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diff --git a/75238-h/75238-h.htm b/75238-h/75238-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..561979d --- /dev/null +++ b/75238-h/75238-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7352 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + The motion picture chums' new idea | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tiny {width: 10%; margin-left: 45%; margin-right: 45%;margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;} +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +td {padding-left: 0.5em;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .blockquot { + margin-left: 7.5%; + margin-right: 7.5%; +} + +.blockquot2 { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 5%; + white-space: nowrap; +} + +.bbox {border: 2px solid; padding-right: 3em; padding-left: 1em;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} +.ph2 {text-align: center; font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold;} +.ph3 {text-align: center; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;} + +div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} +div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} + +.xlarge {font-size: 150%;} +.large {font-size: 125%;} +.small {font-size: 75%;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + +.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + +.gap {padding-left: 6em;} + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; + padding: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowe28_125 {width: 28.125em;} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75238 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="450" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<figure class="figcenter illowe28_125" id="frontispiece"> + <img class="w100" src="images/frontispiece.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption">THE START OF A STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE MAN AND PEP +BEGAN TO ATTRACT ATTENTION<br> + +<i>Motion Picture Chums’ New Idea.</i><span class="gap"><i>Page <a href="#Page_163">163</a></i></span></p> +</figcaption> +</figure> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_title.jpg" alt="title page"></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="titlepage"> +<h1><span class="small">The</span><br> +Motion Picture Chums’<br> +New Idea</h1> + +<p>OR<br> + +<span class="large">The First Educational Photo Playhouse</span></p> + +<p>BY<br> +<span class="xlarge">VICTOR APPLETON</span><br> +<span class="small">AUTHOR OF “THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS’ FIRST<br> +VENTURE,” “THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS,”<br> +“TOM SWIFT SERIES,” ETC.</span></p> + +<p><span class="large"><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></span></p> + +<p>NEW YORK<br> +<span class="large">GROSSET & DUNLAP</span><br> +PUBLISHERS</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="bbox"> +<p class="ph3">BOOKS BY VICTOR APPLETON</p> + +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="center"><i>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price, per volume,<br> +50 cents, postpaid.</i></p> + + +<p class="ph1">THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS SERIES</p> +<hr class="tiny"> +<div class="blockquot2"> + +<p>THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS’ FIRST VENTURE<br> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT SEASIDE PARK<br> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS ON BROADWAY<br> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS’ OUTDOOR EXHIBITION<br> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS’ NEW IDEA</p> +</div> + +<hr class="tiny"> + +<p class="ph1">THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES</p> +<hr class="tiny"> +<div class="blockquot2"> + +<p>THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS<br> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST<br> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST<br> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE<br> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND</p> +</div> + +<p class="center">(<i>Other volumes in preparation</i>)</p> + +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="ph1">THE TOM SWIFT SERIES</p> +<hr class="tiny"> + +<div class="blockquot2"> + +<p>TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER<br> +TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE<br> +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE<br> +TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER<br> +TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT<br> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON</p> +</div> + +<hr class="tiny"> + +<p class="ph1"> +GROSSET & DUNLAP<br> +<small>PUBLISHERS <span class="gap"> NEW YORK</span></small></p> +</div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1914, by</span><br> +GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="center"><i>The Motion Picture Chums’ New Idea</i></p> +</div></div></div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> +</div> + + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr"><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td class="tdr" colspan="2"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">I.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Something New</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1"> 1</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">II.</td><td> <span class="smcap">An Absent-minded Visitor</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_10"> 10</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">III.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Missing Satchel</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_20"> 20</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">IV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Railroad Wreck</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_30"> 30</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">V.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A New Mystery</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_39"> 39</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VI.</td><td> <span class="smcap">On Boston Common</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_48"> 48</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Rivals in Action</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_57"> 57</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VIII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Trick of the Enemy</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_67"> 67</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">IX.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Glowing Prospect</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_76"> 76</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">X.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Fire</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_84"> 84</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XI.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Hero Friend</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_93"> 93</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">An Amazing Statement</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_100"> 100</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Ships of the Desert</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_107"> 107</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Plymouth—Derelict</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_115"> 115</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">High Hopes</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_123"> 123</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XVI.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Lost Camels</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_130"> 130</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XVII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Grand Success</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_141"> 141</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XVIII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The “New Idea”</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_149"> 149</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIX.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Done with a Click</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_155"> 155</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XX.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Pep a Prisoner</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_163"> 163</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXI.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Grand Success</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_173"> 173</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Fearful Loss</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_180"> 180</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXIII.</td><td> “<span class="smcap">Getting Warm</span>”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_188"> 188</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXIV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Movies Camp</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_201"> 201</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Excelsor!—Conclusion</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_209"> 209</a></td></tr> +</table> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span> + +<p class="ph2">THE MOTION PICTURE<br> +CHUMS’ NEW IDEA</p> + +<hr class="tiny"> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I<br> + +<small>SOMETHING NEW</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Boys</span>, it’s a splendid idea!” cried Frank +Durham.</p> + +<p>“What is?” asked his friend and business +partner, Randolph Powell.</p> + +<p>“You look as if you had something big to tell,” +chimed in Pepperill Smith, moving his chair +nearer to his two comrades. “Out with it, +Frank.”</p> + +<p>The motion picture chums were seated in the +cozy office of the Empire photo playhouse on +upper Broadway, New York City. It was +“their” playhouse, they might proudly say. +Their energy, patience and genius had made it a +success. They were lively, up-to-date boys, the +kind who work as well as dream and play. They<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span> +had learned business ways. The animated yet +earnest face of their leader just now showed that +it was a genuine business proposition that he +was bringing to the notice of his companions.</p> + +<p>“Why,” returned Frank, “you know what +our motto has always been—to keep abreast of +the times.”</p> + +<p>“And a little ahead of ’em, Durham!” added +a new voice, as a bustling man of middle age +entered the little office. It was Mr. Hank +Strapp of Butte, Montana, the liberal, cheery-hearted +financial backer of the boys. “It appears +to me that this last venture of ours up at Riverside +Grove has about capped the climax.”</p> + +<p>“Let Frank go ahead with his story, Mr. +Strapp!” cried Pep, who was a privileged character, +his constant willingness to help out making +full amends for his sometimes boisterous manner. +“We’d have been good and sorry if we +had missed running the Airdrome; wouldn’t +we, now?”</p> + +<p>“Well, it has doubled the value of our investment, +that’s sure,” admitted Mr. Strapp, with +great satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“Then how do you know but what Frank now +has a proposition up his sleeve that is twice as +good? He’s always looking for new ideas. +What’s the last one, Frank?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span>“Well,” explained the latter, “to tell it in a +word: What do you say to opening a photo playhouse +that shall be devoted exclusively to educational +films?”</p> + +<p>Each of Frank’s auditors received this declaration +in a characteristic way. Pep came to his +feet with a bound and seemed to be ready to +voice his opinion in his usual tumultuous fashion. +Randy’s eyes snapped as his vivid imagination +seized upon the new thought. The impulsive ex-ranchman, +Mr. Strapp, brought his bronzed hand +down upon his knee emphatically with the words:</p> + +<p>“Durham, I believe you’ve struck a big thing! +It catches my fancy. There’s one first point +we’ve got to look to, though: Can it be made to +pay?”</p> + +<p>“I feel sure that it can,” replied Frank, “in +the right place.”</p> + +<p>“And where is that,” inquired the impetuous +Pep.</p> + +<p>“Boston,” was the reply. “Boston is the +home of culture. Anything high up in the entertainment +line is encouraged there. I first +thought of the plan a week ago. Yesterday, +quite by accident, I ran across a gentleman who +crystallized my vague ideas.”</p> + +<p>“How was that, Durham?” asked the interested +Westerner.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span>“It was down at the film exchange. I was +waiting for the crowd to thin out, as I had some +special business with the manager, and sat down +on a bench. Right next to me was a thin, intellectual +looking man whom nobody could help +but notice as entirely out of the ordinary. He +was nervous, abstracted, impatient. He took +out his watch to look at the time.</p> + +<p>“I saw that he had opened the back case instead +of the dial. I heard him say: ‘Remarkable! +Extraordinary!’ Then he began poking +in all his pockets. He made a vain search. He +got up and looked all over the bench, and knelt +down and searched under it.</p> + +<p>“‘Can I help you, sir?’ I asked.</p> + +<p>“‘Well, yes, I’ve lost my glasses,’ he informed +me.</p> + +<p>“‘Why,’ I told him, ‘you’ve got them on.’</p> + +<p>“‘Aha! So I have,’ he admitted. ‘Ridiculous!’</p> + +<p>“‘And you’re looking at the wrong side of +your watch,’ I added.</p> + +<p>“‘Dear me!’ he groaned. ‘Preposterous!’”</p> + +<p>“Say, he’d make a good character in a funny +film,” chuckled the mischief-loving Pep.</p> + +<p>“Well,” continued Frank, “he came out of +his absent-mindedness and gathered his scattered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> +wits. Those dreamy eyes of his pierced me like +a gimlet.</p> + +<p>“‘Movies man?’ he asked.</p> + +<p>“I told him yes. You ought to have seen how +eager he was. He began firing questions at me +so fast I could hardly answer. They were all +about motion pictures. He was like a curious +youngster hungry for facts. We got so interested +in my experience, before he got through +with me, that he found out about all we know or +have down in the movies business. Finally he +jumped to his feet.</p> + +<p>“‘See here,’ he said, grabbing my arm, ‘you +are just the fellow I’ve been looking for. You +come along with me.’</p> + +<p>“‘Where?’ I asked.</p> + +<p>“‘To my hotel,’ he replied. ‘I’ll make you +rich and famous.’ There was no resisting him, +so I went.”</p> + +<p>“Who was he, anyway?” asked Randy.</p> + +<p>Frank took a card from his pocket and held it +so that all could read the name inscribed upon it:</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Professor Achilles Barrington.</i></p> + +<p>“And what was he after?” pressed Pep.</p> + +<p>“Someone to exploit his ideas about a great +educational film photo playhouse,” replied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span> +Frank. “I never saw a man so enthusiastic +over an idea as he was. It seems that he had +been a professor of astronomy at Yale, or Harvard, +I forget which. A rival professor set up +a new theory as to the red spots on Jupiter in +opposition to his own. There was a wordy war. +Professor Barrington stood on his dignity and +resigned. He had a little money and an ardent +ambition to ‘enlighten the masses,’ as he termed +it. He has mapped out a wonderful series of +films for popular exhibition. I tell you, they’re +great. He wants to start the finest photo playhouse +in the world, facing Boston Common, and +his plan has a lot of good points.”</p> + +<p>“It would seem so,” nodded Mr. Strapp, +whose face showed that he was intensely interested. +“Go ahead, Durham. I’m mightily attracted +by what you are telling us.”</p> + +<p>“The professor must have talked to me for +an hour when we got to his hotel. It appears he +has been working on his pet idea for several +months. I was surprised at the way he had +planned his film subjects and sources of information +and supply. He convinced me that his plans, +influence and scheme for working up business +were magnificent.</p> + +<p>“It appears he was waiting to see what encouragement +the film men would give him in his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span> +scheme when I met him. Now he is thoroughly +convinced that there never was a combination +so able to put through his plans as ourselves. He +was for getting my decision at once, so that +some of us could go at once to Boston and see +the location he had picked out for the new playhouse. +I told him I would have to consult with +you people and I promised he should hear from +me by noon. What do you think of it, Mr. +Strapp?”</p> + +<p>“Well, you know we have run across all kinds +of dreamers in this business,” replied the Westerner. +“I’ve a great respect for college folks, +though; little education as I’ve had myself. +You’re a shrewd sort of a fellow, Durham, and +don’t make many mistakes.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” came with emphasis from the +ever-admiring Pep.</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” returned Frank, modestly, and +with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir-ree! We can trust your judgment +every time, Durham,” continued Mr. Strapp. +“As to the idea you’ve spoken of, it can’t be +beat. As to the man who has worked it up, I +suspect we’d all better see him before we come to +a decision.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll bet he’s an odd genius,” commented Pep, +with an expectant twinkle in his eyes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span>“He’s smart, or he couldn’t have interested +Frank the way he has done,” observed the loyal +Randy.</p> + +<p>“Well, if you leave it to me,” spoke the young +motion picture manager, “I’ll go back to his +hotel, as I promised. I think I had better bring +him back here with me. It’s three hours before +we start the show, so we can have a good long +talk.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll be glad to see this professor of yours, +Durham,” said Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” broke in Pep, abruptly. “Here’s +somebody.”</p> + +<p>The door of the little office swung open as +someone knocked timidly on it.</p> + +<p>Frank, craning his neck, discerned a man +standing still and apparently awaiting an answer +to his summons. It struck Frank that the visitor +must be near-sighted, or very absent-minded, +to thus mistake a wide open door for a closed one.</p> + +<p>“Come in,” he sang out and the caller seized +the knob of the door. As he did this, the unexpected +ease with which the door swung towards +him moved him off his balance, drove +him back and banged shut, quite taking him off +his feet.</p> + +<p>“Stupendous!” gasped the caller, as he went +sprawling upon the floor headlong, his tall silk<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> +hat rolling in one direction, the goggles he wore +in another.</p> + +<p>“Why!” cried Frank, “It’s Professor Barrington +himself!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II<br> + +<small>AN ABSENT-MINDED VISITOR</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Outrageous</span>—unpardonable!” gasped the +professor, as he struggled to his feet, thus +rudely aroused from his habitual abstraction.</p> + +<p>Pep stooped to pick up the rolling hat and to +hide a grin. Randy, as he rescued the glasses, +bit his lip to keep his face straight. Even Mr. +Strapp was amused; but he did not allow himself +to show it.</p> + +<p>Frank was always the gentleman and the boy +of business. He had arisen to his feet. He extended +his hand, sober as a judge, with the +words:</p> + +<p>“I am glad to see you, Professor Barrington. +We were just going over that matter of +yours and I was about to start for your hotel.”</p> + +<p>“Good—glad. Then you favor my plan?”</p> + +<p>“We are all very much interested,” observed +Mr. Strapp. “Will you have a chair, sir?”</p> + +<p>The eyes of the little coterie were fixed upon +their odd visitor. Knowing Frank as they did,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> +his chums were as one in the conviction that their +bright young leader had brought about a situation +that promised interesting developments.</p> + +<p>It was not the first time that some such an incident +had proved the beginning of an important +move in the business to which the three boys had +been now devoted for nearly two years. From +the first day that the movies idea had captivated +these close comrades and friends, Frank had +been the main mover in discoveries, suggestions +and activities that had led them up to the present +pleasant and useful position they filled in their +own little business world.</p> + +<p>It was Frank who had originally found a +way to employ their little stock of savings, to +obtain an outfit for the starting of their first +motion picture venture in their native village +of Fairlands, known as the Wonderland, as +related in the first volume of the present series, +entitled, “The Motion Picture Chums’ First +Venture; Or, Opening a Photo Playhouse In +Fairlands.”</p> + +<p>It was Frank who, when the winter season +was past and local trade grew dull, had discovered +a promising outlook for a Wonderland No. +2 at Seaside Park. This was a popular outing +resort some fifty miles from New York City. +Their success with that venture has been told<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> +in a second book, called, “The Motion Picture +Chums at Seaside Park; Or, The Rival Photo +Theaters of the Boardwalk.”</p> + +<p>When they retired temporarily from that enterprise +with the departing excursion crowds, a +higher ambition had led them to seek a wider +sphere of action.</p> + +<p>In the third volume, entitled, “The Motion +Picture Chums On Broadway; Or, The Mystery +of the Missing Cash Box,” has been narrated +the struggles, trials, and triumphs of the boys in +founding their Empire photo playhouse on upper +Broadway in New York City. All along the +line they had found rivals, even enemies, but +friends as well.</p> + +<p>Mr. Strapp, who now sat in their midst, was +one of the latter, and a loyal, helpful, companion +he had become. Frank had saved the unsophisticated +Westerner, fresh from ranch life, from +being swindled out of a large sum of money. +The ex-ranchman had appreciated this and the +good qualities of the three chums, and had become +their partner, to the benefit of all.</p> + +<p>Ben Jolly, a musician of no mean ability, was +another who had come into their lives. Then +there were several lads whom Frank had found +poor, in trouble, and needing a friend badly. He +had given them a helping hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span>In the last preceding book of the series, named, +“The Motion Picture Chums’ Outdoor Exhibition; +Or, The Film That Solved a Mystery,” +the ups and downs of a new venture, the Airdrome, +at Riverside Grove, located on the Palisades +of the Hudson River, have been recited.