most of them and in comfortable chairs one could take one's ease in +delightful restfulness.</p> + +<p>There was a bunk-house for the cowboys, and a separate living apartment +for the Chinese cook<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> and his two assistants, for considerable food was +required at Rocky Ranch, especially with the advent of the film players.</p> + +<p>The cowboys, their meal over, gathered in a group and looked curiously +at the visitors. The novelty of seeing the pretty girls and the +well-dressed men appealed to the rough but sterling chaps who had so +little to soften their hard lives.</p> + +<p>Nearly every one of them smoked cigarettes, which they rolled skillfully +and quickly.</p> + +<p>"Give us a song, Buster!" one of the cowboys called to a comrade. "Tune +up! Bring out that mouth organ, Necktie!"</p> + +<p>"What odd names!" remarked Alice to Pete Batso, who constituted himself +a sort of guide to Ruth and her sister.</p> + +<p>"They call Dick Jones 'Buster' because he's a good bronco trainer, or +buster," the foreman said. "And Necktie Harry got his handle because +he's so fussy about his ties. I'll wager he's got <i>three</i>, all +different," and the foreman seemed to think that a great number.</p> + +<p>"You should see our Mr. Towne," laughed Paul, who had joined the girls. +"I guess he must have thirty!"</p> + +<p>"Thirty!" cried Pete. "What is he—a wholesale dealer?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty nearly," admitted Paul.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Say, Pete!" called one of the cowboys, "can't some of them actor folks +do a song and dance?"</p> + +<p>The foreman looked questioningly at Alice, with whom he was already on +friendly terms because of her happy frankness.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid that isn't in our line," she said.</p> + +<p>"I'll do that little sketch I did with Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon," +offered Paul, who had been in vaudeville. "I've got my banjo and——"</p> + +<p>"Ki-yi, fellows! We're going to have a show!" yelled Bow Backus. "Come +on!" and he fired his revolver in the air.</p> + +<p>Ruth jumped nervously.</p> + +<p>"Here, cut that out!" ordered the foreman to the offending cowboy. "Save +your powder to mill the cattle."</p> + +<p>"I begs your pardon, Miss," said the cowboy, humbly. "But I jest +couldn't help it—thinkin' we was goin' to have a little amusement. It's +been powerful dull out here lately. Nothin' to do but shoot the queue +off Ling Foo."</p> + +<p>"Oh! you don't do that; do you?" gasped Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Don't mind him, Miss," said the foreman, "he's jokin'."</p> + +<p>Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon were only too willing to show their +talents to the apprecia<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>tive audience of cowboys, and with Paul, who +played the banjo, they went through the little sketch, with a side porch +as a stage, and the setting sun as a spotlight.</p> + +<p>There were ample sleeping quarters at Rocky Ranch, though the bedrooms +were rather of the camp, or bungalow, type. But there was hot and cold +water and this made up for the lack of many other things.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you're going to like it here, Alice?" asked Ruth as they +sat in the room they were to share. Ruth was manicuring her nails, and +Alice was combing her hair.</p> + +<p>"Like it? Of course I'm going to like it. Aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it's—er—rather—rough," she hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but it's all so real! There's no sham about anything. They take you +for just what you are worth out here, and not a cent more. There's no +sham!"</p> + +<p>"No, that's true. But everything seems so—so different."</p> + +<p>"I know—there isn't romance enough for you. You'd like a horseman to +wear a suit of armor, or come prancing up in a top hat and shiny boots. +But these men, in their rough clothes and on their scraggy-looking +ponies, can <i>ride</i>. I saw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> some of them just before supper. They can +ride like the wind and pull up so short that it's a wonder they don't +turn somersaults. I'm going to learn to ride that way."</p> + +<p>"Alice, you're not!"</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe not so well, of course," the younger girl admitted, as she +finished braiding her hair for the night. "But I'm going to learn. I'll +have to, anyhow, as I'm cast for a riding part in several scenes, and so +are you."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I suppose I'll have to. But I hope I will get a gentle +horse."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Pete will see to that."</p> + +<p>"Pete? Do you call him by his first name so soon?" asked Ruth rather +shocked, as she shook out her robe, and ran a ribbon through the neck.</p> + +<p>"Everyone calls him Pete; why shouldn't I?" laughed Alice. "He's awfully +nice—and he's been married three times!"</p> + +<p>"Did you ask him that?"</p> + +<p>"No, he told me. He asked me if I'd ever been 'hooked up,' as he called +it."</p> + +<p>"Alice DeVere!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I couldn't help it. He meant all right. He's old enough to be our +father. Do you think daddy is quite well?" she asked, perhaps to change +the subject.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think the pure air out here is doing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> him good. His throat seems +much improved. Are those my slippers?" she asked, quickly, as Alice +thrust her pink feet into a pair of worsted "tootsies."</p> + +<p>"Indeed they are not. I just took these out of my trunk. There are yours +under your bed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, excuse me. I don't believe I shall need anyone to sing me to sleep +to-night," and she yawned comfortably.</p> + +<p>There were to be busy times at Rocky Ranch next day, for some cattle +were to be branded, or marked with the hot iron to establish their +ownership, and Mr. Pertell had decided to have some scenes of this, with +his own players worked in as part of the action.</p> + +<p>This had already been planned, and after breakfast there was a short +rehearsal of the players, while the cowboys were getting ready for the +branding.</p> + +<p>"Now we're ready for you," announced Pete Batso, who was in charge of +the cowboys. "Get your players in position. They're going to rope the +first critter now."</p> + +<p>The proper action for the scene was gone through by Ruth, Alice, Paul +and Mr. Sneed, and then one of the cowboys "cut out," or separated from +the rest, a young steer that had not yet been branded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Whoop-ee!" yelled the cow puncher as he hurled his lariat and pulled +the animal to the ground. Other cowboys quickly threw their ropes around +the fore and hind legs of the steer and then, with another rope around +the head, the creature was stretched out helpless, ready for the +application of the iron.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>A WARNING</h3> + + +<p>"Oh, doesn't it hurt them?" faltered Ruth, as creature after creature +was branded.</p> + +<p>"No, Miss, hardly at all," Pete Batso assured her. "You see they're used +to being roped, and we don't throw them as hard as it looks, onless it's +an ornery critter that wants to make trouble. And the hot iron doesn't +go in deep. It just sort of crimples up the hair, same as you ladies +frizzes your curls with a hot slate pencil—at least my second wife—no, +it was my third—she used to curl hers that way."</p> + +<p>Ruth had difficulty to keep from laughing.</p> + +<p>The branding was almost over, and the taking of pictures was nearly at +an end. Russ had obtained some good films, and the action was spirited.</p> + +<p>"Here comes a bad one," announced the foreman, as the cow punchers cut +out from the herd a big steer. "That's a vicious critter, all right!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, is there any danger?" asked Alice, for she and Ruth had finished +their work. Mr. Bunn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> and Paul were engaged in the final scenes, not far +from the place of the branding.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't worry. That critter won't get away from the boys," the +foreman assured her. "It's a steer that some of the other ranchmen +around here tried to claim for theirs. They changed the brand by burnin' +an arrow over our circle and dot. Now we've got to put our brand on +again. The steer knows what's comin', I guess."</p> + +<p>Indeed the animal did, for it resisted, for some time, the efforts of +the cowboys to separate it from the rest of the bunch. But finally it +was forced out into an open space, and there quickly roped and thrown.</p> + +<p>"Lively now, boys!" called the foreman. "We've got to clear out of here +right after this, and look after that bunch of critters by Sweetwater +Brook. I hear the rustlers have been after them. So get a move on."</p> + +<p>"What are rustlers?" asked Alice, who seldom let pass a chance to +acquire information.</p> + +<p>"Cattle stealers, Miss. Ornery, mean men who trade on the rights of +others. But we'll snub 'em if we get hold of 'em!"</p> + +<p>The branding of the big steer was quickly done and then the restraining +ropes were cast off so that it might get up. With a deep bellow the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +animal sprang to its feet. It stood still for a moment and then, with a +snort, it wheeled around and made straight for Mr. Bunn.</p> + +<p>For a moment the veteran actor stood still. Fortunately, some little +distance separated him from the steer. Otherwise he might have been +impaled on its short horns.</p> + +<p>"Run! Run!" cried Pete Batso. "Get out the way, and give the boys a +chance to rope him!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Bunn needed no second call. He sprang to one side, in time to avoid +a sweep of the horns, and started to run. The steer, evidently +connecting the actor with the recent branding, made after him, and then +began a chase that might have resulted seriously.</p> + +<p>"Stop him! Save me! Do something!" cried Mr. Bunn, as he raced about, +keeping just ahead of the angry steer.</p> + +<p>"Just a minute—we'll rope him!" cried the foreman. But the trouble was +that the cowboys nearest the scene had just pulled their lariat from the +branded beast and the ropes were not coiled in readiness for throwing. +The foreman himself had left his at the ranch house.</p> + +<p>On rushed Mr. Bunn. On came the steer, and only a little way behind the +actor. The distance was lessening every second.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He ought to be on a horse—then he wouldn't have any trouble," declared +the foreman. "Lively there, Buster—get that critter!"</p> + +<p>"Right away, Pete," was the answer as the cowboy coiled his rope for a +throw. Then, galloping his pony up behind the steer, Buster threw the +lariat over the head of the animal, and brought it with a thud to the +ground.</p> + +<p>"Oh, am I safe?" gasped Mr. Bunn as he sank down on some saddles that +had been removed from the horses.</p> + +<p>"You're all right now," Paul assured him. "But it certainly was a lively +time while it lasted."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Russ, who had not deserted his camera. "But why +didn't you run toward me while you were at it. I could have made better +pictures then."</p> + +<p>"Do you—do you mean to say you took a film of me running away from +that—that cow?" panted Mr. Bunn, who had lost his tall silk hat early +in the chase.</p> + +<p>"Well, I just couldn't help it," confessed Russ. "It was too good to +miss. I think I got most of it."</p> + +<p>"Where's Mr. Pertell?" demanded Mr. Bunn, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'tting'">getting</ins> up quickly. "I want to +see the manager <ins title="Transcriber's Note: this word omitted in original text">at</ins> once."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's the trouble?" asked that gentleman, as he came up.</p> + +<p>"I demand that you destroy that film of me being chase by a cow!" cried +Mr. Bunn. "I shall be the laughing stock of all the moving picture +theaters of the United States. I demand that that film be not shown. To +be chased by a <i>cow!</i>"</p> + +<p>"But it wasn't a cow, my friend," spoke the foreman. "It was a vicious +steer and you might have been badly hurt if Buster hadn't roped it in +time."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" asked Mr. Bunn.</p> + +<p>"It sure is!"</p> + +<p>"Well, er—then—perhaps after all, if it was as important as that, you +may show the film," conceded the Shakespearean actor, who had a large +idea of his own importance. "We might make it into some sort of a play +like 'Quo Vadis?'" he went on.</p> + +<p>"Hardly," said Mr. Pertell with a smile. "They didn't wear tall silk +hats in those days. But I'll change the script of this play to conform +to the chase. I'm glad you were not hurt, Mr. Bunn."</p> + +<p>"So am I. I thought several times that I felt those horns in my back."</p> + +<p>The vicious steer was held by the ropes until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> the company of players +had left the scene. Then it was allowed to get up and join the rest of +the bunch. By that time it seemed to have lost all desire to attack.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes a steer will come for a person that isn't on horseback," +explained Pete Batso. "You see, the cattle are so used to seeing mounted +men that they can't get used to anyone afoot. You want to get your +players mounted," he added to Mr. Pertell, who was a fair horseman, and +who was on this occasion in the saddle.</p> + +<p>"I guess I will," agreed the manager. "Some of the young ladies are +quite anxious to try it, if you have some gentle mounts."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I think I can fix them up. My boys will quarrel among themselves, +though, for the privilege of giving lessons to 'em. You see we don't get +much of ladies' society out here and we appreciate it so much the more."</p> + +<p>"I see," laughed Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>The next few days were given over to horseback practice on the part of +all the members of the moving picture company save Mrs. Maguire. She +declared she was too old to learn, and as she would not be required in +mounted scenes she was excused. But her little grandchildren were +provided with gentle ponies and taught how to sit in the saddle. Mr. +DeVere had ridden in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> youth, and the knack of it soon came back to +him, though he was a trifle heavy. Paul took to it naturally, and Miss +Pennington and Miss Dixon were soon able to hold their own, as was Ruth.</p> + +<p>But Alice was the "star," according to Baldy Johnson, who insisted on +being her instructor. She was an apt pupil, and he was a good and +conscientious teacher. In less than a week Alice was very sure of +herself in the saddle.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's simply great! It's wonderful!" she cried as she came back one +day from a gallop, with red cheeks and eyes that sparkled with the light +of health and life. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything!"</p> + +<p>"I am glad you like it," said her father. "It is good exercise for you."</p> + +<p>"I like it, too," declared Ruth, "but I'm not as keen for it as Alice +is."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I just love it!" cried the younger girl, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Now we'll begin some real Western scenes, since you can all ride fairly +well," remarked Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>"Fairly well—huh! She's a peach at it—that's what she is—a peach!" +cried Baldy Johnson, with a look of admiration at his pupil. Alice +blushed with delight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + +<p>During the days of horseback practice Mr. Pertell and Russ had been on +the lookout for any signs of activity on the part of their rivals in the +moving picture business; but nothing had happened. The man with the +other camera seemed to have disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Maybe they've given up," suggested Russ.</p> + +<p>"I hope so," agreed Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>A few days later several important scenes were to be filmed, and one +evening Alice, who was to have a large share in the acting, had her +horse saddled, and with Ruth and her father, accompanied by Baldy, set +off for a little gallop.</p> + +<p>"Let's go over to that <i>mesa</i>," suggested Alice, pointing to a big, +elevated hill, standing boldly and abruptly upright in the midst of the +plain.</p> + +<p>"No, I wouldn't go there," said Baldy, flicking his horse with the +reins. "That's a dangerous place, Miss. Best keep away."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE INDIAN RITES</h3> + + +<p>Alice glanced curiously at the cowboy. There seemed to be a strange look +on his face.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" she asked, adding in a half-bantering tone: "Is it +haunted?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Alice!" objected Ruth, shaking out her skirt so it would hang down +a little longer, for the girls rode side-saddle.</p> + +<p>"No, Miss, it ain't exactly haunted," replied Baldy. "But it ain't a +safe place to go—least-ways, not all alone."</p> + +<p>"But why?" persisted Alice.</p> + +<p>"Because that's a sort of sacred place—at least some of the Indians +from the reservation think so—and, though it's off their land, and +really belongs to Mr. Norton, them redskins come over, once in a while, +to hold some of their heathen rites on it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how interesting!" the girl cried. "I wonder if we couldn't see +them? Do they do a snake dance, and things like that?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, in a way," Baldy admitted. "But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> it ain't safe to go watch +'em. Them Indians are peculiar. They don't want strangers lookin' on, +and more than once they've made trouble when outsiders tried to climb up +there and watch. As I said, the Indians come from their reservation, +which is several miles away, to that place for their ceremonies. And +they come at odd times, so there's no tellin' when you might strike a +body of 'em up on top there, pow-wowin' to beat the band, and yellin' +fit to split your ears. So it's best to keep away."</p> + +<p>"Are the Indians really dangerous?" asked Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't s'pose they'd actually <i>scalp</i> you," replied Baldy, +slowly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how terrible!" exclaimed Ruth with a shiver.</p> + +<p>"They ain't got no right to come off their reservation," went on the +cowboy; "but they do it all the same. You see this place is pretty well +out of the way, and by the time we could get troops here to drive 'em +back, they'd probably be gone of their own accord, anyhow. So we sort of +let 'em alone. They don't bother us, and we don't bother them. Just keep +away from that hill, that's all, for it's so high you can't see the top +of it unless you climb up, and there's no tellin' when the Indians come +and go."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I should like to see some of those rites, just the same," declared +Alice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you won't go there; will you?" begged Ruth. "Promise me you +won't, my dear. Daddy, make her!"</p> + +<p>"I won't go <i>alone</i>, I promise you that," laughed Alice.</p> + +<p>"Of course with a party it might be all right," assented Baldy, "but +even then the Indians act rather hostile."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pertell will be sure to want some moving pictures of the Indians, +if he hears about them," said Mr. DeVere. "Better not tell him, or he +might run into danger—or send Russ."</p> + +<p>"Then we won't say a thing about it!" exclaimed Ruth, with such sudden +energy that Alice laughed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, we mustn't endanger <i>Russ!</i>" she said, mockingly.</p> + +<p>"Alice!" exclaimed Ruth, with gentle dignity, her face the while being +suffused with a burning blush. "I meant I didn't want <i>anyone</i> to run +into danger."</p> + +<p>"I understand, my dear. Oh, but isn't that sunset gorgeous?—to change +the subject," and she laughed at the serious expression on Ruth's face.</p> + +<p>The scene was indeed beautiful. The <i>mesa</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> seemed to be suffused by a +purple glow, while, farther off, the foothills, from which it was +separated by a level expanse, were in a golden haze. The <i>mesa</i> stood up +boldly, almost like some giant toadstool, save that the stem was +thicker. There was an overhang to the top, or table part, though, that +carried out the resemblance.</p> + +<p>"I should think that would be difficult of access," observed Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"There's an easy way up on the other side," returned Baldy. "The Indians +always use that side. It's a narrow path to the top."</p> + +<p>The cowboys, their work over for the day, were indulging in some of +their pastimes—rough riding, feats in throwing the lariat, jumping, +wrestling and the like.</p> + +<p>"Don't you want to go with them?" asked Alice of their escort.</p> + +<p>"No, Miss, I—I'd rather be with you," Baldy replied, simply, but he +blushed even under his coat of tan.</p> + +<p>"Now who's to blame?" asked Ruth in a low voice of her sister, as she +regarded her with a quizzical smile.</p> + +<p>"I can't help it if he likes me," murmured the younger girl.</p> + +<p>In fact both Ruth and Alice were favorites with all the cowboys, who +were always willing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> to perform any little service for them. The other +members of the moving picture company, too, were well liked; but Ruth +and Alice seemed to come first. Perhaps it was because they were both so +natural and girlish, and took such an interest in the life and doings at +Rocky Ranch.</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice were fast becoming adepts in the saddle. The other +members of the company, too, soon felt more at home on the back of a +horse, and Mr. Pertell allowed them to rehearse in the scenes where +mounted action was necessary.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bunn had one rather unlucky experience on a horse, and for some time +after that he refused to mount a steed, even going to the length of +threatening to resign if compelled to.</p> + +<p>The "old school" actor was rather supercilious in his manner, and this +was resented by some of the cowboys, who thought him "stuck up." They +therefore planned a little joke on him. At least, it was a joke to them.</p> + +<p>The horse Mr. Bunn had learned to ride was a steady-going beast that had +outlived its frisky days, and plodded along just the pace that suited +the actor. But there was, among the ranch animals, a "bucking bronco," +who looked so much like Mr. Bunn's horse that even some of the cowboys +had difficulty in telling them apart.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>A bucking bronco, it might be explained, is a steed who by nature or +training uses every means in its power to unseat its rider. The bucking +consists in the horse leaping into the air, with all four feet off the +ground, and coming down stiff-legged, jarring to a considerable degree +the person in the saddle.</p> + +<p>One day, just for a "joke," the bucking bronco was brought out for Mr. +Bunn to ride, when a certain film was to be made. He did not notice that +it was not his regular mount. The bronco was quiet and tractable enough +until Mr. Bunn settled himself in the saddle, and then, just as Russ was +about to make the film, the pony set off at a fast pace.</p> + +<p>"Whoa, there! Whoa!" cried Mr. Bunn, trying to halt the beast, and not +understanding what could have gotten into his usually quiet mount. +"Whoa, there!"</p> + +<p>"Give him a touch of the spur," called the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'mischievious'">mischievous</ins> cowboy.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pertell did not know what to make of the actions of his actor, for +the play called for nothing like that.</p> + +<p>"Shall I get that?" asked Russ, and before the manager could answer the +bronco began running around in a circle.</p> + +<p>"Yes! Get it!" ordered Mr. Pertell. "We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> can change the play to work it +in. It's too funny to lose."</p> + +<p>"Whoa! Stop it! Somebody stop him! I'm getting dizzy!" cried Mr. Bunn, +leaning forward and clasping his arms about the neck of the pony.</p> + +<p>By accident he dug the spurs lightly into the side of the beast, and as +this always made the animal buck, or leap up into the air, it now +changed its tactics.</p> + +<p>With legs held stiff it rose several feet, and came down hard. Mr. Bunn +was bounced up, and would have been bounced off had he not had that neck +grip. Again the bronco bucked.</p> + +<p>"Oh stop him! Stop him!" cried the actor.</p> + +<p>"Get every move of that, Russ!" called Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>But there was not much more to get, for with the next buck Mr. Bunn's +hold was loosened and away he shot, out of the saddle. Fortunately he +landed on a pile of hay and was not hurt beyond a shaking up. But Russ +got a good picture of the whole scene. The actor picked himself up, and +without a word started for the ranch house. Probably he suspected the +trick that had been played on him, and for some days after that he +refused to mount a horse, so Mr. Pertell had to make some changes in his +plans, as he did not care<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> to antagonize Mr. Bunn by insisting on his +taking part.</p> + +<p>And when the actor did again get into the saddle, he had his horse +branded on one hoof, as army horses are marked, so he could not again be +deceived.</p> + +<p>Life at Rocky Ranch was a delight to all the moving picture players, +though there was plenty of hard work, too.</p> + +<p>Of course it was impossible to keep from Mr. Pertell the story of the +Indians and their rites on the <i>mesa</i>, and he determined, before he left +the West, to get a film of them.</p> + +<p>"But you'll have to be careful, Russ, how you go about it," he said.</p> + +<p>"That's what I will," agreed the operator.</p> + +<p>It was about a week after this that Russ, Paul, Alice, Ruth and Mr. +DeVere were riding out toward the <i>mesa</i> to get some scenes in the +foothills, the two girls, their father and Paul being scheduled to go +through a little act by themselves.</p> + +<p>As they passed under the shadow of the eminence Russ looked up and saw a +thin wisp of smoke curling around the top.</p> + +<p>"Look!" he exclaimed. "I wonder if the Indians can be there now, doing +some of their snake ceremonies?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let's have a look," suggested Paul. "We've got lots of time. I'd like +to have a peep."</p> + +<p>"I would too!" exclaimed Alice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Daddy, will it be safe?" asked Ruth, for she saw that her father +seemed interested.</p> + +<p>"There are so many of us, I think so," he replied. "We will try it, at +all events. They can no more than tell us to go. I should very much like +to see what they do, and perhaps I can get some of their weapons or +musical instruments for my collection," for the actor had that fad. And +then, though Ruth was a bit timid about it, they turned toward the +elevated table land to see if the Indians were at their rites.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>PRISONERS</h3> + + +<p>"Russ, are you going to try to get a film?" asked Alice, as she saw the +young operator examining his camera.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of it," he confessed. "I guess I've got film enough to +get you people, and take about eight hundred feet of the Indians—that +is, if they'll let us."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we can make them believe the camera is some new kind of magic, +that will help them better than some of their own," suggested Paul. "One +of the cowboys was telling me the Indians come here to make magic or +'medicine' that they take back to the reservation with them, to ward off +sickness, bring good crops, and the like."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't run into danger, whatever you do," advised Mr. DeVere. +"We'll just take a look, if we can, and come away."</p> + +<p>"But I want a film," insisted Russ.</p> + +<p>They were nearing the <i>mesa</i>. The smoke on top was seen to be growing +thicker, but there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> were no other signs that the Indians were on top of +the peculiar, table-like formation.</p> + +<p>"Suppose they aren't there?" suggested Paul.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't come any of that Mr. Sneed business," laughed Russ. "Don't +cross a bridge until you come to it. I guess they're there, all right."</p> + +<p>"Who's that coming after us?" asked Ruth, as she turned in her saddle, +and indicated an approaching horseman, who was coming on at a gallop. A +cloud of dust almost hid him, and it could not be made out who he was.</p> + +<p>A little later, as he drew nearer, however, he was seen to be Baldy +Johnson. He waved his hat at them, his bald pate shining in the hot sun, +and called out:</p> + +<p>"Hold on! Where you goin'?"</p> + +<p>"Up to the <i>mesa</i>," answered Russ. "The Indians are there, I think, and +we want to see them. I want to get some pictures."</p> + +<p>The two girls expected Baldy to make an objection, but he merely said:</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess it'll be safe enough this time. I'll go along with you. +There's only a small party of them up there now."</p> + +<p>"Then you know the Indians are there?" asked Alice.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we got word at the ranch last night that they were on the way for +one of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> regular pow-wows. One of the boys was out looking up some +stray cattle and he seen 'em headin' for the <i>mesa</i>. But there wasn't +many, so I guess it'll be safe. I'll go along," and he glanced +significantly at the two big revolvers that hung from either hip.</p> + +<p>"But can you spare the time?" asked Alice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Miss. I'd make time, anyhow," and he smiled frankly at her. +That was one nice feature of Baldy's admiration. It was so open and +ingenuous that no one—not even Ruth—could take offense at it. "I'm on +a little round-up of my own, looking for signs of rustlers, and I +haven't any special office hours," he finished, laughingly. "So come +along. I'll take you by the easiest path."</p> + +<p>The ride around the <i>mesa</i>, to a point where it could be climbed, took +nearly an hour. During that time the girls and the others cast curious +glances at the top of the table-like elevation, but were not able to +detect any signs of the redmen. The little pillar of smoke, too, +disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Now for some hard work; but take it as easy as you can," suggested +Baldy, as they came to the trail that led up the slope.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we can never get the horses up that," objected Ruth, as she looked +at the elevation. "It's too steep."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Just leave it to the ponies, Miss," responded Baldy. "They know how to +make it easy for themselves and you. Leave it to them. I'll take the +lead, and you follow me. Take it easy!"</p> + +<p>It was not as difficult as it looked, once the horses were given free +rein. Baldy's pony seemed to have traveled the trail before and, on +inquiry, the girls learned that this was so.</p> + +<p>"When I'm sure I'm not goin' to run into a bunch of redskins I often +come up here," said the cowboy. "I can get a good view of the country +from this elevation, when I'm trying to locate a strayed bunch of +cattle."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it lonesome here?" asked Ruth, as she looked about her, and up +and down the trail. Indeed the scenery was wild and desolate, though +imposing in its grandeur.</p> + +<p>"Well, it ain't exactly the 'Great White Way' that Miss Pennington and +Miss Dixon talk so much about," chuckled Baldy. "There ain't no +skyscrapers except the <i>mesa</i> itself, and there's no electric lights."</p> + +<p>"But I like it, just the same!" cried Alice, impulsively. "I think it's +just great! This is the finest country in the world!"</p> + +<p>"It sure is, Miss," agreed Baldy in a low voice. "The Lord didn't make a +better," he added, reverently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>The trail became easier for a time, and then more difficult until, as +they neared the top, the girls were almost ready to give up and go back. +Mr. DeVere, too, was a little doubtful about continuing.</p> + +<p>"Suppose they drive us back?" the actor asked. "We would never be able +to negotiate a retreat safely down such a slope."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess it's all right this time," said Baldy. "But if it wasn't +that I'm sure there are only a few Indians here, I wouldn't have let you +come. Keep on. I guess you'll be all right."</p> + +<p>By dint of struggling the ponies covered the short remaining distance +and, a little later, the party found itself on the summit. They were +among a lot of stunted trees and straggling bushes, on top of the flat +expanse that stood so high above the surrounding country.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a view!" cried Alice, as she looked off to the west, toward +the foothills and mountains.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it?" agreed Ruth. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything."</p> + +<p>"But where are the Indians?" asked Russ, who was getting his moving +picture machine ready for work.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they're probably somewhere in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> middle of the place," said +Baldy. "It's about three miles across it, you know."</p> + +<p>They gave the horses a breathing spell, and then started slowly across +the table land. There was no smoke in sight now, and as far as could be +told from observation, they were alone on the plateau.</p> + +<p>"It's likely the Indians are getting ready to make their 'medicine,'" +said Baldy. "Now leave everything to me. I can speak some of their +lingo, so I'll do the talking. I'll tell 'em you have powerful +'medicine' in that picture machine of yours," he went on to Russ. "That +may stop them from taking a notion to throw stones at it."</p> + +<p>"Would they do that?" asked the young operator.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they might—there's not much counting on what an Indian will do, +especially at these ceremonies. But I'll fix it all right. Just leave it +to me."</p> + +<p>Though the top of the <i>mesa</i> was flat, it was only comparatively so. +There were little hollows and ridges, and when the riders were down in +some of the depressions they could not see very far ahead.</p> + +<p>They kept on, becoming more and more impressed with the wonderful view. +It was a new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> experience for the Easterners, and they appreciated it.</p> + +<p>"I guess it's going to turn out a false alarm," Russ observed, as he +shifted the weight of his camera.</p> + +<p>"No, they're here," returned Baldy, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"How can you tell?" Alice asked.</p> + +<p>"I can hear the stamping of their ponies. They're tethered just beyond +there—past that clump of trees." He pointed as he spoke, and, at the +same moment, from that direction came the whinny of a pony. It was +answered by Baldy's horse.</p> + +<p>"I thought so," said the cowboy, quietly. "They're here."</p> + +<p>"Good enough!" declared Russ. "Mr. Pertell will be pleased to get this +film."</p> + +<p>"You haven't got it—yet," remarked Paul, significantly.</p> + +<p>A little later they passed along a trail that led to a grove of small +trees, where a score or more of Indian ponies were tied. But of the +Indians themselves not a sign was to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Where are they?" asked Alice.</p> + +<p>"You'll soon find out," was Baldy's reply. "They're most likely in their +huts. They'll mine out in a minute."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<p>As he spoke they emerged from the clump of trees that served as a +stable, and there, in an open space, were nearly a hundred rude huts, +made of tree branches roughly twined together. Over some of them were +cowhides, tanned with hair on, while others were covered with gaudy +blankets.</p> + +<p>"There's where they stay while the ceremonies are going on," spoke +Baldy. "They're all in the huts now, probably, watching us."</p> + +<p>He had hardly finished before there were loud cries, and from the huts +poured a motley gathering of Indians. They were attired in very scant +costumes—in fact, they were as near like the aborigines as is customary +in these modern days. And most of them had, streaked on their faces and +bodies, colored earth or fire-ashes. Crude, fierce, and rather +terrifying were these painted Indians.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" faltered Ruth, as the savages advanced toward them.</p> + +<p>"Now don't be a bit skeered, Miss," said Baldy, calmly. "I'll palaver to +'em, and tell 'em we just come to pay 'em a visit."</p> + +<p>One Indian, taller and better looking than any of the others, stepped +out in advance and came close to the party of players, who had halted +their horses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>He spoke in short, quick, guttural tones, and looked from one to the +other, as if asking who was the spokesman.</p> + +<p>"I'll talk to you," said Baldy, and then he lapsed into the Indian +dialect. The two talked for a little while, and it was evident that some +dispute was taking place.</p> + +<p>At first, however, the voices were kept down, and each of the talkers +was calm. Then something the Indian said seemed to annoy Baldy.</p> + +<p>"Well, you just try it on, and see what happens!" cried the cowboy, +hotly. "If you think we're afraid of you it's a big mistake," and, +whether unconsciously or not, his hand slid toward the weapon on his +right hip.</p> + +<p>"What is the trouble? Are we not welcome here?" asked Mr. DeVere. "If +so——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they don't so much mind our coming, as I told 'em we had rights +here," replied Baldy. "But the trouble is they don't want us to go until +their ceremonies are over. They say it will spoil the magic if we come +and go so quickly, so they want to keep us here a couple of days."</p> + +<p>"As prisoners?" asked Paul, quickly.</p> + +<p>"That's about it," was the cowboy's laconic answer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE RESCUE</h3> + + +<p>Ruth and Alice gasped convulsively, and then urged their horses nearer +to their father's mount. Russ and Paul looked curiously, and a bit +apprehensively, at each other. As for Baldy, he sat confronting the +tall, thin Indian who had announced the ultimatum of his tribe.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" asked Russ of the cowboy.</p> + +<p>"Will we have to stay here?" Paul wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that would be impossible," objected Mr. DeVere. "I would not allow +my daughters to remain out over night."</p> + +<p>Baldy moved uneasily in his saddle.</p> + +<p>"I sort of got you into this trouble," he said, apologetically, "and I +guess I'll have to get you out. We'll have a talk among ourselves," he +went on. "Some of these fellows understand English, and it's just as +well to be on the safe side."</p> + +<p>Then, turning to the Indian, Baldy said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We go for pow-wow!"</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" was the answer. The Indian then made a sign to his followers, at +the same time calling something to them in a high-pitched voice.</p> + +<p>"What is he saying?" asked Alice, as she and the others moved off to one +side.</p> + +<p>"He's postin' guard so we can't sneak off, and go down to the plain +again," explained Baldy. "There's only one way off, and that's the way +we came. He's going to guard that way."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Ruth, apprehensively.</p> + +<p>"Now don't you go to worrying, little girl," said Baldy, quickly. "This +will come out all right. I got you into this mess, and I'll get you out. +There's a bigger band of the Injuns than I calculated on, though," he +added, ruefully, "and they're not in the best of tempers, either."</p> + +<p>"Is—er—is there any real danger?" ventured Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"No, I'm sure they won't do anything rash, even if they insist on +keepin' us here until their ceremonies are over," replied Baldy. "But +they won't do that, if I can help it."</p> + +<p>Some of the Indians went back into the huts, where they had apparently +been resting in preparation for the coming rites. Others moved off<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +toward the grove where the horses were tethered, evidently to mount +guard against the escape of their prisoners. Then the chief, if such he +was, went into a hut that stood apart from the others.</p> + +<p>Baldy led his friends to a secluded place, under the shade of a clump of +stunted trees, and then, after carefully looking about, to make sure +there were no listening Indians, he said:</p> + +<p>"Now we'll consider what's best to do!"</p> + +<p>"Would it be safe to do anything—I mean to try to get away by force?" +asked Mr. DeVere. "I certainly don't like the idea of being held a +prisoner by these Indians."</p> + +<p>"Neither do I," agreed Baldy. "It's the first time one of 'em ever got +the best of me, and I don't like it. Now I tried to talk strong to him +at first, and told him his crowd would get in all kinds of hot water if +they held us here."</p> + +<p>"What did he say?" asked Russ.</p> + +<p>"He didn't seem much impressed by my line of talk," confessed Baldy. "He +said this ceremony was one of the most important the tribe ever held, +and that it would certainly spoil it to have us go away now. He doesn't +want us here, and he says we mustn't be present at the time the magic +medicine is made; but, at the same time, he doesn't want us to go."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's strange," observed Alice.</p> + +<p>"Well, you can't tell much about Indians," Baldy went on. "They are +mostly queer critters, anyhow. Now, the question is: Do you want me to +go out there, and shoot 'em up, and——"</p> + +<p>"No, never!" cried Ruth. "You—you might be hurt."</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, there's a possibility of that," returned Baldy, calmly. "But +I reckon I could hurt a few of them at the same time. But it's bound to +muss things up any way you look at it. Though I might be able to clear +out enough of 'em so the others wouldn't bother you. I'm a pretty good +shot."</p> + +<p>"No, we must not think of that," declared Mr. DeVere, positively. "That +is too much of a risk for you, my dear sir. We will try some other line +of argument. If we make it plain that they will be punished for +detaining us perhaps they will think better of it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll give them another line of strong talk, and see what comes of +it," agreed Baldy. "I'll point out the error of their ways to them."</p> + +<p>"Tell them we can't—we simply can't—stay all night," said Ruth, +nervously pulling at her gauntlets. "Why, where could we sleep, and what +could we eat?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We brought along some sandwiches," Alice reminded her.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear, I know. But hardly enough, and as for sleeping with +those—those Indians about—— Oh, I couldn't shut my eyes all night. +Please, Baldy, tell them we <i>must</i> be let go."</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best," he responded. "But old Jumping Horse—that's the +chief—said we could have some huts off by ourselves, and they'll feed +us—such fodder as they've got."</p> + +<p>"It is an unfortunate situation," said Mr. DeVere, "but it cannot be +helped. We must make the best of it, and, after all, I suppose there is +really no great danger."</p> + +<p>"None at all, I guess, if we do as they say," agreed Baldy. "But I don't +fancy being kept here a week."</p> + +<p>"Do their ceremonies last as long as that?" asked Russ.</p> + +<p>"Often longer. Well, I'll go see what I can do, and then I'll come back +and report. Here, you keep one of those," and he handed a big revolver +to Paul.</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare hold that close to me!" cried Ruth, apprehensively.</p> + +<p>The result of Baldy's talk with Jumping Horse was not encouraging, as +the cowboy reported later.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You can't argue with an Indian," he said, gloomily. "He can only see +his side of the game."