</p> + +<p>Each of the group was now filling some efficient +part in the operations of the Amusement Company +organized by Mr. Strapp and the motion +picture chums to bring system and success to the +chain of photo playhouses they conducted.</p> + +<p>An old comrade of Ben Jolly, a professional +ventriloquist named Hal Vincent, had managed +the Wonderland No. 2 at Seaside Park during +the season. At Fairlands a capable young fellow +was in the harness, and another deserving +lad was operating the Model, a small affair at +Belleview, up the Hudson. Dave Sawyer, whom +Frank had rescued from the clutches of a cruel +taskmaster, named Slavin, had assisted Frank +and his partners in making a success of the famous +Airdrome, and was now located at Riverside +Grove.</p> + +<p>Now, at the beginning of the autumn season, +the little group had taken up their headquarters +at the principal playhouse of the chain. The +Empire was the most profitable institution of +the group. It was a model, up-to-date, and well<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> +patronized the year around. It was like getting +back home to once more enjoy its coziness. The +motion picture chums had plenty to do with so +many ventures on their hands, but “the Tip +Top” was the constant ambition of the partners.</p> + +<p>Frank was always on the lookout for something +new to keep them abreast of the times. +As has been seen, he had made an attractive discovery +that day. Now its progress was signalized +by the extraordinary appearance of Professor +Achilles Barrington.</p> + +<p>The odd intruder upon the little group seemed +now at ease through the generous reception he +had received. He set his glasses straight and +brushed his hat with his coat sleeve. Then he +tapped his head sharply with his knuckles, as if +punishing truant ideas that had led him into a +blunder, and summoning up new ones.</p> + +<p>“Embarrassed—decidedly so,” he observed. +“Deep in thought—and all that. Scarcely respectable—bolting +in on you this way. Made +a bad impression, I fear.”</p> + +<p>“Not at all, sir,” responded Mr. Strapp, indulgently. +“Our friend, Frank Durham, has +paved the way for a genuine welcome. Let me +introduce myself—Strapp is my name, and I +never say what I don’t mean. I am very glad to +meet a person of your education, Professor Barrington.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> +This is Randolph Powell, and this +Pepperill Smith.”</p> + +<p>“I declare, it’s like home to be among you,” +said the professor, smiling expansively at the +friendly greeting he received. “I must apologize +for coming here uninvited, gentlemen; but I +couldn’t rest thinking over the possibilities suggested +by Mr. Durham. You don’t know how +my heart is set on my great enterprise, nor the +bother and trouble I have had getting at the right +people.”</p> + +<p>“I reckon you’ve found ’em this time, sir, +if your scheme holds water at all,” declared Mr. +Strapp, in his blunt fashion.</p> + +<p>“Thank you—it makes me happy to hear you +say that. I ought to apologize, Mr. Durham, +for showing childish anxiety about you; but I +was fooled once and I do not wish to waste any +time. Now that I see what a really pretentious +business you have here, I realize that you did +not tell half. You see, I fell into the hands of +a fellow who made all kinds of false representations, +beside fleecing me out of money. It’s +made me nervous about getting things started before +someone else exploits the idea. I’ve become +so afraid of speculators and promoters that +I shall breathe more freely when I get back to +my home city.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>“Meaning Boston, I assume?” asked Mr. +Strapp.</p> + +<p>“That’s right, sir! And it’s the right place, +and the only one where the educational film will +be accepted with open arms. I know the people, +Mr. Strapp. They know me, too, in my humble +way.”</p> + +<p>“And exactly what do you expect us to do?” +inquired the Westerner, in a business-like tone.</p> + +<p>“Why, I have not the capital myself to start +such a photo playhouse as my plan deserves. +Another thing: I am not a practical showman +in any sense of the word; I have, though, enough +money to arrange for the films. The films, +gentlemen, comprise the whole essence of this +proposition.”</p> + +<p>“You have a special interest in that direction; +eh?” intimated Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p>“I may say that—yes,” declared the professor. +“Mediocre stuff will not do at all. The +scarce, the odd, the new, the remarkable—I saw +my needs when this idea first occurred to me. +In my satchel at the hotel, locked up in its strong +safe, are credentials showing that I am to-day in +touch with film producers all over the world.”</p> + +<p>“Why—what for?” burst out the curious +Pep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span>“What for—what?” in turn challenged the +professor, with wondering eyes.</p> + +<p>“Locked up—in a safe! Valuable, I suppose?”</p> + +<p>“So much so, that I am satisfied a group of +unscrupulous men are after it,” asserted Professor +Barrington, solemnly. “You see, in planning +out my campaign I have had to proceed +with caution, so that rivals would not forestall +me. I have even designed a telegraphic code +so that messages sent and received may not be deciphered +by others to my disadvantage.”</p> + +<p>Frank’s eyes were opening wider with mingled +interest and excitement. As their eccentric +visitor warmed up to his subject, the young +leader of the motion picture chums saw that the +professor had used order and system in his preliminary +work.</p> + +<p>“I have a primary list of many subjects, some +of which are already in the hands of the picture +takers,” continued the professor. “My object +has been to have really educational films.”</p> + +<p>“For instance, what?” questioned Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p>“Well, showing how flowers grow—animal, +bird and insect life—the mysteries of the deep. +Then again, in the mechanical arts—the great +industries—factories, lighthouses, conventions. +I am now working out a scenario for a natural<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> +wonder that will electrify the thinking public. +I simply give you an outline; details will come +later if we make a deal.</p> + +<p>“I have already invested several thousands +of dollars in the venture. What I propose is +that someone else finance the exhibition of the +films in the right way. I will defray the expenses +up to that point.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Strapp arose and paced a few steps in a +restless manner. This was always his way when +interested in something of a business nature. +Frank caught a glance from his eyes and at once +saw that his clear-headed business partner had +made up his mind.</p> + +<p>“I have listened to you, sir,” remarked Mr. +Strapp, bluntly, “and I will say I am very much +interested. In plain words: I favor your proposition. +I’m not much on education, though, and +Durham is. What do you propose, sir?”</p> + +<p>“That you come to Boston and look over a +location I have selected, go over the papers I +have in my satchel, look me up to see if I am +the kind of man to deal with, and make your decision.”</p> + +<p>“Fair enough,” agreed Mr. Strapp. “Let +Durham act as our representative. He’s only +a boy, professor, but smarter than most grown<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span> +men. I’d trust his good judgment any time; and +if he says go ahead, that settles it.”</p> + +<p>“Most satisfactory,” exclaimed the professor; +his thoughtful face brightening magically. “I +feel I can trust you.”</p> + +<p>“When would you wish me to go to Boston, +Professor Barrington?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Right away!” cried the professor, consulting +his watch and jumping to his feet with the +celerity of a pleased schoolboy.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III<br> + +<small>THE MISSING SATCHEL</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">That’s</span> queer!” said Frank Durham.</p> + +<p>He said it to himself, for he was seated alone +in the railroad station awaiting the arrival of +Professor Barrington. When that personage +heard the decision of the young movies leader +and his business partners, he was for getting to +Boston forthwith. After Frank had glanced at +a time-table, the arrangements had been made +quickly.</p> + +<p>“There is a through express at eleven o’clock,” +he reported.</p> + +<p>“Then we must make it,” insisted the professor, +briskly. “Meet me at the station. I will +just have time to go to my hotel, settle up affairs +there and get my satchel. That train will +land us in Boston in five hours, leaving a chance +to do some business there by daylight.”</p> + +<p>Then he had departed, and after a brief talk +with Mr. Strapp, Frank had made his way to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span> +the railroad station. As his mind and eyes were +always active he became interested in studying +human nature about him. Some peculiar actions +on the part of three men seated on a bench opposite +him attracted his attention and caused him +to utter an exclamation.</p> + +<p>What seemed queer to the mind of Frank was +the fact that one of the trio, a slouch-shouldered, +furtive-eyed man, after some confidential talk +with the two others, took up his satchel from +the floor. He glanced keenly all about him to +see that he was not observed. Then a crafty +smile came to his lips as he partly reversed the +satchel. To the amazement of Frank the satchel +appeared to have no bottom.</p> + +<p>Some coiling springs seemed to fill the inside +space. The man chuckled as he righted the +satchel again. One of his companions laughed +and the other slapped him on the shoulder as +though it were all a great joke. Then the three +men walked towards the waiting trains. Frank +felt that somehow the incident was suspicious. +He wondered if the hollow satchel might not +after all be some new invention. But just then +the professor put in an appearance.</p> + +<p>He swung a satchel in one hand and seemed +flustered as he rushed to the ticket office and +thence with Frank to the train.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span>“Just made it!” he explained, sinking breathlessly +into a seat. “Got sort of bothered.”</p> + +<p>“How was that, Professor Barrington?” inquired +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Why, I’ve told you I bungled into talking +over my plans with a man who, I am now convinced, +was bent upon stealing my ideas. When +I went back to my hotel I noticed this fellow +skulking about the entrance. When I came +down from my room to get my satchel, the hotel +clerk said someone had been to him asking when +I was leaving and where I was going. I don’t +like the look of things.”</p> + +<p>“You are probably rid of the man, now you +are leaving the city,” suggested Frank.</p> + +<p>“I sincerely hope so,” returned the professor, +with a relieved sigh. “Now we’re by ourselves +and comfortable, let us have a thorough talk +over our affairs.”</p> + +<p>There was a double seat directly behind the +one they were in, occupied by a lady and her two +children. The little ones were romping and +noisy, and after a glance at these neighbors the +professor plunged into his subject, not fearful of +any eavesdroppers. He had carelessly thrown +his satchel in the space behind the seat, just off +the aisle. One of its straps had come loose and +trailed forward under the seat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span>Frank had placed his foot on this. He had +no right to suggest or interfere with the personal +affairs of his companion, but a memory of what +the professor had said about the valuable contents +of the satchel in the safe at the hotel, led +Frank to wonder if this was the one. In his +engrossed way the professor might have lost sight +of the necessity of keeping guard over his treasures. +Frank pressed his toe against the buckle on +the end of the loose strap and resolved to keep +it there.</p> + +<p>Professor Barrington was a very entertaining +man when he conversed on his pet subject. As +he related the slow, patient and careful work +he had done to have at command movies parties +all over the world, ready for any rush order he +might give, Frank was amazed.</p> + +<p>“Think of it!” remarked the professor, “the +photo play speaks the silent but universal language +of sight, and the eventual triumph of motion +photography is the educational film. I can +see this movement lead to education in schools, +exhibitions, in conventions.</p> + +<p>“I can see marvels of nature we have heretofore +only read about brought right into natural +action before our eyes. I have already forty-two +thousand feet of negatives, including the +split reels. I have in view double that volume,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> +and not a film to be released to outsiders until +we have gathered the first cream of profit and +popularity. It will startle you, my young friend—more, +it will thrill you, when you go into the details +of the outfit gathered and gathering. Did +you know,” demanded the professor, “that there +are insects that wash their faces, just as humans +do?”</p> + +<p>“Why, no, sir—” began Frank.</p> + +<p>“You shall see the proof of it, taken from +nature. Of course you know what the telepathic +sense means?”</p> + +<p>“As I take it, it is the ability of dumb creatures +to use a mysterious sixth sense that enables them +to scent danger at a distance or communicate with +one another.”</p> + +<p>“Right—especially with ants,” responded the +professor. “In Africa scientists have marvelled +that an army of these intelligent little creatures +should halt in a second when their leader strikes +an obstacle. This is done with system and order, +when the last ant is half a mile distant and shut +out of sight of the head of the procession by a +hill or some other object.”</p> + +<p>“That seems wonderful,” remarked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Well,” declared Professor Barrington, triumphantly, +“I have solved the mystery. I have +had photographs taken with such an insect army in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> +motion. It took twenty machines to catch the +subject, but the film is made continuous. The +king ant halted at a stream. Instantly it shot +out a hind foot. Almost as quickly as electricity +the ant next behind and those beyond it +transmitted that signal down down the line. We +estimate that it took just fifty-four seconds to +deliver the ‘Halt’ message to the last ant. The +photo, magnified, shows the most interesting kicking +picture you ever saw.”</p> + +<p>For over an hour the professor kept up such +an interesting discourse that Frank was charmed. +The train was slowing up, and the professor, +leaning close to Frank, was pouring into his ear +a description of a leaping kangaroo film among +his treasures, when Frank straightened up suddenly +and fixed his eye upon a man who had just +left his seat and was coming down the aisle.</p> + +<p>In a flash Frank recognized him as the person +he had seen at the city railway station with the +hollow satchel. The fellow carried the article +now. He swung along as if it was heavy, which +Frank knew could not be the case. He stumbled +as he passed the seat containing the professor and +Frank and seemed to momentarily drop his satchel +to the floor as if to regain his balance.</p> + +<p>Frank’s nerves thrilled as the man picked up +his satchel again. A jerk moved the strap upon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> +which Frank had his foot. He arose quickly +and turned his head. The professor’s satchel +was gone!</p> + +<p>The man, who Frank knew in a flash must +have taken it up inside his “patent” satchel, was +hurrying to the door of the car. With a bound +our young hero, guessing at the shrewd trick attempted, +was after him.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, there!” shouted Frank, so sharply +that he attracted the attention of everyone in the +coach.</p> + +<p>“Meaning me?” retorted the fellow he was +after, as Frank ran up to him and grabbed one +arm.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do,” cried Frank. “You just took +a satchel from behind that seat yonder and I +want it.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense! What are you talking about?” +shouted the man. “Don’t delay me. This is +my station. Let go!” But Frank had slipped his +hand down to the satchel the man swung about, +and deftly reversing it, unset the stolen satchel +from the coiling springs that had caught it up +and held it.</p> + +<p>“You meddler!” he hissed savagely. The man +saw that he was unmasked and outwitted, and +with a vicious swing brought his own satchel +against Frank’s head. The latter went spinning<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> +to the floor, but he held on to the professor’s +property.</p> + +<p>“Astonishing!” exclaimed his fellow-traveler, +arising in wonder to his feet. “Stop that man!” +But the fellow whom Frank had baffled darted +for the rear door of the car, leaped outside, +slammed it shut after him and sprang to the platform +of the station before the train stopped.</p> + +<p>A dozen curious passengers questioned Frank +as to the details of the strange incident they had +noticed.</p> + +<p>“A slick thief with a trick satchel,” Frank explained, +briefly. “Keep tight hold of your property, +Professor,” he told his mystified friend. +The train halted only for a moment to let off a +few passengers. Frank had gone to the car +platform. He leaned from it, gazing keenly +down the length of the platform to see if he could +find any trace of the thief.</p> + +<p>The latter was nowhere in sight, however, until +after the train had started. Then Frank saw him +come into view around the distant end of the +depot building. The fellow made some motions +with his hands as if conveying a signal to someone. +Frank turned and sharply took in the +interior of the car. He saw a man just shutting +down a window. He had not noticed this person +before. Now he recognized him as one of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> +men who had been with the thief in the city railway +station.</p> + +<p>“The professor’s fears are well founded, it +seems,” reflected Frank. “There has been a +plot afoot to get possession of that satchel. Well, +the schemers haven’t done it so far. I don’t +think they will get it if I can help it.”</p> + +<p>Frank found the professor seated with the +rescued satchel in his lap, holding it tightly in +both hands. He looked both bewildered and +timorous.</p> + +<p>“That fellow was trying to steal my satchel!” +he declared, in a nervous, alarmed way. “Mr. +Durham, that means something.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” assented Frank, “I suppose he singled +out your satchel with a purpose.”</p> + +<p>“You mean he has followed us from New +York with the intent of depriving me of my +property?” asked the professor.</p> + +<p>“It looks that way, sir,” answered Frank, +gravely.</p> + +<p>“It is a good thing you were with me,” said +Professor Barrington, with a grateful look. +“Audacious! Unheard of! Dear me! What +villainy there is in the world!”</p> + +<p>Frank felt that all was safe now, and tried to +allay the concern of his companion. He thought +it best not to alarm the latter by revealing his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> +suspicion that the man six seats ahead of them +was probably a member of the group that was +after that precious satchel.</p> + +<p>Frank kept his eye on this man, who pretended +to be absorbed in a newspaper. He showed no +outward sign that the incident had affected or +interested him. Frank was about to ask the professor +to walk to the front end of the car and +take a look at the man’s face, when there came a +sharp whistle from the locomotive.</p> + +<p>Almost instantly the brakes were set. There +was a grinding jar, then a shock and a crash. +Frank realized that something was coming and +grasped the seat brace.</p> + +<p>Not so the professor. As the train came to an +abrupt stop amid the jangle of broken glass and +parting timbers, he was lifted from his seat +violently. He shot past Frank and landed in +the aisle like a lump of clay.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV<br> + +<small>THE RAILROAD WRECK</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Frank</span> had never taken part in a scene of +greater disorder and excitement. He knew at +once that the train had run into some heavy obstacle +or had been derailed. A dozen of the passengers +were thrown from their seats. Women +were shrieking, and the two little children in the +seat just behind the one the professor and Frank +had occupied were wailing in fright as their +mother caught them in her arms and crouched +speechless and dazed.</p> + +<p>Frank saw that they were not seriously injured. +The car had tilted and then, as a great +shock passed through its strained woodwork, +come to a stop. The frightened passengers were +rushing for the doors. One or two men threw +open windows and tumbled outside. Frank’s +first thought was of his new friend. He sprang +to the spot where the professor lay senseless and +just in time managed to drag him out of the path<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> +of the terrified people crowding the aisle in an +attempt to escape.</p> + +<p>“I declare!” spoke the dazed savant, as Frank +pulled him into a seat. “What happened?”</p> + +<p>The speaker rubbed a contusion on his head +and gazed about him vacantly. Then his eyes +closed and he swayed to and fro.</p> + +<p>“Come out,” directed a train hand at the rear +doorway. “It’s a wreck; but nobody is seriously +hurt.”</p> + +<p>Frank piled over the backs of half a dozen +seats and got at the water tank. He wet his +handkerchief, returned to his charge, and applied +it to his head. In a minute or two the professor +recovered his senses.</p> + +<p>“There’s been a collision, I assume,” he remarked. +“Look at that front end all smashed in! +We’re lucky. Let us get out of this and see where +we’re stranded.”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes,” agreed Frank, “only—where’s +the satchel!”</p> + +<p>For the first time Frank thought of it. The +car was pretty well vacated by this time, and +many had left wraps and satchels behind in their +haste to reach a place of safety. Frank made a +casual and then a more careful survey of the +floor of the coach. He finally returned to his +anxious-faced friend.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span>“Professor Barrington,” he said, “I fear, +after all our vigilance and trouble, we have been +outwitted.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean, Mr. Durham?”</p> + +<p>“Your satchel is missing.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps somebody caught it up by mistake. +See, a lot of people have left their belongings behind +them all mixed up. Maybe someone took +it in the excitement of the moment.”</p> + +<p>“I’d like to think that; I hope you are right,” +rejoined Frank. “We must get outside and +make a search right away.”</p> + +<p>Frank had not told the professor about the +man who had sat just ahead of them, and who +he felt sure was an accomplice of the fellow who +had tried to steal the satchel. In his own mind +Frank felt sure that this accomplice had obtained +the professor’s satchel during the confusion in +the passenger coach.</p> + +<p>Frank’s mind was centered on the satchel, but +when he got outside the uproar and confusion +took up his attention. It appeared that in making +a curve the express train had run into a derailed +freight car, ignoring the danger signal of +a red flag, another somewhat back having been +overlooked by the engineer.</p> + +<p>The locomotive and baggage car were badly +damaged. They had plunged into the rear of a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> +freight train and demolished it. Both tracks +were blocked. No one apparently had been seriously +hurt, although there had been a bad +shake-up all around.</p> + +<p>The accident had occurred in a lonely cut +crossed by a typical country road. The train +hands were getting the passengers into the rear +coaches that had not been badly damaged. Frank +gathered enough from the talk of the trainmen, +amid the hurly-burly of the emergency, to understand +that it would be several hours before a +wrecking train could arrive.</p> + +<p>“We’re stalled here, probably till midnight,” +Frank heard the conductor say to the engineer.</p> + +<p>“You had better get into that coach while I +make another search for that satchel, Professor +Barrington,” Frank suggested.</p> + +<p>“I sincerely hope you will find some trace of +it,” was the anxious reply. “I declare! I thought +all my troubles had ended when I left New York +City with you, and here I find myself in a worse +mix-up than ever.”</p> + +<p>Frank kept a sharp eye out for the man to +whom the fellow with the hollow satchel had +signalled. Although he inspected all the coaches +and looked over the crowd along the tracks, he +could gain no trace of the one he was so anxious +to find.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span>By the time Frank rejoined the professor the +conductor of the train had got word to and from +a towerman, about a mile away. He announced +that it would be some hours before the track +could be cleared, a fresh engine obtained, and +the journey resumed.</p> + +<p>“Any trace of the satchel, Mr. Durham?” +was the first question the professor asked.</p> + +<p>“I fear we shall never see the satchel or its +contents again,” returned Frank, and thought it +best to impart all of his suspicions. His companion +listened with attention.</p> + +<p>“You’ve got it right,” he decided, reluctantly. +“They have been bound to get at that satchel +all along. As soon as they did so they got +away—crossed over to some other railroad line +or went into hiding. I don’t see how we can +trace them from this forlorn, out-of-the-way +spot.”</p> + +<p>“Are the contents of the satchel so very valuable, +Professor Barrington?” inquired Frank.</p> + +<p>“To men who I am assured are trying to steal +my plan, immensely so,” was the reply. “You +see, in the bag are all my private memoranda, +lists of my connections, and the details of the very +important lease I expect to close on playhouse +quarters in Boston. If they get an inkling of +that and obtain an option on the lease ahead of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> +us, it takes away about half of the merit of our +proposition.”</p> + +<p>Frank realized that they were in a pretty bad +predicament. To think of running down the +thief or thieves with the start the latter had +would be folly. Long since, undoubtedly, the +knaves had rifled the satchel and possessed themselves +of the secrets of the professor’s project.</p> + +<p>The pair grew tired of sitting in the coach +and strolled outside, but the ardor of the professor +seemed dampened. He did not say much, +but acted as though depressed. They walked up +and down the level space beside the track, each +busy with his own thoughts. Finally Frank +touched the professor’s arm and directed his attention +to a group gathered about a figure on a +stump, who was apparently addressing them.</p> + +<p>“Someone seems to be making a speech,” observed +Frank. “I wonder what he is saying.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it looks that way,” assented Professor +Barrington, after a casual glance at the individual +Frank had indicated.</p> + +<p>Both walked towards the center of the group +of people. As they neared the spot Frank saw +that a bronzed, intelligent-faced lad of about sixteen +was the orator. He was dressed in blue +jeans and had the appearance of a typical farm +boy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span>“Gentlemen and ladies,” he said, “this train +will be delayed for several hours. Half a mile +up the road is Home Farm, where I work. Mr. +Dorsett—that’s my boss—sent me down here to +tell you that there will be a lunch ready for all +that want it from now up to dark.”</p> + +<p>“What kind of a lunch, sonny?” asked a big +man who seemed happy over finding himself +with a whole skin after his shaking up on the +train.</p> + +<p>“Doughnuts, pumpkin pie and cider—apples +thrown in, price fifteen cents,” was the prompt +response. “Besides that, there’s a big veranda +up at the house, with easy chairs, and hammocks +and a swing.”</p> + +<p>“I think I’ll take that in,” said the fat man, +smacking his lips.</p> + +<p>“That sounds refreshing,” observed Professor +Barrington. “I declare! I have been so +taken up with our business that I forgot lunch +in the city.”</p> + +<p>“I think I would like to try this home-made +fare,” said Frank. “If it’s as good as it is cheap, +it’s worth testing. Will you act as pilot?” he +asked of the boy.</p> + +<p>“All aboard! It’s just the walk for an appetite,” +declared the lad, briskly, jumping down +from the stump and starting for the road.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> +Frank, the professor and several others followed +and they soon came in sight of a pleasant old +homestead. Under a towering oak tree was a +long picnic table, a bench on either side. The +thrifty farmer and his wife ministered to the +needs of their guests.</p> + +<p>“That was prime,” remarked Professor Barrington, +after they had eaten of the plain but appetizing +fare. “A great relief, this cool shady +spot, after the bustle and excitement down at the +railroad. There’s a rustic bower over yonder; +let us rest there for a bit. I would like to get +my scattered wits together.”</p> + +<p>Frank assented to this arrangement. Others +of the visitors installed themselves on the porch +or went into the big “company room” of the +house. The professor became talkative again. +He went over the playhouse project, which +brought up the loss of the precious satchel.</p> + +<p>“We had better forget that loss,” suggested +Frank, “for I don’t see any way to remedy it. +If certain schemers are going to become our business +rivals on what they stole from you, they +won’t succeed. Such people never do in the end. +I shouldn’t worry about it, if I were you. It’s +your brains that have worked up this idea, and +you are bound to have the best of it.</p> + +<p>“Oh, did you want something?” Frank interrupted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> +himself, as the boy who had piloted +them from the railroad appeared at the doorway +of the bower.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes—no—I don’t know,” stammered +the lad, in an embarrassed way. “Say, I don’t +want you to think I’m any eavesdropper. I was +resting outside here, though, and couldn’t help +but hear your talk. I’m so dead gone on shows +that I just had to listen, and when you spoke of +the satchel——”</p> + +<p>“Ah!” broke in the professor, eagerly, “you +know something about that?”</p> + +<p>“I think I do—I don’t know for certain,” was +the reply; “but if you’ll wait here for five minutes +I’ll find out if what I guess amounts to anything.”</p> + +<p>And then the strange lad was off like an arrow, +leaving Professor Barrington in a state of +great suspense and Frank wondering what the +next happening of their eventful journey was to +be.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V<br> + +<small>A NEW MYSTERY</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Incomprehensible!</span>” exclaimed Professor +Barrington, gazing after the excited lad who had +scudded up to them and then away. “What do +you think that young fellow means by all this?”</p> + +<p>“It is simple, to my way of thinking,” responded +Frank. “He heard us talking about +that missing satchel and knows something about +it.”</p> + +<p>“But what can he know?” inquired the professor, +arising to his feet and pacing the floor of the +summer house in his quick, nervous way.</p> + +<p>“Well, he strikes me as an unusually keen and +intelligent boy,” returned Frank. “He is of the +kind who keep their eyes open, and may possibly +have noticed the man who got the satchel. Here +he is back again, to report for himself.”</p> + +<p>At an amazing pace, his bright young face +showing keen interest, the farm boy was steering +straight for the summer house. As he approached<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> +he waved some object in his hand. +Frank started as he recognized its familiar outlines.</p> + +<p>“Is that it?” questioned the farm boy, breathlessly, +dropping his burden on the little round +table.</p> + +<p>Frank’s eyes brightened and Professor Barrington +uttered a cry of delight The farm lad +had placed upon the table the stolen satchel. It +seemed to Frank as if a great weight had been +lifted from his mind. Certainly the situation +had cleared wonderfully.</p> + +<p>Professor Barrington grasped the satchel in +both hands. Frank had never seen him so excited +as he tore it open. Then the old savant +dug down into the open receptacle with feverish +haste. Its contents covered the table. He fell +back, stared at the various articles in astonishment +and began to rub his head in a bewildered +way.</p> + +<p>“I declare!” he said, feebly. “Confusion +worse confounded! Not mine, after all.”</p> + +<p>“If you mean the satchel,” spoke Frank, +quickly pouncing upon the article in question, +“it is the one I got back from the fellow who +tried to steal it with the hollow satchel. Of +that I am positive—see, here is the strap and the +buckle I kept under my foot when he got aboard.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>“But that—truck?” objected the professor. +“Why, just look at it—a pair of gloves, a veil, +a lady’s toilet outfit and a dressing sack.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” assented Frank, for the moment +all at sea. Then he took up an envelope bearing +an address. It read: “<i>Mrs. Clara Barnes</i>,” and +had been directed to the hotel in New York City, +where the professor had lived during his recent +stay there.</p> + +<p>“I think I understand,” said Frank to himself, +and his thoughts cleared. He placed the envelope +in his pocket and proceeded to repack the +satchel, while he inquired of the boy who had +brought it to them:</p> + +<p>“How did you happen to come across this satchel?”</p> + +<p>“Why, you see I saw two men squabbling +over it,” explained the farm lad.</p> + +<p>“That was when?” pressed Frank. “I wish +you would describe what they were like.”</p> + +<p>The boy proceeded to do this while Frank +listened attentively. When the narrator had finished +Frank recognized one of the persons as the +man who had received the signal from the fellow +with the trick satchel. His companion did not +tally with anyone Frank could recall just then.</p> + +<p>“When I first went down to the train,” went +on the farm boy, “I heard voices behind the hedge<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span> +of the old farm house that burned down. Two +men were talking. One had just flung that satchel +to the ground.</p> + +<p>“‘You’re a blunderer,’ he said to the other +man. ‘You’ve missed on everything.’</p> + +<p>“I went on to guide the people to the farm +and thought no more of it, until I overhead +your conversation here. Then I made up my +mind it was the same satchel you were talking +about. I went back to the hedge and found it, +but the men were nowhere about.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know how to solve this problem,” remarked +Professor Barrington with a groan; +“but there has been tricky work somewhere. At +all events, my precious papers are gone. We +had better get to Boston and head off these men. +Then we can get to work to see if we cannot +mend matters in some way.”</p> + +<p>“You have done us a favor,” said Frank to +the farm boy, and he handed him a dollar bill. +“You know the lay of the land around here. +Can you figure out any way of our going on +without waiting for that wreck to be cleared +away?”</p> + +<p>“Sure I can,” responded the lad, briskly. “If +you’re willing to foot the bill I think Mr. Dorsett +will let me hitch up the surrey and take you over +to Woodhill.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span>“How far is that?” inquired Frank.</p> + +<p>“Eighteen miles. You see, a branch road +runs from there and hits the main line further +along.”</p> + +<p>“That’s good,” said Frank. “Go ahead and +make the arrangements. We’ll pay what’s fair +for the service.”</p> + +<p>The professor sat at the table absorbed in making +some notes in his memorandum book. Frank +walked to a little distance and sat down on a rustic +seat. He was thoughtful, but his face showed +energy.</p> + +<p>“I think I have figured out about the mystery +of the satchel,” he told himself with some satisfaction. +“I don’t think, though, that I will raise +the professor’s hopes or burden his mind with +any further suspense, until I am sure of my +ground. As soon as I reach Boston—hello!”</p> + +<p>The farm boy had again come up to him. He +regarded Frank shyly, then wistfully, and then +blurted out:</p> + +<p>“Say, I’d like to ask you a few questions.”</p> + +<p>“Fire away,” responded Frank, with an encouraging +smile.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Dorsett is getting the rig ready, and I’m +to drive you over to Woodhill. You’ve sort of +riled me all up coming here and I wanted to get +it off my mind.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span>“How is that?” asked Frank, wonderingly.</p> + +<p>“Why, from what I heard you say I guess +you’re show people,” said the lad.</p> + +<p>“Well, we are in what is called the movies +line—yes,” admitted Frank.</p> + +<p>“That’s still better,” declared the boy. +“Here’s the way it is! I want to break into the +business. It’s a new idea and I want a chance +before it gets stale. I was sort of born to the +show line. You see, my father was a lion tamer. +He’s dead now. My uncle is with a menagerie +out West. He settled me in a comfortable home +here, but I just dream all the time about the +show life I know I’d just love. Many a time I’ve +had a mind to go to my uncle, whether he liked it +or not, or run away from here and join a show.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you mustn’t think of doing that,” declared +Frank.</p> + +<p>“I know that,” confessed the lad, naively, “and +that’s why I spoke to you, thinking maybe you +would help me break into the business respectably. +See here, my name is Vic Belton and a letter directed +in care of Mr. Dorsett will reach me by +rural free delivery. If you have a show or are +going to have one, can’t you try and give me a +chance?”</p> + +<p>Frank had to smile. He was constantly running +across ambitious young fellows who saw<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> +nothing but glare and glitter in the movies line—and +wanted to “break into it,” as the lad put it. +Frank in a few words explained some of the cold +facts of the business, which did not seem to make +much impression on his lively auditor.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” said the young fellow, in +an offhand way; “but I may line up right to do +what I want some day. Won’t you give me your +address? I may want to write to you some time.”</p> + +<p>Frank obliged the persistent Vic, telling him +of the Empire at New York City and the possibility +of locating in Boston. Then the surrey was +ready and there was a brisk drive to Woodhill, +where they had to wait nearly three hours for a +train.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when they reached +Boston. It was Frank’s first view of the great +center of culture. Its crooked streets confused +and puzzled him as they walked the short distance +from the station to the Parker House at the +corner of Tremont and School streets, just a +block from the famed Boston Common.</p> + +<p>“We will not be able to do much in the way +of business until to-morrow,” announced the professor +as they were shown to a pleasant room in +the great hostelry. “I want to show you around +the Common in the morning, however. Then we +will map out our programme.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span>Professor Barrington was pretty well tired +out with the excitement and cares of the day. +Frank was glad when he announced that he would +go to bed, as it was then past 10 o’clock.</p> + +<p>“Now for it,” Frank said to himself, following +out an idea he had carried in his mind for several +hours. Frank went to the telephone booth in +the hotel, directing the operator to call up long +distance.</p> + +<p>New York City was the connection he desired, +specifically the hotel at which Professor Barrington +had been a guest. Frank was at the ’phone +for some time and left the booth with animated +step and a bright face. He returned at once to +the room upstairs. The Professor was slumbering +peacefully as a child. Frank closed the door +softly after him and proceeded to lift to a stand +the satchel he had found, and which he had +brought to Boston with him.</p> + +<p>Frank repacked the satchel carefully, wrote an +address on a card and tied it to the handle. Then +he also went to bed. The next morning Frank +was astir early and was dressed before the professor +awoke. The latter blinked at Frank, then +at the satchel.</p> + +<p>“H’m!” he observed. “Disagreeable impression. +That satchel. Mystery, too—clouded. +What you doing with it now?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span>“I am sending it back to the owner, Professor +Barrington,” explained Frank.</p> + +<p>“Why, how can you do that? Do you know +the owner?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” replied Frank. “In the same connection, +I have a very pleasing announcement to +make to you. I have located your own satchel +and expect it will be in your hands safe and sound +again within the next twenty-four hours.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI<br> + +<small>ON BOSTON COMMON</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Professor Barrington</span> jumped to his feet as +though he had received an electric shock. He +fumbled about for his glasses, adjusted them and +then stared at Frank.</p> + +<p>“You can’t mean it, Durham,” he declared, +quaveringly. “The satchel all right? I’m to get +it back?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, I promise that,” returned Frank. +“I didn’t want to bother you, Professor Barrington, +with all you had on your mind. Besides, I +wasn’t sure of my ground until after you had +gone to sleep. I will explain, if you like.”</p> + +<p>“You’ve dazed me,” declared the professor, +sinking to a seat. “I can’t understand it at all.”</p> + +<p>“It is very simple,” stated Frank, but there +was pride in his tone. “You see, what you did +when you left the hotel in New York City was to +pick up a satchel which did not belong to you.”</p> + +<p>“Dear me!” gasped the professor. “Just like<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> +me. I declare! My wits will go wool-gathering +some day and get me into all kinds of trouble. +Stupidity—unutterable!” and the old gentleman +gave his head a sharp crack with his hand.</p> + +<p>“The idea came to me when I found an envelope +in that satchel there,” continued Frank. +“It bore the address of a lady at the hotel you +had just left. I got the hotel on long distance. +Your mistake——”</p> + +<p>“Incalculable blockheadedness!” corrected the +professor.</p> + +<p>“Your mistake,” went on Frank, mildly, “had +already been discovered by the clerk. He did not +know where to reach you, but when I took the +liberty of ’phoning to him as your representative, +we straightened out affairs at once. He will ship +your satchel by the first express. I must get this +one back to its owner.”</p> + +<p>Professor Barrington was moving about the +room briskly when Frank returned, after expressing +the satchel that had gone through so many +adventures. He rubbed his hands together in a +pleased way and beamed on Frank with satisfaction +as he remarked:</p> + +<p>“I’ve been told I ought to have a guardian; you +have proven it, Durham. I declare, it was fortunate +I had you with me. You see, those fellows +who followed us on the train are a desperate lot.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span>“There is no doubt that they are a dangerous +crowd,” assented Frank.</p> + +<p>“And they won’t let us alone now, I’ll warrant,” +observed the professor. “If I didn’t know +I was in such safe and able hands, I believe I’d +call in the police for protection.”</p> + +<p>“There will be no occasion for that, I fancy,” +responded Frank. “I believe as you do that these +men realize that you have an idea of value and +want to steal it from you. That comes up every +day, though, especially in the movies line. Everybody +in that field is trying to get ahead of his +neighbor. We must expect lots of rivalry. Of +course you would know the man you met in New +York City who pretended to be able to help you +in your plans?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, I should recognize him on sight,” +the professor assured Frank. “He knows my +plans, and he knows that the elaborate outline +of its details in my satchel is well worth stealing. +He doesn’t know the main essential of my project, +however.”</p> + +<p>“You mean, Professor?” queried Frank.</p> + +<p>“The big chance there is in getting an ideal +location here in which to start the educational +photo playhouse.”</p> + +<p>“You have got that; have you?” asked Frank, +very much interested.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span>“I certainly have,” replied the professor, with +manifest pride. “I saw at once at the outset that +there might be some difficulty in introducing a +new kind of motion picture feature to the public. +I spent fully two months in deciding as to the +best city. Of course it was Boston.”</p> + +<p>“A very wise choice, I should say,” agreed +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Then I also knew that location was everything. +I devoted days and days to visiting every +section of the city. It was an educational experience +for me and brought me against many practical, +business facts. At one time I fancied I must +locate in a very cultured neighborhood and hire a +prim, eminently respectable hall. Then for a +spell I favored a location near several educational +institutions.