</p> + +<p>"Then he refuses to let us go?" asked Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"That's about it," was the moody answer. "He says we won't be bothered; +that we can have some huts to ourselves, away from the others, and that +we can have the best food they've got. Fortunately they came prepared +for a feast and as they've got mostly store victuals it may not be so +bad."</p> + +<p>"Then you advise submitting quietly?" asked Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"For a time, anyhow," replied Baldy. "But I haven't played all my hand +yet. I'm going to try and get away, or else bring a rescue party from +the ranch."</p> + +<p>"How can you do that?" asked Russ.</p> + +<p>"Well, I've got to plan it out. Now, of course I'm willin', as it was my +fault for bringin' you here—I'm willin' to go out and try to break +through their line of guards, if you say so."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" cried Alice. "Besides, it was as much our doing in coming here +as it was yours."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," agreed her father. "Don't think of it, my dear sir! Don't +think of it!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then we'll be as satisfied as we can," concluded Baldy. "And maybe +to-night, when they're at their ceremonies, we can sneak off."</p> + +<p>They agreed this was the best plan under the circumstances, and a little +later they were led by two or three Indians to a collection of huts that +seemed larger and cleaner than the others. A supply of food was also +brought for the prisoners, and, as it consisted largely of canned stuff, +that was clean also.</p> + +<p>The huts, which were really quite substantial wigwams, were apportioned +among the prisoners. Ruth and Alice received the largest and best one, +and their father had one by himself next to theirs. Paul and Russ +"bunked" together, for Baldy said he wanted to be free to come and go as +he liked.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to be on the watch," he said.</p> + +<p>"What's that big open place over there?" asked Russ, pointing to a +level, sandy circle surrounded by small huts.</p> + +<p>"That's where they have all the rites and ceremonies," explained Baldy.</p> + +<p>"Then that's just what I want!" went on Russ, with enthusiasm. "I can +poke a hole in the side of our hut, stick the lens of the camera +through, and get moving pictures of the whole business. That will be +great!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There is nothing but what seems to have some compensations," observed +Alice, in her droll way.</p> + +<p>Left to themselves, though doubtless they were closely watched by the +Indians, the prisoners made ready for their stay. They had brought along +a number of blankets, for they were to have been used in taking pictures +of the scenes of one of the dramas. Now the coverings would come in very +nicely if they were obliged to remain all night.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's eat," suggested Baldy. "It's most noon, and I'm hungry."</p> + +<p>"So am I," confessed Alice.</p> + +<p>It was not a very "nice" meal, but it was very satisfying, and certainly +everyone had a good appetite.</p> + +<p>The tin cans served as dishes, and their fingers were knives and forks. +Baldy carried on his saddle a simple camping outfit, one item of which +was a coffee pot, with a supply of the ground berry, and, making a +little fire, he soon had some prepared. They all felt better after that.</p> + +<p>Directly after noon the Indians went through some of their ceremonies. +They circled about the sandy place, to the accompaniment of wild and +weird yells, cavorting and dancing, weaving in and out and shaking all +manner of noise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>making contrivances. A fire was built in the center of +the circle, and there appeared to be some sort of sacrifice going on at +a rude stone altar.</p> + +<p>Russ, with his camera concealed in a hut, got a fine series of moving +pictures of all that went on. Then came more dancing and wild howling, +all meaningless to the prisoners, but doubtless of moment to the +Indians.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that one is doing a regular hesitation waltz!" cried Alice, +pointing to a tall, lank brave.</p> + +<p>"How can you say such things—at a time like this?" Ruth demanded.</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't I? Besides I've got an idea for a new step in the +hesitation from him. I'm going to practice as soon as I get back."</p> + +<p>All that afternoon the ceremonies kept up. At one time it seemed as +though the Indians would go wild, so frenzied did they become, and Baldy +thought it would be a good chance to see if he could not get past the +guards with his friends.</p> + +<p>But when he reached the trail that led off the <i>mesa</i> he found it +closely guarded, and he was ordered back.</p> + +<p>"No use," he said on his return. "We'll have to wait until night."</p> + +<p>But at night he succeeded no better, for though the ceremonies were kept +up by the light of many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> camp fires, the line of Indians on guard was +not broken, and it was impossible to get through it.</p> + +<p>"We'll just have to stay," announced Baldy.</p> + +<p>Ruth cried a little, and even Alice felt a bit gloomy as the shadows +settled down when the watch fires died out. But then their father was +with them, and he did not seem at all despondent, so their spirits rose.</p> + +<p>"This experience will be something to talk about afterward," Mr. DeVere +told them.</p> + +<p>During the night, when all seemed quiet, Baldy made another attempt, +hoping he and his friends could get away, by leaving their horses +behind. But the guards were on the alert.</p> + +<p>The night was not a comfortable one, and no one slept much; but the huts +and blankets were a protection. The Indians did not come near their +prisoners, and in the morning they furnished them food.</p> + +<p>Baldy tried again to argue with Jumping Horse and some of the others, +but it was useless. To all the cowboy's arguments, and even threats, the +reply was that if the prisoners left before the ceremonies were over all +the medicine and magic would be spoiled.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to stay, then," sighed Mr. DeVere. "But it will be out of +the question to remain a week—and you say that it will take that +long?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Baldy.</p> + +<p>"Help may come from the ranch before then," suggested Russ.</p> + +<p>"It will if I can do what I have in mind," declared Baldy, as he watched +a column of smoke ascending from the fire he had made to cook food for +his friends. "I've just thought of something. I can send up a smoke +signal. If Bow Backus at the ranch sees it he will know it means we're +here, and in trouble."</p> + +<p>"How can you make a smoke signal?" asked Alice.</p> + +<p>"Well, you use wet wood, to make a black smoke, and then you hold a +blanket over the fire a moment. When you take it away up goes a single +puff of smoke. Then you swing the blanket over the fire again, and cut +off the smoke. In that way you can make a number of separate puffs.</p> + +<p>"Bow and I have a signal code. If I can only get him to see this we'll +be all right."</p> + +<p>"It's worth trying," said Paul.</p> + +<p>That day the Indians went at their ceremonies harder than ever. They +were in a perfect frenzy, but the vigilance of the guards never relaxed. +There was no chance to escape.</p> + +<p>Russ, having nothing better to do, got many fine moving pictures through +the hole in the hut, and later the films made a great hit in New York.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +It was the first time these peculiar rites had ever been shown on the +screen. In fact, few white men had witnessed them.</p> + +<p>Baldy was waiting for a chance to send up his smoke signal, but it was +not until afternoon that he got it. Then, most of the Indians having +gone off to a distant part of the <i>mesa</i>, for some new ceremony, Baldy +made a thick smudge and he and Paul, holding a blanket over it, sent up +a number of "puff balls." Russ took pictures of the signalling.</p> + +<p>"There! If Bow only sees that he'll come runnin'!" Baldy cried.</p> + +<p>But the smoke signal was the cause of considerable trouble to our +friends. Hardly had Paul and Baldy finished sending the message, which +they could only hope was seen and read at Rocky Ranch, than some of the +Indians came back. They had noted what had been done, and they were very +angry.</p> + +<p>With furious gestures they rushed on the prisoners and for a moment it +looked as though there would be trouble. Baldy and Paul stood steadily, +revolvers in hand. But there was no need to use them. Jumping Horse +rushed up, and drove back his men. Then he said something angrily to +Baldy.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Mr. DeVere.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He says we shall be punished for making the smoke," was the answer. "I +don't know whether they think it's a signal or not; but it seems to have +been contrary to some of their ceremonies. We'll have to sit tight and +watch."</p> + +<p>Muttering angrily, Jumping Horse went back to join the other Indians, +and they seemed to hold a conference regarding the prisoners. Nothing +was done immediately, however, in the way of punishment, and a little +later the ceremonies went on.</p> + +<p>It was growing dusk, and the howling and yelling of the Indians +punctuated their caperings about a blood-red post in the center of the +sandy circle. Then, suddenly, there was a fusillade of pistol shots from +the direction of the trail, and at the same time the unmistakable shouts +of cowboys.</p> + +<p>"They're here!" yelled Baldy, jumping to his feet and firing his own +revolver in the air. "To the rescue, boys! Here we be!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>A RUSH OF STEERS</h3> + + +<p>Russ came bounding from his hut, carrying with him the moving picture +camera, its three legs trailing behind him.</p> + +<p>"Come on, girls!" he cried, as he saw Ruth and Alice peering from their +shelter. "It's all right!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, what does it mean?" asked Ruth. "Where's daddy?"</p> + +<p>"Here I am," answered Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"It's all right!" yelled Baldy, capering about, and vainly clicking his +revolvers, for he had fired all the cartridges in the cylinders. "It's +the boys from Rocky Ranch! They saw my signal and came to the rescue!"</p> + +<p>"That you, Baldy?" shouted a voice out of the cloud of powder smoke that +hid, for a moment, the cowboys from view.</p> + +<p>"That's who it is, Bow!" was the answer. "Could you read my smoke?"</p> + +<p>"I sure could, and we come a-runnin'. Are the girls safe?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Everybody's safe. But look out for yourself, these Indians are sort of +riled at us."</p> + +<p>From the group of Indians who had left their ceremonies, to rush toward +the huts of their erstwhile captives at the sound of the shots and +cheers, came deep-voiced mutterings. They were gathered in a group +around their chief, Jumping Horse.</p> + +<p>"Look out for 'em!" yelled Baldy.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry," advised Pete Batso. "They haven't any weapons."</p> + +<p>"Just my luck," groaned Russ, setting up his camera.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Alice, who now felt no alarm.</p> + +<p>"Too dark to get a picture, and I had a little bit of film left on a +reel. I might have got a dandy rescue scene; but now it's all up. Too +bad!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, you got some good ones," Ruth comforted him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but that would have completed the picture—'Captured By the +Indians.' However, it can't be helped. Maybe after all this <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'excitment'">excitement</ins> +is over we can get the Indians to pose for us. I'll tell Mr. Pertell +about it."</p> + +<p>The rescuing cowboys had drawn rein in front of the lined-up Indians, +near the huts of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> captives. There was a goodly squad of cow +punchers, and they seemed delighted to have been of some service to the +picture players. Some of them were reloading their big revolvers, for +they, like Baldy, in the excess of their spirits, had fired off <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'ever'">every</ins> +chamber. But no one had been hurt, for they merely shot in the air.</p> + +<p>"Well, you got here, boys, I see," remarked Baldy.</p> + +<p>"That's what we did!" cried Necktie Harry, who was flecking some dust +off the end of his gaudy scarf.</p> + +<p>"We saw your smoke talk about an hour ago," explained Bow. "First I was +sort of puzzled over it. I thought maybe it was the Indians, for I +calculate it was about time for them to be at their high jinks.</p> + +<p>"Then I caught the private signal you and me made up, and I says: 'By +Heck! Baldy's in trouble! Wasn't that what I said, Pete?" and he +appealed to the foreman.</p> + +<p>"That's what it was, Bow. Them's the very words you used. Says you: +'Baldy's in trouble,' says you. And then we come on the run."</p> + +<p>"And we <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'caluculated'">calculated</ins> we'd find the young ladies, and the rest of the +outfit here, too," went on Bow. "When they didn't come back to the ranch +last night we was all alarmed, and went off<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> to the place they were +goin' to make pictures. But there wasn't a sign of any trail there, and +we didn't know what to think. We never dreamed you'd be on the <i>mesa</i>," +he added to Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"I suppose we never should have come," admitted the actor. "It was on a +sudden impulse, and sorry enough we were for it, too."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but it all came out right," said Alice, trying to make herself look +a little more presentable, for a night and more than a day spent as a +prisoner in a little hut was not conducive to neatness of attire.</p> + +<p>"And Russ got some fine pictures of the ceremonies," added Ruth.</p> + +<p>"That's good!" cried Pete Batso. "When we started for here your manager +said he reckoned his operator would have made good use of his time."</p> + +<p>"We didn't know just what shape you was in," said Buster Jones, "only +Baldy's message didn't say any of you was killed, so we hoped for the +best."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it might have been worse," agreed Baldy. "Well, now, let's travel. +Did you have any trouble gettin' past their guard line, boys?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Nary a trouble," replied Pete. "We just rushed through before they knew +what was up."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>The captives were soon in the saddle again, and escorted by the cowboys +made for the trail down to the plain. There were more angry mutterings +from the Indians, but they made no effort to stop the retreat. Perhaps +they realized it would be useless.</p> + +<p>It was no easy matter descending the steep trail, but it was +accomplished without mishap, and finally Rocky Ranch was reached. And it +is needless to say that the captives were made welcome.</p> + +<p>A little later, in clean garments, and after a good meal, they told of +their adventures. The girls were quite the heroines of the hour, and +held the center of the stage, rather to the discomfiture of Miss +Pennington and Miss Dixon, who were in the habit of attracting all the +attention they could.</p> + +<p>"There's one picture I want very much to get," said Mr. Pertell, as he +sat with his players in the living room of their quarters one evening.</p> + +<p>"Name it," declared Mr. Norton, the owner, "and, if it's possible, I'll +see that you get it."</p> + +<p>"A cattle stampede," was the answer. "I want to show the steers in a mad +rush, and the cowboys trying to stop them. But I don't suppose you can +tell when one is going to happen."</p> + +<p>"No, you can't tell when a real one is about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> to take place," the owner +admitted, "but maybe we could fix up one for you."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I mean we could take a bunch of steers, start them to running, and +then the boys could come out and try to get them milling—that is, going +around in a circle. That stops a stampede, usually. We could do that for +you."</p> + +<p>"And will you?" asked the manager, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, if you want it. I'll speak to Pete Batso. He's had more +experience than I have. We'll get up a stampede for you."</p> + +<p>The cowboys entered into the spirit of the affair once it was mentioned +to them, and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'arragnements'">arrangements</ins> were at once made.</p> + +<p>As there might be some little danger of a refractory steer breaking +loose and injuring someone, the ladies of the company only took part in +the preliminary scenes.</p> + +<p>These included the beginning of the drama in which the stampede was to +play a principal part. It involved a little love story, and the lover, +Paul, was afterward to be in peril through the cattle stampede.</p> + +<p>The first part went off all right, Ruth and Alice acquitting themselves +well in their characterizations. Their riding had improved very much, +and they were sure of themselves in the saddle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, ladies," said Pete Batso, who was managing the cowboy end of the +affair, "if you'll get over on that little mound you can see all that +goes on and you won't be in any danger. We're goin' to stampede the +cattle now!"</p> + +<p>"Whoop-ee!" yelled the cowboys, as they rushed up at the signal, when +Ruth and Alice, with Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon, had gone off some +little distance.</p> + +<p>"Get ready, Russ!" called Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>"All ready," answered the young operator, as he took his place with his +camera focused.</p> + +<p>The steers, startled by the shots and shouts of the cowboys, began a mad +rush.</p> + +<p>"There's your stampede!" called Mr. Norton to Mr. Pertell. "Is that +realistic enough for you?"</p> + +<p>"Quite so, and thank you very much."</p> + +<p>More and more wild became the rushing steers, as the cowboys drove them +along in order that pictures might be made of them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>TOO MUCH REALISM</h3> + + +<p>The shouting of the cowboys, the rushing of their intelligent ponies +here—there—everywhere, seemingly—the fusillade of pistol shots, the +thunder and bellowings of the steers and the thud of the ponies +hoofs—all combined to make the scene a lively one.</p> + +<p>The imitation stampede seemed to be a great success, and no one, not in +the secret, could have told that it was not a real one.</p> + +<p>"Over this way, Paul!" cried Baldy, who was taking part with the young +actor. "I'm supposed to rescue you, and I can't do it if you keep so far +away."</p> + +<p>"But isn't it dangerous to ride so close to the steers?" asked Paul, +who, while willing to do almost anything in the line of moving picture +work, did not want to take needless chances.</p> + +<p>"There's no danger as long as you're mounted," replied the cowboy, "and +you've got a good horse under you. Come on!"</p> + +<p>Accordingly Paul rode closer in, and the cam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>era showed him in imminent +danger of being trampled under the feet of the rushing steers.</p> + +<p>But Baldy, who had done the same thing so often that he did not need to +rehearse it, rode swiftly in and managed to "cut out" Paul, so that the +actor was in no real danger. The cattle nearest to him were forced to +one side.</p> + +<p>Then, as called for in the action of the little drama, Mr. Switzer, who +was a good horseman, having been in the German cavalry, rushed up to +attack Paul. Of course it was but a pretended attack; but it looked real +enough in the pictures.</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice, with the other spectators on the little mound, looked on +with intense interest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I just wish I was on my pony!" cried Alice, as she looked at the +scene of action.</p> + +<p>"Alice, you do not!" protested Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do! Oh, it must be great to drive those cattle around that way!"</p> + +<p>"You have a queer idea of fun," remarked Miss Pennington in a +supercilious tone, as she looked in the small mirror of her vanity box +to see what effect the sun and dust were having on her brilliant +complexion. For it was dusty, with the thousands of hoofs tearing up the +earth.</p> + +<p>The main part of the action over, the cattle were now being "milled" by +the cowboys. That is, the onward rush was being checked, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> steers +were being made to go around in a circle.</p> + +<p>Thus are stampedes, when real, gradually brought to an end.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's all over," said Mr. Norton, as he stood beside the manager. +"Is that about what you wanted?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed it is. This film will sure make a hit. Those rivals of ours, who +started out to take advantage of my plans and work, will be sadly left."</p> + +<p>"You haven't seen any more of them?"</p> + +<p>"Not since that fellow disappeared from here. He took himself and his +camera off. I guess he weakened at the last moment."</p> + +<p>"I had no idea he was a moving picture operator," said the ranch owner, +"or I would never have hired him."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess no harm was done," Mr. Pertell rejoined.</p> + +<p>The rush of the steers was gradually coming to a close when Mr. Norton, +looking over to the far edge of the bunch of cattle, uttered a sudden +cry of alarm.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Pertell, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Why, they seem to have started up all over again," was the reply. "You +didn't tell them to put in a second scene of the stampede; did you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, indeed. We don't need it. Besides, Russ can't have any film left +for this reel. He used up the thousand-foot, I'm sure, and he hasn't an +extra one with him. What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I'd like to know. Those steers are certainly on the rush +again, though. Hi, Baldy!" he called to the cowboy. "What are you +starting 'em up again for?"</p> + +<p>"Startin' who up?"</p> + +<p>"The steers! Look at 'em!"</p> + +<p>"Say, they <i>are</i> on the run again," agreed the bald-headed cowboy, who +had ridden up to where Mr. Pertell and Mr. Norton stood. "Something must +be wrong," and he set off on the gallop once more.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the steers, which had almost come to a rest, were again in +motion. But they were not safely going about in a circle. Instead, they +had started off in a long line and now were swinging around in a big +circle and heading directly for the mound on which the young ladies were +still standing.</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice had started down as they saw the cattle growing quiet, +but now several of the cowboys shouted to them:</p> + +<p>"Go back! Go back! This is a stampede in earnest."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A stampede in earnest!" repeated Mr. Norton. "I wonder what started +that?"</p> + +<p>With a sudden rush the whole bunch of cattle were in motion, and headed +in a solid mass for the mound.</p> + +<p>"If they rush over that——" said Mr. Pertell in fear.</p> + +<p>"This is too much realism!" cried Mr. Norton, putting spurs to his steed +and racing off to help the cowboys. The latter had seen the danger of +the girls, and were hastening to once more stop the stampede that had +unexpectedly become a real one.</p> + +<p>"Look at those fellows over there!" shouted Pete Batso as he rode up, +his horse in a lather. "They're none of our crowd!" and he pointed to a +group of horsemen who were riding away from the stampeded cattle instead +of toward them.</p> + +<p>"Who are they?" asked Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but they're a lot of cowards to run away, when we'll need +all the help we can get to stem this rush!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>IN THE OPEN</h3> + + +<p>Thundering over the ground, the frightened cattle rushed on. After them +came the cowboys, determined, at whatever cost, to turn the steers away +from the little hill on which stood the four girls, clinging together, +and in fear of their lives. For certainly it would be the end of life to +fall beneath the hoofs of those on-rushing beasts.</p> + +<p>"I can't understand what happened!" exclaimed Mr. Norton, as he rode on. +"Those steers had all quieted down, when all of a sudden they started up +again. Something must have happened."</p> + +<p>He glanced over toward the mound. The cattle were still headed toward +it. Would the cowboys be able to turn them aside in time?</p> + +<p>"Head 'em off!"</p> + +<p>"Shoot at 'em!"</p> + +<p>"Head 'em away from that mound!"</p> + +<p>Thus cried the cowboys as they raced to the rescue. They were at rather +a disadvantage, for their horses were winded and exhausted from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +previous rushes to stop the pretended stampede, and now, when all their +energies were needed to end a real one, the animals were not equal to +the demand.</p> + +<p>"Do you think they can stop 'em?" asked Russ of a passing cowboy. The +young operator was still at his camera, but he was not going to take any +pictures if Ruth, Alice and the others were really in danger.</p> + +<p>"Of course we'll stop 'em!" cried the cowboy, with supreme confidence in +his ability and that of his companions.</p> + +<p>"Then I might as well get a film of this," decided Russ. "It would be a +pity to let a real stampede get away from me. I can cut out some of the +other pictures."</p> + +<p>He ran to where he had left a spare camera and soon was grinding away at +the handle, making views of a real and dangerous stampede.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what shall we do?" gasped Alice, as she clung to her sister on the +mound of safety.</p> + +<p>"We can't do anything," answered Alice, solemnly—"except to wait. They +may divide and pass to either side of us. I've read of such things +happening."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if they come any nearer I'll faint—I know I shall!" murmured Miss +Dixon.</p> + +<p>"That's the surest way to be trampled on," re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>marked Alice, calmly. +"Just faint, and fall down and——"</p> + +<p>She paused significantly.</p> + +<p>"I sha'n't do anything of the kind!" cried the other actress with more +spirit. "I won't do it just because you want me to! There!"</p> + +<p>It was a silly thing to say, but then, she was half-hysterical. In fact, +all four were.</p> + +<p>"That's what I wanted to do—rouse her up," observed Alice to her +sister. "It's our only safety—to remain upright. And we might try to +frighten the cattle."</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Let's shout and yell—and wave things at them. We've got parasols. +Let's wave them—open and shut them quickly. That will make flashes of +color, and it may frighten the steers. Come on, girls—it's worth +trying!"</p> + +<p>The others fell in with her plan at once, and the spectacle was +presented of four young ladies, perched on a hill, toward which a +thousand or more steers were rushing, waving their parasols, opening and +shutting them and yelling at the top of their voices.</p> + +<p>"Are—are they stopping any?" asked Miss Pennington, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I—I'm afraid not," faltered Alice.</p> + +<p>And then, just in the nick of time, there came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> riding around one side +of the stampeding cattle a group of the Rocky Ranch cowboys. They had +succeeded in reaching the head of the bunch of steers, and now had a +chance to turn the excited cattle to one side—to mill them again.</p> + +<p>"Hi—yi!" yelled the cowboys.</p> + +<p>"Hi—yi!"</p> + +<p>Bang! Bang! boomed the revolvers.</p> + +<p>"Shoot right in their faces!" cried Buster Jones, as he fired point +blank at the steers.</p> + +<p>Most of the cowboys had blank cartridges in their pistols for the +purpose of making a noise. But others had real bullets, and with these +some of the wildest of the steers were killed. It was absolutely +necessary to do this to stop the rush.</p> + +<p>And this was just what was needed, for the fallen cattle tripped up +others and soon there was a mound of the living bodies on the ground, +offering an effectual barrier to those behind.</p> + +<p>The cattle were now almost at the hill where the four young ladies stood +in fear and trembling, but with the advent of the cowboys new hope had +come to them.</p> + +<p>"Now we're all right!" cried Alice, joyfully.</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" Miss Pennington wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"You'll see. They'll stop the stampede," was the confident answer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>And this was done. With the piling up of some of the steers into an +almost inextricable mass, and the dividing of the other bunch just as +they reached the foot of the mound, the danger to the girls was over.</p> + +<p>In two streams of living animals the steers passed on either side of the +little hill, and after running a short distance farther they came to a +halt, being taken in charge by other cowboys who rode up from the rear +on fresh horses.</p> + +<p>Other horses were brought up for the girls to ride, as they were too +weak and "trembly" to walk. Besides, it is always safer to be in the +saddle among the lot of Western steers.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a narrow escape!" panted Miss Dixon.</p> + +<p>"It was," agreed Alice. "But it shows you what cowboys can do! It was +just splendid!" she cried to Baldy Johnson, who was riding beside her.</p> + +<p>"Glad you liked it, Miss," he responded, breathing hard, "but it was +rather hot work all around."</p> + +<p>"You're not hurt; are you, girls?" cried Mr. DeVere as he came up to +them, having had no part in the drama, but having heard in the ranch +house of the real stampede.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit, Daddy!" answered Alice. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> don't believe the steers would +have trampled us anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Baldy, slowly. "I don't want to scare you; but for a +minute there I thought it was all up with you—I did for a fact."</p> + +<p>"Some stampede!" cried Paul, as he rode up, looking almost like a cowboy +himself.</p> + +<p>"And some film!" laughed Russ, delighted that he had gotten one of the +real stampede, now that his friends were out of danger.</p> + +<p>"But I can't understand it," said Mr. Norton. "What started the cattle +off the second time? They were really frightened at something."</p> + +<p>"Did you see those men over that way?" asked the ranch owner, pointing +in the direction where he had observed the retreating cowboy band.</p> + +<p>"I saw 'em," admitted Pete, "but I thought they were some of our boys +that you'd sent up to the North pasture."</p> + +<p>"They weren't from Rocky Ranch!" declared the owner of the Circle Dot +outfit.</p> + +<p>"Well, if they were strange punchers, maybe they frightened our steers," +suggested Baldy.</p> + +<p>"They might have," admitted Mr. Norton. "But I was thinking that perhaps +they were rustlers, trying to ride off a bunch, and they became<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +frightened when they saw us all on hand."</p> + +<p>"It might be," admitted Pete Batso. "I'll have a look around after we +get the critters in the corral."</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice, as well as Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon, were so +nervous and upset that it was thought advisable not to attempt any more +pictures that day.</p> + +<p>Most of the members of the Comet Film Company sat about the ranch house, +talking over recent events, or studying parts for new plays. Some of the +cowboys went off on the trail, trying to find traces of the strange men, +but they returned unsuccessful.</p> + +<p>The next days were spent in getting simple scenes about Rocky Ranch, no +very hard work being done. These scenes would afterward be interspersed +with more elaborate ones.</p> + +<p>When moving picture films are made, it is usual to photograph all the +scenes of one kind first, whether or not they come in sequence. Thus, if +one scene shows action taking place in a parlor, and the next scene +calls for something going on out on the lawn, and the third scene is +aboard a steamboat, while the fourth one is back in the parlor, the two +parlor scenes will be taken one after the other, on the same film, at +the same time, regardless of the fact that something came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> in between. +Later on the outdoor scenes will be made, all at once. Then, when the +film is developed and printed it is cut and fastened together to show +the scenes in the order called for in the scenario.</p> + +<p>Thus it was planned to make all the simple scenes around the ranch house +first, and later to film a number of more important ones out in the +open.</p> + +<p>"We're going to rough it for a while," announced Mr. Pertell to his +company one evening.</p> + +<p>"Rough it!" cried Miss Pennington. "Have we done anything else since we +left New York, pray?"</p> + +<p>"Well, we're going to rough it more roughly then," went on the manager, +with a smile. "I am going to have a series of films showing the life of +the cowboys when off on the round-up. I want some of you in the scenes +also, so I shall take most of you along.</p> + +<p>"We will go into the open, and live out of doors. We will take along a +'grub wagon,' and other wagons for sleeping quarters for the ladies. +There will be as many comforts as is possible to take, but I am sure you +will all enjoy it so much you will not mind the discomfort. We will +sleep out under the stars, and it will do you all good."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm sure it's doing me good out here," said Mr. DeVere. "My throat is +much better."</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear it," the manager responded. "Yes, we will live out of +doors for perhaps a week—camping, so to speak; but on the move most of +the time. And that will bring our stay at Rocky Ranch to a close. But +there will be plenty to do before then," he added quickly, as he saw the +look of disappointment on the face of Alice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I like it too much here to leave," she said. In fact Alice seemed +to like every place. She could make herself at home anywhere.</p> + +<p>Plans were made the next day, and nearly all the members of the company, +save Mrs. Maguire and the two children, were to go on the trip across +the prairies.</p> + +<p>Big wagons, of the old-fashioned "prairie schooner" type, were made +ready. In these the ladies would live when they were not in the saddle. +There was also a "grub" wagon, in which food would be carried. It +contained a small stove so that better meals could be prepared than +would be possible over a campfire.</p> + +<p>Then with plenty of spare horses, and with the camera and a good supply +of film, the moving picture company and several cowboys set off one +morning over the rolling plains.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + +<p>Many scenes were filmed, some of them most excellent. It was not all +easy going, for often there would be failures and the work would have to +be done all over again. But no one grumbled, and really the life was a +happy one. Even Mr. Sneed seemed to enjoy himself, and the former +vaudeville actresses condescended to say it was "interesting."</p> + +<p>One day an important film had been made and the work involved was so +hard that everyone was glad to go to their "bunks" early. Mr. Pertell, +Russ and Mr. DeVere occupied a large tent near the wagons where the +ladies had their quarters.</p> + +<p>There was some little disturbance during the night, caused by one of the +dogs barking, but the cowboys who roused to look about could find +nothing wrong. But in the morning when Russ went to prepare his camera +for that day's work he uttered an exclamation of dismay.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>"That big reel I took yesterday, and which I put in the light-tight box +for safe keeping, is gone!" cried the young operator.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE BURNING GRASS</h3> + + +<p>The announcement made by Russ caused considerable surprise, and, on the +part of Mr. Pertell, dismay.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean that big reel—that important one which is a sort of key +to all the rest—is missing; do you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"That's it," replied Russ, ruefully. "It's clean gone!"</p> + +<p>"Maybe you didn't look carefully, or perhaps you put it in some other +place than you thought."</p> + +<p>"I'm not in the habit of doing that with undeveloped film," replied the +young operator. "If it was a reel ready for the projector I might mislay +it, for I'd know the light couldn't harm it. But undeveloped reels, that +the least glint of light would spoil—I take precious good care of them, +let me tell you. And this one is gone."</p> + +<p>"Let's have another look," suggested Mr. Pertell, hopefully.</p> + +<p>He went into the tent from which Russ had just emerged, and the latter +showed him where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> he had placed the reel. It was enclosed in its own +case as it came from the camera, and that case, as an additional +protection, was placed in a light-tight black box. This box would hold +several reels; but that night only one, and the most important of those +taken on the trip, was put in it.</p> + +<p>"Look!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. DeVere, who had followed the two into the +tent. "That's how your reel was taken!" and he pointed to a slit in the +wall of the tent, close to where the black box had stood. So clean was +the cut, having evidently been made with a very sharp instrument, that +only when the wind swayed the canvas was it noticeable.</p> + +<p>"By Jove! You're right!" cried Mr. Pertell. "That's how they got it, +Russ. Someone sneaked up outside the tent, slit it open, reached in and +lifted out the reel. It was done when we were asleep and——"</p> + +<p>"That's what made the dogs bark!" exclaimed Russ. "Now the question is: +Who was it?"</p> + +<p>He looked at Mr. Pertell as he spoke, and at once a light of +understanding came into the eyes of the manager.</p> + +<p>"You mean——?" the latter began.</p> + +<p>"Those fellows from the International!" fin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span>ished Russ, quickly. "They +must be still on our trail."</p> + +<p>"What's the trouble?" asked Baldy Johnson, from outside the tent. "Has +anything happened?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't say there's more trouble," chimed in Ruth, as she came down +out of the wagon where she and Alice slept. "What has happened now?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing much, except that we've been robbed," spoke Russ, ruefully. +"Our big reel is gone." To the cowboys and others of the company who +crowded up he showed the slit in the tent wall, through which the theft +had been perpetrated.</p> + +<p>"Hum! I guess those fellows were smarter than we were," replied Baldy. +"We scurried around in the night, but they gave us the slip."</p> + +<p>"And we didn't see a sign of 'em, neither!" added Buster Jones.</p> + +<p>"Say, fellows, if this ever gets back to Rocky Ranch," went on Necktie +Harry, as he adjusted a flaming red scarf, "we'll never hear the last of +it. To think we heard a racket, got up, and let something be taken right +from under our noses and didn't see it done—Good-night! as the poet +says."</p> + +<p>"Boys, we've got to make good!" declared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> Bow Backus. "We've got to take +the trail after these scamps, and get back them pictures. It's up to +us!"</p> + +<p>"Whoop-ee! That's what it is!" shouted Necktie Harry, firing his gun.</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't this fine!" cried Alice, as she joined Ruth. "There will be a +real chase and——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, how can you like such things?" asked Ruth. "It may be something +terrible!"</p> + +<p>"Pooh! I don't see how it can be. If they have something that belongs to +us we have a right to get it back," and Alice shook back the hair that +was falling over her shoulders, for she was to take part in several +pictures that day as a "cowgirl," and was dressed in a picturesque, if +not exactly correct, costume, with short skirt, leggins and all.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope there won't be any—bloodshed!" faltered Miss Pennington.</p> + +<p>"They'll probably only use their lassoes," replied Alice, with a smile. +"Oh dear! I hope breakfast will soon be ready. I'm as hungry as a——"</p> + +<p>"Alice!" warned Ruth, with a gentle look. She was still trying to +correct her sister's habit of slang.</p> + +<p>"As hungry as if I hadn't eaten since last night," finished Alice with a +mocking laugh.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> "There, sister mine!" and she blew her a kiss from the +tips of her rosy fingers.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's easy enough to say: 'Get after the fellows who took the +reel,'" spoke Baldy Johnson, "but who were they, and where shall we +start?"</p> + +<p>"It must have been someone who knew where we kept the reels in the +light-tight box," said Russ. "Otherwise he would have cut several places +in the tent to reach in and feel around. And there is only one cut. So +it must have been somebody who knew about this tent."</p> + +<p>"Regular detective work, that," remarked Necktie Harry, quickly, looking +admiringly at Russ.</p> + +<p>"Say! I have it!" cried Baldy Johnson. "Those fellows who rode in +yesterday to watch us work. It was one of them."</p> + +<p>"You mean the boys from the Double ranch?" asked Buster.</p> + +<p>"Them's the ones," answered Baldy. Just before the close of the making +pictures the day before a crowd of cowboys from a nearby cattle range +had ridden up, and looked on interestedly. They were returning from a +round-up. Some of them were known to the boys from Rocky Ranch, and +there had been an exchange of courtesies.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Them's the guilty parties,' as the actor folks say," sung out Bow +Backus.</p> + +<p>"I think you are right," agreed Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>"But I can't see what object cowboys would have in taking a film—and an +undeveloped one at that," said Russ. "I can't believe it."</p> + +<p>"Maybe the International firm bribed them, or maybe one of their men was +disguised as a cowboy," suggested Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"That's possible," admitted Russ.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll soon find out," declared Baldy. "Come on, boys. Grub up and +then we'll ride over."</p> + +<p>The visit to Double X ranch proved fruitless, however, except in one +particular. The cowboys attached to that "outfit" easily proved that +they had not been near the camp of the picture makers.</p> + +<p>"But there was one fellow who rode with us," said the foreman. "He was a +stranger to us. Looked to be a cow-puncher, and <i>said</i> he was, from down +New Mexico way. He was with us when we were at your place, and when we +rode away he branched off. It might have been him."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure it was," declared Mr. Pertell. "Now, how can we get hold of +him?"</p> + +<p>But that was a question no one could answer, and though several of the +cowboys took the trail after the stranger, he was not to be found. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +missing film seemed to have disappeared for good.</p> + +<p>It was a great loss, but there was no help for it, and plans were made +to go through the big scene again, though not until later.</p> + +<p>"I have something else I want filmed now," said Mr. Pertell. "We will +make that 'lost' scene we spoke of last night and then try a novelty."</p> + +<p>"Something new?" asked Mr. Bunn. "I hope I don't have to be lassoed +again," for that had been his most recent "stunt."</p> + +<p>"No, we'll let you off easy this time," laughed Mr. Pertell. "All you'll +have to do will be to escape from a prairie fire."</p> + +<p>"A prairie fire!" gasped the Shakespearean actor. "I refuse to take that +chance."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry," said the manager. "It will only be a small, imitation +blaze. I want to get some scenes of that," he went on to explain to the +cowboys. "In the early days of the West prairie fires were one of the +terrible features. I realize that now, of course, with the West so much +more built up, they are not so common. But I think we could arrange for +a small one, and burn the grass over a limited area. It would look big +in a picture."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, it could be done," admitted Baldy. "We'll help you."</p> + +<p>Two or three more days were spent in the open, traveling over the +prairie, making various films. Then a suitable location for the "prairie +fire" was found and a little rehearsal held.</p> + +<p>"That will do very well," said Mr. Pertell at the conclusion. "We'll +film the scene to-morrow."</p> + +<p>The arrangements were carefully made, and in a big open place the tall +dry grass was set on fire. The flames crackled, and great clouds of +black smoke rolled upward.</p> + +<p>"Go ahead now, Russ!" called the manager. "That ought to make a fine +film! Come on, you people—Mr. DeVere, Ruth, Alice—get in the picture. +Register fear!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>HEMMED IN</h3> + + +<p>Elaborate preparations had been made for this prairie fire picture. In +fact, in a way, the whole story of the drama "East and West" hinged on +this scene. It was the climax, so to speak—the "big act" if the play +had been on the real stage. Naturally Mr. Pertell was anxious to have +everything right.</p> + +<p>And so it seemed to be going. The flames crackled menacingly, and the +black smoke rolled up in great clouds that would show well on the film.</p> + +<p>In brief, this action of the play was to depict the hardships of one of +the early Western settlers. He had taken up a section of land, built +himself a rude house, and was living there with his family when the +prairie fire came, and he was forced to flee.</p> + +<p>Of course all this was "only make believe," as children say. But it was +put on for the film in a very realistic manner. Pop Snooks had +constructed a slab house, with the aid of the cow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>boys, who said it was +as near the "real thing" as possible. Later on the house, which was but +a shell, and intended only for the "movies," would be destroyed by fire.</p> + +<p>Scenes would be shown in which the settler (Mr. DeVere) and his helpers +would try to extinguish the fire before they fled from it.</p> + +<p>The first scene showed the fire starting, with the plowmen (Mr. Bunn and +Mr. Sneed) in the fields at work. They were seen to stop, to shade their +eyes with their hands and look off toward the distant horizon, where a +haze of smoke could be seen. The big distances which were available on +the prairies of the West, made this particularly effective in a film +picture.</p> + +<p>The taking of the film had so far advanced that the warning had come to +those in the slab shanty. There were gathered Ruth, Alice, Miss +Pennington, Miss Dixon, Paul and others.</p> + +<p>"Ride! Ride for your lives!" cried Mr. Sneed, dashing up on one of the +plow horses. "The prairies are on fire and it's coming this way +lickity-split!"</p> + +<p>Of course his words would not be heard by the moving picture audiences, +though those accustomed to it can read the lip motions. Really the words +need not have been said, and it was this feature of the "movies" that +enabled Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> DeVere to take up the work when he had failed in the +"legitimate" because of his throat ailment.</p> + +<p>"Flee for your lives!" cried Mr. Sneed. "We're going to try to burn it +back, or plow a strip that it can't get over."</p> + +<p>Thereupon ensued a scene of fear and excitement at the slab hut. A wagon +was hastily brought up by some of the cowboys, who were taking part in +the picture, and the household goods, (provided of course by the +ever-faithful Pop Snooks), were hastily packed into it.</p> + +<p>Then the girls and others, with every sign of fear and dismay, properly +"registered" for the benefit of those who would later see the film in +the darkened theaters, gathered together their personal belongings, and +entered the wagon.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Russ was kept busy getting different views of the big scene. +Sometimes there would be shown the raging fire sweeping onward, the +black clouds of smoke rolling upward, and the red tongues of flame +leaping out. In reality the fire was only a small one, but by cleverly +manipulating the camera, and taking close views, it was made to appear +as if it was a raging conflagration.</p> + +<p>As Russ would have difficulty in showing alternate views of the fire +itself and the prepara<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>tions at the slab hut to flee from it, Mr. +Pertell, at times, worked an extra camera himself. Thus the time was +shortened, for the fire was something that could not be held back, as +could something of purely human agency.</p> + +<p>"Ride! Ride for your lives!" now shouted Mr. Sneed, as he sat on his +heaving horse, ready to ride back and help fight the fire. With dramatic +gestures he pointed ahead, seemingly to a place of safety. "Ride for +your lives!"</p> + +<p>"But you? What of you?" cried Miss Pennington, as she held out her hands +to him imploringly. She was supposed (in the play) to be in love with +him.</p> + +<p>"I go back—to do my duty!" he replied, as his lines called for.</p> + +<p>There was a dramatic little scene and then Miss Pennington, +"registering" weeping, went inside the "prairie schooner," as the big +covered wagon was called.</p> + +<p>Paul, on the driver's seat, cracked his whip at the horses and the +vehicle lumbered off, Ruth, Alice and the others who were inside, +looking back as if with regret at the home that was soon to be +destroyed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Sneed remained for a moment, posing on the back of his horse, and +then, with a farewell wave of his hand he rode back to join Mr. Bunn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +and the others in fighting the fire that had been "made to order." Mr. +DeVere, too, after seeing his family off in the wagon, leaped on a horse +and also galloped back to help fight the flames. There had been a +dramatic parting between him and his daughters—for the purposes of the +film, of course.</p> + +<p>"Say, this fire's gettin' a little hot!" cried Baldy, who, with the +other cowboys, had been detailed to put out the blaze. Mr. Pertell was +there to get a film of them, while Russ, a considerable distance away, +was to film the on-rushing wagon containing those fleeing from the +blaze. The picture was so arranged as to show alternately views of the +wagon and the fire fighters. Always, however, there was the background +of the black smoke when the wagon was shown tearing over the prairie, +and the smoke constantly grew blacker.</p> + +<p>"Get at it now, boys!" cried the manager, grinding away at the handle of +his camera. "Put in some lively work! Mr. Sneed, don't be afraid of the +fire. You're standing off too far."</p> + +<p>The plot of the play was that first an attempt would be made to beat out +the fire, by means of bundles of wet brush dipped in a nearby brook. +This plan was to fail, and then an attempt would be made to "fight fire +with fire." That is, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> prairie grass would be set ablaze some +distance ahead of the line of fire, and allowed to burn toward it. This +would make a blackened strip, bare of fuel for the flames, and the hope +was—or it used to be when prairie fires in the West were common—that +this would check the advancing blaze.</p> + +<p>For a few seconds the men fought frantically to beat out the fire, then +Mr. DeVere exclaimed, with a dramatic gesture:</p> + +<p>"It is no use! We must fight fire with fire!"</p> + +<p>The men ran back some distance, Mr. Pertell taking his camera back the +same space. Then the prairie was set ablaze in a number of places, at +points nearer the slab cabin which was, as yet, untouched.</p> + +<p>The scene of starting a counter-fire was a short one, for it was quickly +discovered, in reality as well as in the play, as planned, that the wind +was in the wrong direction. It simply advanced the flames nearer the +cabin.</p> + +<p>"It's of no use, boys!" cried Mr. DeVere. "We must plow a bare strip."</p> + +<p>"Bring up the horses and plows!" ordered Baldy. A number of these had +been held in reserve, out of sight of the camera, and they now came up +on the rush. The idea was that neighboring settlers, having sighted the +prairie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> fire, had come to the aid of their friends in the slab cabin.</p> + +<p>Horses were quickly hitched to the plows, and the work of making a +number of furrows of damp earth, to act as a barrier to the flames, was +started.</p> + +<p>While Mr. Pertell was filming this, Russ was busy getting views of the +on-rushing wagon containing the refugees. Several times the team was +stopped to enable the operator to go on ahead, and show it coming across +the prairie. This gave a different background each time.</p> + +<p>It was after one of these halts, and just when the team was started up +again that Alice, who was on the front seat with Paul, the driver, cried +out:</p> + +<p>"See! There is smoke and fire ahead of us, too! What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>For an instant they were all startled, and then, as Ruth looked behind +them, and saw the fiercer flames, and the blacker smoke there, she +gasped:</p> + +<p>"We are hemmed in! Hemmed in by the prairie fire!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE ESCAPE</h3> + + +<p>Paul pulled up the rushing horses with a jerk that set them back on +their haunches. There were cries of alarm from the interior of the +wagon, and from the front and rear peered out anxious faces.</p> + +<p>"What is it? Oh, what is it?" cried Miss Dixon.</p> + +<p>"There's a fire ahead of us," replied Alice, and her voice was calmer +now. She realized that their situation might be desperate, and that +there would be need of all the presence of mind each one possessed.</p> + +<p>"A fire ahead of us!" repeated Miss Pennington. "Then let's turn back. +Probably Mr. Pertell wanted this to happen. It's all in the play. I +don't see anything to get excited about."</p> + +<p>For once in her life she was more self-possessed than any of the others, +but it was due to the bliss of ignorance.</p> + +<p>"Let's turn back," she suggested. "That seems the most reasonable thing +to do. And I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> wonder if you would mind if I rode on the seat next to +your friend Paul," she went on to Alice. "I'd like to have the center of +the stage just for once, as sort of a change," and her tone was a bit +malicious.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you're welcome to sit here," responded Alice, quietly. "But, +as for turning back, it is impossible. Look!" and she waved her hand +toward the rear. There the black clouds of smoke were thicker and +heavier, and the shooting flames went higher toward the heavens.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" gasped Miss Pennington, and then she realized as she had not done +before—the import of Ruth's words:</p> + +<p>"We are hemmed in!"</p> + +<p>"Can't—can't we go back?" gasped Miss Dixon.</p> + +<p>"The fire behind us is worse than that before us," said Paul, in a low +voice. "Perhaps, after all, we can make a rush for it."</p> + +<p>"No, don't try dot!" spoke Mr. Switzer, and somehow, in this emergency, +he seemed very calm and collected. "Der horses vould shy und balk at der +flames," went on the German, who seemed far from being funny now. He was +deadly in earnest. "Ve can not drive dem past der flames," he added.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But what are we to do?" asked Paul. "We can't stay here to be——"</p> + +<p>He did not finish the sentence, but they all knew what he meant.</p> + +<p>"Vait vun minute," suggested the German. He stood up on the seat so as +to bring his head above the canvas top of the wagon. Those in it, save +Paul, who remained holding the reins to quiet the very restive horses, +had jumped to the ground.</p> + +<p>"The wind is driving on der flames dot are back of us," said Mr. Switzer +in a low voice. "It is driving dem on."</p> + +<p>He turned in the opposite direction, where the flames and smoke were +less marked, but still dangerously in evidence.</p> + +<p>"Und dere, too," the German murmured. "Der vind dere, too, is driving +dem on—driving dem on! I don't understand it. Dere must be a vacuum +caused by der two fires."</p> + +<p>"Well, what's to be done?" asked Mr. Towne, who formed one of the +fleeing party. "We can't stay here forever—between two fires, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Yah! I know," remarked Mr. Switzer, slowly. "Ve must get avay. We +cannot go back, ve cannot go forvarts. Den ve must——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, if we can't go back, what has become<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> of those whom we left +behind?" cried Ruth. "My father—and the others?"</p> + +<p>Her tearful face was turned toward Alice.</p> + +<p>"They—they may be all right," said the younger girl, but her voice was +not very certain.</p> + +<p>"The—the fire must be at the cabin by now," went on Ruth. "If—if +anything has happened that they were not able to get the flames under +control——"</p> + +<p>She, too, did not finish her portentous sentence.</p> + +<p>"Ve cannot go forvarts," murmured Mr. Switzer, "und ve cannot go back. +Den de only oder t'ing to do iss to go to der left or right. Iss dot not +so Paul, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"It certainly is, and the sooner the better!" cried the young actor. +"Get into the wagon again and I'll try the left. It looks more open +there. And hurry, please, it's getting hard to hold the horses. They +want to bolt."</p> + +<p>There were four animals hitched to the wagon, and it was all Paul could +do to manage them. Every moment they were getting more and more excited +by the sight and smell of the smoke and flames.</p> + +<p>Into the wagon piled the refugees, and Paul gave the horses their heads, +guiding them over the prairie in a direction to the left, for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> smoke +seemed less thick there. It was a desperate chance, but one that had to +be taken.</p> + +<p>Ruth and Alice, going to the rear of the vehicle, looked out of the +opening for a sight of their father and the others coming up on the +gallop, possibly to report that the fire had gotten beyond their +control.</p> + +<p>But there was no sight of them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what can have happened?" murmured Ruth with clasped hands, while +tears came into her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, dear," begged Alice.</p> + +<p>"But I can't help it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are all right, Ruth. They may have gone to one side, just +as we did, and of course they couldn't ride towards us until they got +beyond the path of the flames."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if I could only hope so!" the elder girl replied.</p> + +<p>The wagon was rocking and swaying over the uneven ground as the horses +galloped on. Russ, who had run to one side when the halt was made, held +up his hand as a signal to halt. He had taken films until the vehicle +was too close to be in proper focus.</p> + +<p>"Do get up and get in with us!" begged Ruth. "You must not stay here any +longer."</p> + +<p>"I was thinking that myself," he said grimly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> + +<p>A glance back showed that the fire there had increased in intensity, and +the one in front was also growing. There was presented the rather +strange sight of two fires rushing together, though the one in the rear, +or behind the refugees, came on with greater speed, urged by a stronger +wind. As Mr. Switzer had said, a vacuum might have been created by the +larger conflagration, which made a draft that blew the smaller fire +toward the bigger one.</p> + +<p>"Do you see any opening, either backward or forward?" asked Russ of +Paul, when they had gone on for perhaps half a mile.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," answered the driver. "Though the smoke, does seem to be +getting a bit thinner ahead there, on the left."</p> + +<p>But it was a false hope, and going on a little farther it was seen that +the two fires had joined about a mile ahead, completely cutting off an +advance in that direction.</p> + +<p>It was as though our friends were in an ever narrowing circle of flame. +There was a fire behind them, in front of them and to one side. There +only remained the one other side.</p> + +<p>Would there be an opening in the circle—an opening by which they could +escape?</p> + +<p>"Ve must go to der right," cried Mr. Switzer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Und I vill drive, Paul. I haf driven in der German army yet, und I know +how."</p> + +<p>They were now tearing along in a lane bordered with fire on either side, +with raging flames behind them. Their only hope lay in front.</p> + +<p>"Well, these films may never be developed," observed Russ, grimly, as +took his camera off the tripod, "but I'm going to get a picture of this +prairie fire. It's the best chance I've ever had—and it may be my last. +But I'm not going to miss it!"</p> + +<p>And so, as the wagon careened along between the two lines of fire, Russ +took picture after picture, holding the camera on his knees.</p> + +<p>On and on the frantic horses were driven, until finally Paul, who was on +the seat beside Mr. Switzer, with Russ between them taking pictures, +called out:</p> + +<p>"Hold on! Wait a minute. I think I hear voices!"</p> + +<p>The horses were held back, not without difficulty, and then as the noise +of their galloping, and the sound of the creaking wagon ceased, there +was heard the unmistakable shouts of cowboys, and the rapid firing of +revolvers.</p> + +<p>"There they are!" cried Alice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if daddy is only there!" Ruth replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Go on!" cried Paul to the German, and again the horses were given their +heads.</p> + +<p>But now, even above the noise made by the wagon and the galloping +steeds, could be heard the welcome shouts which told that some, at +least, of those left behind were still alive. The girls were crying now, +in very joy, though their anxiety was not wholly past.</p> + +<p>On and on galloped the horses. And then Paul cried:</p> + +<p>"There's a way! There's a way out! The fire hasn't burned around the +whole circle yet."</p> + +<p>He pointed ahead. Through the smoke clouds could be seen an open space +of grass that was not yet burned, and beyond that sparkled the waters of +a wide but shallow creek.</p> + +<p>There was safety indeed! They had escaped the flames by a narrow margin.</p> + +<p>And as the wagon rushed for this haven of refuge, there came sweeping up +from one side a group of cowboys, urging their horses to top speed, +while, in their midst was Mr. DeVere, Mr. Pertell and the others of the +moving picture company who had been left to finish the scene at the slab +cabin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>A DISCLOSURE</h3> + + +<p>"Into the creek! Drive right in!" cried Baldy Johnson. "Run the wagon +right in! It's a good bottom and you can go all the way across!"</p> + +<p>"Go on!" called Mr. Switzer to his horses, and the steeds, nothing +loath, darted for the cooling water. Indeed it was very hot now, for the +fire was close, and it was still coming on, in an ever-narrowing circle.</p> + +<p>"Go ahead, boys! Into the creek with you! It's our last chance, and our +only one!" went on Baldy. "Into the water with you!"</p> + +<p>And into the welcome coolness of the creek splashed the cowboys on their +ponies and the wagon containing the refugees.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" cried Ruth, as Russ swung <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'himeslf'">himself</ins> down off the +seat.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to get this last film, showing the escape," he answered. +"It's too good a chance to miss."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But you'll be burned!" she exclaimed. "The fire is coming closer."</p> + +<p>And indeed the flames, closing up the circle of fire, were drawing +nearer and nearer.</p> + +<p>"I'll be all right," he assured her. "I just want to get some pictures +showing the wagon and the cowboys going across the creek. Then I'll wade +across myself. Of course I'd like to get a front view, but I'll have to +be content with a rear one."</p> + +<p>And as the wagon drawn by the frantic horses plunged into the water, +followed by the shouting cowboys and the members of the film company, +Russ calmly set his camera up on the edge of the stream, and took a +magnificent film that afterward, under the title "The Escape from Fire," +made a great sensation in New York.</p> + +<p>The brave young operator remained until he felt the heat of the flames +uncomfortably close and then, holding his precious camera high above his +head, he waded into the creek. The waters did not come above his waist, +and when he was safe on the other side with his friends, finding he had +a few more feet of film left, he took the pictures showing the fire as +it raged and burned the last of the grass, and other pictures giving +views of the exhausted men, women and horses in a temporary camp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Whew! But that was hot work!" cried Mr. Bunn, mopping his face.</p> + +<p>"You're right," agreed Mr. Pertell. "I don't believe I'll chance any +more prairie fires. This one rather got away from us."</p> + +<p>There was a shout from some of the cowboys who stood in a group on the +bank of the creek.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look at those fellows!" cried Bow Backus. "They just got out of +the fire by a close shave—same as we did."</p> + +<p>They all looked to where he pointed.</p> + +<p>There, crossing the stream higher up, and seemingly at a place which the +fire had only narrowly missed, were several horsemen. Their steeds +appeared exhausted, as though they had had a hard race to escape.</p> + +<p>"What outfit is that, fellows?" asked Baldy Johnson. "I don't know of +any punchers attached to a ranch that's within this here fire range."</p> + +<p>"There isn't any," declared Necktie Harry.</p> + +<p>"But where did those cowboys come from?" persisted Baldy.</p> + +<p>"They're not cowboys!" declared Necktie Harry, looking to see if his +scarf had suffered any from the smoke and cinders. "Did you ever see +real cow punchers ride the way they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> do—like sacks of meal. They're +fakes, that's what they are!"</p> + +<p>For an instant Baldy stared at the speaker, and then cried:</p> + +<p>"That's it! I couldn't understand it before, but I do now. It's all +clear!"</p> + +<p>"What is?" asked Mr. Pertell, who was still, rather wrought up by the +danger into which he had thrown his players.</p> + +<p>"Why, about this blaze. I couldn't for the life of me understand how it +was it could burn two ways at once. But now I do."</p> + +<p>"You mean those fellows set another fire?" asked Bow Backus.</p> + +<p>"That's my plain identical meanin'," declared Baldy. "Them scoundrels +started another fire after we did ours."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how terrible!" exclaimed Ruth.</p> + +<p>"Wait; hold on, Miss! I'm not goin' so far as to accuse 'em of doin' it +purposely," the cowboy went on, earnestly. "They may not have meant it. +The grass is pretty dry just now, and a little fire would burn a long +way. It's jest possible they may have made a blaze to bile their coffee, +and the wind carried sparks into a bunch of grass. But I have my +suspicions."</p> + +<p>"Why, who could they be, to do such a dastardly thing as that?" demanded +Mr. DeVere.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's what I want to know," put in Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>Baldy turned sharply to the manager.</p> + +<p>"Who's been followin' on your trail ever since you started out to make +your big drama 'East and West'?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Who—who!" repeated Mr. Pertell. "Why—why those sneaks from the +International Picture Company—that's who."</p> + +<p>"That's them," declared Baldy, laconically, as he pointed to the +retreating horsemen. "That's them, and they're the fellows who sot this +second fire that so nearly wrecked us."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible!" ejaculated Mr. DeVere.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it," declared Baldy. "I ain't got no real proof; but I've +seen a good many fires in my day, and they don't start all by their +ownselves—not two of 'em, anyhow. You can bank on them bein' your +enemies, if you'll excuse my slang," he said in firm tones.</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean it?" asked Mr. Pertell, in amazement.</p> + +<p>"I sure do, friend. I'm not sayin' they started it to hurt any of you; +but they wanted to spoil your picture, I'm sure of it."</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence, and then Bow Backus cried out in loud +tones:</p> + +<p>"Fellers, there's only one thing to do: Let's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> take after them scamps +and get 'em with the goods! Let's prove that they did this mischief. +Come on, boys! Our horses are fresh enough now."</p> + +<p>The tired cow ponies, almost worn out after their race to escape with +their masters from the on-rushing flames, had been allowed to rest and +now they were ready for hard work again.</p> + +<p>In an instant, half a score of the sturdy cowboys were in the saddle, +whooping and yelling in sheer delight at the prospective chase.</p> + +<p>"I've got to get in on this!" cried Russ. "Wait a minute until I film +the start, fellows, and then I'll get on a horse and take my camera. +I'll go with you, and get the finish of this, too."</p> + +<p>A new roll of film was quickly slipped into the camera and Russ dashed +on ahead to show the on-coming cowboys in their rush to overtake the +suspected men.</p> + +<p>Then the young operator jumped into the saddle of a steed that was ready +and waiting for him, and galloped on with his friends to get, if +possible, the finish of the affair.</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't it just splendid!" cried Alice, clapping her hands.</p> + +<p>"But it makes me so nervous!" protested Ruth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I just love to be nervous—this way," declared Alice, with a joyous +laugh.</p> + +<p>Away flew the eager cowboys, and those left behind proceeded to let +their nerves quiet down after the strenuous times they had just passed +through. The cook had come up and he at once prepared a little meal.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the wide creek the prairie fire burned itself out. +The blaze crept in the dry grass down to the very edge of the water, +where it went out with puffs of steam, and vicious hisses.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I'm glad we're not there," sighed Ruth as she looked across at +the smoke-palled and blackened stretch.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was a narrow escape," said her father.</p> + +<p>"What happened after we left?" asked Alice.</p> + +<p>"The fire really got a little too much for us," said Mr. Pertell. "And, +as I had pictures enough, we decided to leave. We let the cabin burn, as +we had arranged, and then came riding on.</p> + +<p>"But the flames were a little too quick for us, and we had to turn off +to one side. That's why we didn't get up to you more quickly. We were +really quite worried about you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>THE ROUND-UP</h3> + + +<p>"What's the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you catch them?"</p> + +<p>"Did they get away?"</p> + +<p>All needless questions, evidently, yet they were anxiously asked, for +all that, when the tired and disappointed cowboys, led by Baldy Johnson, +returned after the chase. It was dusk, and the prairie fire was almost +out. Only a faint glow showed where, here and there, a bunch of thick +grass was still blazing.</p> + +<p>"They gave us the slip," complained Baldy in discouraged tones. "Their +horses were fresher than ours were. Probably they got out of the way of +the fire sooner than we did."</p> + +<p>"Did you get close enough to recognize them?" Mr. Pertell wanted to +know.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know any of 'em," asserted Baldy. "Not that I got any too +close," he added, grimly. "They sure can ride, even if they don't have +our style."</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure," remarked Russ, as he put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> away the camera which he had +had no chance to use after filming the start of the cowboys, "I'm not +sure, but I think I recognized one of the fellows as the chap who was at +Rocky Ranch when we arrived there."</p> + +<p>"Then he has others with him," said Mr. Pertell.</p> + +<p>"Evidently."</p> + +<p>"And they will probably try to do us some more mischief," went on the +manager. "We still have several important films to make, and if they try +to steal our ideas and get the pictures we go to so much trouble to make +we may as well give up."</p> + +<p>"Don't you do it!" cried Baldy Johnson. "Don't you do it! We'll get +after these fellows the first thing in the morning, and round 'em up +good and proper."</p> + +<p>"That's what we will!" cried his companion. "Whoop-ee for the round-up!"</p> + +<p>"We'll pay 'em for startin' that fire," went on Baldy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and for stampedin' those cattle, too," added Buster Jones.</p> + +<p>"Do you think they did that?" Mr. Pertell asked, quickly.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't be a bit surprised," declared Buster. "If they was mean +enough to start a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> fire to spoil the picture they wouldn't stop at a +little thing like stampedin' a bunch of cattle. I'm sure they done it."</p> + +<p>"Then all the more reason for runnin' 'em out of the country!" decided +Baldy. "We'll get on the trail early in the mornin', boys."</p> + +<p>"We're with you!" cried the others.</p> + +<p>The camp, which had been made on the side of the creek where refuge had +been taken from the fire, was soon in order. The cook wagon and supplies +had been sent far away from the scene of the blaze when it was started, +and it had come up by a different trail. Soon with tents erected, and +with the sleeping wagon for the ladies in readiness, quiet settled down +over the scene.</p> + +<p>Believing that it was more necessary to capture or drive out of that +section the rivals who were endeavoring to get ahead of him, Mr. Pertell +decided not to make any more films until after the chase. Preparations +for this were soon under way, next morning, and, save for a small guard +of cowboys left in camp, all the men riders went after the suspected +ones. Mr. DeVere remained with his daughters. Of course Russ went along +to make the pictures.</p> + +<p>It was some time before the searchers got on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> the proper trail. They +followed one or two false ones at first, but finally were set right, and +then they rode furiously.</p> + +<p>"There they are!" cried Baldy, who had taken the lead. This was after a +hasty lunch. He pointed to a group of fleeing horsemen.</p> + +<p>"After 'em!" yelled Bow Backus.</p> + +<p>"They shan't get away this time!" cried Buster Jones.</p> + +<p>And they did not. Ride as the fleeing ones might, they were no match for +their pursuers, and after a short chase, which Russ was able to get on +the film, the fugitives were surrounded.</p> + +<p>"Surrender!" yelled the cowboys of Rocky Ranch as they rode down their +rivals.</p> + +<p>And the others were glad enough to pull up their jaded steeds, for they +had ridden far and hard to escape. But fate was against them.</p> + +<p>"So it's you; is it, Wilson!" exclaimed Mr. Pertell, as he recognized +the spy who had been detected in the studio.</p> + +<p>"And there's that other chap!" exclaimed Russ, as he saw the man who had +so suddenly left Rocky Ranch. "Now if we could only get back that roll +of stolen film we'd be all right."</p> + +<p>The prisoners were searched and bound, and on Wilson were found papers +incriminating him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> and his confederates in both the moves against our +friends. Other actions to take advantage of Mr. Pertell had also been +planned.</p> + +<p>But, best of all, the headquarters of the gang was disclosed and there, +among other things, was found the missing roll of film, with the seals +unbroken, showing that it was not spoiled, but could be developed and +printed. So, after all, there was no need of making the big scene over +again. The surreptitious pictures of the oil well were also recovered +and destroyed.</p> + +<p>And then, after no very gentle treatment, the Rocky Ranch cowboys ran +out of the country the men who had been trying to take advantage of Mr. +Pertell's work for the benefit of the International company.</p> + +<p>"That's the way!"</p> + +<p>"Run 'em out!"</p> + +<p>"Give 'em some more!"</p> + +<p>To these startling shouts were Wilson's men driven away, and glad enough +they were to go. What other films they had taken on the sly were +destroyed, and their cameras were confiscated. In fact all their efforts +came to naught. It was disclosed, later, that they had not intended to +endanger our friends by starting the prairie fire; only to spoil their +plans.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And now for the grand finale!" cried Mr. Pertell a few days later, when +the return had been made to Rocky Ranch. "This will be the last scene in +the great drama 'East and West.' There's to be a cowboy festival, with +all sorts of stunts in horsemanship and lariat throwing. You've got a +lot of work ahead of you, Russ."</p> + +<p>There were busy days at Rocky Ranch. Cowboys from neighboring places +rode over to take part in the fun and frolic, and Russ got many fine +films.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know when I've enjoyed anything so much as I have this life +in the West," said Alice, when the last film had been taken.</p> + +<p>"Nor I," added Ruth. "It has been just glorious."</p> + +<p>"And I am so much better," declared Mr. DeVere. "I would scarcely know I +had a sore throat now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so glad, Daddy dear!" exclaimed Alice, as she put her arms +around his neck.</p> + +<p>"And now we're going back to New York, and have a good, long rest," went +on Ruth. "I shall be sorry to get into the stuffy city again."</p> + +<p>"I won't," declared Miss Pennington. "I'm just dying for a sight of dear +old Broadway," and as if that gave her a thought she gently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> powdered +her nose. Perhaps it needed it, for she was very much sunburned.</p> + +<p>"Well, you're going back to New York all right, as far as that is +concerned," said Mr. Pertell, who had overheard part of the talk. "But +as for a rest—well, I suppose I'll have to give you a little one, +before we start off again."</p> + +<p>"Oh, have you more plans in prospect?" asked Alice.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I have, my dear young lady. We're going in for water stuff +next."</p> + +<p>And those of you who desire to follow further the careers of Ruth, Alice +and their friends, may do so by reading the next volume of this series, +to be called, "The Moving Picture Girls at Sea; Or, A Pictured Shipwreck +That Became Real."</p> + +<p>"One more day at Rocky Ranch!" cried Alice, as she came out on the +veranda one glorious morning. "Oh, but I don't want to leave it!"</p> + +<p>"Neither do I!" cried Paul, coming around the corner of the house so +unexpectedly that Alice was startled. "Suppose we go for a last ride?" +he suggested.</p> + +<p>And together they rode over the prairies, side by side toward the Golden +West.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors corrected.</p> + +<p>Three instances of "DeVere" being split over two lines were repaired to match +the remainder of the text.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 20349-h.txt or 20349-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/3/4/20349">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/4/20349</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/20349-h/images/p00001.png b/20349-h/images/p00001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..244bf71 --- /dev/null +++ b/20349-h/images/p00001.png diff --git a/20349.txt b/20349.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ba2c4f --- /dev/null +++ b/20349.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6238 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch, by +Laura Lee Hope + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch + Or, Great Days Among the Cowboys + + +Author: Laura Lee Hope + + + +Release Date: January 12, 2007 [eBook #20349] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY +RANCH*** + + +E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Emmy, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/c/) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 20349-h.htm or 20349-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/3/4/20349/20349-h/20349-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/3/4/20349/20349-h.zip) + + + + + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH + +Or + +Great Days Among the Cowboys + +by + +LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of "The Moving Picture Girls," "The Moving Picture +Girls Under the Palms," "The Outdoor Girls +Series," "The Bobbsey Twins Series," Etc. + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +The Goldsmith Publishing Co. +Cleveland +Made in U. S. A. + +Copyright, 1914, by +Grosset & Dunlap + +Press of +The Commercial Bookbinding Co. +Cleveland + + + +[Illustration: "WE ARE HEMMED IN BY THE PRAIRIE FIRE!" _Moving Picture +Girls at Rocky Ranch._--_Page 192._] + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I THE SPY 1 + + II WESTERN PLANS 13 + + III A DARING FEAT 23 + + IV A CLOUD OF SMOKE 32 + + V A MIX-UP 42 + + VI THE AUTO SMASH 49 + + VII OFF FOR THE WEST 56 + + VIII THE OIL WELL 66 + + IX THE RIVALS 72 + + X THE CYCLONE 78 + + XI AT ROCKY RANCH 90 + + XII SUSPICIONS 96 + + XIII AT THE BRANDING 109 + + XIV A WARNING 117 + + XV THE INDIAN RITES 125 + + XVI PRISONERS 134 + + XVII THE RESCUE 143 + + XVIII A RUSH OF STEERS 156 + + XIX TOO MUCH REALISM 163 + + XX IN THE OPEN 168 + + XXI THE BURNING GRASS 178 + + XXII HEMMED IN 186 + + XXIII THE ESCAPE 193 + + XXIV A DISCLOSURE 201 + + XXV THE ROUND-UP 208 + + + + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS +AT ROCKY RANCH + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE SPY + + +"Well, Ruth, aren't you almost ready?" + +"Just a moment, Alice. I can't seem to get my collar fastened in the +back. I wish I'd used the old-fashioned hooks and eyes instead of those +new snaps." + +"Oh, I think those snaps are just adorable!" + +"Oh, Alice DeVere! Using such an extreme expression!" + +"What expression, Ruth?" + +"'Adorable!' You sometimes accuse me of using slang, and there you +go----" + +"'Adorable' isn't slang," retorted Alice. + +"Oh, isn't it though? Since when?" + +"There you go yourself! You're as bad as I am." + +"Well, it must be associating with you, then," sighed Ruth. + +"No, Ruth, it's this moving picture business. It just makes you use +words that _mean_ something, and not those that are merely sign-posts. +I'm glad to see that you are getting--sensible. But never mind about +that. Are you ready to go to the studio? I'm sure we'll be late." + +"Oh, please help me with this collar. I wish I'd made this waist with +the new low-cut effect. Not too low, of course," Ruth added hastily, as +she caught a surprised glance from her sister. + +Two girls were in a room about which were strewn many articles of +feminine adornment. Yet it was not an untidy apartment. True, dresser +drawers did yawn and disclose their contents, and closet doors gaped at +one, showing a collection of shoes and skirts. But then the occupants of +the room might have been forgiven, for they were in haste to keep an +appointment. + +"There, Ruth," finally exclaimed the younger of the two girls--yet she +was not so much younger--not more than two years. "I think your collar +is perfectly sweet." + +"It's good of you to say so. You know I got it at that little French +shop around the corner, but sewed some of that Mexican drawn lace on to +make it a bit higher. Now I'm sorry I did, for I had to put in those +snap fasteners instead of hooks. And if you don't get them to fit +exactly they come loose. It's like when the film doesn't come right on +the screen, and the piano player sounds a discord to call the +operator's attention to it." + +"You've hit it, sister mine." + +"Oh, Alice! There you go again. 