</p> + +<p>“It dawned on me, though, that my possible +patrons would be comparatively few in number; +that maybe they had already a surfeit of learning. +So, I decided on one point—it was that if I +couldn’t in some way interest the masses and +popularize my project as an entertainment, I +couldn’t make a lasting success of it.”</p> + +<p>“I think your idea was a good one,” commented +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Durham,” replied the professor, +“and I think a great deal of your good judgment.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> +Well, I finally determined that there was one +best location and that was on Boston Common.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Professor Barrington,” spoke Frank, +“can it be done?”</p> + +<p>“It can,” answered the professor, positively. +“It’s taken some digging to find that out, but I +accomplished what I was after. It is true that +Boston Common is a limited and very exclusive +bit of territory, but it is changing, as all business +centers do, and the quick and ready man with +capital can get his opportunity by watching out +for it and acting quickly when the right time +comes.</p> + +<p>“I’ve brought you down here because I’ve got +to decide on a location within the next two days +or lose my option on a most valuable lease. I +don’t expect you and your people to go into this +thing blindfolded, although you’ve got to act +quickly. I suggest that we fortify ourselves with +a good breakfast. Then I will take you for a +stroll, that will show you the exact situation far +better than I can tell it to you.”</p> + +<p>“That will be fine, Professor Barrington,” +said Frank. “I shall be interested in more ways +than one, as this is my first view of Boston.”</p> + +<p>Everything seemed going so smoothly now that +the professor was as gay as a schoolboy on a +lark. As they reached Tremont street just opposite<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> +the Common, Frank halted involuntarily, +caught by the novelty of the scene. His first +glance singled out several playhouses already located +there. His companion pointed out the Temple, +given over to educational exhibitions, concerts +and the like; a well-known vaudeville theater, +and several popular playhouses.</p> + +<p>“There’s the subway to Cambridge, on Tremont +street,” explained the professor, “and that +is the State House at the far end of the Common. +This is the hub of Boston, just as the city itself +is the ‘Hub of the Universe.’”</p> + +<p>Frank as yet knew little of the city, but he was +quick-witted enough to realize that the professor +had selected a fine location for his enterprise. +The places of entertainment already established, +the presence of the crowds, the general environment +decided Frank, just as it had done when he +had picked out the vacant structure on upper +Broadway in New York City that had become +the best venture of the moving picture chums—the +Empire.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” observed Frank, thoughtfully, “location +is everything. I am at your command, +Professor Barrington, to go through with the +proposition as speedily and thoroughly as possible.”</p> + +<p>“There are two places on the Common that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> +are available,” explained the professor, “although +the fact is not generally known. We will +take in the first one, as it is nearest at hand. +Here we are,” announced the speaker, stepping +to the curb out of the way of passing pedestrians +and halting his companion by his side.</p> + +<p>They faced a narrow building of an old type. +It was not yet open, but the lettering on the windows +apprised Frank of the fact that it was a +large stationers’ supply store.</p> + +<p>“The people here are going to move as soon +as their new building on Washington street is +ready for them,” spoke the professor. “The +place is not yet on the market, but the present +occupants are anxious to transfer their lease.”</p> + +<p>“Why,” remarked Frank, “the place does not +strike me very favorably. It is narrow, it can’t +be of very great depth and would not hold much +of an audience.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I never thought seriously of it,” explained +the professor. “There’s some kind of a +warehouse at the rear goes with it. I just mentioned +it because it is one of the only two places +on the Common where there is the slightest +chance of getting space.”</p> + +<p>“And the other place?” questioned Frank, +who was not at all impressed with the one just inspected.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span>Professor Barrington led the way for about a +square. A double building used as a restaurant +finally faced them. The depth was fair, it showed +plenty of floor space, but, unfamiliar as he was +with the city, Frank did not like the location. +The structure suggested business rather than entertainment. +It was out of the amusement belt.</p> + +<p>“How do you like it?” questioned Professor +Barrington, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“To tell you the truth, it appears sort of lonely +and isolated to me.”</p> + +<p>“But look at the roominess!” urged the professor.</p> + +<p>“That is something; but not everything,” replied +Frank. “The place would have to be remodeled, +and in constructing an attractive entrance +and rounding the stage end so all of the +audience can see the pictures, a good deal of room +must be used up.”</p> + +<p>“You must remember, Durham, that you +might not find as large a space as that again on +the Common within the next ten years. You +see—”</p> + +<p>In the midst of his earnest championship of +his pet location, the professor came to so abrupt +a pause that Frank was startled. His companion +had grasped his arm violently. With his other +hand he pointed at two passing men.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span>“Look—look sharp, Durham,” he whispered +in a low, quick tone, “there’s the man I spoke +about; the fellow I told my scheme to in New +York City.”</p> + +<p>Frank’s glance swept the two persons. The +one nearest to him he recognized at once as the +man who had sat in the same car with them on +the train and who had stolen the satchel.</p> + +<p>It was the companion of this person at whom +the professor was pointing. In a flash Frank +identified this individual.</p> + +<p>“Why,” he said instantly, “that is Slavin!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII<br> + +<small>RIVALS IN ACTION</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Slavin?</span>” exclaimed Professor Barrington, +not understanding Frank’s remark. “Why, in +New York City he told me his name was Taylor.”</p> + +<p>“He was deceiving you,” declared Frank. “If +that is the man who tried to worm your secrets +out of you, all that has happened since we left +New York is easily explained. He is a dangerous +man. I am glad I now know who is at the +bottom of all this mischief. We need not work +in the dark any longer.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean, Durham?” inquired the +professor, curiously.</p> + +<p>“That he is a criminal,” replied Frank, “and +if he troubles us any further I shall hand him over +to the police.”</p> + +<p>“Tell me—” began the professor, but Frank +took his arm and moved along in the direction +pursued by the two men in advance of them.</p> + +<p>“I will explain all this to you later,” he told<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> +his companion rapidly. “I want to see where +those men are bound. They must have just arrived +in the city. I suspect where they are +headed. Yes,” added Frank, “I thought so.”</p> + +<p>“Thought what, Durham?” inquired the professor.</p> + +<p>“They have turned towards our hotel. They +must guess or know that you would put up there. +They have gone inside. We will go in too, Professor +Barrington, but please keep in the background +as much as possible while I try to find out +what they are up to.”</p> + +<p>Without making himself at all conspicuous +Frank soon found out what the precious pair +were doing. He saw them go to the clerk’s desk. +One of them looked over the register. He seemed +to find what he was looking for in the list of +guests and pointed it out to his companion. Then +they left the hotel.</p> + +<p>“We had better get up to our room, Professor,” +suggested Frank, rejoining his friend. +“There is a good deal to talk about.”</p> + +<p>“I should say there was,” replied Professor +Barrington, quite disturbed. “About that man +who told me his name was Taylor—I want you +to explain, Durham. Dear! Dear! The pitfalls +of business that yawn for an innocent old fossil +like myself!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span>“His real name is Slavin,” explained Frank, +as they seated themselves in their room. “He +is a man who has been a sort of brigand and pest +in the movies line for two years. The fellow +has no standing with the good film exchanges and +I fancied he had been forced out of the field +months ago.”</p> + +<p>“He fooled me completely,” declared the professor. +“From what he told me I thought he +was hand in glove with all the big movies men.”</p> + +<p>“You were lucky to get out of his clutches as +easily as you have,” said Frank, “for he is a +crafty swindler. I knew him when we first +started the Airdrome at Riverside Grove. He +had a hold on a poor lad named Dave Sawyer, +whom we rescued from his clutches and who is +now looking after the Airdrome. Slavin got +mad because we were first in securing a lease he +was after. He annoyed us in a dozen mean +ways, shunting a searchlight down into the Airdrome +while an entertainment was going on, and +finally trying to blow us up with dynamite. +When we got the proofs of that he disappeared, +leaving all kinds of unpaid bills behind him.”</p> + +<p>“A regular rascal; eh?” observed the professor. +“If he’s as bad as that, won’t he bother +and harry us?”</p> + +<p>“He won’t be permitted to do that,” replied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> +Frank, decidedly, “for I shall not allow it. +There is no doubt to my way of thinking but +that he is bound to find out how and where you +are going to locate and try and get ahead of you. +I think, too, he dislikes me, so he would be glad +to injure me. Being fully advised of his probable +intentions, I am forewarned. First and +foremost, we must guard against those fellows +discovering where we hope to locate.”</p> + +<p>“They’ll spy on us and follow us,” said the +professor.</p> + +<p>“Then leave it to me to throw them off the +trail,” returned Frank. “The great point in +this plan of yours is the chance of finding a suitable +stand on Boston Common. Can it be done? +If it can, then I feel sure that my partners will +think as I do that your educational film project +is a first-class proposition and that we will be +glad to go in with you.”</p> + +<p>“That is good news,” declared the professor, +his frank face betraying the pleasure and satisfaction +he felt. “As to the location, I’m sorry +you do not look with favor on the ones I had +selected.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t say that,” Frank hastened to explain. +“I am only thinking that there may be +a better one. I always look for the best, and it +may pay us well to search more closely before<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> +we decide on something that only half satisfies +us.”</p> + +<p>“You forget, Durham,” responded the professor, +earnestly, “that I have spent nearly a month +seeking a location. I have visited nearly every +building facing the Common, and have interviewed +owners and agents. I would almost +guarantee that there is not another lease existing +or prospective that could be secured. It took a +deal of inquiry and probing to find out about +the two we have in view.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Frank, “I would like to go over +those two in a thorough way, and I suggest that +I investigate them in detail later in the day.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” was the reply, “in fact +the very thing,” and then the speaker went on +to explain the condition of the two leases and +the terms, with which Frank familiarized himself.</p> + +<p>“When my satchel arrives,” the professor +added, “I want you to see what a splendid programme +I have laid out. Nobody will get ahead +of us as to that, Durham, for it has taken months +to arrange my connections and get up the material +to start with films that are simply wonderful.”</p> + +<p>From the later talk of the professor, Frank was +satisfied that the operating end of the proposition +was no dream. The rarity, nature and variety of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span> +some of the films his companion described quite +enthralled the young leader of the motion picture +chums.</p> + +<p>He was neither uneasy nor alarmed as to the +enmity and plotting of Slavin and his cohorts. +Every inch of the way in his former progress in +the movies line Frank had been called upon to +fight for his rights. Keen wit and straightforward +action had heretofore scored success for +him. He was now ready for a new battle, if +occasion demanded it.</p> + +<p>Frank had every reason for believing that his +enemies would be on the alert to spy on their +movements. They had been baffled in getting +hold of the precious satchel; but a knowledge +of the ideas of Professor Barrington was theirs. +Outwitting a business rival by getting ahead of +him in securing some desirable lease was a favorite +line of tactics for Slavin. He was notorious +for this kind of scheming, generally seeking +to block the plans of the people he was after, +relying on their paying a big bonus to buy him +out.</p> + +<p>Frank was about his business shortly after +luncheon. The satchel had not arrived, and the +professor was so anxious about it that he decided +to remain at the hotel until it came. Frank +was glad of this. He had been put in possession<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> +of all the facts about the leases by his new +friend and had calculated the risk of Slavin or +his emissaries shadowing them. Alone, he knew +he could more easily evade his rivals than if the +slow-going, blundering professor were in his company.</p> + +<p>“I’ll give the big double store fair play,” +Frank decided; “but it isn’t exactly what we +want.” As he approached the place and looked +it over from the outside and took in its entire +environment, he was less in favor of the location +than ever.</p> + +<p>However, he entered the place and inquired for +a Mr. Page. This was the person with whom +the professor had been negotiating. Frank introduced +himself.</p> + +<p>“I had not heard from Professor Barrington +as I expected, and I began to think he had given +up considering us,” said Mr. Page. “In fact, I +felt warranted in looking out for a new tenant. +I have not definitely found one, but several business +firms are figuring on the lease. You know +that the verbal option I gave to the professor expired +yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“I did not know it,” replied Frank, in some +surprise. “The professor must have got confused +in his dates, for he supposes the choice is +open for him for some days to come.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span>“Well, it must be a free chance for everybody +if you do not decide quickly,” announced Mr. +Page in a business-like way. “Will you look +around the place?”</p> + +<p>This Frank did and his inspection was a thorough +one. His past experience was a great +guide to him. A good deal was at stake, Frank +realized. He was able to picture just how the +place would look when transformed. He was +also able to calculate the cost, the opportunities for +improvement, and the conveniences as to light, +heat, ventilation, exits and seating capacity.</p> + +<p>Frank devoted nearly an hour to his investigation. +At the end of that time he informed Mr. +Page that he would see the professor and decide +upon what they would do at once. He came out +upon the street to again look critically over the +exterior. He was thoughtful and serious as he +stood on the edge of the sidewalk taking in the +surroundings.</p> + +<p>“Now for the other place,” soliloquized +Frank, and he passed down the square until he +came to the old stationery store. All the time +he had kept a sharp lookout for Slavin and his +friend. As he entered the store, however, Frank +was satisfied that no one had been following him.</p> + +<p>The interior of the stationery store certainly +was not very inviting, but Frank was not inclined<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> +to form a decision from a superficial inspection. +The store was indeed narrow, as he +had observed in the morning, but Frank had in +view the old warehouse at the rear that the professor +had told him about.</p> + +<p>The proprietor of the place directed him to +this. The present rental was less than half +what the people at the other location asked. +Frank’s eyes took on a speculative expression as, +after crossing a few feet of yard space, he looked +into the building that covered waste room at the +rear of the store.</p> + +<p>“Why, this is simply great!” he told himself +a minute later. “This old building is as big as +a theatre. What a palace paint and gilt could +make of it!”</p> + +<p>Frank had entered the stationery store rather +cool in his views of the location. He came out +of it with some new ideas in his mind. His face +was bright and he walked quickly. As he passed +the first store he had visited he chanced to glance +through its windows.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” he ejaculated. “Slavin and his +friend were earlier birds than I thought.”</p> + +<p>He hurried his steps in the direction of the +hotel, but not until he had fully recognized the +two men inside the store. They were talking +with Mr. Page, its proprietor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span>“They must have seen me go in; they must +have been watching me clear from the hotel,” +mused Frank. “They are after that lease. +Perhaps they are now closing their negotiations.”</p> + +<p>A queer smile crossed Frank’s face. It was +as though some pleasing thought occupied his +mind. Then he said, with satisfaction:</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m going to fool them!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII<br> + +<small>A TRICK OF THE ENEMY</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Frank</span> hurried back to the hotel. A brilliant +picture filled his thoughts, his eyes sparkled, and +the harder he cogitated the more alluring became +the prospect.</p> + +<p>“There never was a chance like it,” he said +almost breathlessly, as he reached the hotel. +“Why! Professor Barrington is not here!” he +added, as he entered their room.</p> + +<p>Frank was about to go downstairs again, counting +on finding his friend in the lobby, when he +noticed a sheet of paper with writing on it lying +across the table in the middle of the room.</p> + +<p>“What’s this, now?” he spoke, picking up +the document and scanning it closely. It read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“I am in serious trouble and wish you to see +me and take some messages to friends. Please +come at once to 22 Burdell Row.”</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span>The scrawl was signed “Aaron Bissell.” It +seemed to Frank that he had heard the professor +refer to a person of that name high up in educational +circles. It appeared as though the message +had called the professor away from the hotel +and that this explained his absence.</p> + +<p>Frank noted that the message had been hurriedly +scrawled and that it had not been folded. +In one corner was the notation in pencil: “Tel. +3:43,” and Frank readily discerned that it had +come over the hotel telephone about fifteen minutes +before.</p> + +<p>“I’ll make sure of that,” he reflected, and he +verified his surmise from the operator downstairs. +There was no valid reason why Frank +should entertain any suspicions. It was natural +that a friend in distress should send for the professor, +who was kind to everybody; still, a memory +of the sly nature of Slavin and his adherents +flashed into Frank’s thoughts. He went to the +clerk at the desk.</p> + +<p>“Do you know if anything came by express +for Professor Barrington to-day?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes—just now,” was the response. +“Is that it?” and the clerk searched in a rack +behind him and produced a satchel with a tag +attached to it.</p> + +<p>Frank noted that it was addressed to his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> +friend, and bore the printed name of the hotel in +New York that he had ’phoned to the evening before. +The clerk pushed the satchel towards him +as if he expected Frank to take it away, but the +latter said:</p> + +<p>“I won’t take it just now; not until I see Professor +Barrington. It would be a great favor to +me if you would place that satchel under special +lock and key, and not deliver it to anybody under +any circumstances except to the professor himself.”</p> + +<p>“It contains something of value, then?” +asked the hotel clerk.</p> + +<p>“Immensely valuable, yes,” responded Frank.</p> + +<p>“I’ll put it in one of the safes, then,” declared +the clerk, and did so.</p> + +<p>Frank went back to his room. He was satisfied +now. If the professor had been called +away to leave the coast clear for some new rascality, +then Slavin and his friends would be disappointed. +Frank’s faint suspicions faded from +his mind as he sat down at a table and began +figuring on a pad of blank paper.</p> + +<p>For an hour he was wrapped in many calculations. +Then he sat back like a person planning +and dreaming. Finally he got to pacing the +floor, his face still wearing an expression of deep +thought.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span>“Hello!” he exclaimed at length, gazing in +surprise at his watch. “Why, here I’ve been +dreaming the time away for nearly two hours. +And it’s strange, with all the interest the professor +has in those leases, that he doesn’t return +or send me some word. I can only wait, though.”</p> + +<p>Frank sat down again at the table, and resumed +his figuring on dimensions and estimates. The +result seemed to please him. A great many +thoughts flashed through his active mind.</p> + +<p>“I’ll do it!” he exclaimed at last, rising to his +feet and putting on his hat. “I’ll send the telegram, +so there may be no delay. I don’t know +how Professor Barrington may take it—perhaps +Mr. Strapp may not come into my ideas; but I +feel I’m right and I’m going ahead on my own +hook.”</p> + +<p>Frank went downstairs and wrote out and dispatched +a telegram to New York City. It was +addressed to Mr. Hank Strapp at the Empire +photo playhouse. Then Frank went out to the +Common, after making sure that no lurking spy +was watching him. When he arrived at the +stationery shop he dodged in quickly.