'Hit it!'" + +"You'd say 'hit it' at a baseball game," Alice retorted. + +"Oh, yes, I suppose so. But we're not at one," objected the older girl, +as she finished buttoning her gloves, and took up her parasol, which she +shook out, to make sure that it would open easily when needed. + +"There, I think I'm ready," announced Alice, as she slipped on a light +jacket, for, though it was spring, the two rivers of New York sent +rather chilling breezes across the city, and a light waist was rather +conducive to colds. + +"Have you the key?" asked the older girl, as she paused for a moment on +the threshold of the private hall of the apartment house. She had tied +her veil rather tightly at the back, knotting it and fastening it with a +little gold pin, and now she pulled it away from her cheeks, to relieve +the tension. + +"Yes, I have it, Ruth. Oh, don't make such funny faces! Anyone would +think you were posing." + +"Well, I'm not--but this veil--tickles." + +"Serves you right for trying to be so stylish." + +"It's proper to have a certain amount of style, Alice, dear. I wish I +could induce you to have more of it." + +"I have enough, thank you. Let's don't talk dress any more, or we'll +have a tiff before we get to the moving picture studio, and there are +some long and trying scenes ahead of us to-day." + +"So there are. I wonder if daddy took his key?" + +"Wait, and I'll look on his dresser." + +The younger girl went back into the apartment for a moment, while her +sister stepped across the corridor and tapped lightly at an opposite +door. + +"Has Russ gone?" she asked the pleasant-faced woman who answered. + +"Yes, Ruth. A little while ago. He was going to call for you girls, but +I knew you were dressing, for Alice came in to borrow some pins, so I +told him not to wait." + +"That's right. We'll see him at the studio." + +"You're coming in to supper to-night, you know." + +"Oh, yes, Mrs. Dalwood. Daddy wouldn't miss that for anything!" laughed +Ruth, as she turned to wait for her sister. "Of course he _says_ our +cooking is the best he ever had since poor mamma left us," Ruth went +on, "but I just _know_ he relishes yours a great deal more." + +"Oh, you're just saying that, Ruth!" objected the neighbor. + +"Indeed I'm not. You should hear him talk, for days afterward, about +your clam chowder." She laughed genially. + +"Well, he does seem to relish that," admitted Mrs. Dalwood. + +"What's that?" asked Alice, as she came out. + +"We're speaking of clam chowder, and how fond daddy is of Mrs. Dalwood's +recipe," said Ruth. + +"Oh, yes, indeed! I should think he'd be ashamed to look a clam in the +face--that is, if a clam _has_ a face," laughed Alice. "It's awfully +good of you, Mrs. Dalwood, to make it for him so often." + +"Well, I'm always glad when a man enjoys his meals," declared Mrs. +Dalwood, who, being a widow, knew what the lack of proper home life +meant. + +"I'm afraid we're imposing on you," suggested Alice, as she started down +the stairs. "You have us over to tea so often, and we seldom invite +you." + +"Now don't be thinking that, my dear!" exclaimed the neighbor. "I know +what it is when you have to pose so much for moving pictures. + +"My boy Russ tells me what long hours you put in, and how hard you work. +And it's trouble enough to get up a meal these days, and have anything +left to pay the rent. So I'm only too glad when you can come in and +enjoy the victuals with us. I cook too much anyhow, and of late Russ +seems to have lost his appetite." + +"I fancy I know why," laughed Alice, with a roguish glance at her +sister. + +"Alice!" protested Ruth, in shocked tones. "Don't you dare----" + +"I was only going to say that he has not seemed well since coming back +from Florida--what was the harm in that?" Alice wanted to know. + +"Oh!" murmured Ruth. "Do come on," she added, as if she feared her +fun-loving sister might say something embarrassing. + +"Russ will be better soon, Mrs. Dalwood," Alice called as she and her +sister went down the stairway of the apartment house. + +"What makes you think so?" asked his mother. "Not but what I'm glad to +hear you say that, for really he hasn't eaten at all well lately." + +"We're going on the road again, I hear," went on Alice. "The whole +moving picture company is to be taken off somewhere, and a lot of films +made. Russ always likes that, and I'm sure his appetite will come back +as soon as we start traveling. It always does." + +"You are getting to be a close observer," remarked Ruth, with just the +hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Oh, Alice, do finish buttoning your +gloves in the house!" she exclaimed. "It looks so careless to go out +fussing with them." + +"All right, sister mine. Anything to keep peace in the family!" laughed +the younger girl. + +Together they went down the street, a charming picture of youth and +happiness. + +A little later they entered the studio of the Comet Film Company, a +concern engaged in the business of making moving pictures, from posing +them with actors and actresses, and the suitable "properties," to the +leasing of the completed films to the various theaters throughout the +country. + +Alice and Ruth DeVere, of whom you will hear more later, with their +father, were engaged in this work, and very interesting and profitable +they found it. + +As the girls entered the studio they were greeted by a number of other +players, and an elderly gentleman, with a bearing and carriage that +revealed the schooling of many years behind the footlights, came +forward. + +"I was just wondering where you were," he said with a smile. His voice +was husky and hoarse, and indicated that he had some throat affection. +In fact, that same throat trouble was the cause of Hosmer DeVere being +in moving picture work instead of in the legitimate drama, in which he +had formerly been a leading player. + +"We stopped a moment to speak to Mrs. Dalwood," explained Ruth. + +"Clam chowder," added Alice, with a laugh. "She's going to have it this +evening, Daddy." + +"Good!" he exclaimed, rubbing his hands together in a manner that +indicated gratification. "I was just hungry for some." + +"You always seem able to eat that," laughed Alice. "I must learn how to +make it." + +"I wish you would!" exclaimed her father, earnestly. "Then when we are +on the road I can have some, now and then." + +"Oh, you are hopeless!" laughed Alice. "Here is your latch-key, Daddy," +she went on, handing it to him. "You left it on your dresser, and as +Ruth and I are going shopping when we get through here, I thought you +might want it." + +"Thank you, I probably shall. I am going home from here to study a new +part." + +The scene in the studio of the moving picture concern was a lively one. +Men were moving about whole "rooms"--or, at least they appeared as such +on the film. Others were setting various parts of the stage, +electricians were adjusting the powerful lights, cameras were being set +up on their tripods, and operators were at the handles, grinding away, +for several plays were being made at once. + +"Just in time, Ruth and Alice!" called Russ Dalwood, who was one of the +chief camera men. "Your scene goes on in ten minutes. You have just time +to dress." + +"It's that 'Quaker Maid;' isn't it?" asked Ruth, for she and her sisters +took part in so many plays that often it was hard to remember which +particular one was to be filmed. + +"That's it," said Russ. "Don't forget your bonnets!" he laughed as he +focused the camera. + +"All ready now!" called Mr. Pertell, the manager of the company, and +also the chief stage director, a little later. "Take your places, if you +please! Mr. DeVere, you are not in this until the second scene. Mr. +Bunn, you'll not need your high hat in this act." + +"But I thought you said----" began an elderly actor, of the type known +as "Hams," from their insatiable desire to portray the character of +Hamlet. + +"I know I did," said Mr. Pertell, sharply. "But I have had to change my +mind. You are to take the part of a plumber, and you come to fix a burst +water pipe. So get your overalls and your kit. You have a plumber's kit; +haven't you, Pop?" the manager called to Pop Snooks, the property man, +who was obliged, on short notice, to provide anything from a diamond +ring to a rustic bridge. + +"All right for the plumber!" called Pop. "Have it for you in a minute." + +"And, Mr. Sneed," called the manager to another actor. "You are supposed +to be the householder whose water pipe has burst. You try to putty it up +and you get soaked. Go over there in the far corner, where the tank is; +we don't want water running into this Quaker scene." + +"Oh, I get all wet; do I?" asked Mr. Sneed, in no very pleasant tones. + +"That's what you do!" + +"Well, all I've got to say is that I wish you'd give some of these tank +dramas to someone else. I'm getting tired of being soaked." + +"You haven't been really wet since the trip to Florida," declared Mr. +Pertell. "Lively now, we have no time to lose. Come on, Russ!" he called +to the young operator. "You're to film the Quaker scenario. I'll have +Johnson make the water pipe scene. All ready, ladies and gentlemen!" + +Various plays were going on at once in different parts of the studio. +Ruth and Alice DeVere took their places in one where a Quaker story was +being portrayed. Later they posed in a church scene, in which a number +of extra people, or "supers," were engaged to represent the +congregation. + +Mr. Pertell, once he had the various scenes going, took a moment in +which to rest, for he was a very busy man. He sat down near Alice, who, +for the time being, was out of the scene. But hardly had the manager +stretched out in a chair, resting one shirt-sleeved arm over the back, +when he started up, and looked intently toward one corner of the studio. + +"I wonder why he is going in there?" observed the manager, half aloud. + +"Who?" asked Alice, for the moving picture company was like one big +family, in a way. + +"That new man," went on Mr. Pertell. "Harry Wilson, he said his name +was. Now he's going into the proof room, where he has no business. I +must look into this. I wonder, after all, if there could be any truth in +that warning I received the other day." + +"What warning?" asked Alice. + +"About a rival film company trying to discover some of the secrets of +our success. I must look into this." + +He sprang from his chair and hurried across the big studio toward the +room where the films were first shown privately, to correct any defects, +mechanical or artistic. It was there that the initial performance, so to +speak, was given. + +Before Mr. Pertell reached the room, where the projection machine was +installed, the man of whom he had spoken had entered. And, just as the +manager reached the door, the same man came violently out, impelled by a +vigorous push from one of the operators, who at the same time cried: + +"Get out of here, you spy! What do you mean by sneaking in here, trying +to get our secrets? Get out! Where's Mr. Pertell? I'll tell him about +you." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +WESTERN PLANS + + +"What is it, Walsh? What is the trouble?" exclaimed Mr. Pertell, as he +hastened toward the proving room, where the films were tested before +being "released." + +"This man, Mr. Pertell! This fellow you hired as a comedy actor. He came +in here just now, and I caught him starting to take notes of the first +film of our new play." + +"You did!" cried the manager sharply. + +"Yes. He came in when it was dark; but the film broke, and I turned on +the light. Then I caught him!" + +"That's not so--you did not!" + +The accused man--the spy he had been called--stood facing them all, the +picture of injured innocence. Ruth, Alice and some of the other women +members of the company drew aside, a little frightened at the prospect +of trouble. + +And trouble seemed imminent, for it was easy to see that Mr. Pertell was +very angry. As for the other, his face was white with either anger or +fear--perhaps the latter. + +"I saw you taking notes of the action on that film!" cried James Walsh, +the testing room expert. + +"And I say you did not!" asserted Harry Wilson, the new player, hired a +few days before as a "comic relief." The other members of the company +knew very little of him, and he had attracted small attention until this +episode. During a period when he was not engaged in one of the plays he +had gone into the room, permission to enter which was not often granted, +even to favored members of the Comet Film concern--at least until after +the release of the film was decided. + +"Don't let that man get way!" cried Mr. Pertell, sharply, as he saw +Wilson edging toward the hallway. "Lock the doors and we'll search him!" + +There was some confusion for a moment, but the doors were locked, and +Pop Snooks seized the new actor. + +And, while preparations are being made to search the man I will trespass +on the time of my new readers sufficiently to tell them, as briefly as I +can, something about the previous books of this series, and of the main +characters in this one. + +The initial volume was entitled "The Moving Picture Girls; Or, First +Appearances in Photo Dramas." The girls were Ruth and Alice DeVere, aged +respectively seventeen and fifteen years. Their mother was dead, and +they lived with their father, Hosmer DeVere, in the Fenmore Apartment +House, New York. Across the hall from them lived Russ Dalwood, a moving +picture operator, with his widowed mother, and his brother Billy. + +Mr. DeVere was a talented actor in the "legitimate," as it is called to +distinguish it from vaudeville and moving pictures. But the recurrence +of an old throat ailment made him suddenly so hoarse that he could not +speak loud enough to be heard across the footlights. He was already +rehearsing for a new play when this happened, and after several trials +to make himself audible, he was finally forced to give up his +engagement. + +This was doubly hard, as the DeVeres were in straitened circumstances at +this time, money being very scarce. They had really entered upon a +period of "hard times" when Russ, a manly young fellow, whose first +acquaintance with the girls had quickly ripened into friendship, made a +suggestion. + +"Why don't you try moving pictures?" he had said to Mr. DeVere. "You +can act, all right, and you won't have to use your voice." + +At first the veteran actor was much opposed to to the idea, rather +looking down upon moving pictures as "common." But his daughters induced +him to try it, and he came to like them very much. The pay, too, was +good. + +Thus Mr. DeVere became attached to the Comet Film Company. Mr. Frank +Pertell, as I have said, was manager, and Russ was his chief operator, +though there were several others. There were, too, a number of actors +and actresses attached to the company. Besides Ruth, Alice and their +father, there were Miss Laura Dixon and Miss Pearl Pennington, former +vaudeville stars, between whom and the DeVere girls there was not the +best of feeling. Ruth and Alice thought that the two actresses were of a +rather too "showy" type, and Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon rather +looked down on Alice and Ruth as being "slow" and old-fashioned. + +Pop Snooks, as I have intimated, was the efficient property man. Paul +Ardite, whom Alice liked very much, was the juvenile leading man. + +Wellington Bunn was the "old school" actor already mentioned. He and +Pepper Sneed were rather alike in one way--they made many objections +when called on to do "stunts" out of the ordinary. Mr. Bunn always +wanted to play Shakespearean parts, and Mr. Sneed was always fearful +that something was going to happen. + +Of a contrasting disposition was Carl Switzer, the jolly German +comedian. Nothing came amiss to him, and he was always ready for +whatever was on the program, making a joke of even hard and dangerous +work. + +Mrs. Maguire was the "mother" of the company. She often played "old +woman" parts, and her two grandchildren, Tommy and Nellie, were +sometimes used in child sketches. + +Ruth and Alice really got into moving picture work by accident. One day +two extra actresses failed to appear when needed, and Mr. Pertell, who +was in a hurry, appealed to Mr. DeVere to allow his daughters to "fill +in." They did so well that they were engaged permanently, and very much +did they like their work. + +Alice was like her dead mother, happy, full of life and jollity, and her +brown eyes generally sparkled with laughter. She was a rather +matter-of-fact nature, whereas Ruth was more romantic. Ruth was a deal +like her father, inclined to look on the more serious side of life. But +her blue eyes could be laughing and jolly, too, and between the two +girls there was really not so much difference after all. + +Soon after getting into moving picture work they became aware of a bold +attempt to get away from Russ Dalwood an invention he had made for a +camera. How Ruth and Alice frustrated this, and how they "made good," as +Mr. Pertell put it, in an important drama, is fully told in the first +book. + +The second volume was entitled "The Moving Picture Girls at Oak Farm; +Or, Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays." The manager had made the +acquaintance of Sandy Apgar in New York. Sandy managed his father's +farm, in New Jersey, and Mr. Pertell took his entire company there, to +make a series of farm dramas. + +A curious mystery developed at once, and did not end until the discovery +of a certain secret room, in which was concealed a treasure that was of +the utmost benefit to the Apgar family. + +"The Moving Picture Girls Snowbound; Or, The Proof on the Film," was the +third book. To get a series of dramas in which snow and ice effects +would form the background, Mr. Pertell took his company of players to +the backwoods of New England. There they had rather more snow than they +expected, and were caught in a blizzard. + +Also Ruth and Alice made a curious discovery concerning a dishonest man, +and not only frustrated his plans to swindle a certain company, but +also were able to save their father from paying a debt the second time. +In addition they took part in many important plays. + +From the cold bleakness of New England to the balmy air of Florida was a +change that Ruth and Alice experienced later, for on their return to New +York from the backwoods the members of the company were sent to the +peninsular state. + +In "The Moving Picture Girls Under the Palms; Or, Lost in the Wilds of +Florida," is related what happened when the company went South. + +Exciting incidents occurred from the first, when the ship caught fire, +and, even as it burned, Russ "filmed" it. + +But the company reached St. Augustine safely, and then came busy times, +making various moving picture dramas. + +How the two sisters learned of the plight of the two girls whom they +knew slightly, and how after getting lost themselves on one of the +sluggish rivers of interior Florida, Ruth and Alice were able to render +a great service to the Madison girls--this you may read in the fourth +volume. + +The company had come back to New York in the spring, and now nearly all +the members were assembled at the studio, when the incident narrated in +the first chapter took place. + +"Here it is!" cried Mr. Pertell, as, slipping his hand into the pocket +of the accused actor, he brought forth a crumpled paper. + +"And wasn't he making notes, just as I said, of our new big play?" +demanded Walsh. + +"That's what he was!" exclaimed the manager as he quickly scanned the +crumpled document. "He didn't have time to make many notes, though." + +"No, I was too quick for him!" declared the tester. + +Harry Wilson had no more to say. His bravado deserted him and he was now +in abject fear. + +"What have you to say for yourself?" demanded Mr. Pertell, angrily. + +The other did not answer. + +"Now, you get out of here!" ordered the manager, "and never come back." + +"I'll not go until I get what is coming to me," was the sullen retort. + +"If you got what is coming to you it would be arrest!" declared Walsh. + +"I want my money!" mumbled Wilson. + +"Here is an order on the cashier for it," said Mr. Pertell. "Get it +and--go!" + +Hastily writing on a slip of paper, he tendered it to the actor, who +took it without a word, and slunk off. The others watched him curiously. +It was something they had never before witnessed--an attempt to gain +possession of the secrets of the company--for a moving picture concern +guards its films jealously, until they are "released," or ready for +reproduction. + +"Curious," remarked Mr. Pertell, "but I had a distrust of that chap from +the first. Do any of you know him?" + +"I acted mit him vunce in der Universal company, but he dit not stay +long," said Mr. Switzer. + +"Probably he was up to some underhand work," observed Walsh. + +"I wonder what his object was?" went on the manager. "He evidently +wasn't doing this for himself." Idly he turned over the scrap of paper +on which the other had been making notes in the testing room. Then the +manager uttered a cry of surprise. + +"Ha! The International Picture Company! This is part of one of their +letter heads. So Wilson was working for them! They very likely sent him +here to get a position, and instructed him to steal some of our secrets +and ideas, if he could. The scoundrel!" + +"He didn't see much!" chuckled Walsh. "The film broke after a few feet +had been run off, and I switched on the lights. He didn't see a great +deal." + +"No, his notes show that," said the manager. "But only for that +accident he might have learned of our plans and given our rivals +information sufficient to spoil our big play." + +"Have you new plans?" asked Mr. DeVere, who was on very friendly terms +with the manager. + +"Yes, we are going to make a big three-reel play, called 'East and +West,' and while some of the scenes will be laid in New York, the main +ones will be filmed out beyond the Mississippi. One of the most +important New York scenes has already been made. It was this one which +was being tested when Wilson went in there. Had he seen it all he might +have guessed at the rest of our plans and our rivals, the International +people, would have been able to get ahead of us. They are always on the +alert to take the ideas of other concerns. But I think I'll beat them +this time." + +"So we are to go West; eh?" queried Mr. DeVere. + +"Yes, out on what prairies are left, in some rather wild sections, and I +think we will make the best views we have yet had," responded Mr. +Pertell. "Now, if you please, ladies and gentlemen, take your places, +and go on with your acts. I am sorry this interruption distracted you." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DARING FEAT + + +"Oh, Ruth, did you hear? We are to go out West!" + +"Are you glad, Alice?" + +"Indeed I am. Why, we can see Indians and cowboys, and ride bucking +broncos and all that. Oh, it's perfectly delightful!" and Alice, who had +been taking down her jacket, held it in her arms, as one might clasp a +dancing partner, and swept about the now almost deserted studio in a +hesitation waltz. + +"Can't I come in on that?" cried Paul Ardite, as he began to whistle, +keeping time with Alice's steps. + +"No, indeed, I'm too tired," she answered, with a laugh. "Oh, but to +think of going West! I've always wanted to!" + +"Alice always says that, whenever a new location is decided on," +observed Ruth, with a quiet smile. + +The work of the day was over, and most of the players had gone home. +Ruth and Alice were waiting for their father, who was in Mr. Pertell's +office. They had intended going shopping, thinking Mr. DeVere would be +detained, but he had said he would be with them directly. + +And the two girls had brought up the subject of the new line of work, +broached by Mr. Pertell in mentioning the matter of the spy. + +"I hope nothing comes of that incident," said Mr. DeVere, as he came +from the manager's office, while Ruth and Alice finished their +preparations for the street. + +"I hope not, either," returned the manager, slipping into his coat, for, +like many busy men, he worked best in his shirt sleeves. "Yet I don't +like it, and I am frank to confess that the International concern has +more than once tried to get the best of me by underhand work. I don't +like it. I must keep track of that Wilson. Good night, ladies. Good +night, Mr. DeVere." + +The good nights were returned and then the two girls, with their father, +Russ and Paul, went out. + +"That was an unfortunate occurrence," remarked Mr. DeVere. + +"Oh, Daddy! How hoarse you are!" exclaimed Ruth, laying a +daintily-gloved hand on his shoulder. "You must use your throat spray as +soon as you get home." + +"I will. My throat is a little raw. There was considerable dust in the +studio to-day. I like work in the open air best." + +"So do I," confessed Alice. "Now, Daddy, you must stop talking," and she +shook her finger at him. "You listen--we'll talk." + +"You mean _you_ will," laughed Ruth, for Alice generally did her own, +and part of Ruth's share also. + +They walked on, talking at intervals of the incident of the spy and +again of the prospective trip to the West. + +"Do you know just where we are going, Russ?" asked Ruth, as she kept +pace with him. + +"Not exactly," he replied, stealing a glance at the girl beside him, for +she was a picture fair to look upon with her almost golden hair blown +about her face by the light breeze, while her blue eyes looked into the +more sober gray ones of Russ. "I believe Mr. Pertell intends to go to +several places, so as to get varied views. I know we are to go to a +ranch, for one thing." + +"Fine!" exclaimed Alice, with almost boyish enthusiasm, as she walked at +the side of Paul. "Daddy, do you want me to become a cowgirl?" she +asked, turning to Mr. DeVere, who was in the rear. + +"I guess if you wanted to be one, you would whether I wanted you to or +not," he replied, with an indulgent smile. "You have a way with you!" + +"Hasn't she, though!" agreed Paul. + +They reached the apartment house where the DeVeres and Russ lived. Paul +came in for a little while, but declined an invitation to stay to tea. + +"I've got quite a piece of work on for to-morrow," he said, as he left. + +"What is it?" asked Alice. + +"There's to be a new play, 'An Inventor's Troubles,' and one of the +inventions is a sort of rope fire escape. There's a rope, coiled in a +metal case. You take it to your hotel room with you, and in case of fire +you fasten the case to the window casing, grab one end of the rope, and +jump. The rope is supposed to pay out slowly, by means of friction +pulleys, and you come safely to the ground." + +"Did you invent that?" asked Ruth, who had not heard all that was said. + +"Oh, no, some fellow did, and the city authorities are going to give him +a chance to demonstrate it before they will recommend it to hotel +proprietors. And I'm to be the 'goat,' if you will allow me to say so." + +"How?" asked Alice. + +"I'm to come down on the rope from the tenth story of some building. +This will serve as the city test, and at the same time Mr. Pertell has +fixed up a story in which the fire escape scene figures. I've got to +study up a little bit before to-morrow." + +"It--it isn't dangerous; is it?" asked Alice, and she rather faltered +over the words. + +"Not if the thing works," replied Paul, with a shrug of his shoulders. +"That is, if the rope doesn't break, or pay out so fast that I hit the +pavement with a bump." + +"Oh, is it as dangerous as that?" exclaimed Alice, looking at Paul +intently. + +"Don't worry," and he smiled. "I guess the apparatus has been tested +before. I'm getting used to risks in this business." + +"What time to-morrow is it?" queried Ruth. + +"Right after lunch," Russ responded. "I've got to film him." + +"Then I'm coming to see you!" declared Alice. "I'm off directly after +lunch. I haven't much on for to-morrow." + +"Oh, Alice! You wouldn't go!" cried her sister. + +"Of course I would, my dear!" + +"But suppose something--happened?" Ruth went on in a low voice, as Russ +and Paul started out together. + +"All the more reason why I should be there!" declared Alice, promptly, +and Ruth looked at her with a new light of understanding in her eyes. +And then she looked at Paul, who waved his hand gaily at the younger +girl. + +"Dear little sister," murmured Ruth. "I wonder----?" + +"I'll look for you there," called Paul, as he went on down the hall. + +"And I'll be there," promised Alice. + +"Do you feel better now, Daddy?" asked Ruth, in their rooms. + +"Much better--yes, my dear. That new spray the doctor gave me seems to +work wonders. And my throat is really better since our trip South. I +feel quite encouraged." + +It was after supper in the DeVere apartment. The two girls were seated +at the sitting-room table with their father, who was looking over a new +play in which he had a part. Alice was reading a newspaper and Ruth +mending a pair of stockings. + +"Well, there's one good thing about going out West," finally remarked +the younger girl, as she tossed aside the paper, and caught up a hairpin +which her vigorous motion had caused to slip out of her brown tresses. + +"What's that--you won't have to fuss so about dress?" asked Ruth, for +her sister did not share her ideas on this subject. + +"No, but if we do go there won't be any trouble about that International +company trying to steal Mr. Pertell's secrets." + +"I don't know about that," observed Mr. DeVere, slowly. "If they are +after his big drama they may even follow us out West." + +"Oh, I hope not!" exclaimed Ruth, pausing with extended needle. "I don't +like trouble." + +"There may be no trouble," her father assured her, with a smile. "In +fact, now that the spy is detected, the whole affair may be closed. I +hope so, for Mr. Pertell works hard to get up new ideas, and to have +some other concern step in, and rob him of the fruits of his labor, +would be unjust indeed." + +Rehearsals and the filming of plays in the Comet studio were over the +next morning about eleven o'clock. + +"Come on," said Paul to Ruth and Alice. "I'm to get a bonus on account +of the fire escape stunt, and I'll take you girls out to lunch. Come +along, Russ. It's extra money and we might as well enjoy it." + +"You are too extravagant!" chided Ruth. + +"Oh, I like to be--when I have the chance," Paul laughed. "It isn't +often I do." + +"Well, then, we may as well help you out," agreed Russ. "Right after +lunch we'll give you a chance to show us what you can do on that patent +rope." + +The little meal was a merry one, in spite of the fact that the two girls +were a little nervous about going to see Paul descend from the tenth +story of a building on a slender rope. Ruth had finally consented to +accompany her sister. + +Together they went to the place where the test was to take place. It was +a tall office structure, and, as word of what was afoot had spread, +quite a throng had gathered. + +Mr. Pertell had made arrangements with the authorities to have Paul work +in a little theatrical business in connection with the test, and the +inventor of the fire escape was also to be in the moving pictures. + +There was a little preliminary scene, as part of the projected play, and +then Paul went into the building with the inventor to prepare for his +thrilling descent. + +The apparatus seemed simple. It was a round, metallic case, inside of +which was coiled a stout rope. At the end was a broad leather strap, +intended to be fastened about the person who was to make the jump. The +case, and the coil of rope, were to be fastened to a hook at the side of +the window. Then Paul was to jump out, and trust to the slow uncoiling +of the rope to lower him safely. + +"Are you all ready?" asked the inventor, after he had explained the +apparatus. + +"As ready as I ever shall be," answered Paul a little nervously. He +looked down to the ground. It seemed a long way off. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A CLOUD OF SMOKE + + +Below, in the crowd that had gathered to watch the test, were Ruth and +Alice. Russ, of course, was there with his moving picture camera, and +Paul saw the little lens-tube aimed in his direction, like the muzzle of +some new weapon. + +"Now, don't get nervous," directed the inventor, after he had explained +the mechanism to Paul, and also to the city officials who had gathered +to pass upon its merits. + +"You can't make me nervous," declared the young actor. "I've gone +through too much in this moving picture business, though I will admit I +never jumped from such a height before." + +"Don't look down," the inventor warned him. "You won't get dizzy then. +And don't think of the height. With this apparatus it is impossible to +get hurt. You will go down like a feather." + +"That's comforting to know," laughed Paul. "Well, I may as well start, I +guess." + +The belt was adjusted about him, and as it was done in the open window +Russ was able to get views of it, and of all that went on. Then Paul got +out on the sill. There he paused a moment. + +"I--I can't bear to look at him!" murmured Ruth. + +"Don't be silly," exclaimed Alice. + +"But suppose--suppose something happens?" + +"Don't be a Mr. Sneed!" retorted her sister, with a laugh. "I don't +believe anything will happen, and if--if he should fall--see!" and she +pointed to where a detachment of city firemen stood ready with their +life net. + +"Oh, I didn't notice them before," confessed Ruth. "That makes it +safer." + +"All ready down there, Russ?" shouted Paul, through a megaphone. "Shall +I go?" + +"Jump! I'm all ready for you," was the answer. + +Paul paused but for a moment, and then he jumped from the sill, and out +away from the building. The coil of rope in the metal case had been +swung out from the side of the structure on an arm, so as to enable Paul +to clear the lower window ledges. + +For the first few feet he went down like a shot, and for one horrible +moment he felt that something had gone wrong. In fact the crowd did +also, for there was a hoarse shout of alarm. + +"Oh!" gasped Ruth, faintly. + +"I--I----" began Alice, as she, too, turned aside her head. Then someone +yelled: + +"It's all right!" + +Alice looked then. + +She saw Paul descending as the rope payed out. He was coming down +gradually. + +"That will make a good film," commented Russ to Mr. Pertell, for the +manager had come to witness the fire escape scene. + +"Indeed it will." + +Paul came down several stories, and the success of the apparatus seemed +assured when, at about the fourth story from the ground, something +suddenly went wrong. + +Once more the young actor shot downward and this time it seemed that he +would be seriously injured. + +Russ felt that he must rush forward to save his friend, but he had an +inborn instinct to stick to his camera--an instinct that probably every +moving picture operator has, even though he does violence to his own +feelings. + +"He'll be hurt!" several in the crowd cried. + +Ruth and Alice both turned aside their heads again, but there was no +need for alarm. + +For the firemen, at the word of command from their captain, had rushed +forward with the life net. They were standing only a few feet away from +where Paul dangled in the air, but even at that they were only just in +time. + +Paul fell into it heavily, for the mechanism depended on to check the +speed at which the rope payed out, did not work. But the firemen knew +just how to handle a situation of that sort, and they held firmly to the +net. It sagged under the impact of Paul's body, but he bounded upward +again in an instant, and then was helped out of the net and to his feet. + +"Mighty lucky you fellows were here," observed the young actor, as the +cheers of the crowd died down. + +"I was afraid something like that might happen," spoke the fire captain. +"I've seen too many accidents with these patent escapes to take any +chances. Now there's another inventor who will have to make quite a few +changes in his apparatus." + +The man who had patented the fire escape had been in a frenzy of fear +when he saw Paul slipping, and, now that he knew the young actor was +safe, he began to explain how something unforeseen had occurred, and +that it would never happen again. + +"Did you get that, Russ?" the manager wanted to know, for he thought the +operator, in his anxiety over Paul, might have forgotten to turn the +handle of the machine. + +"Every move," was the reassuring answer. "It will make a dandy film. But +I'm mighty glad it turned out as it did." + +"So am I," said the manager. "I guess that will be about all for Paul +to-day. His nerves must be on edge." + +Paul declared that they were not, however, and wanted to go on with the +rest of the film, which included the showing of other, but less +dangerous, inventions. + +"No, you take the rest of the day off," directed the manager. "There is +no great rush about this." + +The crowd pressed curiously about Paul and the others of the moving +picture company, and, as Ruth and Alice were getting hemmed in, Mr. +Pertell called a taxicab and sent them home in it. + +"Report at the studio to-morrow," he called. + +"Did you have any more trouble with that spy?" asked Alice, as the +vehicle moved away. + +"No," he answered. "I guess they'll quit, now that they know I have +found them out." + +The next day Paul finished with his invention-film, being required to do +a number of "funny stunts," such as shaving with a new safety razor +that did anything but what it was intended for; trying a new wardrobe +trunk, that unexpectedly closed up with him inside of it, and such +things as that. Some of the inventions were real, and others were +"faked" for the occasion, to make a "comic" film. + +But nothing as risky as the rope escape was tried, though probably had +Paul been required to go through an equally hazardous feat he would not +have balked. Moving picture actors often take very big chances, and the +public, looking at the finished film, little realize it. + +"I have something for you to-day I think you'll like," said Mr. Pertell +to Ruth and Alice, as they reported at the studio. + +"I hope it is outdoor stuff," ventured Alice. "It is just glorious +to-day!" + +Moving picture work is referred to as "stuff." Thus scenes at a river or +lake are "water stuff," and if a play should take place in a desert the +action would be termed "desert stuff," and so on. + +"Well, I'm sorry, but only part of it, and a very little at that, is +outdoor stuff," replied Mr. Pertell. "The action of this play takes +place in a shirt waist factory. And I've got the use of a real factory +where you two girls will pose and go through the 'business.' You're to +be shirt waist operators, and I'll explain the story to you later." + +"I can't sew very well," confessed Alice, "and I never made but one +shirt waist in my life--I couldn't wear it after it was done," she +added. + +"You don't really have to sew," explained Mr. Pertell. "It is all +machine work, anyhow. You and Ruth will sit at the machines in the +factory with the other girls. Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon are also to +be operators, but you two are the main characters. The machines work by +a small electric motor, and all you have to do is to push some cloth +along under the needle. You can do that." + +"I guess so," agreed Alice. + +"The forewoman will rehearse you a bit," Mr. Pertell went on. "The scene +at the machines only takes a few moments--just a little strip of film. +Then the scene changes to another part of the factory. I think it will +make a good film. The story is called 'The Eye of a Needle.' It's really +quite clever and by a new writer. I think it will make a hit." + +Ruth and Alice, as well as the others, were told more in detail what +action the play required, and the next day they were ready for their +parts. They went to the factory accompanied by the two former vaudeville +actresses, and by Russ and Paul. The latter was to take the part of one +of the male employees of the concern. + +Ruth and Alice found themselves in a room filled with sewing machines, +at which sat girls and women busily engaged in stitching on shirt +waists. There was the hum of the small electric motors that operated the +machines, and the click and hum of the machines themselves. + +A murmur ran around the room on the entrance of the players, but the +operators had been told what to expect and what to do. They were to be +in the pictures, too. + +Ruth and Alice, with Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon, were given machines +close to the camera, as they were the principal characters, and interest +centered in them. + +"Just guide the cloth through under the needle," the forewoman +explained, as she started the motors on the girls' machines. + +"Ready!" called Mr. Pertell to Russ, who stood beside the camera. The +action of the play began, as Russ clicked away at the handle of his +machine. + +Suddenly a girl screamed. + +"Oh, what is it?" demanded Miss Pennington, jumping up. + +"Sit down! You'll spoil the film!" cried Mr. Pertell. + +There was a little confusion for a moment. + +"It's only one of the girls who has run a needle into her finger," the +forewoman explained. "It often happens. We take care of them right +here." + +"All right--get that in, Russ," suggested Mr. Pertell. "It will make it +seem much more natural." + +The girl's injury was a slight one, and Russ got on the film the action +of her being attended in the room set aside for the treatment of injured +employes. + +"I'll have something written in the script to fit to that," said Mr. +Pertell, as the action of the play resumed. + +The plot of the little drama called upon Miss Pennington to write a note +to Alice, pretending that it came from a young man, whose name the +former vaudeville performer was supposed to forge. Alice was to +"register" certain emotions, and to show the note to Ruth. Then Miss +Dixon came into the scene, the sewing machines were deserted and, for a +moment, there was an excited conference. + +Considerable dramatic action was called for, and this was well done by +the girls, while the real operatives looked on in simulated surprise as +they kept at their work. + +The play was almost over, when from a far corner of the room came a +startled cry. + +"Someone else hurt with a needle, I wonder?" queried Paul, as he stood +near Alice's machine. + +"I hope not," she answered. + +And then the whole room was thrown into panic as the cry broke out: + +"Fire! Fire! The building is on fire!" + +Shrill screams drowned out the rest of the alarm, but as Ruth, Alice and +the others of the moving picture company looked around they saw a cloud +of smoke at the rear of the big room. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A MIX-UP + + +"Stand still! Don't rush! Form in line!" + +Sharp and crisp came the words of the forewoman. The screaming of the +girls ceased almost instantly. + +Clang! sounded a big gong through the room. Clang! Clang! + +"Fire drill!" called the efficient forewoman, and afterward Ruth and +Alice felt what a blessing it was she kept her wits about her. "Fire +drill! Form in line and march to the fire escapes!" + +"Oh! Oh, I know I'm going to faint!" cried Miss Pennington. "This is a +regular fire trap! All shirt waist factories are. I am going to faint!" + +"Miss Dixon, just--slap her!" called Alice. + +"Oh, Alice!" remonstrated Ruth, looking about with frightened eyes. + +"It's the only way to bring her to her senses!" retorted the younger +girl. And to the eternal credit of Miss Dixon be it said that she did +slap her friend Miss Pennington, and she slapped her with sufficient +energy to prevent the fainting fit, even as a sip of aromatic spirits of +ammonia might have done. + +"Fire drill! Form lines! March!" again called the forewoman, with the +coolness a veteran fireman might have envied. + +"Can't we get our wraps?" asked one of the workers. + +"No! You can come back for them," was the answer. + +"But it--it's a real fire!" someone cried. "Our things will be burned +up!" + +"It isn't a fire at all--it's only a drill!" insisted the forewoman. +"And, even if it were real, and your things were burned, the company +would replace them for you. + +"To the fire escapes! March!" + +In spite of the forewoman's assertion that it was only a fire drill the +pall of smoke in the corner of the room spread apace, and there was the +smell of fire, as well as the crackle of flames. + +"This way, girls," called Mr. Pertell to his four actresses. "Here's a +fire escape over here." + +"Excuse me," said the forewoman, firmly. "But please have your company +follow my girls. They know just which way to go, and if your actresses +make any change it may result in confusion, and----" + +"I understand," responded Mr. Pertell, at once. "Girls, consider +yourselves shirt waist operatives, and do as the others do," he +concluded. He stood aside, as a sailor might on a sinking ship, when the +order "women and children first" is given. Paul took his place at the +manager's side, waving his hand reassuringly to Ruth and Alice. + +"Oh--Oh, must we go with them? Can't we go to that fire escape?" +faltered Miss Pennington, who seemed to have entirely recovered from her +desire to faint. + +"That is for the operatives on the upper floor," explained the +forewoman. "If you will follow my girls you will be all right. There are +plenty of fire escapes for all." + +"Come on!" called Alice, as she marched behind the nearest shirt waist +girls. "There is no danger--and plenty of time." + +"That's the way to talk!" declared the forewoman, admiringly. + +But, even as she spoke, there was a burst of flame through the cloud of +smoke. Several girls screamed and those nearest the fire hung back. + +"Steady! Go on! There is no danger!" the forewoman called. + +"Are you getting this, Russ?" asked Mr. Pertell of the young camera +expert. + +"Every move!" was the enthusiastic answer. "It's too good a chance to +miss, and I guess there is really no danger." + +He continued to grind away at the camera while the girls, now in orderly +array, marched to the fire escapes and so down and out of the building. +Ruth, Alice and the two other actresses went with them. And not until +the last girl had left the room did the forewoman make a move toward the +escape. + +"You gentlemen will please leave now," she said. + +"After you," returned Mr. Pertell, with a look of admiration in his +eyes. + +"No," she said, firmly. "The rules of the fire drill require that I +leave the room last. You will please go first." + +"But, my dear young lady!" exclaimed the manager, "this is not a +drill--it is a real fire!" + +"I know it," she said, quietly. "But that makes no difference. I must +leave last. You will kindly go ahead." + +"I guess we'll have to, Russ," remarked the manager. "But I don't like +it." + +"Those are the rules," insisted the forewoman, and she would not go out +on the fire escape until Russ, Paul and Mr. Pertell had preceded her. + +By this time the street below was filled with fire apparatus, puffing, +clanging and whistling. And not until the girls were down and out of the +building did they realize what a big fire it was. For the entire +structure was now ablaze. + +Fortunately the same efficient fire drill instituted by the forewoman on +the floor where Ruth and Alice had been prevailed in other parts of the +building, and not a life was lost, though there were many narrow +escapes. + +And you may well believe that Russ did not miss this opportunity to get +moving pictures. Of course the plot of the play had been spoiled by the +fire, but a far better drama than the one originally planned was +afterward made of it. + +As the building continued to burn Russ found that he was not going to +have film enough. He sent Paul for a new supply and also to telephone +for another operator from the Comet studio, so that pictures of the big +fire from various viewpoints might be secured. + +And it was a big fire--one of the largest in New York in many years, but +aside from a few persons who received minor injuries there was none +seriously hurt. The Comet concern scored heavily in making films of the +blaze. + +"Well, that was one exciting day, yesterday," remarked Russ the next +morning at the studio. "I never worked so hard, not even when we were +lost in Florida." + +"I had a premonition something would happen," declared Mr. Sneed, as he +was making up for his part in a play. "When I got up yesterday morning I +stepped on my collar button, and that's always a sure sign something +will happen." + +"It's sometimes a sign you'll be late for rehearsal if you don't find +the collar button," laughed Paul. + +Orders for the day's work were issued, and Paul, Ruth, Alice and Mr. +Bunn found that they had to go to the Grand Central Terminal where, once +before, some film pictures had been made. + +"There is quite a complicated plot to this play," explained Mr. Pertell, +in issuing his instructions. "Mr. Bunn has some valuable papers, and +Paul, as the villain, takes them from his pocket in the station. That +starts the action." + +Fully instructed what to do, the moving picture girls, with Paul and +Russ, went up to Forty-second street. + +As the use of the train platforms was not required in this act of the +play nothing was said to the station authorities, but Mr. Bunn, with +Alice and Ruth, mingled with the crowds, as though they were ordinary +travelers. + +The operator began taking the necessary pictures, and then came Paul's +"cue" to abstract the papers. + +He had done it successfully from Mr. Bunn's pocket, seemingly without +the knowledge of the actor, and Paul was going on with the rest of the +"business," when a policeman stepped up and clapping his hand on Paul's +shoulder exclaimed: + +"I want you, young man! I saw you take those papers. You're under +arrest!" + +"But--but it's for the movies!" cried Paul, not wishing the scene +spoiled. + +"Tell that to the taxicab man! I've heard that yarn before! You come +with me. And you too," he added to Mr. Bunn. "I want you for a witness. +You've been robbed!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE AUTO SMASH + + +"The scene will be spoiled!" exclaimed Alice, as she saw a crowd surge +up when the officer grasped Paul. + +"Too bad!" declared Ruth. + +"Keep away--get back, please!" cried Russ, as he saw his camera screened +by the throng. + +"You come along with me!" the officer kept insisting to Paul, dragging +him along toward the doors of the station. "Hi, Jim!" he called to a man +in plain clothes, evidently a detective. "Grab the other fellow; will +you? I've got the pickpocket!" and he nodded to Mr. Bunn, who could not +seem to understand that from a simulated robbery it had turned out to be +a "real" one. + +"I tell you we're moving picture actors!" Paul cried. "There has been no +theft!" + +"And you expect me to believe that!" sneered the policeman. "You can't +get away with that story." + +"Well, there's the man who is taking the pictures!" Paul went on, +pointing to Russ, who, with a look of chagrin on his face, stood idle +beside the camera. He did not want to take a film with this scene in it, +for the whole plot of the story would have to be changed to make the +policeman fit in. + +"Yes, I see him," agreed the officer, nodding at Russ, "and I guess he's +in the game with you. I'll take him into custody, too." + +"Yes, and you'll get yourself into a whole lot of trouble!" said Paul, +vigorously. "You're making a mistake!" + +"I'll take that chance," observed the officer, with evident disbelief. + +"What's it all about?" asked the detective, sauntering up, while Alice +and Ruth, rather alarmed at the turn of affairs, shrank back out of +sight behind the crowd, that was increasing every second. + +"Pickpocket!" spoke the policeman, laconically. "I saw him rob that +elderly gentleman," and he pointed to Mr. Bunn. "And then this fellow +has the nerve to say he was only doing a moving picture stunt." + +"That's right, and he could see for himself, if he'd take the trouble to +look," retorted the young actor. "There's our camera man over there," +and he nodded toward Russ. The detective glanced in the same direction, +and then a smile came over his somewhat shrewd face, as Russ nodded to +him. + +"Hello, Dalwood!" exclaimed the detective. Then to the officer--"I guess +he's right, Kelly, and you're wrong. I know that young fellow at the +camera. He's been at headquarters once or twice helping our rogues' +gallery men when their cameras needed fixing." + +"Is--is that so?" faltered the officer, and his hold on Paul relaxed. + +"That's right," the detective went on. "I guess you've sort of mixed +things up, Kelly." + +"That's what he has," said Russ. "But if he'll let things go on, and +keep this crowd back, I think we can still make the film." + +"Oh, I'll do that!" the policeman replied hastily, willing to make +amends for the trouble he had caused. "Then it wasn't a case of pocket +picking at all?" + +"No, we're making a moving picture film," Paul explained. "I took these +papers--they're worthless, as you can see," and he showed that the +bundle he had extracted from Mr. Bunn's pocket consisted only of some +circulars, and blank pieces of paper with imposing looking seals on. But +on the film they would appear to be valuable documents. + +"Huh! That's a new one on me!" the officer exclaimed. "Now, you people +move back!" he cried, "and give 'em a chance to take their pictures. +Move back there!" + +Affairs had turned in the direction of our friends, and a little later +Russ was able to complete the film, from the point where the policeman +had stepped in and spoiled it. The small portion that was of no use, +however, could be cut out when the film was developed, and the audiences +would never be the wiser. + +Again Paul went on with his acting from the point where he had been +interrupted, and Ruth, Alice and Mr. Bunn did their share. Eventually +the film was made. + +"Something new every day!" laughed Paul, as they were coming away from +the terminal. "I wonder what will happen next?" + +"As long as you don't have to go up in an airship you'll be all right," +observed Alice, trying to keep a refractory wisp of hair from coming +down into her eyes. + +"That's right," agreed Paul, "and yet I wouldn't be surprised to get +orders to go up to the clouds any day. In fact, I'm pretty sure we've +got to take a queer auto trip soon." + +"Is that so? When? Where?" demanded Ruth, pausing a moment to look at a +shop window where some lingerie was temptingly displayed. + +"I don't know the particulars. I happened to overhear Mr. Pertell +talking to Pop Snooks about it. I expect it will be given out in a few +days, before Russ has to film it." + +The next few days were filled with work for the moving picture actors +and actresses. There was much to be done before the Western trip was +undertaken, and many of the films made had a bearing on the new play +"East and West." + +"My idea," announced Mr. Pertell, in explaining some matters to his +company, "is to portray briefly the story of the East and West, and to +show how the civilization of the East made its way West. I want to show +the various sports and industries of both sections, as well as various +phases of life and science. Automobiling will be one and----" + +"Don't say airships!" interrupted Mr. Sneed. + +"That's just what I was going to say," finished Mr. Pertell, with a +smile. "I will want some of you to take a trip in an airship. But that +will come later." + +"I'll never go up!" declared the "grouch." + +"Well, we'll settle that later," the manager went on. "Just at present I +am going to have some automobile pictures made, and in one of them an +auto containing you young ladies," he looked at Ruth and Alice, "goes to +smash down a steep hill and over a cliff." + +"Oh!" cried Ruth, clutching at her heart. + +"How exciting!" exclaimed Alice, apparently not in the least disturbed. + +"Yes," said Mr. Pertell, with a smile. "But don't worry. This will be a +'substitute' film. That is, you'll be in the auto up to a certain point. +The chauffeur loses control of it, and it starts to run away down hill. +Then it is stopped, the camera is closed for a moment until we +substitute an old auto for the real one in which you are. There are +dummy figures in the old auto, and they are the ones that go to smash +over the cliff. Think you can work that, Russ?" + +"Oh, yes, I've done those trick pictures before. Where are you going to +plant the smash?" + +"Oh, over in Jersey. There are several places in the Orange Mountains +that will answer. Near Eagle Rock is a good place." + +"All right," agreed the young operator. "I'll be ready whenever you are. +But where are you going to get the auto that goes to smash, Mr. +Pertell?" + +"Oh, I bought a second-hand one cheap. It's now being painted and fixed +up to look as much like the good one as possible." + +A few days later all was in readiness for taking the auto smash film. +The story to be depicted was part of the big "East and West" drama. +Ruth and Alice were supposed to be pursued by persons in another auto, +and in the smash both girls were to be "injured." + +The two automobiles were on hand at the appointed time on a steep slope +of the Orange Mountains, where the road turned suddenly near a steep +cliff. It was over this cliff that the "smash" would occur. + +The auto that would really come to grief was an old rattletrap of a +machine, but it would serve the purpose well enough for the film, since +only a momentary glimpse of it, and that showing it going at full speed, +would be given. The dummy figures, made up to look like Ruth and Alice, +were in readiness. + +"Now, girls, take your places, if you please," said Mr. Pertell, waving +Ruth and Alice toward their car. + +"Oh, I'm so nervous!" exclaimed Ruth. + +"What about?" asked her sister, as she buttoned her jacket, for the wind +was sharp on the hillside. + +"Oh, suppose our car doesn't stop in time? Suppose we go over the cliff, +instead of the stuffed figures?" + +"Don't suppose anything of the kind!" cried Alice, gaily. "Come +on--they're waiting for us." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OFF FOR THE WEST + + +Ruth and Alice, taking their places in what might be termed the +"regular" auto, were told just what to do. They were supposed to be +escaping from their pursuers, who were in another auto that was to come +up from the rear. + +Then their chauffeur, in an endeavor to make speed, would go too fast, +would not be able to make the turn in the road, and would go over the +cliff. But, at the proper time, the dummies and the old auto would be +substituted. + +"All ready now?" asked Mr. Pertell, when he had carefully repeated his +instructions to the girls. + +"All ready," answered Alice, and Ruth nodded, though a bit doubtfully. +She was really nervous, although she tried not to show it too plainly. + +"All ready here," answered Russ, who was beside the camera. + +"Then go!" cried the manager, and the auto started. + +In order to give the idea of a long chase Russ had to set up his camera +in several different places. He changed from one stretch of road to +another, the auto being brought to a stop, to wait until he was ready, +and then started up again. + +But the public saw none of this when the film was exhibited, for only +motion was shown, the various sections of the celluloid being joined +together in such a way as to preserve the continuity. + +"Now ready for the big scene," called Mr. Pertell, after one of these +stops. "It's going very well." + +Ruth and Alice who, with Paul, were in the regular auto, had shown or +"registered" all sorts of emotions during the chase. Sometimes the +pursuing auto would be almost up to the one in front, and again it would +lag far behind, in order to conform to the requirements of the script, +or the story of the film play. + +"You will run your car up to here," said Mr. Pertell to the chauffeur of +the machine containing Ruth, Alice and Paul. "Then you will stop, and +the substitution will be made. Come on with as much speed as is safe, +right to this mark," and he indicated a stone in the highway. + +"And be sure you _do_ stop!" exclaimed Paul, with a short laugh. "That's +rather too near the edge of the cliff to suit me." + +"I know it is," agreed Mr. Pertell, "It has to be. I only want a few +feet of the film showing the actual smash. If it runs too long the +public may see the dummies too plainly. I want this as real an accident +as it's possible to have it." + +"It seems like tempting Providence," murmured Ruth. + +"Don't get 'Sneedified'," was the retort of Alice. + +Russ had set up his camera to get views of the auto coming down the +steep slope, and now, at his signal that all was in readiness, the +chauffeur of the car started it again. + +"Business! Business!" called Mr. Pertell to the moving picture girls and +Paul, meaning that they were to use the proper gestures, and register +the desired emotions to coincide with the play. + +On rushed the auto, straight toward the dangerous turn in the road. +Paul, who had risen to his feet, was talking vigorously to Ruth and +Alice, as called for in the scenario. Now and then he would look back, +as though to see if the other car was coming. + +Suddenly, as the auto was dashing down hill, there came a snap as if +some metal part had broken, and the car's speed was quickly increased. + +"What is it? Oh, what has happened?" cried Ruth, springing to her feet. +But she was at once tossed back on the seat, owing to the swaying of the +car, which was going very fast. + +"Something's broken!" cried Paul. + +"Yes, the foot brake. But I have the emergency one still!" the chauffeur +yelled. + +"Is there any danger? Shall we jump?" demanded Alice. + +"No! Sit still!" the chauffeur cried. "I'll stop her in time, I think." + +It was evident the car was beyond control. There was no need of +pretending this. + +"Look out!" warned Russ, who in his excitement did not forget to work +the camera. + +"Stop! Stop!" yelled Mr. Pertell. "You're going too far--you'll go over +the cliff!" + +The chauffeur realized this as well as any one, and he was pulling with +all his strength on the emergency brake lever. + +"I've got to stop her!" he panted through his clenched teeth. "I've got +to stop her!" + +Ruth and Alice were in a frenzy of fear now, and Paul, standing up in +the swaying auto, and holding to the back of the front seat, was trying +desperately to think of some plan whereby he could save the girls. + +The car was now at the turn. Now it was beyond the marking stone +specified by Mr. Pertell. + +"They'll go over the cliff!" shouted Mr. Sneed, who was to take part in +the play later. + +Mr. Pertell rushed forward as though he would halt the auto by getting +in front and pushing it back, and for one wild moment it looked as +though there would be a veritable tragedy. But with a last desperate +pull on the brake lever, while the metal bands shrilly protested against +such strenuous work, the car came to a slow stop. + +And so near was it to the fence railing off the descent over the +cliff--which fence was, later, to be crashed into by the make-believe +auto--so near was the girls' car to this fence that the front wheels +bent one of the rails. + +"A close call!" said Russ, and his voice was unsteady as he stepped away +from the camera. + +Ruth and Alice were pale, and Paul, too, had lost some of his color. But +it was Alice who first relieved the strain of the situation. + +"A miss is as good as a mile," she said, and tried to laugh, but it was +not easy. + +"There must be some defect in that brake connection," the chauffeur +said, as he got out to look at it. + +"Well, as long as we're all right, the film will be so much the better," +observed Paul, as he alighted from the car. "It will look realistic +enough; won't it, Russ?" + +"Indeed it will. I thought sure you were goners; but I kept on grinding +away. It will be realistic enough for even Mr. Pertell, I think," and he +glanced at the manager. + +"I'm awfully sorry this occurred," declared the latter. "I assure you +ladies that I never would willingly have let you run such a risk." + +"Oh, we know that," responded Ruth, quickly. "It was no one's fault. +Only I'm glad daddy wasn't here to see us," she added in a low voice to +her sister. + +"So am I!" was the reply. + +"Now then, you had better get back to New York," went on Mr. Pertell. +"This ends the scenes in Jersey, and your nerves must be pretty well +shattered," he said, looking at the two girls. + +"Oh, I want to stay and watch the other auto go to smash," Alice cried. +"That will be something worth seeing, especially as no one will be hurt, +except the dummies." + +"I'll stay, too," said Ruth. "It will be novel to see ourselves as +stuffed figures." + +Preparations were now made for having the second auto plunge over the +cliff. This car was set in the exact position the other had occupied +when brought to a stop. The dummy figures were put in, veils effectually +concealing the faces. Then the motor was started. + +Meanwhile Russ had taken his camera to the foot of the cliff where he +could get a view of the car plunging over, and smashing. + +"All ready!" came the signal. By means of long wires, which would not +show in the finished picture, the gears were thrown in, and the brakes +released. + +"There she goes!" cried Russ. + +The car containing the dummies started off at a fast rate. It crashed +through the fence, just as the other car might have done, and the next +instant was hurtling through the air. + +It turned partly over, one of the dummy figures--that of Ruth--toppled +out--and a moment later, with a crash that could be heard a long +distance, the auto was crumpled into a shapeless mass at the foot of the +cliff. + +Russ got every detail of this, and when the wrecked auto caught fire +from the burst gasoline tank it added to the effectiveness of the scene, +though that feature had not been counted on. + +Then several men came rushing up. They had been stationed in readiness +for just that purpose, and they picked up the figures of the dummies. + +That ended the scene, for the next act took place in a hospital, whither +Ruth, Alice and Paul were supposed to be carried. That would be a studio +scene, and filmed later. + +"Well, that's over," said Mr. Pertell, with a sigh of relief, as he and +his company of players prepared to return to New York. A throng of +curious bystanders, attracted by the actors and actresses, gathered +about the burning auto at the foot of the cliff. As it was of no further +service it was left there. + +"Well, ladies and gentlemen," announced Mr. Pertell to his assembled +company a few days after the auto film had been made, "I am ready now to +tell you something of my plans for the Western trip. Arrangements have +been about completed, and we leave in a few days." + +"Where are we going?" asked Mr. DeVere. + +"Our first destination will be a place called Rocky Ranch," the manager +went on. "It is a typical Western place, with some broad prairie +stretches, and yet near enough to the mountains for diversified scenes. +There will be cowboy and Indian pictures to be made, and----" + +"_Wild_ Indians?" Mr. Sneed wanted to know. + +"Not wild enough to scalp you," returned the manager. + +"And can I have a gun?" little Tommy cried. + +"Indeed and you won't!" said his grandmother, quickly. + +"Well, you can be cowboy and have a lasso," promised the manager. + +"Oh, goodie!" Tommy exclaimed, dancing about in delight. + +"In this play," went on Mr. Pertell, "I want to get scenes showing our +progress West, so we will be rather longer on the trip than otherwise. +We will wait over on some trains, to make views in particularly good +spots. So you may get ready for the journey. Our Eastern scenes are all +made, and I want to thank and congratulate you all on their success. It +was the good acting of all of you that made the films what they are." + +Preparations for the big trip went on apace. Properties and baggage were +gotten in readiness, and Ruth and Alice spent days going over their +clothes, to decide what to take and what to leave behind. + +"Though if I'm to be a cowgirl, and ride ponies, I don't suppose I'll +want this," said Alice, holding up a filmy white dress. + +"Better take it," advised Ruth, who was seated tailor-fashion before a +trunk, which she was packing. + +"It crushes too easily," objected the other. + +"Fold it around some heavier things," suggested Ruth, "and don't put it +in the trunk until the last thing. Oh, I believe I've put my suede +slippers in the bottom, and I'll want them to-night. Well, I'll have to +dig 'em out, I guess," she sighed. + +"No, there they are!" cried Alice, fishing them out from under a pile of +stockings. "What have you in them?" she asked her sister, as she saw the +slippers were filled with something. + +"I always stuff the toes with old stockings," said Ruth. "It keeps them +out almost as well as if I used shoe-trees." + +"Good idea," laughed her sister. + +The packing was over, the trunks were at the station and also was +gathered there the moving picture company. + +"Ho, for the West!" cried Russ, who was standing with Paul, Ruth and +Alice. + +"All aboard!" called Mr. Pertell. And, as they moved off toward the +train Russ, turning, saw a man staring after the players. + +"Look!" said the young operator, in a low voice to Mr. Pertell, "that +International Film Company spy--Wilson--is keeping tabs on us!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE OIL WELL + + +Mr. Pertell paused and looked back. There on the depot platform stood +the man he had caught in his testing room taking notes of the films of +the big drama. + +"Those fellows mean business!" the manager commented. "They are trying +to get my best ideas, I think. It's a wonder they wouldn't originate +something themselves!" + +"I'd like to have it out with him," declared Russ. + +"It would only make trouble," responded the manager. "I think I can stop +them in another way. I'll try legal means first, and if they don't +work--well, perhaps we can put up some kind of a game on them." + +"Let me have a hand in it," begged the young operator. "I want to pay my +respects to that fellow." + +Wilson, for so it was, had by this time seen that he was observed, and +he slunk out of sight behind a pillar. Then, as Mr. Pertell and Russ +went to take their places in the coach with the others, a truck, piled +with the baggage of the company, came along. + +The spy darted out from behind the pillar and with a quick glance noted +the destination as shown on the checks. + +"So that was his game!" cried Russ. "I'll put a stop to that, all +right!" + +"It's too late. He's seen, and, anyhow, he could have found out," called +Mr. Pertell. But Russ did not stay to hear, for he had made a rush +toward the fellow. + +He was too late, however, and perhaps it was just as well, as Russ was a +bit hot-headed, and there might have been a scene. Wilson, seeing Russ +coming, hastily thrust into his pocket a card on which he had evidently +been copying the name of the place to which the trunks had been checked, +and ran away. + +"Come back, Russ," called Mr. Pertell. "You'll miss the train!" for the +warning whistle had sounded. + +"I wish I had caught him," panted the young operator as he returned. "I +never saw a fellow with such nerve." + +"His company is in bad shape," said Mr. Pertell. "They have been losing +money, and their films are not taking well. They have not much of a +company of players, and I suppose they think they can use some of our +ideas, and maybe some of our actors and actresses." + +"How do you mean--by hiring them away from you?" asked Russ. + +"Well, they might do that, though I don't believe the International +people will pay the salaries my people are getting. So I think none of +them would leave. Even if more money were offered I think my friends +would stand by me. But what I meant was that we'll have to be on the +watch to see that they don't actually take some of our films." + +"You mean after I have made the reels?" + +"No, they might even try, on the sly, to film the action of our players +when we're going through some scene." + +"Whew!" whistled Russ. "If they do that you could have them arrested." + +"Well, be on the watch--that's all." + +None of the other members of the company had seen the spy, and Russ and +the manager said nothing about him. The train pulled out of the station, +and thus the Western trip was begun. + +Mr. Pertell planned to stop off with his company at several places and +make films along the way. This was in accord with his idea of showing a +big drama indicating the development of this country from East to West. +The rush of the gold seekers, and the advance of the farmers to take up +Government claims, were to be depicted, along with many other scenes. + +One stop was made in the coal mining regions of Pennsylvania, near +Scranton, and there some fine films were obtained. In one scene Ruth and +Alice were shown in the interior of a mine, with the black coal all +about them. Powerful electric lights gave the necessary illumination. + +"I'd like to get a scene showing an explosion," said Russ, as they left +the coal regions. + +"Why, Russ Dalwood!" cried Ruth. "I'm surprised at you!" + +"Oh, I don't mean by accident," he replied, quickly. "In fact, a little +one would do. And I don't want one to happen on my account. But if +there's going to be an accident I wish I could be on hand to film it." + +"Oh, that's different," said Ruth, with a smile. "But I'm glad there is +no accident." + +Three days had been spent in and around Scranton, and now the moving +picture players were ready to start off again. Mr. Pertell was +reconsidering some plans he and Russ had talked over, and it had not +been definitely decided what to do as yet. + +"We'll just keep on," said the manager, "and perhaps something will +turn up to give me an idea for a novel film." + +They had taken a train on a small branch line of the railroad to connect +with a through express, and about an hour after starting, and when about +half-way to the junction, they came to a sudden stop. + +"Ha! An accident!" cried Russ, reaching for the small camera he kept for +emergencies. + +"Wait, I'll come with you," said the manager. "We may be able to make it +into a film." + +But when they got on the outside, followed by several of the members of +the company, they saw no signs of anything wrong. There was no other +train in sight, so there could have been no collision, and their own +train was safely on the track. Off to one side, however, gathered about +a tall structure of wood, was a knot of people. + +"What's the matter?" asked Russ of one of the trainmen. + +"They're going to shoot an oil well over there," was the answer, "and +it's so close to the track that they signalled us to stop." + +"Why didn't they wait until we got past?" asked Mr. DeVere who, with his +daughters, had gone out to see what caused the delay. + +"Why, they had already lowered the charge of nitro-glycerine into the +well," the brakeman explained, "and something has gone wrong. The shot +didn't go off, and they're afraid it may at any minute. So they're +holding us back a little while." + +"Is that an oil well?" asked Alice, pointing to the tall, wooden +structure. + +"That's the derrick, by which the drill is worked--yes, Miss," the +brakeman said. "They bore down through the sand and rock until they +think they're close to the oil. Then they blow out what rock and earth +remains, with nitro-glycerine. The well may be a 'spouter,' or they may +have to pump. Can't tell until after they fire the shot. I guess she's +going off!" he added quickly. "Look at 'em run!" + +"I've got my idea!" exclaimed Mr. Pertell. "We'll have a film of boring +for oil. That will fit in well with my big drama. Get the company +together, Pop," he said to the property man. "And, Russ, get ready to +film the shooting of the oil well." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE RIVALS + + +Though there was a rush of spectators away from the oil well it appeared +to be a false alarm, for nothing happened, and Mr. Pertell, who was +afraid the well would "spout" before he could get his company of players +on the scene, was relieved when he heard one of the workmen call: + +"False alarm. She isn't going off yet." + +"Now hurry and get around the well," urged the manager. "I want some of +you grouped near it when the oil spouts up." + +"Won't it be dangerous?" asked Mr. Sneed. "I don't want to be blown up +by nitro-glycerine." + +"You needn't get too close," returned Mr. Pertell. "I just want the +spouting well as a background." + +"It will be all right if you keep about thirty feet back," said one of +the well borers. + +"How do you shoot a well?" asked Paul, while Russ was getting ready his +camera. + +"By using nitro-glycerine," was the answer. "This explosive comes in tin +cans, about ten feet long and about five inches in diameter. We lower +these cannisters down into the iron pipe that extends to the bottom of +the well." + +"How deep?" queried Alice. + +"Oh, a well may run anywhere from three hundred to three thousand feet, +or even more. This one is about one thousand. We have about a hundred +quarts of nitro-glycerine down in the pipes now; but it hasn't gone off +yet." + +"Can you--er--tell me when it _will_ go off?" asked Mr. Sneed, looking +about him nervously. + +"Any minute, if not sooner," replied the oil man, with a smile. "Oh, +don't run--you're safe here," he added, as Mr. Sneed began to move away. +At the same time Claude Towne, the "swell" of the company, exclaimed: + +"I'm not going to stay here and get this new suit spoiled by the oil." +He was very careful of his attire. + +"Oh, the oil won't spray as far as this," the workman assured him. + +"How do they explode the glycerine?" asked Mr. DeVere. + +"Well, the old plan used to be to drop an iron weight called a +'go-devil,' down on top of the cannisters containing the explosive. The +top can was fitted with a firing head, and when the iron weight hit +this, after a long fall, it would explode, and the concussion would set +off the rest of the glycerine." + +"But this time we tried a new plan. We used a 'go-devil-squib.' That's a +sort of torpedo, holding about a quart of the glycerine, and it has a +firing head of its own. We drop that down the pipe and when it hits on +the top cannister it goes off, and sets off the rest of the explosive. +But, somehow, it didn't work this time. The charge missed fire, so now +we're going to drop down an old fashioned 'go-devil' and see what +happens." + +Mr. Pertell asked, and readily obtained, permission to make moving +pictures of the shooting of the well, and was also accorded the +privilege of posing his company at the scene when the well did "spout." + +"I'll have to think up some sort of a scenario to go with it," the +manager said. + +"Have some poor man get rich suddenly by striking oil on his land," +suggested Russ, "and then show what he does with his money. You can +easily get the later scenes." + +"Good idea--I will," exclaimed the manager. "We'll use this as the +first, or opening, scene in--let me see, we'll call it 'The Rise and +Fall of the Kerosene King.' How's that?" + +"Good!" cried Mr. DeVere. + +"All right. Paul, you'll be the king. But you'll have to start as a +poor lad, and those good clothes won't do. Slip on a pair of greasy +overalls--borrow them from one of the men--then you'll look more +natural." + +Paul was soon fitted out as one of the oil men, and then, after a brief +rehearsal, the improvised drama was ready to be taken on the sensitive +film. A few preliminary scenes were made by Russ, and then, as word was +given that the iron weight was about to be dropped on the cans of +glycerine in the well-pipes, Mr. Pertell got his company as close to the +derrick as was safe. Then, while Russ clicked away at the camera, one of +the workmen called: + +"Let her go!" + +A man dropped the iron weight down the pipe and ran. + +"Look out, everybody!" he cried as he sprang away. + +"Are we safe here?" Mr. Sneed asked anxiously. + +"You're all right," one of the workmen assured him. + +"Oh, I'm so nervous!" faltered Ruth. + +"No need of it," answered Alice, as she leaned forward to watch the +spouting of the oil from the well. + +There was a dull rumble beneath the surface of the earth. The ground +seemed to heave and shake. It trembled, and Miss Pennington and Miss +Dixon looked at each other with frightened eyes. + +"It--it's like an earthquake," observed Ruth. + +"Oh, look!" cried Alice. + +At that moment something like a dark cloud shot upward from the pipes +and spread out, plume-fashion. At the same moment the air was filled +with the rank odor of oil and gas. + +"She's a spouter! She's a spouter!" cried the men, in delight. + +"Cap her up!" came the command. + +But it was not easy to do at first, so great was the flow of oil, and +considerable had run to waste when the internal pressure of natural gas, +which forced out the oil, was reduced sufficiently to allow of the pipe +being capped, and the flow of petroleum regulated. + +All this time Russ had continued to get pictures of the novel scene, and +Paul, as the Kerosene King, went through the act that had been +improvised for him, the others of the company doing their share. + +"This will make a novel film," said Mr. Pertell in satisfied tones. "I +hope you got it all, Russ." + +"Every bit. I think the views showing the oil spouting up will be first +rate." + +"But what are you using two cameras for?" asked Mr. DeVere. + +"Two cameras?" repeated Mr. Pertell, questioningly. + +"Yes, there's a man over there with another machine," and he pointed to +a little hill, not far off, where stood a man working away at the handle +of a machine similar to the one Russ was using. And this camera was +pointed directly at the oil well and at the Comet players. + +"What does that mean?" cried Mr. Pertell. "I didn't order two films +made, and besides----" + +"That isn't one of our men!" interrupted Russ, as he sprang away from +his camera. + +"Who is it?" Mr. Pertell wanted to know. + +"It's one of our rivals. Someone from the International concern!" cried +Russ. "They've followed us to steal some more of our ideas!" + +"You're right!" shouted Mr. Pertell. "This will have to stop!" + +Together he and Russ, followed by Paul, made a dash in the direction of +the rival photographer. But the latter saw them coming, and hastily +picking up his machine he ran toward a clump of woods not far off. And +by the time his pursuers reached there he was not to be found, though +they searched about for some time. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE CYCLONE + + +"All aboard!" called the conductor of the way train that had been held +up to allow the shooting of the oil well. "All board!" + +"Come," summoned Mr. Pertell to his moving picture players. "We'll get +along now. That stop was a lucky one for us." + +The train could now proceed, all danger from the delayed charge in the +well being over. Just what had caused it to "hang fire" was never +learned. But the shooting of the well was a success, and as the train +pulled out, Paul having gotten rid of his borrowed clothes, the workmen +were seen hurrying about, taking care of the valuable flow of petroleum. + +"What do you make of the action of that International man?" asked Russ, +as he took a seat beside the manager. + +"I don't know what to make of those fellows," was the answer. "They must +be following us pretty closely; but I don't see how they knew we were +going to film the oil well." + +"They didn't know it," decided Russ. "They've had a spy on our trail, +following us; that's how it was done. You know we saw that fellow Wilson +looking at the destination marked on the baggage checks. He probably +sent word to the concern and they started out a camera man to follow us. +It would have to be someone we hadn't seen before, so of course Wilson +himself would not do, though I understand he can operate a machine +fairly well." + +"I guess you've got the right idea," agreed Mr. Pertell. "This fellow, +whoever he was, made inquiries and learned where we were headed for. +Then with his camera he simply kept on the same train with us." + +"And when we stopped here to get the oil well pictures," resumed Russ, +"he trailed along and set up his machine. He got all the benefit of our +players' acting and his company wasn't out a cent for salaries or +transportation. Of course he probably had as good a right to get +pictures of the well as we did." + +"But not to film my company!" exclaimed Mr. Pertell, with energy. "I +won't stand for that; I'll have a stop put to it!" + +"First I'm afraid we'll have to catch him," observed Russ. "He certainly +made himself scarce when we ran after him." + +"Well, he isn't on this train, that's sure," went on the manager, "and +he'll have some trouble picking up our trail after this." + +"How's that?" asked Russ. + +"Why, I'm going to change our plans. We'll skip the next stop. I was +going to go up around the Great Lakes and make part of a drama there, +showing the effect the lakes and their trade had on the growth of our +country. Now I'll wait until we are on our way back from Rocky Ranch." + +"That will be a good idea," agreed the young camera operator. "Those +International people must be pretty hard put to it to steal your ideas." + +"They are," said Mr. Pertell. "They want to do me an injury. I had some +trouble with them years ago, and I won out in a lawsuit. Since then they +have been injuring me every chance they could get; but it really +amounted to little until lately. Now they are evidently getting +desperate, and they are using every means to make trouble for me." + +"Well, we'll just have to be on the lookout for them at every turn," +Russ declared. + +Owing to the decision of Mr. Pertell that he would not, at this time, +take his company to the Great Lakes, a change in the route had to be +made. This necessitated stopping off for one night at a small country +town, where the company put up at the only hotel the place afforded. + +"What a miserable place!" exclaimed Miss Pennington, tilting up her head +when she entered the office with the others. + +"And such a horrid smell!" added Miss Dixon, as she stripped off her +long gloves with an air of being used to dining every day at the most +exclusive hotels. "I believe they are actually cooking--cabbage, Pearl." + +"I agree with you, my dear! Isn't it awful! Can it be--cabbage?" + +"Yah! Dot's right!" exclaimed Mr. Switzer, rubbing his hands. "Dot's +cabbage, all right--sauerkraut, too. Goot!" + +"Ugh!" protested Miss Pennington, making a gesture of annoyance. + +"I am glat dot ve come here," went on the German. "I haf not hat any +sauerkraut--dot is, not any to mention of--since ve left New York." + +"Why, I saw you eating some the other day," laughed Paul, as the odor of +cooking cabbage became more pronounced from the hotel kitchen. + +"Oh, yes, I hat a leetle--yust enough to know der taste of it," agreed +the German, with a genial smile. "But I ain't really hat vot you could +call a meal of it." + +"You're like a man I heard of," said Russ, joining in the talk. "He was +a German farmer, I guess, and when his neighbor asked him if he was +putting away any sauerkraut that season the German answered: 'No, ve +ain't put none down to speak of dis season. Only yust seven or eight +barrels in case of sickness!'" + +"Goot! Goot! Dot vos a real German!" laughed Mr. Switzer. + +There was sauerkraut for supper that night, and the German actor +certainly ate enough to ward off any possible illness. And, in spite of +the rather homely character of the hotel, the meal was an excellent one, +and the moving picture players were more comfortable in the matter of +rooms than they had expected. About the only ones to find fault were +Miss Pennington, Miss Dixon, and Mr. Sneed. But they would have had some +objection to offer in almost any place, so it did not much matter. + +Plans were made for taking a train early next morning, to continue on +out West, but something occurred to delay matters, though it resulted in +the making of an excellent film. + +It was just before everyone was ready for breakfast when Ruth, thinking +she heard her sister's knock sharply on the door, opened it. + +Instead of confronting Alice, Ruth jumped back in terror as she saw a +bear standing upright in the hall opposite her door. + +"Oh! Oh!" she screamed as the beast put out his red tongue. "Help! A +bear! A bear!" and she slammed her door shut with such energy that she +knocked a picture from the wall. Ruth shot home the bolt, and then, in a +frenzy of fear, pulled the washstand against the door. + +"What is it? Oh, what is it?" cried Alice from her apartment across the +corridor. "What is it, Ruth?" for she had heard her sister's frantic +appeal, though not catching the words. + +"Don't open your door! Don't open you door!" begged Ruth. "There's a +bear in the hall!" + +"A bear?" + +"Yes, a great big one!" + +But in spite of this Alice did open her door a little. She closed it +quickly enough, however, at the sight of the shaggy brown creature and, +pounding on the door of her father's room, which connected with hers, +she cried; + +"Daddy, get help, quick! There's a bear in the hall!" + +There was a speaking tube from the actor's apartment to the hotel +office, and he was soon transferring his daughter's message down this. + +Meanwhile Mr. Sneed, coming out of his room from the lower end of the +hall, encountered the beast, and turned back with a yell. He nearly +collided with Mr. Towne, who was at that moment coming out of his room, +faultlessly attired, even to a heavy walking stick. + +"Look out!" cried Mr. Sneed, racing along. + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Towne. + +"A bear. Look out! Here he comes!" + +And, in fact, the bear was shuffling down the hall, his head lolling +from side to side, and his red tongue hanging out. + +Either Mr. Towne did not hear what Mr. Sneed said, or he was so +surprised that he did not think to run, for he stood there and, a moment +later, the big beast confronted him. Stretching out his paw the animal +took from the nerveless hands of the actor the heavy walking stick, and, +shouldering it, began to march around in a circle. + +Then the hotel proprietor, having been alarmed by Mr. DeVere, came up on +the run. As soon as he saw the bear marching around he broke into a +laugh. + +"That's a trained bear!" he exclaimed. "It belongs to that Italian who +stopped here last night. I made him chain the brute out in the wagon +shed, but I guess he got loose. That bear won't hurt you. I've seen him +before. Tony, the Italian who owns him, often stops here with him when +he's traveling around giving exhibitions. He's real gentle. Down, +Bruno!" commanded the hotel man, and the bear, with a grunt, dropped on +all fours. + +Alice, hearing this talk, opened her door, and then called to Ruth that +there was no danger. Mr. Sneed was induced to return, and when Tony +himself came to get his escaped pet Mr. Towne's cane was returned to +him. The bear had taken it for the pole he was used to performing with. + +"You want to chain your bear up tighter, Tony," chided the hotel man as +the Italian led Bruno away. + +"Ah, yes. Bruno, he ees a very bad-a-de bear! I wheep heem for dese." + +"Oh, don't!" pleaded Alice. "He didn't mean anything wrong." + +"No, mees, but he very bad, just-a de same. He make-a you to be +a-skeert." + +"Oh, it's all over now," declared Ruth, who ventured out, seeing that +the bear was in leash. "But I _was_ frightened for a moment." + +"I don't blame you," said Paul, as he heard what had happened. "Rather +an unusual morning caller, Ruth." + +"Say! I've got an idea!" cried Mr. Pertell, who had come out by this +time. "We'll have a film with the bear in it. A sort of Little Red +Riding Hood story for children. Something simple, but it will be great +to have a real bear in it. Tony, will you let us use Bruno?" + +"Of a course, Signor. I make up for de scare. Bruno he do-a just-a +whatever you tell. He very good-a bear--sometimes!" and he shrugged his +shoulders, philosophically. + +"Very well, then, we'll wait over another train, and I'll get up some +little scenario with a bear in it. Mr. Sneed, you will take the part of +the bear's keeper, and Miss Alice----" + +"No, sir!" cried Mr. Sneed. "No bears for me. I won't act with one. Why, +he'd claw me to pieces!" + +"Ah, no, Signor!" interrupted Tony. "Bruno he very gentle just-a like-a +de little babe. He no hurt-a you, Signor." + +"Well, I'm not going to take any chances," declared the "grouch." "This +is too dangerous." + +"Ha! I am not afraid!" cried Mr. Switzer. "I vill act mit der bear +alretty yet," and to prove that he was not afraid he fed the big animal +some pretzels, without which the German actor seldom went abroad. + +And, a little later, Russ made a film, in which the bear was one of the +central figures. Alice took part in it, and the simple little play made +quite a hit when shown. + +"You seem to have the happy faculty of making use of everything that +comes your way--accidentally or not," remarked Mr. DeVere to Mr. +Pertell, when the company was once more under way in the train. + +"You have to in the moving picture business," chuckled Mr. Pertell. +"That's the secret of success. You never can tell when something will go +wrong with a play you have planned carefully and rehearsed well. So you +must be ready to take advantage of every change in situation. Also, you +must be ready to seize on every opportunity that comes your way." + +"You certainly seized on that bear," agreed Mr. DeVere. + +"I'm glad he wasn't a wild one," went on the manager. "I am sorry your +daughters were frightened----" + +"Oh, pray do not mention it," the actor said. "They are getting used to +strange experiences in this moving picture work." + +"And I want to tell you they are doing most excellently," the manager +went on. "I have had many actresses of experience who could not do half +as well as Miss Ruth and Miss Alice. I congratulate you!" + +Little of moment occurred during the rest of the trip; that is, until +the next stopping place was reached. This was at a place in Kansas where +Mr. Pertell planned to have some farming operations shown as a +background to a certain part in the big drama. + +On the way a careful watch had been kept for the appearance of the +spies, or camera operators, of the International company, but no trace +of them had been seen. + +There were no hotels in Fostoria, where the Kansas stop was made, and +the company was accommodated at two farmhouses close together. A number +of scenes were to be made, with these houses and outbuildings figuring +in them. + +"Isn't it nice here?" asked Alice as she and Ruth were in their room on +the morning after their arrival, getting ready for breakfast. + +"It does seem so," agreed the older girl, as she leaned over with her +hair hanging in front of her while she combed it out. + +"Such wide, open spaces," went on Alice. "Plenty of fresh air here." + +"Too much!" laughed Ruth. "Grab that waist of mine; will you, Alice? +It's going out of the window on the breeze." + +Alice was just in time to prevent the garment from fluttering out of +the room, for the breeze was certainly strong. + +As the younger girl turned back to hand her sister the waist she +exclaimed: + +"Oh, what a queer looking cloud! And what a funny yellow light there is, +all about. Look, Ruth." + +"Isn't it?" agreed Ruth, as she coiled her hair on top of her head. "It +looks like a storm." + +Off in the west was a bank of yellowish clouds that seemed rolling and +tumbling over and over in their eagerness to advance. At the same time +there was a sobbing and moaning sound to the wind. + +"Oh, Alice. I think there is going to be a terrible storm," gasped Ruth +a moment later, suddenly realizingly that danger impended. + +Indeed the wind was rising rapidly, and the clouds increased in size. +Now confused shouts could be heard out in the farmyard, and some men +were running about, rounding up a bunch of cows. + +"What's the matter?" called Mr. Pertell, coming out on the side porch. + +"Cyclone coming!" answered the proprietor of the farm. "It's going to be +a bad one, too!