</p> + +<p>It was nearly half an hour later when he reappeared. +Thoughtfulness had given place to a +buoyant, confident manner. Frank snapped his +fingers briskly, and hurried back to the hotel as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> +if he had taken a definite stand on the subject of +his recent cogitations, and had done something +final regarding it.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care much if a dozen Slavins are +watching me now,” he soliloquized. “I’ve +blocked their game for certain.”</p> + +<p>Frank was first impatient, then amazed and +finally anxious as six o’clock arrived and no word +came from his absent friend. His early suspicions +took a more definite form. He finally went +downstairs again and asked the hotel clerk the +location of Burdell Row. He found it to be +about four miles distant, but a street car would +take him there. By this time Frank was worried. +It was strange, he thought, that the professor +should remain away so long when his mind was +so set on the leases they had under consideration.</p> + +<p>Within an hour Frank reached Burdell Row. +It was a narrow, crooked thoroughfare in a poor +section of the city, and lined with cheap stores. +Frank came to No. 22 to find it a low, rickety +building occupied by an ice cream parlor.</p> + +<p>The proprietor, a coarse featured, shabbily +dressed man, was the only person visible through +the grimy front windows. Frank entered the +place and was about to question the man when, +glancing past the straggly strings of curtains festooning +the archway leading to the back room,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> +he descried a familiar form at a table. It was +Professor Barrington.</p> + +<p>“I came about that gentleman,” said Frank, +going straight into the rear room. “Why, he is +asleep.”</p> + +<p>The professor sat in a chair, his eyes closed +and his head leaning over. Frank went up to +him and seized his arm and shook it.</p> + +<p>“Professor—Professor Barrington!” he called +loudly. “Wake up! What does this mean?”</p> + +<p>Frank eyed the proprietor of the place suspiciously +as his friend stirred, mumbled some +meaningless words and sank further down in the +chair.</p> + +<p>“Why, he’s asleep, as you see,” retorted the +man, indifferently.</p> + +<p>“How long has he been here?” inquired +Frank, both suspicious and alarmed now.</p> + +<p>“He came here about three o’clock this afternoon +and asked if a man named Bissell was here. +I told him no; but that a man had been here an +hour before who said that if anybody inquired +for a Mr. Bissell, he was to wait. So this man +took a seat, as you see. In a little while the first +fellow came in again. He talked with this one +here. Then he ordered two glasses of lemonade. +Then he came out. He said the old man was +asleep, that some friends would call for him, but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> +to let him sleep until they came. He gave me a +dollar for the privilege. That’s all I know about +it.”</p> + +<p>Frank doubted this. The speaker had a bad +face and looked sneaking and untruthful. More +than ever did Frank distrust the man. He was +satisfied from the professor’s condition that +something to make him drowsy had been mixed +with the lemonade.</p> + +<p>“I think I see it all,” mused Frank, succeeding +in getting his friend to his feet. He led him +to the street, where the fresh air began to revive +him.</p> + +<p>“Eh? Ah! Why, Durham, have I been +asleep? No, no—I must not leave here,” he resisted, +as Frank strove to move him along. “I +must wait for a friend.”</p> + +<p>“You have waited for him for over four hours +already, Professor,” observed Frank, “and he +has not come, nor will he come——”</p> + +<p>“But I received a telephone message from +Mr. Bissell.”</p> + +<p>“You are mistaken,” insisted Frank. “I have +reason to believe that the person who sent the +message to the hotel, did so to keep you out of +the way until he carried out some new nefarious +scheme to block your educational film project.”</p> + +<p>“Durham!” almost shouted the professor.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> +“You amaze me. You do not mean that that +man who told me his name was Taylor has been +playing a new trick on us?”</p> + +<p>“Just exactly that, I fear,” replied Frank. +“You have certainly been lured away and kept +away from the hotel for some purpose.”</p> + +<p>“Why,” cried the professor, fully roused, “it’s +a new plot to get that satchel!”</p> + +<p>“No, not that,” declared Frank. “The satchel +is all right. It arrived just before I started +in search of you. I got the clerk to place it in +the safe and instructed him to deliver it to nobody +but yourself.”</p> + +<p>“You relieve me greatly, Durham,” declared +the professor. “But what could be the object +of sending me on this fool errand?”</p> + +<p>“I can only guess,” replied Frank, “but I +think our enemies are busy on that lease.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean the big place I’m so anxious +about?” questioned the professor, growing excited +again.</p> + +<p>“Just that,” said Frank, and explained about +being followed by Slavin and his confederate and +about seeing them in the place afterwards.</p> + +<p>The recital had an extraordinary effect upon +Professor Barrington. He became greatly excited +and wrung his hands. Then, noticing a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> +taxicab coming down the street, he ran out in +front of it, heedless of danger.</p> + +<p>“Hi, there!” he shouted; “stop that machine! +Jump in, quick,” he directed Frank, and then to +the man: “Boston Common—and drive for your +life!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX<br> + +<small>A GLOWING PROSPECT</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">It’s</span> ruin! All my fine plans gone for nothing! +Durham, those rascals have outwitted us! +They have got the lease of that place and our +educational film project has tumbled to pieces +like a house of cards!”</p> + +<p>Professor Barrington came bursting out of the +store building into which he had just rushed precipitately, +like a man out of his senses. His +spectacles hung from one ear. With one hand +he clutched a bunch of his sparse hair. His hat +was on awry and he looked as if he had lost his +last friend.</p> + +<p>“Hold on,” said Frank gently, as he caught +hold of the speaker, who seemed about to collapse +from excess of emotion. “See here, you’re +all wrong. Those fellows have fallen into a trap. +I’ve got something ten times better than that lease +and— Help me in with him,” Frank had to appeal +to the driver of the taxicab, for his charge +was swaying to and fro.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>The man jumped out of the machine and got +their burden safely into the seat of the machine. +The professor sank back among the cushions with +a groan. He did not hear or was heedless of +what Frank had said.</p> + +<p>“Drive to the Parker House,” directed the +latter. “He is not able to walk there.”</p> + +<p>The doctored lemonade, his recent excitement +and the shock of disappointment he had sustained, +or all together, had overcome the sensitive savant. +Frank supported him in the seat. When they +got to the hotel he partly roused him.</p> + +<p>“We will get to our room at once,” he suggested. +“I have some good news for you.”</p> + +<p>“Atrocious! Disreputable!” mumbled the +professor, indifferent to everything but the apparent +blasting of all his high ambitions. Frank +managed to guide him into the lobby of the hotel +and thence to the elevator. He got his charge +up to their room. The professor weakly sank +to a couch.</p> + +<p>“I’ll be back as soon as I settle with the +chauffeur,” said Frank, but his friend did not appear +to hear him. He was moving his head from +side to side and mumbling incoherent words, such +as “pick of locations,” “the ideal place gone—gone!”</p> + +<p>Frank paid the chauffeur and came back into<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> +the hotel. He paused at the clerk’s desk long +enough to order a pitcher of ice water for their +room. He was starting for the elevator when a +hearty slap on the back caused him to turn +sharply.</p> + +<p>“Hi, hello!” piped a cheery voice, and there +was Pep Smith, brisk and lively as ever, his face +on a broad grin.</p> + +<p>“I had to bring him along, Durham,” spoke +Mr. Strapp, extending his hand to his favorite.</p> + +<p>“You bet he did!” cried Pep. “Why, as +soon as that telegram came saying ‘All right,’ I +told Mr. Strapp you had run against something +big or you would never have wired so soon. We +were at the depot inside of ten minutes and just +caught the fast train.”</p> + +<p>“Is it ‘All right,’ Durham?” inquired the ex-ranchman, +showing more curiosity than doubt, +as to the judgment of his young business associate.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Strapp,” replied Frank animatedly, “it’s +more than all right. It’s so good that I couldn’t +take the risk of any delay. If I am not mistaken +I have stumbled across one of those chances +that come around about once in a lifetime.”</p> + +<p>“Say, what is it?” pressed the excitable Pep, +fairly wriggling with suspense.</p> + +<p>“There’s something to tell before we get down<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> +to the real kernel of the proposition,” explained +Frank. “Come up to the room and I’ll unfold +my story. It has been quite an exciting one.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t say so!” observed the Westerner. +“Our wise old friend been making you some +trouble?”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit of it,” dissented Frank, “but other +people have. You remember that fellow Slavin, +who nearly put us out of business at Riverside +Grove?”</p> + +<p>“Hello!” exclaimed Pep. “Has he bobbed +up again?”</p> + +<p>“I should think he had,” replied Frank, and +as they went upstairs, he recited briefly the eventful +history of the missing satchel. Mr. Strapp +looked pretty grim and his firm mouth set in a +stern way. Pep’s fists worked as though he was +ready and anxious for a fight.</p> + +<p>“And you outwitted the miserable schemers +after all; eh?” asked Mr. Strapp, as Frank told +of his long distance message to New York.</p> + +<p>“Yes, the satchel is here safe and sound,” replied +Frank. “That hasn’t squelched Slavin, +though. Come in,” he added, for they had +reached the door of the room.</p> + +<p>Professor Barrington lay on the couch with +his eyes closed. He was apparently asleep. +Frank ranged some chairs at the other end of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> +the apartment and beckoned his friends to seats.</p> + +<p>“Professor Barrington has just had a pretty +bad shaking up,” Frank told them. “He must +be weak and exhausted after the shock. I don’t +think he had better be disturbed, and I will have +an opportunity to tell you the rest of my story.”</p> + +<p>Frank had left off at a recital of his starting +out that morning to decide upon a location. He +now told of the plot to trap the professor and +keep him out of the way until Slavin and his +fellow schemers got ahead of him, as he supposed.</p> + +<p>“My! All that would make a regular motorphoto +film,” broke in Pep.</p> + +<p>“It makes me furious,” exclaimed Mr. +Strapp—“to think that honest people are to be so +pestered by such riff-raff! I have a good mind to +hand this Slavin fellow over to the police on the +charge of blowing us up at the Grove.”</p> + +<p>“His associates would go right on with their +plans, just the same,” said Frank. “They think +they have got ahead of us.”</p> + +<p>“Why, it looks so; doesn’t it?” observed the +Westerner in a rather sober tone.</p> + +<p>“It looks that way; but it isn’t,” answered +Frank, a twinkle of confidence in his eye. “The +big double store was never the place for a first-class +show—I saw that at a glance.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span>“But—being the only one?” suggested Mr. +Strapp.</p> + +<p>“Not at all,” was Frank’s confident reply.</p> + +<p>“Why, you said the other store was so narrow +it wouldn’t allow for four rows of seats.”</p> + +<p>“Just that,” returned Frank, rather enjoying +the perplexity of his friends. “But you see +that was the professor’s point of view. This +morning I made a discovery. The people who +occupy the stationery shop have a lease as well of +a big building at the rear. It almost connects +with the shop. There is just a narrow passageway, +and then you are in a great structure nearly +fifty by one hundred and fifty feet. It’s been used +as a warehouse. Look here.”</p> + +<p>Frank took up from the table the sheets of +paper he had been figuring and sketching on +half the afternoon. He showed one which reproduced +in diagram the space covered by the +lease. Then he held up the columns of figures +on the other sheets.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Strapp,” he said, “I have figured it all +out. We get that big building almost thrown +in. It will make the finest auditorium you ever +saw, as it will seat over five hundred people. +Paint, gilt and other improvements will make it +a playhouse. It’s away from the noise and crush +of the street.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span>“Yes, that’s all right, and it’s a dream; but +what about the store space?”</p> + +<p>“We will make a foyer and entrance of it,” declared +Frank, growing enthusiastic as he painted +the picture of his imagination.</p> + +<p>“Think of it—the finest, roomiest entrance in +Boston! Not a little box of a place, where people +crowd and crush one another, but a beautifully +tiled and decorated room. It will be dazzling +with electric lights. The walls, frescoed, will +be covered with pictures. There will be chairs, +settees, comfort and elegance. We will have +vases of real flowers set on graceful stands. Our +patrons can rest, chat, fill their souls with their +beautiful surroundings, waiting for the dispersing +crowd to make room for them. We can +make of the outside the most attractive front of +any place of entertainment on Boston Common.”</p> + +<p>Frank paused in his description as Mr. Strapp +gave him a nudge. He turned quickly to observe +that Professor Barrington had arisen from the +couch. The old man, it seemed, had heard all +that had been said. His eyes were eager, his +face was flushed and his lips were parted in a delighted +smile.</p> + +<p>“Durham,” he said, “you’ve saved the day. +It’s like a dream!”</p> + +<p>“Which we are going to make come true,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> +cried Mr. Strapp, springing to his feet and waving +his hand excitedly. “Durham, you’re a +wizard, and we’re going to have the finest photo +playhouse in the world!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X<br> + +<small>FIRE</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">There</span> was never anything like it in the movies!” +exclaimed Randy Powell, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>“It can’t be beat,” echoed the excited Pep +Smith. “We’re up at the top—we can’t get +any higher.”</p> + +<p>“When this playhouse is all done and the electric +lights on—say, it will be a real fairyland!” +continued Randy.</p> + +<p>“And to think of the poor back country Wonderland +we started with less than two years ago,” +said Pep. “It’s like a dream—all of it.”</p> + +<p>“Then don’t wake me up!” begged Randy.</p> + +<p>He and Pep stood just within the great building +at the rear of the former stationery store +fronting Boston Common.</p> + +<p>How swiftly the time had passed since the day +Mr. Strapp and Pep had arrived in the city in +answer to the urgent wire from Frank Durham, +his lively lieutenants had not realized until the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> +present moment. The events crowded into a +few weeks’ time ran through Pep’s active mind +as swiftly as an unwinding film.</p> + +<p>Frank had soon convinced his friends that +he had not overestimated the value of the new +location. “Right on the nail head” the impetuous +Mr. Strapp had paid down a sum to +bind the lease. When Frank had shown them +what capital, taste and art could do, they mentally +saw the old warehouse structure transformed +into a veritable palace.</p> + +<p>And to that end work had been promptly begun. +The stationer moved out at the end of ten +days and the front of the store building was +boarded up. The motion picture chums made no +public announcement of their intention. Everything +was done on a carefully thought out plan.</p> + +<p>It cost money to obtain the services of a skilled +architect and builder, but the partners knew they +would get good results from the investment. +The outside houses of the amusement company +were put on a basis of independent operation, +with agents in charge. The Empire was too well-paying +a proposition to drop, and it continued to +be their official headquarters.</p> + +<p>For all that, however, the main interest was +centered on the new educational film project. +Randy and Pep, with Ben Jolly, who had joined<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> +the main party, were in love with it. There were +many initial steps to take. The details employed +all hands busily and Hal Vincent was called to +New York and a capable movies man substituted +for him at Seaside Park. Jolly, Randy and Pep +would be needed at Boston when the new photo +playhouse was opened.</p> + +<p>“It’s going to be a permanent thing, if I don’t +miss my guess,” Mr. Strapp had declared. “The +lads are aching to rummage around the new show. +Let ’em do it, Durham, and get acquainted with +it and the city generally. To my way of thinking +this is going to be a high-toned sort of proposition. +Let the boys get the Boston flavor—see?”</p> + +<p>So arrangements were made for a suite of +rooms at a cheaper hotel than the Parker House. +Daily the new venture took on form and substance. +It was delightful to see the “Standard” +grow. That was the name Mr. Strapp had picked +out after meditating for nearly a whole day.</p> + +<p>“There may be a better one,” Frank told +Randy; “but Mr. Strapp feels proud over his selection +and we must let him have his way.”</p> + +<p>Professor Barrington was probably the happiest +man alive; at least he declared he was. He +proved how little he knew of business methods +by signing the partnership contract without even<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> +looking at it. Then when Frank insisted that +he should read it over, his face beamed with confidence +and delight.</p> + +<p>“It’s too fair on my side,” he declared. “I +knew you were the right kind and I find you are +the very best kind. Thanks, and I’ll deserve all +you are doing for me.”</p> + +<p>All the professor asked was to be told the date +on which the Standard would open. His mind +became engrossed with his own particular section +of the project. No one intruded any bothersome +details upon his thoughts. He was expected +to get his many correspondents ready to +send in the special films he had ordered and think +up new subjects.</p> + +<p>Of his ability to do this there was not the +slightest doubt in the minds of his associates, +after the eager enthusiast had opened up the +treasures of that wonderful satchel of his. It +was a marvelous evening for all, upon which he +did this.</p> + +<p>It was not what the professor had to show +ready for use that comprised the essence of his +scheme. It was what he could get. There was +scarcely a subject—educational, classical or historical—that +he had not covered in the tabulation +he had prepared of interesting themes that +would appeal to the public.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span>“It’s just—compelling!” declared Randy Powell. +“Wise old fellow! He’s got a programme +that will fascinate an audience from a four-year +old boy up to a centenarian.”</p> + +<p>“Say, I’ve got a new idea myself,” broke in +Pep, but Randy squelched him by proceeding:</p> + +<p>“It’s the wonders of nature features that are +going to win. Why, it looks as if the professor +had just slashed up the map of the world, figured +out what each section had that was odd and +wonderful, and set his agents at work to produce +results.”</p> + +<p>“You see, this scheme of mine is a big idea +for opening night,” persisted Pep.</p> + +<p>“Oh, bother!” shrugged his comrade. “This +is no cheap nickel business to fool with.”</p> + +<p>“Huh!” returned Pep. “Maybe you don’t +know what I’m thinking about.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, tell it,” said Randy.</p> + +<p>“No. I won’t now. I guess I’ve got some +brains. And I’ve got a big thought. You sha’n’t +even have a hint of it. I’ll tell Mr. Strapp—I +bet he’ll encourage me.”</p> + +<p>“If there’s a wild horse of the plains in it +you’ll catch him—sure!” remarked the mischievous +Randy.</p> + +<p>Pep nursed a grudge against Randy all one +day for snubbing him so. If he went on with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> +his “big thought,” he did not tell his comrade. +However, Pep forgot any rancor he might have +harbored as greater things coming along turned +the current of his thoughts.</p> + +<p>The two young friends fancied they had +reached the height of their ambition the afternoon +that opens the present chapter. Mr. Strapp +was at their hotel auditing some bills. Ben Jolly +was touring the local music houses looking for +a pipe organ and a piano for the Standard. +Frank had gone to New York the evening previous +to visit the Empire. He was also to meet +Professor Barrington, who was getting his films +in order.</p> + +<p>The workmen had just left the building they +were reconstructing. Randy had a key to the +rough door set into the slanting board front. +He and Pep had wandered about the place taking +in its details.</p> + +<p>It would take another week to complete the +decorations of the entrance, but enough had been +done to show what it would look like. An +exquisite tiling had been laid, handsome chandeliers +set in place and the ceiling had been arched. +The effect aimed at was that of a brilliant, roomy +space suggesting a big reception room.</p> + +<p>The rear wall of the store had been torn +away and the fifteen-foot space behind it built<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> +over so as to join the warehouse. The latter had +been turned into a spacious auditorium. The +stage and its surroundings were handsome and +massive and the fresco work on the walls was the +finest that money could produce. The floor +had been inclined so that there was not a poor +viewpoint in the house. The folding seats, piled +up ready to set in place, were comfortable, and +broad and deep as easy chairs. The floor was +covered with a tinted canvas cloth that deadened +the sound of persons moving about.</p> + +<p>“Well, this part of the show is pretty nearly +done,” remarked Pep. “Mr. Strapp tells the +truth when he boasts of this as the finest photo +playhouse in America.”</p> + +<p>“I’d like to stay a whole hour looking it over,” +said Randy, “but it’s getting dusk. Come, we’ll +get to the hotel and tell Mr. Strapp what we +think of it.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder what that Slavin crowd think of +our doings?” remarked Pep, curiously. “Of +course they know what we’re up to.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Randy, “I heard Frank say +there was no doubt of that. They’ve found no +way to bother us, though, so far. Frank says +they’ve got their hands full with their own affairs.”</p> + +<p>“How do you mean?” asked Pep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span>“About fixing up their place. They’ve had a +fight with the city building department about fire +regulations, exits and all that. Then they’ve +discovered what Frank, our clever Frank, saw +the first thing—that the place was too broad and +shallow to make a roomy auditorium. They’ve +got to make it still more shallow if they have +any kind of a decent front.”</p> + +<p>“Say, talking about exits, no trouble here; eh, +Randy?”</p> + +<p>“I should say not. There couldn’t be a safer +playhouse,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>It had already pleased Frank and the others +to have the city inspector compliment them on the +splendid arrangements for the safety of the audience. +On two sides there were vacant spaces. +At the rear there was a roofed-over building only +one story high. A part of this structure was +used for storage purposes. The rest of it was +a day garage. This accommodated the automobiles +of persons who did business in the vicinity.</p> + +<p>The Standard had doors all around two sides +which would slide back by the mere turning of a +lever, which opened as many as twenty immediate +avenues to the outer air at one time. In case of +fire the audience could disperse through the garage<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> +space or the side courts, and the house could +be emptied in less than two minutes.</p> + +<p>The upper part of the doors had a small sash +set in. Several of these near the rear were now +open. The workmen had adjusted them thus +to carry out the close air, pungent with turpentine, +and dry with paint.</p> + +<p>“All right,” spoke Pep, reluctantly, turning to +leave by the street entrance. He cast a last look +about the place. Then he started and sniffed the +air.</p> + +<p>“Why, Randy!” he cried. “It smells like +burning wood.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” asked his comrade, sharply.</p> + +<p>“Say—” and Pep’s tones seemed sharpened by +alarm, “there’s smoke coming in through those +windows. Worse—look! Oh, Randy, <i>it’s fire</i>!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI<br> + +<small>THE HERO FRIEND</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Gracious!</span>” cried Randy. “See! See! +Flames!”</p> + +<p>Both boys ran to the rear of the place. A puff +of smoke had entered the open window of the +last door. Then there came a tongue of flame—fierce, +devouring—then more smoke.</p> + +<p>Pep uttered a shrill cry—half moan, half sob. +His vivid imagination depicted the splendid playhouse +going up in flames. He was trembling all +over as he approached the open sash. He tried +to look out, but a great cloud of dense black smoke +drove him back, choked and blinded.</p> + +<p>“It’s a real blaze!” shouted Randy. He had +stuck his head through a window farther from +the rear. He saw that the garage was all ablaze, +the flames leaping towards the rear wall of the +playhouse.</p> + +<p>In an instant Randy guessed that oil or gasoline +stored in the shed had become ignited.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span>“Fire! Fire!” he yelled at the top of his +voice, dashing toward the street. “Follow me,” +he called to Pep. “There’s no good staying +here. Send in an alarm!”</p> + +<p>Pep paid no heed to the words. By the time +Randy had reached the entrance lobby and was +half-way down its length, his comrade had run +to the lever operating the side exit doors. He +gave this a turn. Then he dashed outside.</p> + +<p>Pep headed for the rear of the playhouse to +see how far the fire had progressed. Turning the +corner of the building a great quantity of water +struck him in the face.</p> + +<p>It drove him back and he dodged out of range. +In half a second, however, there came a drenching +shower. Then it turned from him again, and Pep +descried the cause of the flood.</p> + +<p>Half-way down the vacant space between the +garage and the playhouse, stood a boy. He held +in his hand the nozzle of a large hose, connected +with a water plug farther away.</p> + +<p>The lad was shielding his eyes with one arm +and bending over as smoke and cinders enveloped +him. He staggered back as a sheet of flames +swept over him. Resolutely, even defiantly, however, +he maintained his position.</p> + +<p>He would direct the hose at the flaming garage. +Then he would sweep the stream around. This<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> +was why its cascade had showered Pep. Then +the boy would shoot the torrent up and down and +across the wall of the playhouse. This was +blistered with the heat, and smoking.</p> + +<p>Some projecting timbers were ablaze. He +extinguished these, turned the stream back of +him and directed it towards the garage. There, +however, the blaze was too fierce—had gained +too strong a headway to subdue. In fact, the lad +seemed more anxious to protect the playhouse +than the sheds.</p> + +<p>“Oh! will he make it? Why don’t somebody +come? Fire! Fire!” screamed Pep frantically, +and then from the rear of the buildings fronting +on the Common their occupants began to pour. +Randy must have acted quickly, Pep realized, for +he heard clanging bells in the distance.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the boy with the hose staggered as +a dense cloud of smoke enveloped him. Pep +saw him fall, the hose dropping from his hand. +Pep ran to where he lay and dragged him out +of range of the leaping flames. He darted at +the hose, lifted it and began playing the water +on the rear of the playhouse, now burning in +half a dozen places.</p> + +<p>“If they’d only hurry!” he gasped. “I can’t +stand this!”</p> + +<p>Pep was obliged to stand to one side as the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> +end of the garage was now a mass of flames. The +wooden wall of the playhouse would smoulder, +then it would blaze up. All Pep could do was to +play the stream of water against this.</p> + +<p>A great uproar rang through the vacant space +alongside the garage shed. Amid shouts and +orders the groups crowding from the rear doors +of the surrounding buildings drew back, as a +dozen helmeted firemen came dragging a hose +through one of the stores. Pep sprang out of +the way as a great rush of water came shooting +from a nozzle. It drenched him from head to +foot and almost carried him off his feet. Then +the stream was steadied and played upon the +burning shed.</p> + +<p>Pep continued his efforts against the playhouse +wall. He felt a thrill of hope as the dousing +extinguished the blazing timbers and they +did not relight. For two seconds the big hose +was played across the wall. This dashed out +farther danger to the playhouse and the firemen +began to fight the blaze in the garage shed.</p> + +<p>“It’s safe—it won’t burn!” quavered Pep. +“And that boy—he did it! You brave fellow!” +he cried, running up to the strange lad.</p> + +<p>The latter had by this time gotten to his feet. +While he rubbed his eyes, supporting himself +by leaning against the show building, he swayed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> +to and fro. In his excitement and gratitude Pep +put his arms around him and almost hugged him.</p> + +<p>The strange boy gazed at Pep blinkingly. +Then rubbing the cinders from his eyes he took +in the scene about him. He uttered a glad cry.</p> + +<p>“The theatre’s all right; isn’t it?” he asked. +“That’s all I care for.”</p> + +<p>“What?” stammered Pep, opening his eyes +wide at this manifestation of interest in the Standard.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you see I know the fellows who own +it. They’re friends of mine—that is, I hope +they are.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, is that so?” observed Pep, wonderingly. +“You mean Mr. Strapp.”</p> + +<p>“Who’s he? No, I don’t know him. It’s +Frank Durham whom I know, and Professor +Barrington. Say, look at the fire, I reckon they’ll +save the storage house yonder; but the garage +and shed are gone. They’ve got it under control +now. Heigho! There goes my lodging—my +supper, too, if I don’t see Mr. Ridge, the man +who runs the garage.”</p> + +<p>“Why, what do you mean?” asked Pep.</p> + +<p>“I’ve been working there. It wasn’t much of +a job; but you see I was waiting for Frank Durham—”</p> + +<p>The speaker shook himself as if to get the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> +chill out of his limbs. He pulled off his coat and +began wringing out the soaked sleeves.</p> + +<p>“Br-r-r!” he shivered, as the coarse cloth +grazed a seared and blistered hand, “that hurts.”</p> + +<p>Pep caught hold of the lad’s arm, his face full +of sympathy.</p> + +<p>“See here,” he said, “you’re hurt and chilled. +You’re a hero; do you know it? You’ve saved +Our beautiful playhouse——”</p> + +<p>“Who played that hose?” demanded a hoarse +voice, and looking up the boys faced a tall fireman +wearing a silver badge of office on his white +rubber coat.</p> + +<p>“This boy did,” Pep hastened to reply.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” explained the strange lad, “you +see the hose is always attached to wash the mud +off the machines. I sort of hang around here +and have been sleeping in the office for two nights. +I don’t know how the fire started; but when I +came out some rags soaked with cylinder oil were +ablaze. I did what I could.”</p> + +<p>“What you did saved that theatre building,” +announced the battalion chief. “If that frame +end there had got blazing—good-bye to the whole +block, maybe. You’d make a good fireman, son.”</p> + +<p>“You come with me,” said Pep, grasping the +arm of the lad firmly.</p> + +<p>“Why, what for?” inquired the boy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span>“To get dry clothes—to be made just as comfortable +as can be—to give me and my friends +a chance to show you what we think of the fellow +who has saved our beautiful new playhouse!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII<br> + +<small>AN AMAZING STATEMENT</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Shake!</span>” spoke bluff Hank Strapp,—then, +quite as expansively—“and shake again!”</p> + +<p>It was the lad who had saved the Standard +from destruction to whom the genial Westerner +spoke. The hero of the hour had been taken in +tow by Pep from the moment that the latter was +assured that the photo playhouse was safe. +Randy had seen to the closing up of the place. +Then he had become second pilot in the march +to the hotel.</p> + +<p>The honest-faced, wonder-eyed youth whom +they ushered impetuously in upon Mr. Strapp +had not resisted their urging. Perhaps he had +not possessed much power of resistance after his +fire-fighting experience.</p> + +<p>“You’re sort of drifting me along; aren’t +you?” he had observed, with a quaint smile. +“I don’t know where; but if you’re friends of +Frank Durham, and I guess you are, it’s all +right.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span>Pep’s mind was in a turmoil over this repetition +of the name of the young movies leader. The +strange boy seemed to know no other. To him +it appeared to be one to conjure by. Pep was +devoured with curiosity as to how this poorly +dressed refugee, working at odd jobs and sleeping +in a garage, could know Frank.</p> + +<p>Unceremoniously the chums ushered their companion +into the presence of Mr. Strapp at the +hotel. The Westerner stared hard at Pep, whose +attire was disordered, and then at the strange lad, +who resembled a half-drowned rat.</p> + +<p>“Well, what’s all this?” he demanded, and +Pep burst out in a breezy account of what had +happened at the Standard. It was then that the +impulsive ex-ranchman sprang to his feet, seized +the hand of the visitor and gave it a grasp that +made the latter wince, accompanying the welcome +with the hearty words: “Shake—and shake +again!”</p> + +<p>“You sit down,” said Randy, urging their +guest to the softest chair in the room. “Mr. +Strapp, he’s dead beat after that bout, I guess, +and he’s soaked through. Look at that hand—all +blistered, too. If you’ll tell me where your +baggage is, I’ll go and bring you a change.”</p> + +<p>The stranger startled his auditors with a laugh +that made the echoes ring.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>“Baggage?” he repeated, and he chuckled. +“Change? Why, I never had more than one suit +of clothes in my life, and that a poor one. I only +brought a couple of shirts and some handkerchiefs +with me to Boston, and they’re burned up +in the fire.”</p> + +<p>“Here, Randy!” broke in Mr. Strapp—taking +some money from his pocket. “You take this +young friend of ours in hand. Mend him up, +dress him up and bring him back here. I want +to get better acquainted with you, young man. +Let me see—what’s your name?”</p> + +<p>“Vic Belton,” was the prompt reply. “I come +from Home Farm. That was where I met Frank +Durham. And Professor Barrington. It was +when the train was wrecked——”</p> + +<p>“Why, I know—I remember!” cried Pep. +“Frank told us about that. You’re the boy +who wanted to join the movies.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” nodded Vic gravely, “I’m here to +break into the show business.”</p> + +<p>Randy and Pep took the young fellow in +charge, and at the end of an hour they reappeared +before Mr. Strapp. The latter stared +hard, for a transformation had indeed taken +place. Attired in a neat suit, brushed up and +cleaned up, Vic Belton appeared like quite another<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> +person. The expression of Mr. Strapp’s +face showed how greatly he was pleased.</p> + +<p>“After supper you’ll tell us something; eh, Vic +Belton?” he remarked, and he linked the arm of +their young guest into his own as they proceeded +to the dining room of the hotel.</p> + +<p>Vic was a puzzle to Pep. The boy simply followed +where he was led, seeming to have sublime +confidence in his new friends. He made no demur +nor resistance to their guidance. In a +pleased way he put himself completely in their +hands. It was after he had dispatched what was +probably the first hotel meal he had ever sat +down to, that he made the observation:</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what I’ve fallen into; but you’re +treating me fine.”</p> + +<p>“There was no insurance on the Standard,” +remarked Mr. Strapp, pointedly. “I reckon +we’re going to adopt you, son.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I need it,” remarked Vic, so artlessly +that Pep had to laugh. “No folks, no home—I’d +be glad.”</p> + +<p>They all had to smile. It was plain to be seen +that the boy was without guile.</p> + +<p>“You see,” he continued, “when Frank Durham +saw me down at the farm I told him how +I was sort of born to the show business and +wanted to break into it. He gave me his New<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span> +York address; but advised me to stick to the +farm.”</p> + +<p>“Which in a general way is good advice; +don’t you think, Vic?” asked Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p>“Not when a fellow hates farming and hears +the call of the show business,” dissented Vic, in +his plain, matter-of-fact way. “These two best +fellows in the world and Durham himself +branched out; didn’t they? Then why not me?”</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” agreed Pep. “There’s an argument +for you, Mr. Strapp.”</p> + +<p>“Well, something came up and I wrote to the +Empire in New York City,” went on Vic, “and +whoever got the letter wrote back that Mr. Durham +was in Boston, at the Parker House. Then +I came here, day before yesterday. They told me +at the hotel that he had moved here. The clerk +here said he was in New York. I found out he +was going to run the Standard, so I hung around +there a bit. Then the man running the garage +gave me a job. I took it until Mr. Durham got +back, to take me into his show.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you think he will do that; do you?” +grinned Pep, carried off his feet by the amazing +confidence this odd boy had in his friends and +prospects.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know he will,” declared Vic, with assurance. +“You see, when he talked to me I was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> +only a poor farm boy, anxious to get away from +haymows and turnips. Then something came +along—something amazing.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” inquired Pep, his curiosity +aroused.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes. You see, when I talked to Mr. Durham +I had nothing—no money, no property, no +prospects.”</p> + +<p>“And it’s different now; is it?” questioned +Pep, wondering what was coming next.</p> + +<p>“I should say so!” exclaimed Vic. “I don’t +come to Mr. Durham now, though, asking him +to pull me along like a helpless raw recruit. No, +sir. I can help him, I can.”</p> + +<p>“Well, well, here’s an original one,” murmured +the amused Westerner.</p> + +<p>Randy puckered his lips. Pep grew big-eyed +at viewing the boy who slept in a shed yet talked +with the confidence of a millionaire.</p> + +<p>“How do you mean help him, Vic?” inquired +Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p>“Well, I can lend him some money—put in +some capital, I suppose you call it. Say, you’re +laughing,” Vic interrupted himself to say, but +solemn as a judge. “That’s all right. I know +it must seem funny to you to hear this kind of +talk, when I haven’t got enough in real cash to +buy a meal. But I never tell a lie. I’ve got<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> +some capital—quite a heap of it. It’s in property—not +money; but it can soon be changed into +money.”</p> + +<p>“How much, now?” insinuated the interested +ex-ranchman.</p> + +<p>“Well, maybe several thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Whew!” ejaculated Pep. “That’s a pile for +a boy.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” went on Vic, earnestly, “it is for +a fact. When I first found it out I was stunned. +But, I’ve got it. It’s too big, that property, to +carry around with me; but it’s mine, just the +same. It’s value. It can be sold.”</p> + +<p>“Say, what is this property of yours?” fairly +exploded Pep, consumed with curiosity.</p> + +<p>“Four camels,” replied Vic Belton, calmly.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII<br> + +<small>THE SHIPS OF THE DESERT</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pep Smith</span> had never before seen a boy who +owned camels. It was such a big thought that +he was at a loss what to say. He stared at the +extraordinary youth before him.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I own four camels,” repeated Vic Belton, +as evenly as if he had said that he owned a +pocketknife.</p> + +<p>“It sounds like a fairy story,” said Randy +Powell as he glanced quickly at Mr. Strapp to +see how he took it. The Westerner sat with his +eyes fixed on Vic. He was studying him curiously. +However, he made no comment.</p> + +<p>“What kind of camels?” suddenly burst out +Pep. “Real camels—live ones?”</p> + +<p>“Awfully alive,” replied Vic, promptly. +“Guess you’d think so if you knew some of their +doings when they get on a rampage.”</p> + +<p>“Where are these animals you speak of?” +asked Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span>“Either at Wardham, a little town in Connecticut, +or on their way there.”</p> + +<p>“How?” inquired Pep.</p> + +<p>“On a train, of course,” was the reply; “for +they came clear from the Pacific Coast. You see, +it’s this way: My dead father was a circus man. +So was my uncle. It was Uncle Gregory who +put me in charge of Mr. Dorsett at Home Farm. +He’s sort of looked after me for the last two +years. Well, just a week ago I got a letter I +didn’t expect. It was from Bill Purvis.”</p> + +<p>“Who’s Bill Purvis?” queried Pep, almost +breathlessly, so immersed was he in the outcome +of Vic’s narrative.</p> + +<p>“Bill is an old menagerie roustabout,” explained +Vic. “He used to be with my father. +Afterwards he was Uncle Gregory’s handy man. +No one could ever keep Bill straight except those +two. Well, Bill had got someone to write me the +letter I’m telling you about, for he can’t write +himself. The letter told me that Uncle Gregory +was dead and buried and the show he was with +had broken up. They divided the animals and +their traps among the people they owed for salaries. +Besides that, my uncle had a lot of money +invested, so he got the camels for his share.”</p> + +<p>“And you say that this uncle of yours is dead +now?” inquired Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span>“Yes, sir,” replied Vic. “He died right after +he got the camels. It seems he had told Bill just +what to do before he died. It was to take them +East, as there wasn’t any market for camels on +the Coast. Maybe there isn’t any here—I don’t +know, and Bill didn’t know. He wrote me, +though, that he had raised enough money to pay +for the transportation of the camels to Wardham. +He wrote, too, that a few miles from there +a distant relative of his, named Wright, had a +farm. His idea was to stake the camels there +until he could look around and take his time finding +a good place to keep them.”</p> + +<p>“Has he got there with the camels yet?” +asked Randy.</p> + +<p>“I think he has. I was to join him there, but +I had a row getting away from Mr. Dorsett at +Home Farm. He said that my uncle owed him +some money for my education. Humph! I +never got any at that dead old place. I had no +money and Wardham was a long way off. So I +tramped it to Boston after I found that Frank +Durham was here.</p> + +<p>“You see, Frank Durham is mighty smart. I +know he feels friendly towards me and I was going +to ask him to stake me to go down and join +Bill Purvis. Then I wanted Mr. Durham to help<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> +me sell the camels. Then I was going to buy +into your show here—see?”</p> + +<p>The earnestness of the speaker made Mr. +Strapp smile. Then, too, a pleased expression +crossed his bronzed face. The ex-ranchman was +fond of boys and the sincerity of Vic appealed to +his rugged nature.</p> + +<p>“See here, Vic,” he said, “you tell a clear +story and I can see you are straight. Besides +that, we owe you a lot for this fire business down +at the Standard. We can’t do too much for you. +I think Durham and the professor will be here to-night; +but they may possibly be detained in New +York City over to-morrow. So, if you are at all +anxious to go to Wardham and see about your +camels, you can draw what money you want +from me.”