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +AT ROCKY RANCH + + +With a howl, a rush and a roar the storm was upon them. Never had the +moving picture girls or their friends ever seen, heard or imagined such +a violent wind. + +The sky was overcast with yellowish clouds, edged with black, which were +torn and twisted in swirling circles by the gale. The air itself seemed +tinged with a sickly green that struck terror to the girls' hearts. + +There was a crash that rose high above the howl of the wind, and someone +called: + +"There goes the roof off the corn crib!" + +Inside the house there were confused shouts and calls. The house itself +rocked and swayed. + +"Oh, what shall we do?" sobbed Ruth. + +"Let's go out, before it falls down on us," cried Alice. + +Clinging to each other they made their way downstairs. Their father came +after them, followed by other members of the moving picture company. + +"Is--is there any safe place?" faltered Mr. Sneed, as he look anxiously +about. + +"The cyclone cellar," answered one of the farm men. "All hands had +better take to that. We're out of the path of the worst of the +'twister,' but it's best to take no chances. To the cyclone cellar!" + +"Where is it?" asked Mr. Bunn, looking around the room, as though the +place of refuge were kept inside the house. + +"There!" cried the man, pointing to a small mound of earth, in which was +set a sort of trap door. "Go down in there!" + +A number of farm hands, as well as members of the family, were making +for this haven. It was a veritable cellar, covered over, and used for +just such emergencies. A flight of steps led down into it. + +"Where are you going, Russ?" cried Ruth, as she saw the young operator +turn from the side of the porch where he had been standing. + +"For my camera!" he answered, shouting so as to be heard above the noise +of the wind. "I'm going to film this--too good a chance to lose." + +"But you--you may be hurt!" she faltered. + +"I'll take a chance," he replied, as he turned into the house. + +Into the cyclone cellar rushed the frightened members of the film +company, as well as the farmer's family and helpers. The wind was +howling and shrieking, and several crashes told of further damage being +done to the buildings. + +Russ, in spite of the commands of Mr. Pertell, set up his camera to get +pictures of a cyclone in actual operation. The bending, and in some +cases breaking, trees showed the great force of the wind, and the +unroofing and demolishing of small outbuildings gave further evidence of +the power of the storm. + +Russ took his position in an open spot, where he would be in less +danger, and got picture after picture, showing the retreat into the +underground place of refuge. + +The wind was so strong that he had to force the legs of his camera +tripod deep into the earth to prevent the apparatus from being blown +over. + +With a crash the roof of one of the smaller barns was sent sailing far +away in the air, and Russ got a fine view of this, though he narrowly +escaped being hit by a piece of wood. + +"Russ, come in here!" called Mr. Pertell, through a crack in the trap +door of the cyclone cellar. "I forbid you to risk your life any +further." + +"Just a minute!" begged the operator. + +"Please come!" cried Ruth. + +"All right," he answered, and catching up his camera he took his place +in the cellar. And then, as suddenly as it had come up, the wind storm +died away. The sullen black and yellow clouds passed onward, and the sun +came out. Those in the cellar emerged. + +"Well, it might have been worse," the farmer said, as he looked about. +Considerable damage had been done, but his place, and that of his +neighbor, were out of the direct path of the cyclone, so the larger +buildings escaped. No one was hurt and after the excitement Russ went +about, making views of the demolished places, and of the standing grain, +which had been blown almost flat. + +"I don't believe I'd like to live in Kansas," said Ruth as she +re-arranged her hair, tossed about by the wind. + +"Nor I," laughed Alice, in a similar plight. + +"Oh, we get used to it," remarked the farmer, with a laugh. Yet how he +could laugh as he surveyed the ruins of his buildings was rather +strange. "We don't get a 'twister' every day," he went on, "and we're +glad when we escape alive. A few shacks more or less don't matter. We +count on that. I'm sorry you folks got such a bad opinion of Kansas, +though." + +"Well, we'll give her a chance to redeem herself," said Mr. Pertell. "I +guess we'll have to change some of our plans." + +"Oh, don't let this storm hinder you," urged the farmer. "We won't have +another in a couple of years. Once a cyclone sweeps over a place we feel +relieved. It doesn't often pay a return visit." + +He and his men were soon busy taking an account of the damage done +which, fortunately, was not as great as seemed at first. One cow had +been killed, but the farmer remarked, philosophically, that anyhow he +was to have sent her to the butcher shortly. + +There was a little delay in making the moving pictures, but finally the +work of getting out the films was under way, and, if anything, the storm +rendered them more effective. Russ was able to work in the views he took +of the cyclone, and altogether the drama that was made in Kansas was +quite a success. + +Once again the players were on their way, and this time they were not to +stop until they reached Rocky Ranch, unless something occurred to make +it necessary. + +The remainder of the trip was uneventful, if we may except a slight +accident by which the train was derailed. No one was hurt, however, and +it gave Russ a chance to make a little film. + +Then, late one afternoon, the party of moving picture players with their +properties and baggage reached the station of Altmore, the nearest +railroad point to Rocky Ranch. The station was little more than a water +tank, and there was not much of a town. + +"Oh, what a dreary place!" complained Miss Pennington, as she and her +friend Miss Dixon surveyed the scene. + +"The end of nowhere," agreed the other. "We shall die of loneliness +here." + +"I guess it will be lively enough for you out at the ranch," said Mr. +Pertell. "But I don't understand why the wagons aren't here to meet us." + +"There's something coming down the road," said Russ, pointing to a cloud +of dust. + +"That's so," agreed the manager. + +The dust cloud drew nearer, and then from the center of it could be +heard an excited shouting and yelling, and the galloping of horses. +Added to these were the sharp reports of revolvers. + +"Something has happened!" cried Mr. Sneed. + +"Something _is_ happening!" corrected Paul, while Mr. Bunn looked about +for a safe retreat. + +"Hi! Yi!" were the yells coming from the dust cloud, as the shooting +increased. "Hi! Yi!" + +"It's an Indian attack!" gasped Miss Pennington. "Oh, where can we +hide?" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SUSPICIONS + + +On came that rushing, swirling, swaying dust-cloud, and out of it +continued to come those nerve-racking shouts, yells and shrill screams, +accompanied by a fusillade of pistol shots. + +"Can anything have occurred to gain us the anger of any of the +inhabitants of this place?" asked Mr. DeVere, as he looked about +apprehensively, and then at his daughters. + +"It sounds like a lot of cowboys," spoke Alice. "At least I've read +that's how they act when they paint the town red." + +"Oh, Alice!" cried Ruth. "What language!" + +"I used it merely in the technical sense," was the retort. "I believe +they do not actually use red paint." + +"Oh, what shall we do? What shall we do?" cried Miss Pennington. + +"I'm going back to New York at once!" sobbed Miss Dixon. "Make that +train come back!" she cried to the lone station agent, who, with a set +grin on his face, was looking alternately from the group of picture +players to the approaching dust cloud that concealed so many weird +noises. + +But the train was far down the track. + +"We must do something!" insisted Mr. Sneed, nervously pacing up and +down. "We men must organize and protect the ladies. I think we had +better get inside the station and try to hold it against the savages. +Pop, you have some guns in the baggage; have you not?" + +"Yep!" answered the property man; "but they ain't loaded, and before we +could git 'em out those fellers will be here." + +"Well, we must protect the ladies at any cost!" insisted Mr. Sneed. +"Come with us, we will protect you!" he shouted as he hurried inside the +little shed that answered for the station. Probably he wanted to go +first to prepare the place for the others. At any rate he was first +inside. + +"Whoop-ee!" + +"Ki-yi!" + +"Rah!" + +"Bang! Bang! Bang!" + +That is the way it sounded. The noise grew louder. The dust-cloud was at +the station now. And then, with a fusillade of shots that was well-nigh +deafening, the cause of it all came to a sudden stop. + +The dust settled and blew away. The cloud parted to reveal several +wagons drawn by small but muscular horses. Surrounding the vehicles were +half a score of cowboys of the regulation type, save that they did not +wear the "chaps," or sheepskin breeches, so often seen in moving picture +depictions of the "wild west." Probably the weather was too hot for +them, or these cowboys may have gotten rid of them because the garments +figured so often in the "movies." + +"Cowboys!" cried Russ, with a laugh. "And we thought they were going to +attack us!" + +"It's one on us, all right," spoke Paul. + +"But I have often read of cowboys going on a--on a rampage, I believe it +is called--or is it stampede?" asked Miss Dixon, as she stood behind +Paul. + +"Rampage is right," he informed her. + +"Well, maybe that's what they're on now, and they will shoot us after +all," she resumed. "Oh, there's one looking right at me!" and she +covered her face with her be-ringed hands. + +"Probably he hasn't seen a pretty girl in a long time," said Paul, for +Miss Dixon was pretty, in a way. + +"Oh!" she exclaimed again--and took down her hands. + +"And one of them is loading his pistol!" cried Miss Pennington. "Oh, +dear!" + +"I guess they'll have to load up all around after the shots they fired," +laughed Russ. "I wonder what in the world it's all about, anyhow?" + +He learned a moment later. + +One of the cowboys, evidently the leader, rode his fiery little horse up +to the station platform, and taking off his broad-brimmed hat with a +flourish and a bow, asked: + +"Is this the moving picture outfit?" + +"It is," said Mr. Pertell. + +"I reckoned that I'd read your brand right," the cowboy went on. +"Welcome to Rocky Ranch!" + +"But where is it?" asked Alice, and then she blushed at her own +boldness, for the glance of the half-score of cowboys was instantly +drawn in her direction, and bold admiration shone in their eyes. + +"It isn't far from here, Miss," was the answer. "It lies just over that +little rise. You can't see it. We've come to take you out there. That's +why we brung the wagons, and some of the boys thought they'd like to +ride in and see you, seein' as how the round-up is over and we ain't so +terrible rushed with work." + +"We heard you coming," said Mr. Pertell. "Some of the ladies were a +little apprehensive." + +"I don't quite get you," spoke the cowboy. + +"I say some of the ladies were a bit timid on account of the firing." + +"Oh, shucks! That ain't nothin'! The boys was feelin' a little bit +frisky, I reckon, and they maybe did let out a few whoops. But land love +you! Mustn't mind a little thing like that. Still, if it's goin' to +cause any uneasiness among the females, why I'll tell the boys to cut +out all----" + +"Oh, no, really we don't mind it!" declared Alice, impulsively, and +again she blushed as the broadside of eyes was trained in her direction. + +"Do be quiet!" whispered Ruth. "I don't know what they'll think of you," +and she adjusted her dainty lace cuffs, brushing some engine cinders +from them. + +"I don't care," Alice retorted, "if they're going to be cowboys let them +be natural." + +The same thought must have been in the mind of Mr. Pertell, for he said: + +"Don't put yourselves out on our account, gentlemen. We don't want you +to change your ways or customs just because we have come. We want to get +moving pictures of the ranch and the cowboys, and we want them true to +life. The ladies will soon get used to the firing. We have gone through +worse things than that." + +"Well, I sure am glad to hear you say so," was the hearty response. "You +see it's jest plumb natural for a cow-puncher to shoot off his gun, and +it would come a bit hard to stop. But I reckon the boys has had enough +for to-day. Now, who's the boss of this outfit?" + +"I guess I am," replied Mr. Pertell. "I'll introduce you to the +different ones when I get a chance. Just now I think we are all anxious +to get to the ranch." + +"All right, jest as you say. My name is Batso--Pete Batso, and I'm +foreman of Rocky Ranch. The Circle and Dot is our brand--you can see it +on the ponies," and he showed on the flank of his mount a circle burned +in the hide--a circle in the center of which was a dot. Each ranch owner +brands, with a hot iron, all his cattle, that he may pick out his own +when they mix with another bunch at the grazing. Each ranch has a +different brand, and they consist of simple marks and symbols, each one +being properly registered in case of lawsuits. + +"Now then," went on Foreman Pete, "if you're ready we'll start. The boys +will stow away your traps in one of the wagons, and if you'll +distribute yourselves in the other wagons we'll git along. I could have +brought horses for all of you, but I wasn't sure how many could ride." + +"Very few of us do, I'm afraid," observed Mr. Pertell. + +"But I'm going to learn!" exclaimed Alice, promptly, and this time, when +the eyes were turned toward her, she smiled back at the owners thereof. + +"I'll be very pleased to show you how, Miss," declared the foreman, with +a low bow to the girl. Alice blushed, and Ruth looked annoyed; but Mr. +DeVere smiled indulgently. He understood Alice. + +Trunks, valises and the various properties Pop Snooks had provided for +the different plays were put in the wagon and then in the other vehicles +the players themselves took their places. + +"All ready?" asked Pete Batso. + +"All ready," answered Mr. Pertell. + +"Let her go!" cried the foreman, and the cavalcade started off to the +whooping and yelling accompaniment of the cowboys, though this time they +did not fire their revolvers. + +The pace was fast. In fact, everything out in the West seemed to be +fast. No one walked who could, by any means, get a horse, and the +horses, or cow ponies, seemed to be always on the trot or gallop when +they were not standing still. A slow walk seemed to be the one thing +they could not do. Even the teams attached to the wagons were off at the +same fast pace. + +It was a little breathless at first, but the players soon became used to +it, and liked it. The rapid motion made a cooling breeze. + +Rocky Ranch was located in a fine part of the country. The land was +rolling, with occasional wide, level stretches. About two miles away was +a timber belt, through which ran a stream of good water, and about eight +miles to the west was a chain of hills, reaching finally into mountains, +with an occasional _mesa_, or flat, table-like, isolated hill. + +The ranch owner, Mr. Haladay Norton, possessed many cattle, which roamed +about his broad acres. There were a number of ranch buildings, and +accommodations for all the players, as well as for the necessary help in +the line of cowboys. In fact, it was one of the largest and best ranches +in that part of the country, which is the reason Mr. Pertell selected it +for his purposes. + +For some time, as the players rode along with the cowboy escort, they +saw no signs of habitation. Off in the distance were dark moving +bunches, that the foreman said were some of the Rocky Ranch cattle, and +farther off could be seen the foothills. + +Then, as the dust blew away, and the cavalcade topped a little rise, +they all saw, nestled in a sort of hollow, or swale, a group of red +buildings. + +"There you are!" cried Pete Batso, pointing with gloved hand toward the +collection. "That's Rocky Ranch, and I kin smell supper cookin' right +now." + +"Some nose you got!" observed a blue-eyed cowboy riding close to the +wagon containing Alice and Ruth. + +"That's all right, Bow Backus; but I kin, all the same," asserted Pete. +"We call him Bow Backus because he's got such crooked legs, from ridin' +a horse so much," the foreman explained in a low voice to Mr. DeVere, +who sat with his daughters. "Most every cow-puncher gets bow-legged +after a while, but Backus is the worst I ever see. You could almost roll +a barrel through him when he stands up. That feller next to him is Baldy +Johnson," he went on. "His head is like a billiard ball, or an ostrich +egg. He's tried all the hair restorers on the market; but they don't do +no good. He'll ask you if you ever heard of one he ain't tried, as soon +as he gets on speakin' terms with you." + +"What odd characters," observed Ruth. + +"Aren't they? But delightfully quaint--I like them!" her sister +exclaimed. + +"Oh, so do I. It's so different from what we've seen. I know we shall +have fine times out here." + +A little later the cowboy whom the foreman had designated as Baldy +Johnson, spurred up beside the wagon in which Mr. Bunn rode. The actor +had taken off his hat, and his rather thick and heavy hair was blown +about. + +"Whoop-ee! Look at that!" cried Baldy, in evident admiration. "I say, no +offense, stranger," he went on, "but what brand do you use?" + +"Brand?" queried the actor, much puzzled. + +"Yes. What sort of stuff do you use on your hair? You've got a fine +bunch there. I'd like to get next. Look at me!" and he pulled off his +hat and showed a head shiny and bald. + +"I--I don't use any," faltered Mr. Bunn, for he saw the cowboy taking a +revolver from its holster, and the actor evidently thought he was to be +"held up" then and there, and perhaps scalped. + +"Too bad. I wish you did, and could tell me what to use," sighed Baldy, +and then, with a whoop he raised his gun in the air and fired. +Instantly all the other cowboys were doing the same thing, as their +horses broke into a fast gallop. Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon +screamed, but they need have had no fears, for it was but a repetition +of the scene at the station. The cow-punchers were merely celebrating +their return to the ranch. + +"Glad to see you all," Mr. Norton, the owner, greeted them as he came +out to welcome the party. He had met Mr. Pertell in Chicago, where +arrangements for the use of the ranch had been made. + +Introductions were soon over, and then, under the direction of Mrs. +Norton, who proved to be a motherly, home-like sort of person, the +ladies of the company were taken to their quarters, and the men shown to +theirs. + +"You won't find marble halls and electric elevators here," laughed the +ranch owner. "In fact, everything's on the ground floor; but you'll find +some comforts. I want you to have a good time while you're here. You'll +find us a bit rough, perhaps; but you'll find us ready to do our best +for you." + +"I'm sure of it," agreed Mr. Pertell, heartily. + +The players had scarcely removed the dust of travel, and freshened +themselves, before the mellow notes of a gong sounded through the air, +and at the same time a strident voice cried; + +"Glub leady! Glub leady!" + +"What in the world is that?" asked Alice. + +"That's the Chinese cook, Ling Foo, announcing that grub, or supper, is +ready," replied Mr. Norton, with a laugh. "This way to the dining room." + +As the company, the members of which were to eat by themselves, filed +out, Russ, who was walking beside Mr. Pertell, saw a familiar looking +box on a bench. + +"Look!" he exclaimed to the manager. + +"A moving picture camera!" was the surprised comment. "Is that one of +yours left out by mistake?" + +"No, mine are in the room with the other props." + +"But that's a camera, sure enough, though the lens has been taken off. I +wonder how that got here," and he looked anxiously at the young +operator. + +"I'll ask Mr. Norton," Russ volunteered, and, as the ranch proprietor +came along at that moment, Russ had his chance. + +"That? Oh, that belongs to a new man I hired the other day," said the +ranchman. + +"What sort of a man is he?" asked Mr. Pertell, suspiciously. + +"Well, not as good a sort as I thought he was. He knows a little about +cow-punching; but not much. Still, I was short of help and had to put +him on." + +"What--what does he do with that?" asked Russ, pointing to the camera +out on the bench. + +"That? Oh he says that's an electric battery. He uses it for rheumatism; +but I haven't seen him work it yet. He said it was out of order, and +he's tinkering with it the last few days. Why?" + +"Oh, I was just--just wondering," returned Russ, evasively. + +Then, as he passed on to the dining room, he saw, through a window, a +man hurry up to the bench and remove the camera. Russ could not recall +ever having seen this man. + +"There's something queer about this," said Mr. Pertell to his operator. +"What would a cowboy be doing with a moving picture camera?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AT THE BRANDING + + +Russ did not answer for a moment, but kept on beside the manager through +the long corridor that led to the dining hall. Then, just as the two +entered the room, Russ said: + +"I reckon, as they say out here--I reckon, Mr. Pertell, that you're +thinking the same thing I am." + +"What's that, Russ?" + +"That maybe those International fellows are still on our trail." + +"That's what I do think, Russ. Though how they got out here ahead of us +is more than I can tell." + +"It would be easy enough. They learned we were coming here, and just +took a short cut. We've been on the road quite a while." + +"That must be it, Russ. But you say you had a glimpse of the fellow who +took the camera off the bench. You didn't know him; did you?" + +"Never saw him before, as far as I could tell. But there are a lot of +camera operators nowadays, so that isn't strange. The International firm +could hire anyone and send him on here to try and steal some of the +scenes we're depending on. He could pose as a cowboy, too." + +"Well, we'll just have to be on our guard, Russ. It won't do to let them +get ahead of us. There's too much at stake." + +Nothing was said to the players of the suspicions of Russ and Mr. +Pertell. They wanted to wait and see what happened. + +Though the meal at Rocky Ranch was served without any of the elegance +which would have been expected at a hotel, the food was of the best, and +there was plenty of it. + +"Ah, again sauerkraut!" cried Mr. Switzer, as he saw a steaming dish +brought on the table, topped with smoking sausages. "Dot is fine alretty +yet!" + +"Disgusting!" scoffed Miss Pennington, turning up a nose that in itself +showed a tendency to "tilt." + +There was time, in the twilight that followed supper, for the players to +look about the buildings at Rocky Ranch. All the structures, as Mr. +Norton had said, were of only one story. There were broad verandas on +most of them and in comfortable chairs one could take one's ease in +delightful restfulness. + +There was a bunk-house for the cowboys, and a separate living apartment +for the Chinese cook and his two assistants, for considerable food was +required at Rocky Ranch, especially with the advent of the film players. + +The cowboys, their meal over, gathered in a group and looked curiously +at the visitors. The novelty of seeing the pretty girls and the +well-dressed men appealed to the rough but sterling chaps who had so +little to soften their hard lives. + +Nearly every one of them smoked cigarettes, which they rolled skillfully +and quickly. + +"Give us a song, Buster!" one of the cowboys called to a comrade. "Tune +up! Bring out that mouth organ, Necktie!" + +"What odd names!" remarked Alice to Pete Batso, who constituted himself +a sort of guide to Ruth and her sister. + +"They call Dick Jones 'Buster' because he's a good bronco trainer, or +buster," the foreman said. "And Necktie Harry got his handle because +he's so fussy about his ties. I'll wager he's got _three_, all +different," and the foreman seemed to think that a great number. + +"You should see our Mr. Towne," laughed Paul, who had joined the girls. +"I guess he must have thirty!" + +"Thirty!" cried Pete. "What is he--a wholesale dealer?" + +"Pretty nearly," admitted Paul. + +"Say, Pete!" called one of the cowboys, "can't some of them actor folks +do a song and dance?" + +The foreman looked questioningly at Alice, with whom he was already on +friendly terms because of her happy frankness. + +"I'm afraid that isn't in our line," she said. + +"I'll do that little sketch I did with Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon," +offered Paul, who had been in vaudeville. "I've got my banjo and----" + +"Ki-yi, fellows! We're going to have a show!" yelled Bow Backus. "Come +on!" and he fired his revolver in the air. + +Ruth jumped nervously. + +"Here, cut that out!" ordered the foreman to the offending cowboy. "Save +your powder to mill the cattle." + +"I begs your pardon, Miss," said the cowboy, humbly. "But I jest +couldn't help it--thinkin' we was goin' to have a little amusement. It's +been powerful dull out here lately. Nothin' to do but shoot the queue +off Ling Foo." + +"Oh! you don't do that; do you?" gasped Ruth. + +"Don't mind him, Miss," said the foreman, "he's jokin'." + +Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon were only too willing to show their +talents to the appreciative audience of cowboys, and with Paul, who +played the banjo, they went through the little sketch, with a side porch +as a stage, and the setting sun as a spotlight. + +There were ample sleeping quarters at Rocky Ranch, though the bedrooms +were rather of the camp, or bungalow, type. But there was hot and cold +water and this made up for the lack of many other things. + +"Do you think you're going to like it here, Alice?" asked Ruth as they +sat in the room they were to share. Ruth was manicuring her nails, and +Alice was combing her hair. + +"Like it? Of course I'm going to like it. Aren't you?" + +"Well, it's--er--rather--rough," she hesitated. + +"Oh, but it's all so real! There's no sham about anything. They take you +for just what you are worth out here, and not a cent more. There's no +sham!" + +"No, that's true. But everything seems so--so different." + +"I know--there isn't romance enough for you. You'd like a horseman to +wear a suit of armor, or come prancing up in a top hat and shiny boots. +But these men, in their rough clothes and on their scraggy-looking +ponies, can _ride_. I saw some of them just before supper. They can +ride like the wind and pull up so short that it's a wonder they don't +turn somersaults. I'm going to learn to ride that way." + +"Alice, you're not!" + +"Well, maybe not so well, of course," the younger girl admitted, as she +finished braiding her hair for the night. "But I'm going to learn. I'll +have to, anyhow, as I'm cast for a riding part in several scenes, and so +are you." + +"Well, then, I suppose I'll have to. But I hope I will get a gentle +horse." + +"Oh, Pete will see to that." + +"Pete? Do you call him by his first name so soon?" asked Ruth rather +shocked, as she shook out her robe, and ran a ribbon through the neck. + +"Everyone calls him Pete; why shouldn't I?" laughed Alice. "He's awfully +nice--and he's been married three times!" + +"Did you ask him that?" + +"No, he told me. He asked me if I'd ever been 'hooked up,' as he called +it." + +"Alice DeVere!" + +"Well, I couldn't help it. He meant all right. He's old enough to be our +father. Do you think daddy is quite well?" she asked, perhaps to change +the subject. + +"Yes, I think the pure air out here is doing him good. His throat seems +much improved. Are those my slippers?" she asked, quickly, as Alice +thrust her pink feet into a pair of worsted "tootsies." + +"Indeed they are not. I just took these out of my trunk. There are yours +under your bed." + +"Oh, excuse me. I don't believe I shall need anyone to sing me to sleep +to-night," and she yawned comfortably. + +There were to be busy times at Rocky Ranch next day, for some cattle +were to be branded, or marked with the hot iron to establish their +ownership, and Mr. Pertell had decided to have some scenes of this, with +his own players worked in as part of the action. + +This had already been planned, and after breakfast there was a short +rehearsal of the players, while the cowboys were getting ready for the +branding. + +"Now we're ready for you," announced Pete Batso, who was in charge of +the cowboys. "Get your players in position. They're going to rope the +first critter now." + +The proper action for the scene was gone through by Ruth, Alice, Paul +and Mr. Sneed, and then one of the cowboys "cut out," or separated from +the rest, a young steer that had not yet been branded. + +"Whoop-ee!" yelled the cow puncher as he hurled his lariat and pulled +the animal to the ground. Other cowboys quickly threw their ropes around +the fore and hind legs of the steer and then, with another rope around +the head, the creature was stretched out helpless, ready for the +application of the iron. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A WARNING + + +"Oh, doesn't it hurt them?" faltered Ruth, as creature after creature +was branded. + +"No, Miss, hardly at all," Pete Batso assured her. "You see they're used +to being roped, and we don't throw them as hard as it looks, onless it's +an ornery critter that wants to make trouble. And the hot iron doesn't +go in deep. It just sort of crimples up the hair, same as you ladies +frizzes your curls with a hot slate pencil--at least my second wife--no, +it was my third--she used to curl hers that way." + +Ruth had difficulty to keep from laughing. + +The branding was almost over, and the taking of pictures was nearly at +an end. Russ had obtained some good films, and the action was spirited. + +"Here comes a bad one," announced the foreman, as the cow punchers cut +out from the herd a big steer. "That's a vicious critter, all right!" + +"Oh, is there any danger?" asked Alice, for she and Ruth had finished +their work. Mr. Bunn and Paul were engaged in the final scenes, not far +from the place of the branding. + +"Oh, don't worry. That critter won't get away from the boys," the +foreman assured her. "It's a steer that some of the other ranchmen +around here tried to claim for theirs. They changed the brand by burnin' +an arrow over our circle and dot. Now we've got to put our brand on +again. The steer knows what's comin', I guess." + +Indeed the animal did, for it resisted, for some time, the efforts of +the cowboys to separate it from the rest of the bunch. But finally it +was forced out into an open space, and there quickly roped and thrown. + +"Lively now, boys!" called the foreman. "We've got to clear out of here +right after this, and look after that bunch of critters by Sweetwater +Brook. I hear the rustlers have been after them. So get a move on." + +"What are rustlers?" asked Alice, who seldom let pass a chance to +acquire information. + +"Cattle stealers, Miss. Ornery, mean men who trade on the rights of +others. But we'll snub 'em if we get hold of 'em!" + +The branding of the big steer was quickly done and then the restraining +ropes were cast off so that it might get up. With a deep bellow the +animal sprang to its feet. It stood still for a moment and then, with a +snort, it wheeled around and made straight for Mr. Bunn. + +For a moment the veteran actor stood still. Fortunately, some little +distance separated him from the steer. Otherwise he might have been +impaled on its short horns. + +"Run! Run!" cried Pete Batso. "Get out the way, and give the boys a +chance to rope him!" + +Mr. Bunn needed no second call. He sprang to one side, in time to avoid +a sweep of the horns, and started to run. The steer, evidently +connecting the actor with the recent branding, made after him, and then +began a chase that might have resulted seriously. + +"Stop him! Save me! Do something!" cried Mr. Bunn, as he raced about, +keeping just ahead of the angry steer. + +"Just a minute--we'll rope him!" cried the foreman. But the trouble was +that the cowboys nearest the scene had just pulled their lariat from the +branded beast and the ropes were not coiled in readiness for throwing. +The foreman himself had left his at the ranch house. + +On rushed Mr. Bunn. On came the steer, and only a little way behind the +actor. The distance was lessening every second. + +"He ought to be on a horse--then he wouldn't have any trouble," declared +the foreman. "Lively there, Buster--get that critter!" + +"Right away, Pete," was the answer as the cowboy coiled his rope for a +throw. Then, galloping his pony up behind the steer, Buster threw the +lariat over the head of the animal, and brought it with a thud to the +ground. + +"Oh, am I safe?" gasped Mr. Bunn as he sank down on some saddles that +had been removed from the horses. + +"You're all right now," Paul assured him. "But it certainly was a lively +time while it lasted." + +"That's so," agreed Russ, who had not deserted his camera. "But why +didn't you run toward me while you were at it. I could have made better +pictures then." + +"Do you--do you mean to say you took a film of me running away from +that--that cow?" panted Mr. Bunn, who had lost his tall silk hat early +in the chase. + +"Well, I just couldn't help it," confessed Russ. "It was too good to +miss. I think I got most of it." + +"Where's Mr. Pertell?" demanded Mr. Bunn, getting up quickly. "I want to +see the manager at once." + +"What's the trouble?" asked that gentleman, as he came up. + +"I demand that you destroy that film of me being chase by a cow!" cried +Mr. Bunn. "I shall be the laughing stock of all the moving picture +theaters of the United States. I demand that that film be not shown. To +be chased by a _cow_!" + +"But it wasn't a cow, my friend," spoke the foreman. "It was a vicious +steer and you might have been badly hurt if Buster hadn't roped it in +time." + +"Is that so?" asked Mr. Bunn. + +"It sure is!" + +"Well, er--then--perhaps after all, if it was as important as that, you +may show the film," conceded the Shakespearean actor, who had a large +idea of his own importance. "We might make it into some sort of a play +like 'Quo Vadis?'" he went on. + +"Hardly," said Mr. Pertell with a smile. "They didn't wear tall silk +hats in those days. But I'll change the script of this play to conform +to the chase. I'm glad you were not hurt, Mr. Bunn." + +"So am I. I thought several times that I felt those horns in my back." + +The vicious steer was held by the ropes until the company of players +had left the scene. Then it was allowed to get up and join the rest of +the bunch. By that time it seemed to have lost all desire to attack. + +"Sometimes a steer will come for a person that isn't on horseback," +explained Pete Batso. "You see, the cattle are so used to seeing mounted +men that they can't get used to anyone afoot. You want to get your +players mounted," he added to Mr. Pertell, who was a fair horseman, and +who was on this occasion in the saddle. + +"I guess I will," agreed the manager. "Some of the young ladies are +quite anxious to try it, if you have some gentle mounts." + +"Oh, I think I can fix them up. My boys will quarrel among themselves, +though, for the privilege of giving lessons to 'em. You see we don't get +much of ladies' society out here and we appreciate it so much the more." + +"I see," laughed Mr. Pertell. + +The next few days were given over to horseback practice on the part of +all the members of the moving picture company save Mrs. Maguire. She +declared she was too old to learn, and as she would not be required in +mounted scenes she was excused. But her little grandchildren were +provided with gentle ponies and taught how to sit in the saddle. Mr. +DeVere had ridden in his youth, and the knack of it soon came back to +him, though he was a trifle heavy. Paul took to it naturally, and Miss +Pennington and Miss Dixon were soon able to hold their own, as was Ruth. + +But Alice was the "star," according to Baldy Johnson, who insisted on +being her instructor. She was an apt pupil, and he was a good and +conscientious teacher. In less than a week Alice was very sure of +herself in the saddle. + +"Oh, it's simply great! It's wonderful!" she cried as she came back one +day from a gallop, with red cheeks and eyes that sparkled with the light +of health and life. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything!" + +"I am glad you like it," said her father. "It is good exercise for you." + +"I like it, too," declared Ruth, "but I'm not as keen for it as Alice +is." + +"Oh, I just love it!" cried the younger girl, enthusiastically. + +"Now we'll begin some real Western scenes, since you can all ride fairly +well," remarked Mr. Pertell. + +"Fairly well--huh! She's a peach at it--that's what she is--a peach!" +cried Baldy Johnson, with a look of admiration at his pupil. Alice +blushed with delight. + +During the days of horseback practice Mr. Pertell and Russ had been on +the lookout for any signs of activity on the part of their rivals in the +moving picture business; but nothing had happened. The man with the +other camera seemed to have disappeared. + +"Maybe they've given up," suggested Russ. + +"I hope so," agreed Mr. Pertell. + +A few days later several important scenes were to be filmed, and one +evening Alice, who was to have a large share in the acting, had her +horse saddled, and with Ruth and her father, accompanied by Baldy, set +off for a little gallop. + +"Let's go over to that _mesa_," suggested Alice, pointing to a big, +elevated hill, standing boldly and abruptly upright in the midst of the +plain. + +"No, I wouldn't go there," said Baldy, flicking his horse with the +reins. "That's a dangerous place, Miss. Best keep away." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE INDIAN RITES + + +Alice glanced curiously at the cowboy. There seemed to be a strange look +on his face. + +"What do you mean?" she asked, adding in a half-bantering tone: "Is it +haunted?" + +"Oh, Alice!" objected Ruth, shaking out her skirt so it would hang down +a little longer, for the girls rode side-saddle. + +"No, Miss, it ain't exactly haunted," replied Baldy. "But it ain't a +safe place to go--least-ways, not all alone." + +"But why?" persisted Alice. + +"Because that's a sort of sacred place--at least some of the Indians +from the reservation think so--and, though it's off their land, and +really belongs to Mr. Norton, them redskins come over, once in a while, +to hold some of their heathen rites on it." + +"Oh, how interesting!" the girl cried. "I wonder if we couldn't see +them? Do they do a snake dance, and things like that?" + +"Well, yes, in a way," Baldy admitted. "But it ain't safe to go watch +'em. Them Indians are peculiar. They don't want strangers lookin' on, +and more than once they've made trouble when outsiders tried to climb up +there and watch. As I said, the Indians come from their reservation, +which is several miles away, to that place for their ceremonies. And +they come at odd times, so there's no tellin' when you might strike a +body of 'em up on top there, pow-wowin' to beat the band, and yellin' +fit to split your ears. So it's best to keep away." + +"Are the Indians really dangerous?" asked Mr. DeVere. + +"Well, I don't s'pose they'd actually _scalp_ you," replied Baldy, +slowly. + +"Oh, how terrible!" exclaimed Ruth with a shiver. + +"They ain't got no right to come off their reservation," went on the +cowboy; "but they do it all the same. You see this place is pretty well +out of the way, and by the time we could get troops here to drive 'em +back, they'd probably be gone of their own accord, anyhow. So we sort of +let 'em alone. They don't bother us, and we don't bother them. Just keep +away from that hill, that's all, for it's so high you can't see the top +of it unless you climb up, and there's no tellin' when the Indians come +and go." + +"I should like to see some of those rites, just the same," declared +Alice. + +"Oh, but you won't go there; will you?" begged Ruth. "Promise me you +won't, my dear. Daddy, make her!" + +"I won't go _alone_, I promise you that," laughed Alice. + +"Of course with a party it might be all right," assented Baldy, "but +even then the Indians act rather hostile." + +"Mr. Pertell will be sure to want some moving pictures of the Indians, +if he hears about them," said Mr. DeVere. "Better not tell him, or he +might run into danger--or send Russ." + +"Then we won't say a thing about it!" exclaimed Ruth, with such sudden +energy that Alice laughed. + +"Oh, no, we mustn't endanger _Russ_!" she said, mockingly. + +"Alice!" exclaimed Ruth, with gentle dignity, her face the while being +suffused with a burning blush. "I meant I didn't want _anyone_ to run +into danger." + +"I understand, my dear. Oh, but isn't that sunset gorgeous?--to change +the subject," and she laughed at the serious expression on Ruth's face. + +The scene was indeed beautiful. The _mesa_ seemed to be suffused by a +purple glow, while, farther off, the foothills, from which it was +separated by a level expanse, were in a golden haze. The _mesa_ stood up +boldly, almost like some giant toadstool, save that the stem was +thicker. There was an overhang to the top, or table part, though, that +carried out the resemblance. + +"I should think that would be difficult of access," observed Mr. DeVere. + +"There's an easy way up on the other side," returned Baldy. "The Indians +always use that side. It's a narrow path to the top." + +The cowboys, their work over for the day, were indulging in some of +their pastimes--rough riding, feats in throwing the lariat, jumping, +wrestling and the like. + +"Don't you want to go with them?" asked Alice of their escort. + +"No, Miss, I--I'd rather be with you," Baldy replied, simply, but he +blushed even under his coat of tan. + +"Now who's to blame?" asked Ruth in a low voice of her sister, as she +regarded her with a quizzical smile. + +"I can't help it if he likes me," murmured the younger girl. + +In fact both Ruth and Alice were favorites with all the cowboys, who +were always willing to perform any little service for them. The other +members of the moving picture company, too, were well liked; but Ruth +and Alice seemed to come first. Perhaps it was because they were both so +natural and girlish, and took such an interest in the life and doings at +Rocky Ranch. + +Ruth and Alice were fast becoming adepts in the saddle. The other +members of the company, too, soon felt more at home on the back of a +horse, and Mr. Pertell allowed them to rehearse in the scenes where +mounted action was necessary. + +Mr. Bunn had one rather unlucky experience on a horse, and for some time +after that he refused to mount a steed, even going to the length of +threatening to resign if compelled to. + +The "old school" actor was rather supercilious in his manner, and this +was resented by some of the cowboys, who thought him "stuck up." They +therefore planned a little joke on him. At least, it was a joke to them. + +The horse Mr. Bunn had learned to ride was a steady-going beast that had +outlived its frisky days, and plodded along just the pace that suited +the actor. But there was, among the ranch animals, a "bucking bronco," +who looked so much like Mr. Bunn's horse that even some of the cowboys +had difficulty in telling them apart. + +A bucking bronco, it might be explained, is a steed who by nature or +training uses every means in its power to unseat its rider. The bucking +consists in the horse leaping into the air, with all four feet off the +ground, and coming down stiff-legged, jarring to a considerable degree +the person in the saddle. + +One day, just for a "joke," the bucking bronco was brought out for Mr. +Bunn to ride, when a certain film was to be made. He did not notice that +it was not his regular mount. The bronco was quiet and tractable enough +until Mr. Bunn settled himself in the saddle, and then, just as Russ was +about to make the film, the pony set off at a fast pace. + +"Whoa, there! Whoa!" cried Mr. Bunn, trying to halt the beast, and not +understanding what could have gotten into his usually quiet mount. +"Whoa, there!" + +"Give him a touch of the spur," called the mischievous cowboy. + +Mr. Pertell did not know what to make of the actions of his actor, for +the play called for nothing like that. + +"Shall I get that?" asked Russ, and before the manager could answer the +bronco began running around in a circle. + +"Yes! Get it!" ordered Mr. Pertell. "We can change the play to work it +in. It's too funny to lose." + +"Whoa! Stop it! Somebody stop him! I'm getting dizzy!" cried Mr. Bunn, +leaning forward and clasping his arms about the neck of the pony. + +By accident he dug the spurs lightly into the side of the beast, and as +this always made the animal buck, or leap up into the air, it now +changed its tactics. + +With legs held stiff it rose several feet, and came down hard. Mr. Bunn +was bounced up, and would have been bounced off had he not had that neck +grip. Again the bronco bucked. + +"Oh stop him! Stop him!" cried the actor. + +"Get every move of that, Russ!" called Mr. Pertell. + +But there was not much more to get, for with the next buck Mr. Bunn's +hold was loosened and away he shot, out of the saddle. Fortunately he +landed on a pile of hay and was not hurt beyond a shaking up. But Russ +got a good picture of the whole scene. The actor picked himself up, and +without a word started for the ranch house. Probably he suspected the +trick that had been played on him, and for some days after that he +refused to mount a horse, so Mr. Pertell had to make some changes in his +plans, as he did not care to antagonize Mr. Bunn by insisting on his +taking part. + +And when the actor did again get into the saddle, he had his horse +branded on one hoof, as army horses are marked, so he could not again be +deceived. + +Life at Rocky Ranch was a delight to all the moving picture players, +though there was plenty of hard work, too. + +Of course it was impossible to keep from Mr. Pertell the story of the +Indians and their rites on the _mesa_, and he determined, before he left +the West, to get a film of them. + +"But you'll have to be careful, Russ, how you go about it," he said. + +"That's what I will," agreed the operator. + +It was about a week after this that Russ, Paul, Alice, Ruth and Mr. +DeVere were riding out toward the _mesa_ to get some scenes in the +foothills, the two girls, their father and Paul being scheduled to go +through a little act by themselves. + +As they passed under the shadow of the eminence Russ looked up and saw a +thin wisp of smoke curling around the top. + +"Look!" he exclaimed. "I wonder if the Indians can be there now, doing +some of their snake ceremonies?" + +"Let's have a look," suggested Paul. "We've got lots of time. I'd like +to have a peep." + +"I would too!" exclaimed Alice. + +"Oh, Daddy, will it be safe?" asked Ruth, for she saw that her father +seemed interested. + +"There are so many of us, I think so," he replied. "We will try it, at +all events. They can no more than tell us to go. I should very much like +to see what they do, and perhaps I can get some of their weapons or +musical instruments for my collection," for the actor had that fad. And +then, though Ruth was a bit timid about it, they turned toward the +elevated table land to see if the Indians were at their rites. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +PRISONERS + + +"Russ, are you going to try to get a film?" asked Alice, as she saw the +young operator examining his camera. + +"I was thinking of it," he confessed. "I guess I've got film enough to +get you people, and take about eight hundred feet of the Indians--that +is, if they'll let us." + +"Maybe we can make them believe the camera is some new kind of magic, +that will help them better than some of their own," suggested Paul. "One +of the cowboys was telling me the Indians come here to make magic or +'medicine' that they take back to the reservation with them, to ward off +sickness, bring good crops, and the like." + +"Well, don't run into danger, whatever you do," advised Mr. DeVere. +"We'll just take a look, if we can, and come away." + +"But I want a film," insisted Russ. + +They were nearing the _mesa_. The smoke on top was seen to be growing +thicker, but there were no other signs that the Indians were on top of +the peculiar, table-like formation. + +"Suppose they aren't there?" suggested Paul. + +"Oh, don't come any of that Mr. Sneed business," laughed Russ. "Don't +cross a bridge until you come to it. I guess they're there, all right." + +"Who's that coming after us?" asked Ruth, as she turned in her saddle, +and indicated an approaching horseman, who was coming on at a gallop. A +cloud of dust almost hid him, and it could not be made out who he was. + +A little later, as he drew nearer, however, he was seen to be Baldy +Johnson. He waved his hat at them, his bald pate shining in the hot sun, +and called out: + +"Hold on! Where you goin'?" + +"Up to the _mesa_," answered Russ. "The Indians are there, I think, and +we want to see them. I want to get some pictures." + +The two girls expected Baldy to make an objection, but he merely said: + +"Well, I guess it'll be safe enough this time. I'll go along with you. +There's only a small party of them up there now." + +"Then you know the Indians are there?" asked Alice. + +"Yes, we got word at the ranch last night that they were on the way for +one of their regular pow-wows. One of the boys was out looking up some +stray cattle and he seen 'em headin' for the _mesa_. But there wasn't +many, so I guess it'll be safe. I'll go along," and he glanced +significantly at the two big revolvers that hung from either hip. + +"But can you spare the time?" asked Alice. + +"Oh, yes, Miss. I'd make time, anyhow," and he smiled frankly at her. +That was one nice feature of Baldy's admiration. It was so open and +ingenuous that no one--not even Ruth--could take offense at it. "I'm on +a little round-up of my own, looking for signs of rustlers, and I +haven't any special office hours," he finished, laughingly. "So come +along. I'll take you by the easiest path." + +The ride around the _mesa_, to a point where it could be climbed, took +nearly an hour. During that time the girls and the others cast curious +glances at the top of the table-like elevation, but were not able to +detect any signs of the redmen. The little pillar of smoke, too, +disappeared. + +"Now for some hard work; but take it as easy as you can," suggested +Baldy, as they came to the trail that led up the slope. + +"Oh, we can never get the horses up that," objected Ruth, as she looked +at the elevation. "It's too steep." + +"Just leave it to the ponies, Miss," responded Baldy. "They know how to +make it easy for themselves and you. Leave it to them. I'll take the +lead, and you follow me. Take it easy!" + +It was not as difficult as it looked, once the horses were given free +rein. Baldy's pony seemed to have traveled the trail before and, on +inquiry, the girls learned that this was so. + +"When I'm sure I'm not goin' to run into a bunch of redskins I often +come up here," said the cowboy. "I can get a good view of the country +from this elevation, when I'm trying to locate a strayed bunch of +cattle." + +"Isn't it lonesome here?" asked Ruth, as she looked about her, and up +and down the trail. Indeed the scenery was wild and desolate, though +imposing in its grandeur. + +"Well, it ain't exactly the 'Great White Way' that Miss Pennington and +Miss Dixon talk so much about," chuckled Baldy. "There ain't no +skyscrapers except the _mesa_ itself, and there's no electric lights." + +"But I like it, just the same!" cried Alice, impulsively. "I think it's +just great! This is the finest country in the world!" + +"It sure is, Miss," agreed Baldy in a low voice. "The Lord didn't make a +better," he added, reverently. + +The trail became easier for a time, and then more difficult until, as +they neared the top, the girls were almost ready to give up and go back. +Mr. DeVere, too, was a little doubtful about continuing. + +"Suppose they drive us back?" the actor asked. "We would never be able +to negotiate a retreat safely down such a slope." + +"Oh, I guess it's all right this time," said Baldy. "But if it wasn't +that I'm sure there are only a few Indians here, I wouldn't have let you +come. Keep on. I guess you'll be all right." + +By dint of struggling the ponies covered the short remaining distance +and, a little later, the party found itself on the summit. They were +among a lot of stunted trees and straggling bushes, on top of the flat +expanse that stood so high above the surrounding country. + +"Oh, what a view!" cried Alice, as she looked off to the west, toward +the foothills and mountains. + +"Isn't it?" agreed Ruth. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything." + +"But where are the Indians?" asked Russ, who was getting his moving +picture machine ready for work. + +"Oh, they're probably somewhere in the middle of the place," said +Baldy. "It's about three miles across it, you know." + +They gave the horses a breathing spell, and then started slowly across +the table land. There was no smoke in sight now, and as far as could be +told from observation, they were alone on the plateau. + +"It's likely the Indians are getting ready to make their 'medicine,'" +said Baldy. "Now leave everything to me. I can speak some of their +lingo, so I'll do the talking. I'll tell 'em you have powerful +'medicine' in that picture machine of yours," he went on to Russ. "That +may stop them from taking a notion to throw stones at it." + +"Would they do that?" asked the young operator. + +"Oh, they might--there's not much counting on what an Indian will do, +especially at these ceremonies. But I'll fix it all right. Just leave it +to me." + +Though the top of the _mesa_ was flat, it was only comparatively so. +There were little hollows and ridges, and when the riders were down in +some of the depressions they could not see very far ahead. + +They kept on, becoming more and more impressed with the wonderful view. +It was a new experience for the Easterners, and they appreciated it. + +"I guess it's going to turn out a false alarm," Russ observed, as he +shifted the weight of his camera. + +"No, they're here," returned Baldy, in a low voice. + +"How can you tell?" Alice asked. + +"I can hear the stamping of their ponies. They're tethered just beyond +there--past that clump of trees." He pointed as he spoke, and, at the +same moment, from that direction came the whinny of a pony. It was +answered by Baldy's horse. + +"I thought so," said the cowboy, quietly. "They're here." + +"Good enough!" declared Russ. "Mr. Pertell will be pleased to get this +film." + +"You haven't got it--yet," remarked Paul, significantly. + +A little later they passed along a trail that led to a grove of small +trees, where a score or more of Indian ponies were tied. But of the +Indians themselves not a sign was to be seen. + +"Where are they?" asked Alice. + +"You'll soon find out," was Baldy's reply. "They're most likely in their +huts. They'll mine out in a minute." + +As he spoke they emerged from the clump of trees that served as a +stable, and there, in an open space, were nearly a hundred rude huts, +made of tree branches roughly twined together. Over some of them were +cowhides, tanned with hair on, while others were covered with gaudy +blankets. + +"There's where they stay while the ceremonies are going on," spoke +Baldy. "They're all in the huts now, probably, watching us." + +He had hardly finished before there were loud cries, and from the huts +poured a motley gathering of Indians. They were attired in very scant +costumes--in fact, they were as near like the aborigines as is customary +in these modern days. And most of them had, streaked on their faces and +bodies, colored earth or fire-ashes. Crude, fierce, and rather +terrifying were these painted Indians. + +"Oh!" faltered Ruth, as the savages advanced toward them. + +"Now don't be a bit skeered, Miss," said Baldy, calmly. "I'll palaver to +'em, and tell 'em we just come to pay 'em a visit." + +One Indian, taller and better looking than any of the others, stepped +out in advance and came close to the party of players, who had halted +their horses. + +He spoke in short, quick, guttural tones, and looked from one to the +other, as if asking who was the spokesman. + +"I'll talk to you," said Baldy, and then he lapsed into the Indian +dialect. The two talked for a little while, and it was evident that some +dispute was taking place. + +At first, however, the voices were kept down, and each of the talkers +was calm. Then something the Indian said seemed to annoy Baldy. + +"Well, you just try it on, and see what happens!" cried the cowboy, +hotly. "If you think we're afraid of you it's a big mistake," and, +whether unconsciously or not, his hand slid toward the weapon on his +right hip. + +"What is the trouble? Are we not welcome here?" asked Mr. DeVere. "If +so----" + +"Oh, they don't so much mind our coming, as I told 'em we had rights +here," replied Baldy. "But the trouble is they don't want us to go until +their ceremonies are over. They say it will spoil the magic if we come +and go so quickly, so they want to keep us here a couple of days." + +"As prisoners?" asked Paul, quickly. + +"That's about it," was the cowboy's laconic answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE RESCUE + + +Ruth and Alice gasped convulsively, and then urged their horses nearer +to their father's mount. Russ and Paul looked curiously, and a bit +apprehensively, at each other. As for Baldy, he sat confronting the +tall, thin Indian who had announced the ultimatum of his tribe. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Russ of the cowboy. + +"Will we have to stay here?" Paul wanted to know. + +"Oh, that would be impossible," objected Mr. DeVere. "I would not allow +my daughters to remain out over night." + +Baldy moved uneasily in his saddle. + +"I sort of got you into this trouble," he said, apologetically, "and I +guess I'll have to get you out. We'll have a talk among ourselves," he +went on. "Some of these fellows understand English, and it's just as +well to be on the safe side." + +Then, turning to the Indian, Baldy said: + +"We go for pow-wow!" + +"Ugh!" was the answer. The Indian then made a sign to his followers, at +the same time calling something to them in a high-pitched voice. + +"What is he saying?" asked Alice, as she and the others moved off to one +side. + +"He's postin' guard so we can't sneak off, and go down to the plain +again," explained Baldy. "There's only one way off, and that's the way +we came. He's going to guard that way." + +"Oh!" cried Ruth, apprehensively. + +"Now don't you go to worrying, little girl," said Baldy, quickly. "This +will come out all right. I got you into this mess, and I'll get you out. +There's a bigger band of the Injuns than I calculated on, though," he +added, ruefully, "and they're not in the best of tempers, either." + +"Is--er--is there any real danger?" ventured Mr. DeVere. + +"No, I'm sure they won't do anything rash, even if they insist on +keepin' us here until their ceremonies are over," replied Baldy. "But +they won't do that, if I can help it." + +Some of the Indians went back into the huts, where they had apparently +been resting in preparation for the coming rites. Others moved off +toward the grove where the horses were tethered, evidently to mount +guard against the escape of their prisoners. Then the chief, if such he +was, went into a hut that stood apart from the others. + +Baldy led his friends to a secluded place, under the shade of a clump of +stunted trees, and then, after carefully looking about, to make sure +there were no listening Indians, he said: + +"Now we'll consider what's best to do!" + +"Would it be safe to do anything--I mean to try to get away by force?" +asked Mr. DeVere. "I certainly don't like the idea of being held a +prisoner by these Indians." + +"Neither do I," agreed Baldy. "It's the first time one of 'em ever got +the best of me, and I don't like it. Now I tried to talk strong to him +at first, and told him his crowd would get in all kinds of hot water if +they held us here." + +"What did he say?" asked Russ. + +"He didn't seem much impressed by my line of talk," confessed Baldy. "He +said this ceremony was one of the most important the tribe ever held, +and that it would certainly spoil it to have us go away now. He doesn't +want us here, and he says we mustn't be present at the time the magic +medicine is made; but, at the same time, he doesn't want us to go." + +"That's strange," observed Alice. + +"Well, you can't tell much about Indians," Baldy went on. "They are +mostly queer critters, anyhow. Now, the question is: Do you want me to +go out there, and shoot 'em up, and----" + +"No, never!" cried Ruth. "You--you might be hurt." + +"Well, yes, there's a possibility of that," returned Baldy, calmly. "But +I reckon I could hurt a few of them at the same time. But it's bound to +muss things up any way you look at it. Though I might be able to clear +out enough of 'em so the others wouldn't bother you. I'm a pretty good +shot." + +"No, we must not think of that," declared Mr. DeVere, positively. "That +is too much of a risk for you, my dear sir. We will try some other line +of argument. If we make it plain that they will be punished for +detaining us perhaps they will think better of it." + +"Well, I'll give them another line of strong talk, and see what comes of +it," agreed Baldy. "I'll point out the error of their ways to them." + +"Tell them we can't--we simply can't--stay all night," said Ruth, +nervously pulling at her gauntlets. "Why, where could we sleep, and what +could we eat?" + +"We brought along some sandwiches," Alice reminded her. + +"Yes, my dear, I know. But hardly enough, and as for sleeping with +those--those Indians about---- Oh, I couldn't shut my eyes all night. +Please, Baldy, tell them we _must_ be let go." + +"I'll do my best," he responded. "But old Jumping Horse--that's the +chief--said we could have some huts off by ourselves, and they'll feed +us--such fodder as they've got." + +"It is an unfortunate situation," said Mr. DeVere, "but it cannot be +helped. We must make the best of it, and, after all, I suppose there is +really no great danger." + +"None at all, I guess, if we do as they say," agreed Baldy. "But I don't +fancy being kept here a week." + +"Do their ceremonies last as long as that?" asked Russ. + +"Often longer. Well, I'll go see what I can do, and then I'll come back +and report. Here, you keep one of those," and he handed a big revolver +to Paul. + +"Don't you dare hold that close to me!" cried Ruth, apprehensively. + +The result of Baldy's talk with Jumping Horse was not encouraging, as +the cowboy reported later. + +"You can't argue with an Indian," he said, gloomily. "He can only see +his side of the game." + +"Then he refuses to let us go?" asked Mr. DeVere. + +"That's about it," was the moody answer. "He says we won't be bothered; +that we can have some huts to ourselves, away from the others, and that +we can have the best food they've got. Fortunately they came prepared +for a feast and as they've got mostly store victuals it may not be so +bad." + +"Then you advise submitting quietly?" asked Mr. DeVere. + +"For a time, anyhow," replied Baldy. "But I haven't played all my hand +yet. I'm going to try and get away, or else bring a rescue party from +the ranch." + +"How can you do that?" asked Russ. + +"Well, I've got to plan it out. Now, of course I'm willin', as it was my +fault for bringin' you here--I'm willin' to go out and try to break +through their line of guards, if you say so." + +"Oh, no!" cried Alice. "Besides, it was as much our doing in coming here +as it was yours." + +"Certainly," agreed her father. "Don't think of it, my dear sir! Don't +think of it!" + +"Then we'll be as satisfied as we can," concluded Baldy. "And maybe +to-night, when they're at their ceremonies, we can sneak off." + +They agreed this was the best plan under the circumstances, and a little +later they were led by two or three Indians to a collection of huts that +seemed larger and cleaner than the others. A supply of food was also +brought for the prisoners, and, as it consisted largely of canned stuff, +that was clean also. + +The huts, which were really quite substantial wigwams, were apportioned +among the prisoners. Ruth and Alice received the largest and best one, +and their father had one by himself next to theirs. Paul and Russ +"bunked" together, for Baldy said he wanted to be free to come and go as +he liked. + +"I'll have to be on the watch," he said. + +"What's that big open place over there?" asked Russ, pointing to a +level, sandy circle surrounded by small huts. + +"That's where they have all the rites and ceremonies," explained Baldy. + +"Then that's just what I want!" went on Russ, with enthusiasm. "I can +poke a hole in the side of our hut, stick the lens of the camera +through, and get moving pictures of the whole business. That will be +great!" + +"There is nothing but what seems to have some compensations," observed +Alice, in her droll way. + +Left to themselves, though doubtless they were closely watched by the +Indians, the prisoners made ready for their stay. They had brought along +a number of blankets, for they were to have been used in taking pictures +of the scenes of one of the dramas. Now the coverings would come in very +nicely if they were obliged to remain all night. + +"Well, let's eat," suggested Baldy. "It's most noon, and I'm hungry." + +"So am I," confessed Alice. + +It was not a very "nice" meal, but it was very satisfying, and certainly +everyone had a good appetite. + +The tin cans served as dishes, and their fingers were knives and forks. +Baldy carried on his saddle a simple camping outfit, one item of which +was a coffee pot, with a supply of the ground berry, and, making a +little fire, he soon had some prepared. They all felt better after that. + +Directly after noon the Indians went through some of their ceremonies. +They circled about the sandy place, to the accompaniment of wild and +weird yells, cavorting and dancing, weaving in and out and shaking all +manner of noisemaking contrivances. A fire was built in the center of +the circle, and there appeared to be some sort of sacrifice going on at +a rude stone altar. + +Russ, with his camera concealed in a hut, got a fine series of moving +pictures of all that went on. Then came more dancing and wild howling, +all meaningless to the prisoners, but doubtless of moment to the +Indians. + +"Oh, that one is doing a regular hesitation waltz!" cried Alice, +pointing to a tall, lank brave. + +"How can you say such things--at a time like this?" Ruth demanded. + +"Why shouldn't I? Besides I've got an idea for a new step in the +hesitation from him. I'm going to practice as soon as I get back." + +All that afternoon the ceremonies kept up. At one time it seemed as +though the Indians would go wild, so frenzied did they become, and Baldy +thought it would be a good chance to see if he could not get past the +guards with his friends. + +But when he reached the trail that led off the _mesa_ he found it +closely guarded, and he was ordered back. + +"No use," he said on his return. "We'll have to wait until night." + +But at night he succeeded no better, for though the ceremonies were kept +up by the light of many camp fires, the line of Indians on guard was +not broken, and it was impossible to get through it. + +"We'll just have to stay," announced Baldy. + +Ruth cried a little, and even Alice felt a bit gloomy as the shadows +settled down when the watch fires died out. But then their father was +with them, and he did not seem at all despondent, so their spirits rose. + +"This experience will be something to talk about afterward," Mr. DeVere +told them. + +During the night, when all seemed quiet, Baldy made another attempt, +hoping he and his friends could get away, by leaving their horses +behind. But the guards were on the alert. + +The night was not a comfortable one, and no one slept much; but the huts +and blankets were a protection. The Indians did not come near their +prisoners, and in the morning they furnished them food. + +Baldy tried again to argue with Jumping Horse and some of the others, +but it was useless. To all the cowboy's arguments, and even threats, the +reply was that if the prisoners left before the ceremonies were over all +the medicine and magic would be spoiled. + +"We'll have to stay, then," sighed Mr. DeVere. "But it will be out of +the question to remain a week--and you say that it will take that +long?" + +"Yes," answered Baldy. + +"Help may come from the ranch before then," suggested Russ. + +"It will if I can do what I have in mind," declared Baldy, as he watched +a column of smoke ascending from the fire he had made to cook food for +his friends. "I've just thought of something. I can send up a smoke +signal. If Bow Backus at the ranch sees it he will know it means we're +here, and in trouble." + +"How can you make a smoke signal?" asked Alice. + +"Well, you use wet wood, to make a black smoke, and then you hold a +blanket over the fire a moment. When you take it away up goes a single +puff of smoke. Then you swing the blanket over the fire again, and cut +off the smoke. In that way you can make a number of separate puffs. + +"Bow and I have a signal code. If I can only get him to see this we'll +be all right." + +"It's worth trying," said Paul. + +That day the Indians went at their ceremonies harder than ever. They +were in a perfect frenzy, but the vigilance of the guards never relaxed. +There was no chance to escape. + +Russ, having nothing better to do, got many fine moving pictures through +the hole in the hut, and later the films made a great hit in New York. +It was the first time these peculiar rites had ever been shown on the +screen. In fact, few white men had witnessed them. + +Baldy was waiting for a chance to send up his smoke signal, but it was +not until afternoon that he got it. Then, most of the Indians having +gone off to a distant part of the _mesa_, for some new ceremony, Baldy +made a thick smudge and he and Paul, holding a blanket over it, sent up +a number of "puff balls." Russ took pictures of the signalling. + +"There! If Bow only sees that he'll come runnin'!" Baldy cried. + +But the smoke signal was the cause of considerable trouble to our +friends. Hardly had Paul and Baldy finished sending the message, which +they could only hope was seen and read at Rocky Ranch, than some of the +Indians came back. They had noted what had been done, and they were very +angry. + +With furious gestures they rushed on the prisoners and for a moment it +looked as though there would be trouble. Baldy and Paul stood steadily, +revolvers in hand. But there was no need to use them. Jumping Horse +rushed up, and drove back his men. Then he said something angrily to +Baldy. + +"What is it?" asked Mr. DeVere. + +"He says we shall be punished for making the smoke," was the answer. "I +don't know whether they think it's a signal or not; but it seems to have +been contrary to some of their ceremonies. We'll have to sit tight and +watch." + +Muttering angrily, Jumping Horse went back to join the other Indians, +and they seemed to hold a conference regarding the prisoners. Nothing +was done immediately, however, in the way of punishment, and a little +later the ceremonies went on. + +It was growing dusk, and the howling and yelling of the Indians +punctuated their caperings about a blood-red post in the center of the +sandy circle. Then, suddenly, there was a fusillade of pistol shots from +the direction of the trail, and at the same time the unmistakable shouts +of cowboys. + +"They're here!" yelled Baldy, jumping to his feet and firing his own +revolver in the air. "To the rescue, boys! Here we be!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A RUSH OF STEERS + + +Russ came bounding from his hut, carrying with him the moving picture +camera, its three legs trailing behind him. + +"Come on, girls!" he cried, as he saw Ruth and Alice peering from their +shelter. "It's all right!" + +"Oh, what does it mean?" asked Ruth. "Where's daddy?" + +"Here I am," answered Mr. DeVere. + +"It's all right!" yelled Baldy, capering about, and vainly clicking his +revolvers, for he had fired all the cartridges in the cylinders. "It's +the boys from Rocky Ranch! They saw my signal and came to the rescue!" + +"That you, Baldy?" shouted a voice out of the cloud of powder smoke that +hid, for a moment, the cowboys from view. + +"That's who it is, Bow!" was the answer. "Could you read my smoke?" + +"I sure could, and we come a-runnin'. Are the girls safe?" + +"Everybody's safe. But look out for yourself, these Indians are sort of +riled at us." + +From the group of Indians who had left their ceremonies, to rush toward +the huts of their erstwhile captives at the sound of the shots and +cheers, came deep-voiced mutterings. They were gathered in a group +around their chief, Jumping Horse. + +"Look out for 'em!" yelled Baldy. + +"Don't worry," advised Pete Batso. "They haven't any weapons." + +"Just my luck," groaned Russ, setting up his camera. + +"What's the matter?" asked Alice, who now felt no alarm. + +"Too dark to get a picture, and I had a little bit of film left on a +reel. I might have got a dandy rescue scene; but now it's all up. Too +bad!" + +"Never mind, you got some good ones," Ruth comforted him. + +"Yes, but that would have completed the picture--'Captured By the +Indians.' However, it can't be helped. Maybe after all this excitement +is over we can get the Indians to pose for us. I'll tell Mr. Pertell +about it." + +The rescuing cowboys had drawn rein in front of the lined-up Indians, +near the huts of the captives. There was a goodly squad of cow +punchers, and they seemed delighted to have been of some service to the +picture players. Some of them were reloading their big revolvers, for +they, like Baldy, in the excess of their spirits, had fired off every +chamber. But no one had been hurt, for they merely shot in the air. + +"Well, you got here, boys, I see," remarked Baldy. + +"That's what we did!" cried Necktie Harry, who was flecking some dust +off the end of his gaudy scarf. + +"We saw your smoke talk about an hour ago," explained Bow. "First I was +sort of puzzled over it. I thought maybe it was the Indians, for I +calculate it was about time for them to be at their high jinks. + +"Then I caught the private signal you and me made up, and I says: 'By +Heck! Baldy's in trouble! Wasn't that what I said, Pete?" and he +appealed to the foreman. + +"That's what it was, Bow. Them's the very words you used. Says you: +'Baldy's in trouble,' says you. And then we come on the run." + +"And we calculated we'd find the young ladies, and the rest of the +outfit here, too," went on Bow. "When they didn't come back to the ranch +last night we was all alarmed, and went off to the place they were +goin' to make pictures. But there wasn't a sign of any trail there, and +we didn't know what to think. We never dreamed you'd be on the _mesa_," +he added to Mr. DeVere. + +"I suppose we never should have come," admitted the actor. "It was on a +sudden impulse, and sorry enough we were for it, too." + +"Oh, but it all came out right," said Alice, trying to make herself look +a little more presentable, for a night and more than a day spent as a +prisoner in a little hut was not conducive to neatness of attire. + +"And Russ got some fine pictures of the ceremonies," added Ruth. + +"That's good!" cried Pete Batso. "When we started for here your manager +said he reckoned his operator would have made good use of his time." + +"We didn't know just what shape you was in," said Buster Jones, "only +Baldy's message didn't say any of you was killed, so we hoped for the +best." + +"Yes, it might have been worse," agreed Baldy. "Well, now, let's travel. +Did you have any trouble gettin' past their guard line, boys?" he asked. + +"Nary a trouble," replied Pete. "We just rushed through before they knew +what was up." + +The captives were soon in the saddle again, and escorted by the cowboys +made for the trail down to the plain. There were more angry mutterings +from the Indians, but they made no effort to stop the retreat. Perhaps +they realized it would be useless. + +It was no easy matter descending the steep trail, but it was +accomplished without mishap, and finally Rocky Ranch was reached. And it +is needless to say that the captives were made welcome. + +A little later, in clean garments, and after a good meal, they told of +their adventures. The girls were quite the heroines of the hour, and +held the center of the stage, rather to the discomfiture of Miss +Pennington and Miss Dixon, who were in the habit of attracting all the +attention they could. + +"There's one picture I want very much to get," said Mr. Pertell, as he +sat with his players in the living room of their quarters one evening. + +"Name it," declared Mr. Norton, the owner, "and, if it's possible, I'll +see that you get it." + +"A cattle stampede," was the answer. "I want to show the steers in a mad +rush, and the cowboys trying to stop them. But I don't suppose you can +tell when one is going to happen." + +"No, you can't tell when a real one is about to take place," the owner +admitted, "but maybe we could fix up one for you." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Why, I mean we could take a bunch of steers, start them to running, and +then the boys could come out and try to get them milling--that is, going +around in a circle. That stops a stampede, usually. We could do that for +you." + +"And will you?" asked the manager, eagerly. + +"Why, yes, if you want it. I'll speak to Pete Batso. He's had more +experience than I have. We'll get up a stampede for you." + +The cowboys entered into the spirit of the affair once it was mentioned +to them, and arrangements were at once made. + +As there might be some little danger of a refractory steer breaking +loose and injuring someone, the ladies of the company only took part in +the preliminary scenes. + +These included the beginning of the drama in which the stampede was to +play a principal part. It involved a little love story, and the lover, +Paul, was afterward to be in peril through the cattle stampede. + +The first part went off all right, Ruth and Alice acquitting themselves +well in their characterizations. Their riding had improved very much, +and they were sure of themselves in the saddle. + +"Now, ladies," said Pete Batso, who was managing the cowboy end of the +affair, "if you'll get over on that little mound you can see all that +goes on and you won't be in any danger. We're goin' to stampede the +cattle now!" + +"Whoop-ee!" yelled the cowboys, as they rushed up at the signal, when +Ruth and Alice, with Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon, had gone off some +little distance. + +"Get ready, Russ!" called Mr. Pertell. + +"All ready," answered the young operator, as he took his place with his +camera focused. + +The steers, startled by the shots and shouts of the cowboys, began a mad +rush. + +"There's your stampede!" called Mr. Norton to Mr. Pertell. "Is that +realistic enough for you?" + +"Quite so, and thank you very much." + +More and more wild became the rushing steers, as the cowboys drove them +along in order that pictures might be made of them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +TOO MUCH REALISM + + +The shouting of the cowboys, the rushing of their intelligent ponies +here--there--everywhere, seemingly--the fusillade of pistol shots, the +thunder and bellowings of the steers and the thud of the ponies +hoofs--all combined to make the scene a lively one. + +The imitation stampede seemed to be a great success, and no one, not in +the secret, could have told that it was not a real one. + +"Over this way, Paul!" cried Baldy, who was taking part with the young +actor. "I'm supposed to rescue you, and I can't do it if you keep so far +away." + +"But isn't it dangerous to ride so close to the steers?" asked Paul, +who, while willing to do almost anything in the line of moving picture +work, did not want to take needless chances. + +"There's no danger as long as you're mounted," replied the cowboy, "and +you've got a good horse under you. Come on!" + +Accordingly Paul rode closer in, and the camera showed him in imminent +danger of being trampled under the feet of the rushing steers. + +But Baldy, who had done the same thing so often that he did not need to +rehearse it, rode swiftly in and managed to "cut out" Paul, so that the +actor was in no real danger. The cattle nearest to him were forced to +one side. + +Then, as called for in the action of the little drama, Mr. Switzer, who +was a good horseman, having been in the German cavalry, rushed up to +attack Paul. Of course it was but a pretended attack; but it looked real +enough in the pictures. + +Ruth and Alice, with the other spectators on the little mound, looked on +with intense interest. + +"Oh, I just wish I was on my pony!" cried Alice, as she looked at the +scene of action. + +"Alice, you do not!" protested Ruth. + +"Yes, I do! Oh, it must be great to drive those cattle around that way!" + +"You have a queer idea of fun," remarked Miss Pennington in a +supercilious tone, as she looked in the small mirror of her vanity box +to see what effect the sun and dust were having on her brilliant +complexion. For it was dusty, with the thousands of hoofs tearing up the +earth. + +The main part of the action over, the cattle were now being "milled" by +the cowboys. That is, the onward rush was being checked, and the steers +were being made to go around in a circle. + +Thus are stampedes, when real, gradually brought to an end. + +"Well, it's all over," said Mr. Norton, as he stood beside the manager. +"Is that about what you wanted?" + +"Indeed it is. This film will sure make a hit. Those rivals of ours, who +started out to take advantage of my plans and work, will be sadly left." + +"You haven't seen any more of them?" + +"Not since that fellow disappeared from here. He took himself and his +camera off. I guess he weakened at the last moment." + +"I had no idea he was a moving picture operator," said the ranch owner, +"or I would never have hired him." + +"Well, I guess no harm was done," Mr. Pertell rejoined. + +The rush of the steers was gradually coming to a close when Mr. Norton, +looking over to the far edge of the bunch of cattle, uttered a sudden +cry of alarm. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Pertell, anxiously. + +"Why, they seem to have started up all over again," was the reply. "You +didn't tell them to put in a second scene of the stampede; did you?" + +"No, indeed. We don't need it. Besides, Russ can't have any film left +for this reel. He used up the thousand-foot, I'm sure, and he hasn't an +extra one with him. What does it mean?" + +"That's what I'd like to know. Those steers are certainly on the rush +again, though. Hi, Baldy!" he called to the cowboy. "What are you +starting 'em up again for?" + +"Startin' who up?" + +"The steers! Look at 'em!" + +"Say, they _are_ on the run again," agreed the bald-headed cowboy, who +had ridden up to where Mr. Pertell and Mr. Norton stood. "Something must +be wrong," and he set off on the gallop once more. + +Meanwhile the steers, which had almost come to a rest, were again in +motion. But they were not safely going about in a circle. Instead, they +had started off in a long line and now were swinging around in a big +circle and heading directly for the mound on which the young ladies were +still standing. + +Ruth and Alice had started down as they saw the cattle growing quiet, +but now several of the cowboys shouted to them: + +"Go back! Go back! This is a stampede in earnest." + +"A stampede in earnest!" repeated Mr. Norton. "I wonder what started +that?" + +With a sudden rush the whole bunch of cattle were in motion, and headed +in a solid mass for the mound. + +"If they rush over that----" said Mr. Pertell in fear. + +"This is too much realism!" cried Mr. Norton, putting spurs to his steed +and racing off to help the cowboys. The latter had seen the danger of +the girls, and were hastening to once more stop the stampede that had +unexpectedly become a real one. + +"Look at those fellows over there!" shouted Pete Batso as he rode up, +his horse in a lather. "They're none of our crowd!" and he pointed to a +group of horsemen who were riding away from the stampeded cattle instead +of toward them. + +"Who are they?" asked Mr. Pertell. + +"I don't know, but they're a lot of cowards to run away, when we'll need +all the help we can get to stem this rush!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +IN THE OPEN + + +Thundering over the ground, the frightened cattle rushed on. After them +came the cowboys, determined, at whatever cost, to turn the steers away +from the little hill on which stood the four girls, clinging together, +and in fear of their lives. For certainly it would be the end of life to +fall beneath the hoofs of those on-rushing beasts. + +"I can't understand what happened!" exclaimed Mr. Norton, as he rode on. +"Those steers had all quieted down, when all of a sudden they started up +again. Something must have happened." + +He glanced over toward the mound. The cattle were still headed toward +it. Would the cowboys be able to turn them aside in time? + +"Head 'em off!" + +"Shoot at 'em!" + +"Head 'em away from that mound!" + +Thus cried the cowboys as they raced to the rescue. They were at rather +a disadvantage, for their horses were winded and exhausted from the +previous rushes to stop the pretended stampede, and now, when all their +energies were needed to end a real one, the animals were not equal to +the demand. + +"Do you think they can stop 'em?" asked Russ of a passing cowboy. The +young operator was still at his camera, but he was not going to take any +pictures if Ruth, Alice and the others were really in danger. + +"Of course we'll stop 'em!" cried the cowboy, with supreme confidence in +his ability and that of his companions. + +"Then I might as well get a film of this," decided Russ. "It would be a +pity to let a real stampede get away from me. I can cut out some of the +other pictures." + +He ran to where he had left a spare camera and soon was grinding away at +the handle, making views of a real and dangerous stampede. + +"Oh, what shall we do?" gasped Alice, as she clung to her sister on the +mound of safety. + +"We can't do anything," answered Alice, solemnly--"except to wait. They +may divide and pass to either side of us. I've read of such things +happening." + +"Oh, if they come any nearer I'll faint--I know I shall!" murmured Miss +Dixon. + +"That's the surest way to be trampled on," remarked Alice, calmly. +"Just faint, and fall down and----" + +She paused significantly. + +"I sha'n't do anything of the kind!" cried the other actress with more +spirit. "I won't do it just because you want me to! There!" + +It was a silly thing to say, but then, she was half-hysterical. In fact, +all four were. + +"That's what I wanted to do--rouse her up," observed Alice to her +sister. "It's our only safety--to remain upright. And we might try to +frighten the cattle." + +"How?" asked Ruth. + +"Let's shout and yell--and wave things at them. We've got parasols. +Let's wave them--open and shut them quickly. That will make flashes of +color, and it may frighten the steers. Come on, girls--it's worth +trying!" + +The others fell in with her plan at once, and the spectacle was +presented of four young ladies, perched on a hill, toward which a +thousand or more steers were rushing, waving their parasols, opening and +shutting them and yelling at the top of their voices. + +"Are--are they stopping any?" asked Miss Pennington, anxiously. + +"I--I'm afraid not," faltered Alice. + +And then, just in the nick of time, there came riding around one side +of the stampeding cattle a group of the Rocky Ranch cowboys. They had +succeeded in reaching the head of the bunch of steers, and now had a +chance to turn the excited cattle to one side--to mill them again. + +"Hi--yi!" yelled the cowboys. + +"Hi--yi!" + +Bang! Bang! boomed the revolvers. + +"Shoot right in their faces!" cried Buster Jones, as he fired point +blank at the steers. + +Most of the cowboys had blank cartridges in their pistols for the +purpose of making a noise. But others had real bullets, and with these +some of the wildest of the steers were killed. It was absolutely +necessary to do this to stop the rush. + +And this was just what was needed, for the fallen cattle tripped up +others and soon there was a mound of the living bodies on the ground, +offering an effectual barrier to those behind. + +The cattle were now almost at the hill where the four young ladies stood +in fear and trembling, but with the advent of the cowboys new hope had +come to them. + +"Now we're all right!" cried Alice, joyfully. + +"How do you know?" Miss Pennington wanted to know. + +"You'll see. They'll stop the stampede," was the confident answer. + +And this was done. With the piling up of some of the steers into an +almost inextricable mass, and the dividing of the other bunch just as +they reached the foot of the mound, the danger to the girls was over. + +In two streams of living animals the steers passed on either side of the +little hill, and after running a short distance farther they came to a +halt, being taken in charge by other cowboys who rode up from the rear +on fresh horses. + +Other horses were brought up for the girls to ride, as they were too +weak and "trembly" to walk. Besides, it is always safer to be in the +saddle among the lot of Western steers. + +"Oh, what a narrow escape!" panted Miss Dixon. + +"It was," agreed Alice. "But it shows you what cowboys can do! It was +just splendid!" she cried to Baldy Johnson, who was riding beside her. + +"Glad you liked it, Miss," he responded, breathing hard, "but it was +rather hot work all around." + +"You're not hurt; are you, girls?" cried Mr. DeVere as he came up to +them, having had no part in the drama, but having heard in the ranch +house of the real stampede. + +"Not a bit, Daddy!" answered Alice. "I don't believe the steers would +have trampled us anyhow." + +"Well," remarked Baldy, slowly. "I don't want to scare you; but for a +minute there I thought it was all up with you--I did for a fact." + +"Some stampede!" cried Paul, as he rode up, looking almost like a cowboy +himself. + +"And some film!" laughed Russ, delighted that he had gotten one of the +real stampede, now that his friends were out of danger. + +"But I can't understand it," said Mr. Norton. "What started the cattle +off the second time? They were really frightened at something." + +"Did you see those men over that way?" asked the ranch owner, pointing +in the direction where he had observed the retreating cowboy band. + +"I saw 'em," admitted Pete, "but I thought they were some of our boys +that you'd sent up to the North pasture." + +"They weren't from Rocky Ranch!" declared the owner of the Circle Dot +outfit. + +"Well, if they were strange punchers, maybe they frightened our steers," +suggested Baldy. + +"They might have," admitted Mr. Norton. "But I was thinking that perhaps +they were rustlers, trying to ride off a bunch, and they became +frightened when they saw us all on hand." + +"It might be," admitted Pete Batso. "I'll have a look around after we +get the critters in the corral." + +Ruth and Alice, as well as Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon, were so +nervous and upset that it was thought advisable not to attempt any more +pictures that day. + +Most of the members of the Comet Film Company sat about the ranch house, +talking over recent events, or studying parts for new plays. Some of the +cowboys went off on the trail, trying to find traces of the strange men, +but they returned unsuccessful. + +The next days were spent in getting simple scenes about Rocky Ranch, no +very hard work being done. These scenes would afterward be interspersed +with more elaborate ones. + +When moving picture films are made, it is usual to photograph all the +scenes of one kind first, whether or not they come in sequence. Thus, if +one scene shows action taking place in a parlor, and the next scene +calls for something going on out on the lawn, and the third scene is +aboard a steamboat, while the fourth one is back in the parlor, the two +parlor scenes will be taken one after the other, on the same film, at +the same time, regardless of the fact that something came in between. +Later on the outdoor scenes will be made, all at once. Then, when the +film is developed and printed it is cut and fastened together to show +the scenes in the order called for in the scenario. + +Thus it was planned to make all the simple scenes around the ranch house +first, and later to film a number of more important ones out in the +open. + +"We're going to rough it for a while," announced Mr. Pertell to his +company one evening. + +"Rough it!" cried Miss Pennington. "Have we done anything else since we +left New York, pray?" + +"Well, we're going to rough it more roughly then," went on the manager, +with a smile. "I am going to have a series of films showing the life of +the cowboys when off on the round-up. I want some of you in the scenes +also, so I shall take most of you along. + +"We will go into the open, and live out of doors. We will take along a +'grub wagon,' and other wagons for sleeping quarters for the ladies. +There will be as many comforts as is possible to take, but I am sure you +will all enjoy it so much you will not mind the discomfort. We will +sleep out under the stars, and it will do you all good." + +"I'm sure it's doing me good out here," said Mr. DeVere. "My throat is +much better." + +"Glad to hear it," the manager responded. "Yes, we will live out of +doors for perhaps a week--camping, so to speak; but on the move most of +the time. And that will bring our stay at Rocky Ranch to a close. But +there will be plenty to do before then," he added quickly, as he saw the +look of disappointment on the face of Alice. + +"Oh, I like it too much here to leave," she said. In fact Alice seemed +to like every place. She could make herself at home anywhere. + +Plans were made the next day, and nearly all the members of the company, +save Mrs. Maguire and the two children, were to go on the trip across +the prairies. + +Big wagons, of the old-fashioned "prairie schooner" type, were made +ready. In these the ladies would live when they were not in the saddle. +There was also a "grub" wagon, in which food would be carried. It +contained a small stove so that better meals could be prepared than +would be possible over a campfire. + +Then with plenty of spare horses, and with the camera and a good supply +of film, the moving picture company and several cowboys set off one +morning over the rolling plains. + +Many scenes were filmed, some of them most excellent. It was not all +easy going, for often there would be failures and the work would have to +be done all over again. But no one grumbled, and really the life was a +happy one. Even Mr. Sneed seemed to enjoy himself, and the former +vaudeville actresses condescended to say it was "interesting." + +One day an important film had been made and the work involved was so +hard that everyone was glad to go to their "bunks" early. Mr. Pertell, +Russ and Mr. DeVere occupied a large tent near the wagons where the +ladies had their quarters. + +There was some little disturbance during the night, caused by one of the +dogs barking, but the cowboys who roused to look about could find +nothing wrong. But in the morning when Russ went to prepare his camera +for that day's work he uttered an exclamation of dismay. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Pertell. + +"That big reel I took yesterday, and which I put in the light-tight box +for safe keeping, is gone!" cried the young operator. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE BURNING GRASS + + +The announcement made by Russ caused considerable surprise, and, on the +part of Mr. Pertell, dismay. + +"You don't mean that big reel--that important one which is a sort of key +to all the rest--is missing; do you?" he asked. + +"That's it," replied Russ, ruefully. "It's clean gone!" + +"Maybe you didn't look carefully, or perhaps you put it in some other +place than you thought." + +"I'm not in the habit of doing that with undeveloped film," replied the +young operator. "If it was a reel ready for the projector I might mislay +it, for I'd know the light couldn't harm it. But undeveloped reels, that +the least glint of light would spoil--I take precious good care of them, +let me tell you. And this one is gone." + +"Let's have another look," suggested Mr. Pertell, hopefully. + +He went into the tent from which Russ had just emerged, and the latter +showed him where he had placed the reel. It was enclosed in its own +case as it came from the camera, and that case, as an additional +protection, was placed in a light-tight black box. This box would hold +several reels; but that night only one, and the most important of those +taken on the trip, was put in it. + +"Look!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. DeVere, who had followed the two into the +tent. "That's how your reel was taken!" and he pointed to a slit in the +wall of the tent, close to where the black box had stood. So clean was +the cut, having evidently been made with a very sharp instrument, that +only when the wind swayed the canvas was it noticeable. + +"By Jove! You're right!" cried Mr. Pertell. "That's how they got it, +Russ. Someone sneaked up outside the tent, slit it open, reached in and +lifted out the reel. It was done when we were asleep and----" + +"That's what made the dogs bark!" exclaimed Russ. "Now the question is: +Who was it?" + +He looked at Mr. Pertell as he spoke, and at once a light of +understanding came into the eyes of the manager. + +"You mean----?" the latter began. + +"Those fellows from the International!" finished Russ, quickly. "They +must be still on our trail." + +"What's the trouble?" asked Baldy Johnson, from outside the tent. "Has +anything happened?" + +"Oh, don't say there's more trouble," chimed in Ruth, as she came down +out of the wagon where she and Alice slept. "What has happened now?" + +"Nothing much, except that we've been robbed," spoke Russ, ruefully. +"Our big reel is gone." To the cowboys and others of the company who +crowded up he showed the slit in the tent wall, through which the theft +had been perpetrated. + +"Hum! I guess those fellows were smarter than we were," replied Baldy. +"We scurried around in the night, but they gave us the slip." + +"And we didn't see a sign of 'em, neither!" added Buster Jones. + +"Say, fellows, if this ever gets back to Rocky Ranch," went on Necktie +Harry, as he adjusted a flaming red scarf, "we'll never hear the last of +it. To think we heard a racket, got up, and let something be taken right +from under our noses and didn't see it done--Good-night! as the poet +says." + +"Boys, we've got to make good!" declared Bow Backus. "We've got to take +the trail after these scamps, and get back them pictures. It's up to +us!" + +"Whoop-ee! That's what it is!" shouted Necktie Harry, firing his gun. + +"Oh, isn't this fine!" cried Alice, as she joined Ruth. "There will be a +real chase and----" + +"Oh, how can you like such things?" asked Ruth. "It may be something +terrible!" + +"Pooh! I don't see how it can be. If they have something that belongs to +us we have a right to get it back," and Alice shook back the hair that +was falling over her shoulders, for she was to take part in several +pictures that day as a "cowgirl," and was dressed in a picturesque, if +not exactly correct, costume, with short skirt, leggins and all. + +"Oh, I hope there won't be any--bloodshed!" faltered Miss Pennington. + +"They'll probably only use their lassoes," replied Alice, with a smile. +"Oh dear! I hope breakfast will soon be ready. I'm as hungry as a----" + +"Alice!" warned Ruth, with a gentle look. She was still trying to +correct her sister's habit of slang. + +"As hungry as if I hadn't eaten since last night," finished Alice with a +mocking laugh. "There, sister mine!" and she blew her a kiss from the +tips of her rosy fingers. + +"Well, it's easy enough to say: 'Get after the fellows who took the +reel,'" spoke Baldy Johnson, "but who were they, and where shall we +start?" + +"It must have been someone who knew where we kept the reels in the +light-tight box," said Russ. "Otherwise he would have cut several places +in the tent to reach in and feel around. And there is only one cut. So +it must have been somebody who knew about this tent." + +"Regular detective work, that," remarked Necktie Harry, quickly, looking +admiringly at Russ. + +"Say! I have it!" cried Baldy Johnson. "Those fellows who rode in +yesterday to watch us work. It was one of them." + +"You mean the boys from the Double ranch?" asked Buster. + +"Them's the ones," answered Baldy. Just before the close of the making +pictures the day before a crowd of cowboys from a nearby cattle range +had ridden up, and looked on interestedly. They were returning from a +round-up. Some of them were known to the boys from Rocky Ranch, and +there had been an exchange of courtesies. + +"'Them's the guilty parties,' as the actor folks say," sung out Bow +Backus. + +"I think you are right," agreed Mr. Pertell. + +"But I can't see what object cowboys would have in taking a film--and an +undeveloped one at that," said Russ. "I can't believe it." + +"Maybe the International firm bribed them, or maybe one of their men was +disguised as a cowboy," suggested Mr. DeVere. + +"That's possible," admitted Russ. + +"Well, we'll soon find out," declared Baldy. "Come on, boys. Grub up and +then we'll ride over." + +The visit to Double X ranch proved fruitless, however, except in one +particular. The cowboys attached to that "outfit" easily proved that +they had not been near the camp of the picture makers. + +"But there was one fellow who rode with us," said the foreman. "He was a +stranger to us. Looked to be a cow-puncher, and _said_ he was, from down +New Mexico way. He was with us when we were at your place, and when we +rode away he branched off. It might have been him." + +"I'm sure it was," declared Mr. Pertell. "Now, how can we get hold of +him?" + +But that was a question no one could answer, and though several of the +cowboys took the trail after the stranger, he was not to be found. The +missing film seemed to have disappeared for good. + +It was a great loss, but there was no help for it, and plans were made +to go through the big scene again, though not until later. + +"I have something else I want filmed now," said Mr. Pertell. "We will +make that 'lost' scene we spoke of last night and then try a novelty." + +"Something new?" asked Mr. Bunn. "I hope I don't have to be lassoed +again," for that had been his most recent "stunt." + +"No, we'll let you off easy this time," laughed Mr. Pertell. "All you'll +have to do will be to escape from a prairie fire." + +"A prairie fire!" gasped the Shakespearean actor. "I refuse to take that +chance." + +"Don't worry," said the manager. "It will only be a small, imitation +blaze. I want to get some scenes of that," he went on to explain to the +cowboys. "In the early days of the West prairie fires were one of the +terrible features. I realize that now, of course, with the West so much +more built up, they are not so common. But I think we could arrange for +a small one, and burn the grass over a limited area. It would look big +in a picture." + +"Yes, it could be done," admitted Baldy. "We'll help you." + +Two or three more days were spent in the open, traveling over the +prairie, making various films. Then a suitable location for the "prairie +fire" was found and a little rehearsal held. + +"That will do very well," said Mr. Pertell at the conclusion. "We'll +film the scene to-morrow." + +The arrangements were carefully made, and in a big open place the tall +dry grass was set on fire. The flames crackled, and great clouds of +black smoke rolled upward. + +"Go ahead now, Russ!" called the manager. "That ought to make a fine +film! Come on, you people--Mr. DeVere, Ruth, Alice--get in the picture. +Register fear!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +HEMMED IN + + +Elaborate preparations had been made for this prairie fire picture. In +fact, in a way, the whole story of the drama "East and West" hinged on +this scene. It was the climax, so to speak--the "big act" if the play +had been on the real stage. Naturally Mr. Pertell was anxious to have +everything right. + +And so it seemed to be going. The flames crackled menacingly, and the +black smoke rolled up in great clouds that would show well on the film. + +In brief, this action of the play was to depict the hardships of one of +the early Western settlers. He had taken up a section of land, built +himself a rude house, and was living there with his family when the +prairie fire came, and he was forced to flee. + +Of course all this was "only make believe," as children say. But it was +put on for the film in a very realistic manner. Pop Snooks had +constructed a slab house, with the aid of the cowboys, who said it was +as near the "real thing" as possible. Later on the house, which was but +a shell, and intended only for the "movies," would be destroyed by fire. + +Scenes would be shown in which the settler (Mr. DeVere) and his helpers +would try to extinguish the fire before they fled from it. + +The first scene showed the fire starting, with the plowmen (Mr. Bunn and +Mr. Sneed) in the fields at work. They were seen to stop, to shade their +eyes with their hands and look off toward the distant horizon, where a +haze of smoke could be seen. The big distances which were available on +the prairies of the West, made this particularly effective in a film +picture. + +The taking of the film had so far advanced that the warning had come to +those in the slab shanty. There were gathered Ruth, Alice, Miss +Pennington, Miss Dixon, Paul and others. + +"Ride! Ride for your lives!" cried Mr. Sneed, dashing up on one of the +plow horses. "The prairies are on fire and it's coming this way +lickity-split!" + +Of course his words would not be heard by the moving picture audiences, +though those accustomed to it can read the lip motions. Really the words +need not have been said, and it was this feature of the "movies" that +enabled Mr. DeVere to take up the work when he had failed in the +"legitimate" because of his throat ailment. + +"Flee for your lives!" cried Mr. Sneed. "We're going to try to burn it +back, or plow a strip that it can't get over." + +Thereupon ensued a scene of fear and excitement at the slab hut. A wagon +was hastily brought up by some of the cowboys, who were taking part in +the picture, and the household goods, (provided of course by the +ever-faithful Pop Snooks), were hastily packed into it. + +Then the girls and others, with every sign of fear and dismay, properly +"registered" for the benefit of those who would later see the film in +the darkened theaters, gathered together their personal belongings, and +entered the wagon. + +Meanwhile Russ was kept busy getting different views of the big scene. +Sometimes there would be shown the raging fire sweeping onward, the +black clouds of smoke rolling upward, and the red tongues of flame +leaping out. In reality the fire was only a small one, but by cleverly +manipulating the camera, and taking close views, it was made to appear +as if it was a raging conflagration. + +As Russ would have difficulty in showing alternate views of the fire +itself and the preparations at the slab hut to flee from it, Mr. +Pertell, at times, worked an extra camera himself. Thus the time was +shortened, for the fire was something that could not be held back, as +could something of purely human agency. + +"Ride! Ride for your lives!" now shouted Mr. Sneed, as he sat on his +heaving horse, ready to ride back and help fight the fire. With dramatic +gestures he pointed ahead, seemingly to a place of safety. "Ride for +your lives!" + +"But you? What of you?" cried Miss Pennington, as she held out her hands +to him imploringly. She was supposed (in the play) to be in love with +him. + +"I go back--to do my duty!" he replied, as his lines called for. + +There was a dramatic little scene and then Miss Pennington, +"registering" weeping, went inside the "prairie schooner," as the big +covered wagon was called. + +Paul, on the driver's seat, cracked his whip at the horses and the +vehicle lumbered off, Ruth, Alice and the others who were inside, +looking back as if with regret at the home that was soon to be +destroyed. + +Mr. Sneed remained for a moment, posing on the back of his horse, and +then, with a farewell wave of his hand he rode back to join Mr. Bunn +and the others in fighting the fire that had been "made to order." Mr. +DeVere, too, after seeing his family off in the wagon, leaped on a horse +and also galloped back to help fight the flames. There had been a +dramatic parting between him and his daughters--for the purposes of the +film, of course. + +"Say, this fire's gettin' a little hot!" cried Baldy, who, with the +other cowboys, had been detailed to put out the blaze. Mr. Pertell was +there to get a film of them, while Russ, a considerable distance away, +was to film the on-rushing wagon containing those fleeing from the +blaze. The picture was so arranged as to show alternately views of the +wagon and the fire fighters. Always, however, there was the background +of the black smoke when the wagon was shown tearing over the prairie, +and the smoke constantly grew blacker. + +"Get at it now, boys!" cried the manager, grinding away at the handle of +his camera. "Put in some lively work! Mr. Sneed, don't be afraid of the +fire. You're standing off too far." + +The plot of the play was that first an attempt would be made to beat out +the fire, by means of bundles of wet brush dipped in a nearby brook. +This plan was to fail, and then an attempt would be made to "fight fire +with fire." That is, the prairie grass would be set ablaze some +distance ahead of the line of fire, and allowed to burn toward it. This +would make a blackened strip, bare of fuel for the flames, and the hope +was--or it used to be when prairie fires in the West were common--that +this would check the advancing blaze. + +For a few seconds the men fought frantically to beat out the fire, then +Mr. DeVere exclaimed, with a dramatic gesture: + +"It is no use! We must fight fire with fire!" + +The men ran back some distance, Mr. Pertell taking his camera back the +same space. Then the prairie was set ablaze in a number of places, at +points nearer the slab cabin which was, as yet, untouched. + +The scene of starting a counter-fire was a short one, for it was quickly +discovered, in reality as well as in the play, as planned, that the wind +was in the wrong direction. It simply advanced the flames nearer the +cabin. + +"It's of no use, boys!" cried Mr. DeVere. "We must plow a bare strip." + +"Bring up the horses and plows!" ordered Baldy. A number of these had +been held in reserve, out of sight of the camera, and they now came up +on the rush. The idea was that neighboring settlers, having sighted the +prairie fire, had come to the aid of their friends in the slab cabin. + +Horses were quickly hitched to the plows, and the work of making a +number of furrows of damp earth, to act as a barrier to the flames, was +started. + +While Mr. Pertell was filming this, Russ was busy getting views of the +on-rushing wagon containing the refugees. Several times the team was +stopped to enable the operator to go on ahead, and show it coming across +the prairie. This gave a different background each time. + +It was after one of these halts, and just when the team was started up +again that Alice, who was on the front seat with Paul, the driver, cried +out: + +"See! There is smoke and fire ahead of us, too! What does it mean?" + +For an instant they were all startled, and then, as Ruth looked behind +them, and saw the fiercer flames, and the blacker smoke there, she +gasped: + +"We are hemmed in! Hemmed in by the prairie fire!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE ESCAPE + + +Paul pulled up the rushing horses with a jerk that set them back on +their haunches. There were cries of alarm from the interior of the +wagon, and from the front and rear peered out anxious faces. + +"What is it? Oh, what is it?" cried Miss Dixon. + +"There's a fire ahead of us," replied Alice, and her voice was calmer +now. She realized that their situation might be desperate, and that +there would be need of all the presence of mind each one possessed. + +"A fire ahead of us!" repeated Miss Pennington. "Then let's turn back. +Probably Mr. Pertell wanted this to happen. It's all in the play. I +don't see anything to get excited about." + +For once in her life she was more self-possessed than any of the others, +but it was due to the bliss of ignorance. + +"Let's turn back," she suggested. "That seems the most reasonable thing +to do. And I wonder if you would mind if I rode on the seat next to +your friend Paul," she went on to Alice. "I'd like to have the center of +the stage just for once, as sort of a change," and her tone was a bit +malicious. + +"I'm sure you're welcome to sit here," responded Alice, quietly. "But, +as for turning back, it is impossible. Look!" and she waved her hand +toward the rear. There the black clouds of smoke were thicker and +heavier, and the shooting flames went higher toward the heavens. + +"Oh!" gasped Miss Pennington, and then she realized as she had not done +before--the import of Ruth's words: + +"We are hemmed in!" + +"Can't--can't we go back?" gasped Miss Dixon. + +"The fire behind us is worse than that before us," said Paul, in a low +voice. "Perhaps, after all, we can make a rush for it." + +"No, don't try dot!" spoke Mr. Switzer, and somehow, in this emergency, +he seemed very calm and collected. "Der horses vould shy und balk at der +flames," went on the German, who seemed far from being funny now. He was +deadly in earnest. "Ve can not drive dem past der flames," he added. + +"But what are we to do?" asked Paul. "We can't stay here to be----" + +He did not finish the sentence, but they all knew what he meant. + +"Vait vun minute," suggested the German. He stood up on the seat so as +to bring his head above the canvas top of the wagon. Those in it, save +Paul, who remained holding the reins to quiet the very restive horses, +had jumped to the ground. + +"The wind is driving on der flames dot are back of us," said Mr. Switzer +in a low voice. "It is driving dem on." + +He turned in the opposite direction, where the flames and smoke were +less marked, but still dangerously in evidence. + +"Und dere, too," the German murmured. "Der vind dere, too, is driving +dem on--driving dem on! I don't understand it. Dere must be a vacuum +caused by der two fires." + +"Well, what's to be done?" asked Mr. Towne, who formed one of the +fleeing party. "We can't stay here forever--between two fires, you +know." + +"Yah! I know," remarked Mr. Switzer, slowly. "Ve must get avay. We +cannot go back, ve cannot go forvarts. Den ve must----" + +"Oh, if we can't go back, what has become of those whom we left +behind?" cried Ruth. "My father--and the others?" + +Her tearful face was turned toward Alice. + +"They--they may be all right," said the younger girl, but her voice was +not very certain. + +"The--the fire must be at the cabin by now," went on Ruth. "If--if +anything has happened that they were not able to get the flames under +control----" + +She, too, did not finish her portentous sentence. + +"Ve cannot go forvarts," murmured Mr. Switzer, "und ve cannot go back. +Den de only oder t'ing to do iss to go to der left or right. Iss dot not +so Paul, my boy?" + +"It certainly is, and the sooner the better!" cried the young actor. +"Get into the wagon again and I'll try the left. It looks more open +there. And hurry, please, it's getting hard to hold the horses. They +want to bolt." + +There were four animals hitched to the wagon, and it was all Paul could +do to manage them. Every moment they were getting more and more excited +by the sight and smell of the smoke and flames. + +Into the wagon piled the refugees, and Paul gave the horses their heads, +guiding them over the prairie in a direction to the left, for the smoke +seemed less thick there. It was a desperate chance, but one that had to +be taken. + +Ruth and Alice, going to the rear of the vehicle, looked out of the +opening for a sight of their father and the others coming up on the +gallop, possibly to report that the fire had gotten beyond their +control. + +But there was no sight of them. + +"Oh, what can have happened?" murmured Ruth with clasped hands, while +tears came into her eyes. + +"Don't worry, dear," begged Alice. + +"But I can't help it." + +"Perhaps they are all right, Ruth. They may have gone to one side, just +as we did, and of course they couldn't ride towards us until they got +beyond the path of the flames." + +"Oh, if I could only hope so!" the elder girl replied. + +The wagon was rocking and swaying over the uneven ground as the horses +galloped on. Russ, who had run to one side when the halt was made, held +up his hand as a signal to halt. He had taken films until the vehicle +was too close to be in proper focus. + +"Do get up and get in with us!" begged Ruth. "You must not stay here any +longer." + +"I was thinking that myself," he said grimly. + +A glance back showed that the fire there had increased in intensity, and +the one in front was also growing. There was presented the rather +strange sight of two fires rushing together, though the one in the rear, +or behind the refugees, came on with greater speed, urged by a stronger +wind. As Mr. Switzer had said, a vacuum might have been created by the +larger conflagration, which made a draft that blew the smaller fire +toward the bigger one. + +"Do you see any opening, either backward or forward?" asked Russ of +Paul, when they had gone on for perhaps half a mile. + +"Not yet," answered the driver. "Though the smoke, does seem to be +getting a bit thinner ahead there, on the left." + +But it was a false hope, and going on a little farther it was seen that +the two fires had joined about a mile ahead, completely cutting off an +advance in that direction. + +It was as though our friends were in an ever narrowing circle of flame. +There was a fire behind them, in front of them and to one side. There +only remained the one other side. + +Would there be an opening in the circle--an opening by which they could +escape? + +"Ve must go to der right," cried Mr. Switzer. + +"Und I vill drive, Paul. I haf driven in der German army yet, und I know +how." + +They were now tearing along in a lane bordered with fire on either side, +with raging flames behind them. Their only hope lay in front. + +"Well, these films may never be developed," observed Russ, grimly, as +took his camera off the tripod, "but I'm going to get a picture of this +prairie fire. It's the best chance I've ever had--and it may be my last. +But I'm not going to miss it!" + +And so, as the wagon careened along between the two lines of fire, Russ +took picture after picture, holding the camera on his knees. + +On and on the frantic horses were driven, until finally Paul, who was on +the seat beside Mr. Switzer, with Russ between them taking pictures, +called out: + +"Hold on! Wait a minute. I think I hear voices!" + +The horses were held back, not without difficulty, and then as the noise +of their galloping, and the sound of the creaking wagon ceased, there +was heard the unmistakable shouts of cowboys, and the rapid firing of +revolvers. + +"There they are!" cried Alice. + +"Oh, if daddy is only there!" Ruth replied. + +"Go on!" cried Paul to the German, and again the horses were given their +heads. + +But now, even above the noise made by the wagon and the galloping +steeds, could be heard the welcome shouts which told that some, at +least, of those left behind were still alive. The girls were crying now, +in very joy, though their anxiety was not wholly past. + +On and on galloped the horses. And then Paul cried: + +"There's a way! There's a way out! The fire hasn't burned around the +whole circle yet." + +He pointed ahead. Through the smoke clouds could be seen an open space +of grass that was not yet burned, and beyond that sparkled the waters of +a wide but shallow creek. + +There was safety indeed! They had escaped the flames by a narrow margin. + +And as the wagon rushed for this haven of refuge, there came sweeping up +from one side a group of cowboys, urging their horses to top speed, +while, in their midst was Mr. DeVere, Mr. Pertell and the others of the +moving picture company who had been left to finish the scene at the slab +cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A DISCLOSURE + + +"Into the creek! Drive right in!" cried Baldy Johnson. "Run the wagon +right in! It's a good bottom and you can go all the way across!" + +"Go on!" called Mr. Switzer to his horses, and the steeds, nothing +loath, darted for the cooling water. Indeed it was very hot now, for the +fire was close, and it was still coming on, in an ever-narrowing circle. + +"Go ahead, boys! Into the creek with you! It's our last chance, and our +only one!" went on Baldy. "Into the water with you!" + +And into the welcome coolness of the creek splashed the cowboys on their +ponies and the wagon containing the refugees. + +"Where are you going?" cried Ruth, as Russ swung himself down off the +seat. + +"I'm going to get this last film, showing the escape," he answered. +"It's too good a chance to miss." + +"But you'll be burned!" she exclaimed. "The fire is coming closer." + +And indeed the flames, closing up the circle of fire, were drawing +nearer and nearer. + +"I'll be all right," he assured her. "I just want to get some pictures +showing the wagon and the cowboys going across the creek. Then I'll wade +across myself. Of course I'd like to get a front view, but I'll have to +be content with a rear one." + +And as the wagon drawn by the frantic horses plunged into the water, +followed by the shouting cowboys and the members of the film company, +Russ calmly set his camera up on the edge of the stream, and took a +magnificent film that afterward, under the title "The Escape from Fire," +made a great sensation in New York. + +The brave young operator remained until he felt the heat of the flames +uncomfortably close and then, holding his precious camera high above his +head, he waded into the creek. The waters did not come above his waist, +and when he was safe on the other side with his friends, finding he had +a few more feet of film left, he took the pictures showing the fire as +it raged and burned the last of the grass, and other pictures giving +views of the exhausted men, women and horses in a temporary camp. + +"Whew! But that was hot work!" cried Mr. Bunn, mopping his face. + +"You're right," agreed Mr. Pertell. "I don't believe I'll chance any +more prairie fires. This one rather got away from us." + +There was a shout from some of the cowboys who stood in a group on the +bank of the creek. + +"Look! Look at those fellows!" cried Bow Backus. "They just got out of +the fire by a close shave--same as we did." + +They all looked to where he pointed. + +There, crossing the stream higher up, and seemingly at a place which the +fire had only narrowly missed, were several horsemen. Their steeds +appeared exhausted, as though they had had a hard race to escape. + +"What outfit is that, fellows?" asked Baldy Johnson. "I don't know of +any punchers attached to a ranch that's within this here fire range." + +"There isn't any," declared Necktie Harry. + +"But where did those cowboys come from?" persisted Baldy. + +"They're not cowboys!" declared Necktie Harry, looking to see if his +scarf had suffered any from the smoke and cinders. "Did you ever see +real cow punchers ride the way they do--like sacks of meal. They're +fakes, that's what they are!" + +For an instant Baldy stared at the speaker, and then cried: + +"That's it! I couldn't understand it before, but I do now. It's all +clear!" + +"What is?" asked Mr. Pertell, who was still, rather wrought up by the +danger into which he had thrown his players. + +"Why, about this blaze. I couldn't for the life of me understand how it +was it could burn two ways at once. But now I do." + +"You mean those fellows set another fire?" asked Bow Backus. + +"That's my plain identical meanin'," declared Baldy. "Them scoundrels +started another fire after we did ours." + +"Oh, how terrible!" exclaimed Ruth. + +"Wait; hold on, Miss! I'm not goin' so far as to accuse 'em of doin' it +purposely," the cowboy went on, earnestly. "They may not have meant it. +The grass is pretty dry just now, and a little fire would burn a long +way. It's jest possible they may have made a blaze to bile their coffee, +and the wind carried sparks into a bunch of grass. But I have my +suspicions." + +"Why, who could they be, to do such a dastardly thing as that?" demanded +Mr. DeVere. + +"That's what I want to know," put in Mr. Pertell. + +Baldy turned sharply to the manager. + +"Who's been followin' on your trail ever since you started out to make +your big drama 'East and West'?" he asked. + +"Who--who!" repeated Mr. Pertell. "Why--why those sneaks from the +International Picture Company--that's who." + +"That's them," declared Baldy, laconically, as he pointed to the +retreating horsemen. "That's them, and they're the fellows who sot this +second fire that so nearly wrecked us." + +"Is it possible!" ejaculated Mr. DeVere. + +"I'm sure of it," declared Baldy. "I ain't got no real proof; but I've +seen a good many fires in my day, and they don't start all by their +ownselves--not two of 'em, anyhow. You can bank on them bein' your +enemies, if you'll excuse my slang," he said in firm tones. + +"Do you really mean it?" asked Mr. Pertell, in amazement. + +"I sure do, friend. I'm not sayin' they started it to hurt any of you; +but they wanted to spoil your picture, I'm sure of it." + +There was a moment of silence, and then Bow Backus cried out in loud +tones: + +"Fellers, there's only one thing to do: Let's take after them scamps +and get 'em with the goods! Let's prove that they did this mischief. +Come on, boys! Our horses are fresh enough now." + +The tired cow ponies, almost worn out after their race to escape with +their masters from the on-rushing flames, had been allowed to rest and +now they were ready for hard work again. + +In an instant, half a score of the sturdy cowboys were in the saddle, +whooping and yelling in sheer delight at the prospective chase. + +"I've got to get in on this!" cried Russ. "Wait a minute until I film +the start, fellows, and then I'll get on a horse and take my camera. +I'll go with you, and get the finish of this, too." + +A new roll of film was quickly slipped into the camera and Russ dashed +on ahead to show the on-coming cowboys in their rush to overtake the +suspected men. + +Then the young operator jumped into the saddle of a steed that was ready +and waiting for him, and galloped on with his friends to get, if +possible, the finish of the affair. + +"Oh, isn't it just splendid!" cried Alice, clapping her hands. + +"But it makes me so nervous!" protested Ruth. + +"I just love to be nervous--this way," declared Alice, with a joyous +laugh. + +Away flew the eager cowboys, and those left behind proceeded to let +their nerves quiet down after the strenuous times they had just passed +through. The cook had come up and he at once prepared a little meal. + +On the other side of the wide creek the prairie fire burned itself out. +The blaze crept in the dry grass down to the very edge of the water, +where it went out with puffs of steam, and vicious hisses. + +"Oh, but I'm glad we're not there," sighed Ruth as she looked across at +the smoke-palled and blackened stretch. + +"Yes, it was a narrow escape," said her father. + +"What happened after we left?" asked Alice. + +"The fire really got a little too much for us," said Mr. Pertell. "And, +as I had pictures enough, we decided to leave. We let the cabin burn, as +we had arranged, and then came riding on. + +"But the flames were a little too quick for us, and we had to turn off +to one side. That's why we didn't get up to you more quickly. We were +really quite worried about you." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE ROUND-UP + + +"What's the matter?" + +"Couldn't you catch them?" + +"Did they get away?" + +All needless questions, evidently, yet they were anxiously asked, for +all that, when the tired and disappointed cowboys, led by Baldy Johnson, +returned after the chase. It was dusk, and the prairie fire was almost +out. Only a faint glow showed where, here and there, a bunch of thick +grass was still blazing. + +"They gave us the slip," complained Baldy in discouraged tones. "Their +horses were fresher than ours were. Probably they got out of the way of +the fire sooner than we did." + +"Did you get close enough to recognize them?" Mr. Pertell wanted to +know. + +"I didn't know any of 'em," asserted Baldy. "Not that I got any too +close," he added, grimly. "They sure can ride, even if they don't have +our style." + +"I'm not sure," remarked Russ, as he put away the camera which he had +had no chance to use after filming the start of the cowboys, "I'm not +sure, but I think I recognized one of the fellows as the chap who was at +Rocky Ranch when we arrived there." + +"Then he has others with him," said Mr. Pertell. + +"Evidently." + +"And they will probably try to do us some more mischief," went on the +manager. "We still have several important films to make, and if they try +to steal our ideas and get the pictures we go to so much trouble to make +we may as well give up." + +"Don't you do it!" cried Baldy Johnson. "Don't you do it! We'll get +after these fellows the first thing in the morning, and round 'em up +good and proper." + +"That's what we will!" cried his companion. "Whoop-ee for the round-up!" + +"We'll pay 'em for startin' that fire," went on Baldy. + +"Yes, and for stampedin' those cattle, too," added Buster Jones. + +"Do you think they did that?" Mr. Pertell asked, quickly. + +"I wouldn't be a bit surprised," declared Buster. "If they was mean +enough to start a fire to spoil the picture they wouldn't stop at a +little thing like stampedin' a bunch of cattle. I'm sure they done it." + +"Then all the more reason for runnin' 'em out of the country!" decided +Baldy. "We'll get on the trail early in the mornin', boys." + +"We're with you!" cried the others. + +The camp, which had been made on the side of the creek where refuge had +been taken from the fire, was soon in order. The cook wagon and supplies +had been sent far away from the scene of the blaze when it was started, +and it had come up by a different trail. Soon with tents erected, and +with the sleeping wagon for the ladies in readiness, quiet settled down +over the scene. + +Believing that it was more necessary to capture or drive out of that +section the rivals who were endeavoring to get ahead of him, Mr. Pertell +decided not to make any more films until after the chase. Preparations +for this were soon under way, next morning, and, save for a small guard +of cowboys left in camp, all the men riders went after the suspected +ones. Mr. DeVere remained with his daughters. Of course Russ went along +to make the pictures. + +It was some time before the searchers got on the proper trail. They +followed one or two false ones at first, but finally were set right, and +then they rode furiously. + +"There they are!" cried Baldy, who had taken the lead. This was after a +hasty lunch. He pointed to a group of fleeing horsemen. + +"After 'em!" yelled Bow Backus. + +"They shan't get away this time!" cried Buster Jones. + +And they did not. Ride as the fleeing ones might, they were no match for +their pursuers, and after a short chase, which Russ was able to get on +the film, the fugitives were surrounded. + +"Surrender!" yelled the cowboys of Rocky Ranch as they rode down their +rivals. + +And the others were glad enough to pull up their jaded steeds, for they +had ridden far and hard to escape. But fate was against them. + +"So it's you; is it, Wilson!" exclaimed Mr. Pertell, as he recognized +the spy who had been detected in the studio. + +"And there's that other chap!" exclaimed Russ, as he saw the man who had +so suddenly left Rocky Ranch. "Now if we could only get back that roll +of stolen film we'd be all right." + +The prisoners were searched and bound, and on Wilson were found papers +incriminating him and his confederates in both the moves against our +friends. Other actions to take advantage of Mr. Pertell had also been +planned. + +But, best of all, the headquarters of the gang was disclosed and there, +among other things, was found the missing roll of film, with the seals +unbroken, showing that it was not spoiled, but could be developed and +printed. So, after all, there was no need of making the big scene over +again. The surreptitious pictures of the oil well were also recovered +and destroyed. + +And then, after no very gentle treatment, the Rocky Ranch cowboys ran +out of the country the men who had been trying to take advantage of Mr. +Pertell's work for the benefit of the International company. + +"That's the way!" + +"Run 'em out!" + +"Give 'em some more!" + +To these startling shouts were Wilson's men driven away, and glad enough +they were to go. What other films they had taken on the sly were +destroyed, and their cameras were confiscated. In fact all their efforts +came to naught. It was disclosed, later, that they had not intended to +endanger our friends by starting the prairie fire; only to spoil their +plans. + +"And now for the grand finale!" cried Mr. Pertell a few days later, when +the return had been made to Rocky Ranch. "This will be the last scene in +the great drama 'East and West.' There's to be a cowboy festival, with +all sorts of stunts in horsemanship and lariat throwing. You've got a +lot of work ahead of you, Russ." + +There were busy days at Rocky Ranch. Cowboys from neighboring places +rode over to take part in the fun and frolic, and Russ got many fine +films. + +"Oh, I don't know when I've enjoyed anything so much as I have this life +in the West," said Alice, when the last film had been taken. + +"Nor I," added Ruth. "It has been just glorious." + +"And I am so much better," declared Mr. DeVere. "I would scarcely know I +had a sore throat now." + +"Oh, I'm so glad, Daddy dear!" exclaimed Alice, as she put her arms +around his neck. + +"And now we're going back to New York, and have a good, long rest," went +on Ruth. "I shall be sorry to get into the stuffy city again." + +"I won't," declared Miss Pennington. "I'm just dying for a sight of dear +old Broadway," and as if that gave her a thought she gently powdered +her nose. Perhaps it needed it, for she was very much sunburned. + +"Well, you're going back to New York all right, as far as that is +concerned," said Mr. Pertell, who had overheard part of the talk. "But +as for a rest--well, I suppose I'll have to give you a little one, +before we start off again." + +"Oh, have you more plans in prospect?" asked Alice. + +"Indeed I have, my dear young lady. We're going in for water stuff +next." + +And those of you who desire to follow further the careers of Ruth, Alice +and their friends, may do so by reading the next volume of this series, +to be called, "The Moving Picture Girls at Sea; Or, A Pictured Shipwreck +That Became Real." + +"One more day at Rocky Ranch!" cried Alice, as she came out on the +veranda one glorious morning. "Oh, but I don't want to leave it!" + +"Neither do I!" cried Paul, coming around the corner of the house so +unexpectedly that Alice was startled. "Suppose we go for a last ride?" +he suggested. + +And together they rode over the prairies, side by side toward the Golden +West. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + Obvious punctuation errors corrected. + + Page 17, "Shakspearean" changed to "Shakespearean" to conform + to rest of text. (play Shakespearean parts) + + Page 19, "sceond" changed to "second". (the second time) + + Page 66, "plaftorm" changed to "platform". (depot platform stood) + + Page 104, "billard" changed to "billiard". (a billiard ball) + + Page 107, "But's" changed to "But". (But that's a camera) + + Page 120, "tting" changed to "getting". (getting up quickly) + + Page 120, word "at" added to text. (manager at once) + + Page 130, "mischievious" changed to "mischievous". (the mischievous + cowboy) + + Page 157, "excitment" changed to "excitement". (all this excitement) + + Page 158, "ever" changed to "every". (off every chamber) + + Page 158, "caluculated" changed to "calculated". (we calculated we'd) + + Page 190, "arragnements" changed to "arrangements". (arrangements + were carefully) + + Page 201, "himeslf" changed to "himself". (swung himself down) + + Three instances of "DeVere" being split over two lines were repaired + to match the remainder of the text. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY +RANCH*** + + +******* This file should be named 20349.txt or 20349.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/3/4/20349 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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