</p> + +<p>“Why, thank you, sir,” replied Vic; “but I +think I’ll wait. You see, I’ve sort of set my +mind on seeing Frank Durham and getting his +advice. You’re all the finest people I ever ran +across; but I know him best. If you’ll take my +note against those camels for a dollar or so till +I see Mr. Durham, I’ll be obliged to you. I’ll +have to hunt up somewhere to sleep to-night, you +know, for I’d muss up these nice clothes bunking +in at the old garage, even if there’s any place +there left to sleep in.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span>“Well, you are an original and no mistake!” +cried the ex-ranchman, with a laugh. “No, no, +my young friend—you can have a hundred dollars +if you want it and free gratis for nothing; +but we’ll not let a fellow with a ten thousand +dollar quartet of camels go bunking around hit +or miss. You’ll stay right here with the rest +of us. And if I don’t miss my guess Durham +will find a place to work you into at the Standard.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Strapp proceeded to lay down the law, as +he called it, in his pleasant way. Vic was to stay +at the hotel. He suggested to Pep that he take +the boy in tow and show him something of the +town.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to do that,” said Vic. “I’ve never +seen but two moving picture shows. I’d like to +see some more.”</p> + +<p>“You come with me, then,” suggested Pep, +and he beckoned to Randy to join them. The +boys put on their caps and started to leave the +room. They had just got to the elevator, Pep +chattering in his usual way, when the elevator +door swung back and Randy uttered a cry:</p> + +<p>“It’s Frank—and Professor Barrington!”</p> + +<p>“Hello!” exclaimed the former as he recognized +Vic, and gazed in some surprise at his natty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> +appearance. “Why, how do you come to be +here?”</p> + +<p>“You’re glad to see me; aren’t you?” asked +Vic wistfully, fixing his appealing eyes on Frank.</p> + +<p>“So glad,” replied the young leader of the +motion picture chums, with a hearty handshake, +“that I want to know right away all about you. +Professor Barrington, you remember our young +friend of the railroad smash-up?”</p> + +<p>“H’m—surely,” nodded the professor, after an +inspection of Vic. “Looks older; don’t he?”</p> + +<p>“That’s because I’ve got a new suit, and it +fits, you see,” replied Vic, naively.</p> + +<p>“Say,” broke in Pep, as they moved towards +their rooms, “Vic saved the Standard from burning +up this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” demanded Professor Barrington. +Then as Pep related the circumstances of +the blaze, the professor moved towards him +and placed an affectionate hand upon Vic’s shoulder.</p> + +<p>“Excellent—heroic—great boy—grand boy!” +he exclaimed. There was a genial greeting from +Mr. Strapp when they entered the sitting room +of the suite. Vic gently pulled Pep’s arm.</p> + +<p>“The movies,” he whispered. “You know we +were going to see them.” But Pep was so immersed +in the bustle and hubbub of the moment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span> +that he was reluctant to leave at once. Then +Frank came up to Vic and drew him to one side, +questioning him with interest as to what had led +to his giving up farm life.</p> + +<p>Professor Barrington had but one thought as +soon as he had got through answering some questions +put by Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p>“My mail,” he said, and Randy noticed that +he seemed anxious and nervous as he hastened +over to a desk between the windows and picked +up a dozen or more letters and telegrams.</p> + +<p>“Told them to wire here,” Randy heard him +mumble. “No—no—no,” he added as he hurriedly +ran over letters evidently of no importance. +“Ah, from Halifax. No news—too bad! Magdalen +Island—no news. Dear! dear!”</p> + +<p>Finally he tore open a third telegraph envelope. +Its inclosure fluttered in his fingers. His eyes +bored into the contents Then it fell from his +nerveless hands. He looked so agitated, and sank +back in the chair with such a piteous face, that +Randy called out sharply in alarm:</p> + +<p>“Frank!”</p> + +<p>“Eh?” questioned the young movies leader, +and then observing that something was amiss +with his old friend he ran up to him.</p> + +<p>“Durham—telegram!” muttered the professor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> +in a weak, gasping tone. “From Trinity, Newfoundland.”</p> + +<p>“Bad news?” questioned Frank, supporting +the professor, who seemed about to faint.</p> + +<p>“The worst!” replied Professor Barrington, +with a hollow groan. “The schooner Plymouth—”</p> + +<p>“Yes! yes!” urged Frank, his own face growing +drawn with anxiety.</p> + +<p>“The great film—lost! Gone!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV<br> + +<small>PLYMOUTH—DERELICT</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">The</span> Great Film!” Somehow those words +impressed Pep deeply. He stood still, staring at +Professor Barrington. Randy moved a step +nearer to him. Vic had been forgotten.</p> + +<p>“Bless me!” murmured Mr. Strapp. “Something +new and lively in the movies line all the +time, it appears to me.”</p> + +<p>From the first the professor had outlined his +films in a way that led his business friends +to expect great things of the future. More than +once, too, he had given an exciting hint as to +some novel and original themes that were being +worked out by his foreign assistants. They +would startle the movies world, he had declared. +Thinking of that, Pep instantly decided that his +present emotion was caused by some slip in his +plans.</p> + +<p>“You have received bad news, Professor Barrington?” +inquired Frank, and the elderly man<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> +roused sufficiently to select one of the telegrams +he had just opened.</p> + +<p>“Read,” he said. “You know how I wired +to all northern points from New York City, +directing the replies to come here. The Plymouth +has not been seen at a single point until +this message from Trinity. Read,” and the +speaker, overcome, could say no more.</p> + +<p>They were a family, in a sense, those in the +room. Frank read the dispatch which had so +affected his old friend. It ran:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“Plymouth sighted in a great sleet storm off +Despair Bay two nights since. Dismasted, no +one seen on board, and a drifting wreck.”</p> +</div> + +<p>“And Randall was aboard of the Plymouth,” +quavered Professor Barrington, “and the film—the +great film!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t take it so hard, Professor,” said Frank +in a soothing tone, placing a gentle hand on his +shoulder. “Your friend may have escaped.”</p> + +<p>“No, no, Durham,” groaned the professor. +“It would not be the way of Randall to neglect +advising me by the first wire if he had met with +a disaster and had escaped.”</p> + +<p>“And as to the great film—is it really that, +now?” went on Frank.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span>“Can you ask that, after knowing that half I +had in the world was staked on the securing of +motorphoto pictures on a subject never yet covered +by the film maker? Think of it! That +unique variety of subjects, showing the crowning +glories of the universe. Ah, it is a cruel blow!”</p> + +<p>“Frank, is it something serious?” whispered +Pep, stepping to the side of his chum. Frank did +not reply. He stood for a moment lost in +thought, his eyes fixed on Professor Barrington. +He appeared to be groping mentally to find some +means of relieving the distress of his friend.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Frank’s face lit up as if he had solved +a problem. His hand went to an inside pocket +and he drew out a wallet well filled with bank +notes. He ran them over, estimating what sum +they represented, rather than actually counting +them. The inspection seemed satisfactory and +Frank replaced the money in his pocket. Then +Pep, who had watched every shadow that crossed +his face, saw the impression there that always +told that his clever chum had made up his mind to +something.</p> + +<p>Professor Barrington crouched in his chair as +if all his hopes had been crushed. He had sunk +into a kind of lethargy of despair. Frank roused +him with the words:</p> + +<p>“I am going to find out.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span>“You are going to find out what, Durham?” +questioned the professor in a hollow tone.</p> + +<p>“The best—the worst—whatever it is. Don’t +give up hope. We will know a good deal more +when I return than we do now. That, at least, +is sure.”</p> + +<p>There came a dash of rain against the window. +Frank glanced out at the wind-swept street. +Then he went to a wardrobe, and donned a heavy +raincoat.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, Durham,” spoke Mr. Strapp, +worked up to a high pitch of excitement. “Isn’t +there something to say before you go away?”</p> + +<p>“Just step into the hall for a minute, Mr. +Strapp,” asked Frank. Pep, with ears wide open, +tried to catch some inkling of what was going +on, but Frank had closed the door after himself +and the Westerner. Then in about half a minute +the ex-ranchman returned to the room alone. +He sank into a chair with a grave face, speaking +the words half aloud:</p> + +<p>“If anybody can do it, Durham can.”</p> + +<p>A gloom had spread over the apartment so recently +filled with cheeriness. Professor Barrington +sat with his face buried in one hand. Mr. +Strapp got up and moved about in a fidgety way. +Vic, half understanding that something of serious +importance had interrupted his interview with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> +the young leader of the motion picture chums, +retired to a corner of the room, feeling uneasy +and out of place. Pep came up to him.</p> + +<p>“I say, Vic,” he observed, “I wish you’d put +off this tour of the movies for to-night.”</p> + +<p>“Why, certainly,” responded Vic. “Say, +what’s the matter—some trip-up in the plans of +you people?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” returned Pep, with a disturbed face, +“and it’s taken the heart clear out of me for any +junketing or fun.”</p> + +<p>Randy had gone out into the hall. Pep soon +joined him and then Vic followed them.</p> + +<p>“I feel as if I was in the way, somehow,” he +observed.</p> + +<p>“You needn’t,” responded Pep. “It’s a kind +of a mystery to me, all this; but you can trust +Frank Durham to clear things up if it’s possible. +What do you think’s up, Randy?”</p> + +<p>“Why it’s plain to be seen that some ship +that Professor Barrington sent out, or that was +coming to him, had someone aboard with ‘the +great film,’ as they called it. The professor seems +to have set great store by it, the way he acts.”</p> + +<p>“But if that telegram says the ship is wrecked +and nobody saved, what Frank expects to do is +what is puzzling me,” observed Pep.</p> + +<p>The trio tramped up and down the hall to pass<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> +the time. Then they went down to the lobby of +the hotel. They sat down in arm chairs and +tried to get interested in the guests about them. +Pep, however, could not keep still. He had +Randy on the jump, keeping track of his movements. +Vic never spoke a word, but followed +them about like a faithful dog.</p> + +<p>Finally Pep ventured but into the street. The +rain soon drove him and his companions under +shelter again, however. Then they returned to +their room. The professor still sat as they had +seen him last. Mr. Strapp still seemed worried.</p> + +<p>“See here, boys,” he spoke after a period of +silence, “you had better get to bed. Durham +may not be back for hours.”</p> + +<p>“I sha’n’t stir a step until he comes back,” declared +Pep, “I’m too worried to sleep.”</p> + +<p>Randy seemed of the same mind, for he sat +down as if planting himself for an all-night vigil, +and Vic placidly followed his example. In about +half an hour, however, Pep, glancing toward +them, saw that both were napping.</p> + +<p>“H’m! this is dismal enough,” he commented, +stirred up by the suspense.</p> + +<p>He must have nodded and dozed for some time, +Pep realized, for he awoke with a start as the +knob of the room door clicked. Mr. Strapp was +yawning and stirring himself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span>“It’s Frank!” cried the quick-eared Pep, +springing to his feet, and, half-way across the +room, he faced Frank as he entered.</p> + +<p>“Good news or bad, Durham?” asked Mr. +Strapp, arising stiffly.</p> + +<p>“The best in the world!” replied Frank +promptly, his eyes snapping, his face one smile of +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“Why, where have you ever been?” inquired +Pep in wonder, for Frank’s coat was glistening +with rain, his cap was dripping and his face +weather beaten and flushed.</p> + +<p>“I’ve been trying to find out something,” explained +Frank, “and I have. It’s a queer adventure. +There was one thing only to try in an +effort to gain news of the wrecked Plymouth, in +whose safety or loss there is so much at stake for +us.”</p> + +<p>“Frank, quick! Is she a goner? Is the great +film——”</p> + +<p>“Safe, I have every reason to believe,” replied +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” shouted the excited Pep, with a +fervor that brought Randy out of slumberland +and to his feet.</p> + +<p>“For fifteen minutes,” went on Frank, “under +special orders from the Government, the wireless +service has been combing the North Atlantic and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> +the air above it with orders to every station and +ship in the service to find out what has become of +the derelict, Plymouth.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that? What’s that?” shouted Professor +Barrington, scrambling to his feet with +wide eyes.</p> + +<p>“From off the Newfoundland coast, near +Trinity,” went on Frank Durham, “one response, +among over a hundred, came: ‘Steamer +Montreal homeward bound with the Plymouth in +tow. All on board safe.’”</p> + +<p>“The great film! The great film!” chattered +rather than spoke the old professor. Then he +sank in a heap on the floor.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV<br> + +<small>HIGH HOPES</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Now</span> then, Mr. Jolly,” called out Frank +Durham.</p> + +<p>His voice echoed across a deal of hollow space, +for there were only six people in the auditorium +of the Standard photo playhouse. With the exception +of Jolly, seated at the organ, and Pep, +posted at the electric light switchboard, all the +others were standing in the middle aisle—Professor +Barrington, Mr. Strapp, Frank and +Randy.</p> + +<p>The Standard was in complete readiness for +the opening two evenings later. Some of the furnishings +of the reception hall had not yet arrived, +but the auditorium was equipped even to +the electric fans, and the organ and piano over +which Jolly was to preside.</p> + +<p>The musical programme was to be a particular +feature of the Standard. Ben Jolly had been for +days ransacking the music stores of the city in +search of select compositions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span>“We’re going to have a crowd ’way up on +organ recitals and the like,” he had said, “and +I’m going to make that instrument just hum. +On the lighter parts I’ll vary with the piano, and +its bell and string attachments will go well in +the livelier scenes.”</p> + +<p>Jolly was making the organ “hum” now. +This was the first time that the lights had been +turned on in the finished auditorium. The introductory +notes of a swelling march echoed as Pep +swung the switches. Then he, too, joined the +group of his friends and fellow workers.</p> + +<p>For fully a minute not a word was spoken. +Five pairs of eyes swept the splendid apartment +from end to end. It was a rare feast of light and +beauty. There was more than comfort—there +was luxury and richness; not loud or tawdry, but +artistic and harmonious.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t think it could be done,” was the utterance +of Pep Smith.</p> + +<p>“You said it would be the finest playhouse in +America, Durham,” observed Mr. Strapp, his +eyes expressing the liveliest satisfaction, “and +here it’s a proven fact.”</p> + +<p>“My dream has come true!” murmured the +exultant professor. “Gentlemen, I congratulate +you on having set motor photography ahead ten +years.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>“It’s nice to have you say so,” remarked Frank, +with a radiant smile.</p> + +<p>“It’s just perfection!” declared Randy, his +eyes dancing with excitement and pleasure.</p> + +<p>Frank’s heart beat fast with pride. It seemed +a pretty long step from the little Wonderland picture +show he had started in his home village, to +this acme of an active business career. All the +plots of rivals, all the hard struggles, all the difficult +problems met and conquered, were obscured +by the present moment.</p> + +<p>“If Randall had only arrived a little sooner!” +spoke the professor, with something of a sigh.</p> + +<p>“You mean the delay in featuring that great +film of yours?” asked Mr. Strapp. “Don’t let +it worry you. That will keep. It will probably +be all the better to hold it off. Then we’ll spring +it in a blaze of glory—see?”</p> + +<p>“We have certainly got some fine specials to +present,” declared Frank.</p> + +<p>“It’s the toy pictures that will catch the youngsters,” +said Pep.</p> + +<p>“And the butterflies,” supplemented Randy.</p> + +<p>“I count greatly on the century plant,” observed +Professor Barrington. “Once before it +has been exploited, at the famous Gaumont Palace +at Paris; but that was still life. My agent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> +traveled one thousand miles up the Amazon to +catch our film. It is perfect.”</p> + +<p>“Wish you’d got something with hosses acting,” +observed Mr. Strapp, “for they can act.”</p> + +<p>“A little local touch—something right on the +spot wouldn’t have been amiss,” suggested Jolly.</p> + +<p>“Say, do you think that?” broke in Pep, +eagerly. “I’ve thought of that, too. It was part +of the scheme I once tried to tell you about, but +Randy shut me up. Frank, I’d like to tell you +about that.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” answered the young movies +leader, indulgently.</p> + +<p>“Right after we came to Boston,” said Pep, +“knocking around and poking into everything +that had to do with playhouses, I ran across a +queer fellow named Bohm, who runs a dramatic +school. He can’t speak English plainly, but he’s +the most patriotic fellow I ever saw. It seems +his father was a soldier in the Civil War, and he +was so brave they made him a major.</p> + +<p>“Bohm flounders around in a muddy ditch of +broken Dutch when he speaks, but he’s all there +on patriotism, and he’s got some great ideas. +He wears a red, white and blue necktie; his +watch charm is a miniature American flag, and +most of the time he is whistling or humming +‘The Star Spangled Banner.’”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span>“Get down to the facts, Pep,” ordered Randy.</p> + +<p>“He’s bow-legged and so cross-eyed that if he +cried the tears would run behind his ears,” declared +Pep, going on with his story in his own +way, in lofty disdain of his tormentor. “For all +that, he’s a rare genius. It seems that he got a +big idea. It was for a play and pageant on Forefathers’ +Day. He wrote a sort of dramatic screed +all around a lot of subjects and scenes—historical—see?”</p> + +<p>“Historical,” repeated Professor Barrington. +“That sounds promising. In what way, may I +ask, my young friend?”</p> + +<p>“Why, he got up a lot of scenery. Then his +amateurs played the pilgrims landing on Plymouth +Rock. He worked in one or two well-known +battles the colonists had with the Indians. Then +he has that tea-throwing act in Boston Harbor. +Oh, yes, and the Battle of Bunker Hill, and Paul +Revere’s Ride, and—oh, a heap of things!”</p> + +<p>“What good is a play for us?” asked Randy. +“The Standard isn’t a theatre.”</p> + +<p>“Wait till I get to the point; won’t you?” +pleaded Pep. “Well, Frank, Bohm intends to +interest patriotic citizens in a big blowout with +his play and pageant Forefathers’ Day. Then +the idea came to him that it would make a good +film, so he had all the scenes photographed in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span> +order. They are full of action and they make a +good one thousand-foot reel.</p> + +<p>“I asked Bohm if he didn’t want to release it. +He said perhaps, after his own exhibition. Then +I got him interested in what we were going to do +here at the Standard. He said that if he was +paid a fair price and got the announcement before +the public that the film was to be pictured on +Forefathers’ Day, he might consider it.”</p> + +<p>“Why, see here,” remarked Ben Jolly, “that +would make a fine special. It’s local and it would +take, I am sure. A ‘Tabloid of History.’ Don’t +you think that sounds right, Durham?”</p> + +<p>“I do, indeed,” responded Frank. “Pep, I +would like to see this Mr. Bohm.”</p> + +<p>“Come along; I’ll take you to him,” urged Pep.</p> + +<p>“If there’s anything to it, Durham,” spoke up +Mr. Strapp, “you want to get that film for opening +night.”</p> + +<p>“It would give variety to the entertainment,” +observed the professor.</p> + +<p>“I believe I’ll see what there is to it right +away,” declared Frank. “Come on Pep.”</p> + +<p>The two chums left their friends in the auditorium +and passed through the reception hall. +A canvas sheet had been spread across the street +entrance to protect the new paint and gilding, +and a guard had been stationed there.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span>“Oh, Mr. Durham,” the latter spoke, as Frank +approached him, “there’s a boy outside who has +been trying to break in to you for the last five +minutes. Says he knows you; but my orders +were to admit no one.”</p> + +<p>“A boy—wonder who he is?” said Pep +speculatively.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s Vic!” replied Frank, as the guard +pulled the edge of the canvas aside, and the lad +in question became visible, seated astride a nail +keg and dolefully surveying the ground.</p> + +<p>Three days before, furnished with money by +Frank, the farm boy had gone by rail to Wardham +to look up his friend, Bill Purvis, and the +camels.</p> + +<p>“Why, hello, Vic,” spoke Frank in a friendly +tone as he came outside.</p> + +<p>Vic looked up rather falteringly. He grasped +Frank’s extended hand. His face lengthened +and his lips puckered.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, Vic?” asked Pep, puzzled +at the downcast appearance of their young +friend, who had left them so full of hope.</p> + +<p>“Nothing,” answered Vic, dismally, “only +someone has stolen my camels.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVI<br> + +<small>THE LOST CAMELS</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Your</span> camels stolen!” exclaimed Pep in his +excitable way. “Say, that’s bad. Are you sure +of it?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” replied Vic, in a dispirited fashion. +“They’re gone.”</p> + +<p>“Come inside,” invited Frank. “I’ll fix it +after this so you won’t have to ask permission,” +and, after indicating to the guard that Vic was +a favored friend, he led the way to the auditorium.</p> + +<p>“Oh, say! but you’ve fixed it up fine; haven’t +you?” ejaculated Vic the moment his eyes took +in the scene about him.</p> + +<p>“These are pretty busy times, Vic,” said +Frank as they sat down in the rear row of seats. +“You see, we are getting ready for the opening. +All the same, we must find time to help our +friends where we can. Now then, tell us your +troubles.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span>“There’s only one, the big one, the camels,” +replied Vic, soberly. “You know how kind +you were in giving me the money to go down to +Wardham, and advising me how to set about +selling the camels. I felt pretty good when I +started out. You know I met an old circus man. +He said that it would take time to find just the +show that wanted some camels, but there were +city parks, and using them advertising, to fall +back on. He said that four healthy camels ought +to sell for several thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Vic,” observed Frank; “go ahead with +your story.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I got to Wardham and found the farm +where Bill’s relatives live.”</p> + +<p>“Was he there?” inquired Pep.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” responded Vic, “he’d been there for +three days, in bed, his leg broken and out of his +head.”</p> + +<p>“The camels—” began Pep.</p> + +<p>“No, they would never hurt Bill,” protested +Vic. “Bill had turned up one night at his relatives’ +house dragging his leg behind him, smelling +of liquor and acting strange. The first sensible +spell he had was just after I got to Wardham.</p> + +<p>“Bill was all broken up, crying and ashamed. +He told a queer, rambling story of leaving the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> +freight train thirty miles across country from +Wardham. I’ve got to tell you that Bill’s failing +has always been strong drink.”</p> + +<p>“Too bad, that generally complicates things,” +commented Pep, philosophically.</p> + +<p>“He’d kept straight clear along the route. It +was night time when he got the camels off the car +and started for Wardham. They were glad to +get on solid ground again, and so was Bill. He +says he came to a crossroads settlement where +he got the camels a good feed.</p> + +<p>“He himself was foolish enough to drink +some liquor. He says it went to his head. +Then he dimly remembers going to another town, +and then another. By that time he wasn’t able +to take care of the camels. He recalls traveling +along a lonely country road, following directions +as to Wardham. Then it’s all a sort of mist to +him. When he came to his senses, he was lying +in an old stone quarry with his leg broken. How +he got to the Wright farm he doesn’t know.”</p> + +<p>“Why,” suggested Pep, “the camels must +have wandered away from him, and must be +roving around somewhere. Didn’t you try to +find out?”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I?” repeated Vic. “I guess I did; +and so did Bill’s folks. They found out where +Bill had shown off some tricks with the camels<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> +at a tavern. Three strange men who had been +drinking with him went off when he did. I suppose +we had as many as twenty people looking +for the camels all over the country.”</p> + +<p>“And you found no trace of them?” inquired +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Hide nor hair—none,” was the dejected answer.</p> + +<p>“It looks queer to me, that does,” asserted +Pep. “Four camels are too conspicuous to drop +out of sight like a horse or a dog.”</p> + +<p>“I think somebody stole them—I feel sure of +it,” declared Vic. “Maybe Bill got to talking +too much and telling all about the camels, and +those three men thought they saw a chance for +a speculation.”</p> + +<p>“They couldn’t hide the animals very easily,” +observed Frank. “Whoever has them must be +at some distance from Wardham.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the way I figure it out,” agreed Vic. +“It’s made me almost frantic, losing those animals +and all they mean to me in a money way. +And poor Bill—he needs his share in them just +now worse than he ever did.”</p> + +<p>“I see that,” said Frank, thoughtfully, “and +I shall try to get a man right on the track. +Don’t be so downhearted, Vic; we are sure to +get some trace of them.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>“I hope so,” replied Vic, shaking his head +dolefully. “You see, I had pretty high hopes +of the money I expected. I might have gone in +with you—see?”</p> + +<p>“You’re in with us now, Vic,” declared Frank +in his friendly way. “You put us under a great +obligation by saving the Standard from burning +up. Here, Randy,” added Frank, calling to his +chum, “you try and make Vic see something +cheerful in life till I get back.”</p> + +<p>Frank then started off on his mission to see +the man, Bohm, whom Pep had told him about. +Randy then took Vic under his wing. He +showed him all over the place and tried to get +his mind off his troubles.</p> + +<p>“You’re fine people,” declared Vic, gratefully, +as they came out on the street on their way to +the hotel. “I wish I could do something to pay +you back for your kindness.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll feel all right when Frank finds your +camels for you,” replied Randy. “He’ll do it, +too, you can count on that. And if you want to +join the movies, he’ll find a place for you.”</p> + +<p>They were at that moment passing the rival +photo playhouse which Frank’s enemies had been +getting into shape. Those of the Standard had +paid little attention to Slavin and his friends of +late. With the securing of the lease on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> +double building, they apparently felt that they +had scored a victory over their competitors and +had troubled their minds about them no further.</p> + +<p>Slavin and his crew had made no further attempts +to molest or annoy Professor Barrington +or his property. How they might feel when they +learned what Frank was up to with the Standard, +the motion picture chums did not know, or care.</p> + +<p>Frank had received a sneering smile from +Slavin when he passed him on the street two +days after the Professor had been lured away +from the hotel. Several days later, however, +this had changed to an angry scowl. Frank decided +that Slavin had learned of their new enterprise, +and realized that he had not scored so +valuable a point against his rivals as he had +fancied.</p> + +<p>Just then Vic came to a halt and stood staring +at a man who was just entering the “New Idea,” +as Slavin and his crowd had dubbed their playhouse.</p> + +<p>“See that fellow?” asked Vic, pointing after +the man.</p> + +<p>“What about him?” inquired Randy.</p> + +<p>“I know him,” declared Vic, apparently much +roused.</p> + +<p>“Is that so? We know him, too,” retorted +Randy,—“to our loss. He’s a bad character.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> +Ran movies against us at Riverside Grove and +nearly put us out of business. He’s the head +and front of this new show—the New Idea. +Humph! it will be ‘new,’ all right, if he runs +it.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Vic, “I’ve heard you speak his +name and all that, but I didn’t guess it was the +man who was with the fellow who stole that +satchel from the train. He is the man I saw +near Home Farm who was rating the other fellow +for getting the wrong grip. Say,” and a +new idea seemed to strike Vic, “is he up to any +new mischief with you people?”</p> + +<p>“No; but he likely will be,” replied Randy. +“He’s a dangerous customer. We have tried +to keep the public, Slavin included, from knowing +our plans. He has probably had somebody +spying on us, though.”</p> + +<p>“It would be a good thing to watch such a +fellow, I should think,” observed Vic, thoughtfully. +“It would be a shame if anything happened +to your beautiful show here, after all your +hard work. A rascal like this fellow Slavin +ought to be headed off.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we’re going to keep a sharp eye out for +him,” said Randy.</p> + +<p>He took Vic to the hotel, and gave him to understand +that he was to take up his residence<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> +with them until Frank decided what could be +done to recover the stolen camels. Then Randy +went out to attend to an errand for the Standard. +When he returned he was surprised and puzzled +to find that Vic had disappeared. A scrawled +note lay on a table in the room, reading:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“Got some business to attend to. Will be +back this evening.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Frank, Pep, Mr. Strapp and Ben Jolly showed +up at supper time. Frank’s first inquiry concerned +Vic. He was only half satisfied with the +report Randy made. Frank had read deeper +into the odd farm boy than the others. He +knew that Vic, when he got an idea in his head, +was anxious to work it out. Frank felt sure +that some such situation was responsible for Vic’s +unexplained absence.</p> + +<p>However, about eight o’clock Vic came quietly +into the main room of the suite. He did not +appear at all excited; but that was rarely his +wont. The moment Frank scanned his face, +however, he guessed that their original young +friend had something on his mind.</p> + +<p>Vic responded to the casual questions of those +about him. Then he sidled up to Frank in an +uneasy sort of way with the words:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>“Say, Mr. Durham, I’ve been at the New +Idea for the last three hours.”</p> + +<p>“Have you, indeed?” responded Frank, discerning +something under the surface in the +declaration just made. “I didn’t know they +were open for business yet.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, they’re not,” answered Vic. “I’ve been +working there.”</p> + +<p>“Working there?” exclaimed Pep, jumping +from his chair in wonder. “You don’t mean to +tell us you’ve gone in with those fellows; do +you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, for one appearance only,” replied Vic, +with his odd smile. “I knew what I was about. +I sort of hung around the New Idea with a ‘new +idea’ in my head. A lot of chairs were delivered +from some wagons while I was snooping +around. Some fellow connected with the show +came out, saw me and asked me if I wanted +to earn a little helping carry in the chairs. That +was my chance.”</p> + +<p>“For what?” inquired Frank.</p> + +<p>“To get inside and see the lay of the land,” +declared Vic, with a slight twinkle in his eyes as +he noted Frank’s interest.</p> + +<p>“Say, how does it look?” asked Pep.</p> + +<p>“It looks too bulky, if you must know. +There’s no grace to it, nor elegance, nor taste,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span> +nor style. It’s clumsy. That big sprawling +room was never meant for a movies show. +Why, I helped set some of the chairs, and, honest, +at the ends of the twenty-seat rows it makes +you cross-eyed to get in focus with the stage. +But I got what I was after, finally.”</p> + +<p>“What were you after?” inquired Randy.</p> + +<p>“To find out if those fellows had any idea of +bothering you folks any more.”</p> + +<p>“Say, you’re clever!” burst out Pep. “That +was a fine move. Are they?”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid they are,” answered Vic. “Mr. +Durham, I want to tell you something. It’s only +suspicion; but I believe it. I managed to overhear +that man Slavin talking with his partner. +I pricked up my ears when they said ‘Standard.’ +Then Slavin sort of chuckled, and I caught the +word ‘fire.’ I honestly believe that some of +that crowd started the fire in the garage shed +back of the Standard.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you mustn’t say that, Vic,” protested +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Well, I have said it, and it may give you an +idea of what a hard crowd they are. They’re +up to more mischief, too. Slavin was storming +because he said they could get only stock films. +He said there were very few that could be called +educational, and called down his partner for not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span> +hurrying some special films they seemed to be +after. He said, too, that if the Standard cut into +business too much, there would be some wings +clipped.”</p> + +<p>“This looks as if we should be on the alert, +Durham,” remarked Mr. Strapp, seriously.</p> + +<p>“You certainly do,” observed Vic in his blunt +way. “Slavin’s partner made a remark about +waiting to see what the Standard was up to before +they burned their fingers, as he put it. +Then Slavin himself made a significant remark.”</p> + +<p>“What was that, Vic?” inquired Frank.</p> + +<p>“He said roughly: ‘This is no time for a +pillow fight; turn on the hot stuff!’”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVII<br> + +<small>A GRAND SUCCESS</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">I’m</span> staggered!” spoke Pep Smith, breathlessly. +“I didn’t think it could be done this +fine.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Professor Barrington has certainly +made good,” agreed Randy Powell.</p> + +<p>The long and arduous efforts of the motion +picture chums and their helpers had come to a +splendid climax. The Standard had just thrown +open its doors to the public. Like the unfolding +of a fairy dream, at seven-thirty o’clock that evening +the protecting canvas covering the entrance +to the photo playhouse had been removed.</p> + +<p>Those passing by had been dazzled. Instantly +the glowing front of the building shone like a +casket of jewels. Those in front viewed a reception +hall that suggested the tasteful portal +to some royal palace.</p> + +<p>No placards had been placed—no advertising +had been done in any general way. Professor +Barrington had pleaded for that opening night +as his especial own.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span>“Gentlemen,” he had said, “the programme +we put out the first night must meet the unqualified +approbation of the elite of Boston and the +local press. I have thousands of friends in Boston +and I have as many more in its vicinity, +who for my sake would travel a good many +miles. Let admission the first night be by +special card. I will guarantee that the wealth +and culture of the community put the seal of approval +on this great enterprise.”</p> + +<p>The old gentleman had not predicted wrongly. +Over a thousand invitations had been sent out. +From seven-thirty until eight-forty o’clock a constant +string of private automobiles delivered load +after load of well-dressed people at the entrance +to the Standard. They showed themselves to be +something more than mere invited guests. They +took a pleased interest in viewing the comfortable +and luxurious outfitting of the reception room and +expressed their approval of the venture of Professor +Barrington when the artistic beauties of +the auditorium burst upon their view.</p> + +<p>Frank wore a smile of great satisfaction as +he and Mr. Strapp stood at the rear of the auditorium +and looked over the assembled audience.</p> + +<p>“It’s pretty fine, Durham—playhouse and +people,” observed the latter. “I’d warm up<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> +quicker to the popular crowd; but their turn will +come after we get the good word from these +people. There’re a dozen newspaper men here.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose we will get quite a lot of free advertising,” +remarked Frank. “I’m sort of +anxious about the programme. You see, the +special film we counted on is delayed. That historical +reel that Pep so luckily ran across has +taken its place.”</p> + +<p>The house was well filled at eight o’clock. +Probably a finer audience had never before attended +a motion picture show. Those who disdained +the cheaper grade of entertainments lost +all consciousness of being out of place. There +was a flutter of interest and curiosity. The +beauty of the place had appealed to their artistic +sense.</p> + +<p>There was a hush of expectancy as Ben Jolly, +at the organ, started a grand rolling patriotic +tune. The outer curtain rolled up.</p> + +<p>At once a picture flashed upon the screen—it +was that of the old flag of the colonies. It +came so suddenly, so keenly outlined, so rich in +coloring, that it startled the audience. It was +no study in still life; the wind waved its silken +folds, the silver stars glowed and glittered. +There was a hum of pleased delight. The beautiful<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> +flag faded away, and there showed on the +screen: “A Tabloid of Home History.”</p> + +<p>It was not so much the well delineated but +familiar scenes presented that caught the audience. +The flag view had stirred them up, and +the views of familiar scenes emphasized their +patriotic ardor.</p> + +<p>“Sixteen feet of film to the second,” Frank +told Mr. Strapp, but the Westerner was too engrossed +in viewing the screen to heed him. At +the “Boston Tea Party” there was vigorous +hand-clapping. “The Battle of Bunker Hill” +caused a renewal of the enthusiasm. Half a +dozen Revolutionary battle and skirmish scenes +followed, then the waving flag again dissolved +and the crowd “broke loose,” as Pep put it.</p> + +<p>“Say, it’s acted just like an appetizer—short +and sharp,” spoke Pep, moving to Frank’s side, +a-quiver with delight.</p> + +<p>“That friend of yours, Bohm, was certainly a +happy thought,” remarked Frank.</p> + +<p>“I hope the heavy stuff is going to make as +good an impression,” observed Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s sure to strike these wise heads right,” +assured Pep.</p> + +<p>“Is This the Kind of Fish That Swallowed +Jonah?” was flashed across the screen, and a +great monster was depicted occupying the entire<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> +length of a freight car. Against it was a +placard giving a few facts, such as: “Five harpoons +and one hundred and fifty-one bullets used +to subdue the monster,” “five days required to +finally kill it,” “towed one hundred and twelve +miles by a tug, weight thirty thousand pounds, +length forty-five feet, circumference twenty-three +feet nine inches, diameter eight feet three +inches, mouth thirty-eight inches wide, forty-three +inches deep, several thousand teeth, tail +ten feet from tip to tip, hide three inches thick.”</p> + +<p>“The Florida Keys” was the next slide. This +glided into a scene where the biggest fish known +in those waters was sighted by a Miami sportsman. +The chase began. The harpoons flew. +It took half a reel to give the exciting incidents +of the battle and capture.</p> + +<p>One scene was thrilling. This was where the +monster smashed a boat into pieces and crushed +the rudder and propeller of a thirty-one ton +yacht. Even after it had been landed and was +supposed to be dead, the leviathan, with a sudden +flip of its tail, demolished a dockhouse. There +was a final scene where a fisherman was seen sitting +in the fish’s mouth as it was being hoisted to +a flat car to be shipped to the Smithsonian Institution.</p> + +<p>Pep, circulating about unobtrusively, but with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> +eyes and ears wide open as he directed the half +dozen lads dressed in neat uniforms who acted +as ushers, had a constant smile on his face. He +gathered a score of compliments on the reel that +he caught from august professors and scientists +in the audience.</p> + +<p>“Making A Pin” was the third film. Then +the little ones in the audience were given a show. +Many had been purposely invited. They had +shown strict attention to the first three features. +“Toy Making In Germany” brought out the +ecstatic “Oh’s!” and “Ah’s!” So many Santa +Claus specialities were exhibited that they fairly +bewildered the little ones.</p> + +<p>“A Hard Sum” catered to the juvenile portion +of the audience old enough to attend school. +There was an educational element in the school +scene where the teacher wrote a sum upon the +blackboard. Those who attempted its solution +daubed themselves and the board with chalk as +they wrestled with the problem. The film +worked in the laggard, the dunce and other +familiar characters of the schoolroom. When +a bright little fellow wrote out the answer, the +juvenile spectators cheered and then woke up as +from a delightful dream, as a romping scene +brought forth gales of laughter.</p> + +<p>Professor Barrington’s face was one expansive<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> +smile as, after the audience dispersed, he +joined his business friends, rubbing his hands +gleefully.</p> + +<p>“An emphatic success,” he declared. “Gentlemen, +there was not a flaw in the entertainment +from beginning to end. It was simply perfection.”</p> + +<p>“That’s my way of thinking,” crowed Pep. +“Oh, but we’ve got the machine in grand order. +All we’ve got to do now is to keep it running.”</p> + +<p>There was a scramble for the morning papers +at their room the next morning. Pep was the +first to discover what the leading journal said +about them.</p> + +<p>“A whole column,” he announced, waving the +paper to and fro, wild with enthusiasm. “Read, +Frank—the Standard has awakened—famous!”</p> + +<p>There was to be a lapse of two days. Then +the Standard was to give four shows daily—two +in the afternoon and two in the evening. +There were some general details to attend to, +but it gave Randy, Pep and Vic some leisure.</p> + +<p>“Say,” remarked the latter one afternoon, +“the New Idea opens to-night. I was just past +there and saw their big sign.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” said Randy, with awakening +interest. “What do they announce?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span>“‘Life Among the Lowly—Great Philanthropic +Film,’” replied Vic.</p> + +<p>“That sounds sort of good,” observed Pep.</p> + +<p>“Yes, there ought to be some human interest +in that kind of stuff,” said Randy.</p> + +<p>“Then they’ve got another specialty,” went on +Vic. “‘The Beaver Colony.’”</p> + +<p>“That’s old,” said Pep. “They had that in +New York. It’s on the educational order, +though. What else, Vic?”</p> + +<p>“‘Training Camels,’” reported Vic. “Say, +fellows, I’m interested there. Let’s go and see +how they make out.”</p> + +<p>“Agreed,” answered Pep, promptly.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVIII<br> + +<small>THE “NEW IDEA.”</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">It’s</span> too bad to pay out our good money +here,” said Pep. “About half the people going +in have complimentaries.”</p> + +<p>“I noticed that,” answered Randy, “I suppose +they want to make a good showing, though.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I overheard that man Slavin talking +about ‘papering the house’ freely,” said Vic.</p> + +<p>The three friends got beyond the ticket taker +to look about the new playhouse with a good deal +of curiosity. The place looked clean, but was +poorly ventilated. There had not been much attempt +made at ornamentation. The auditorium +looked barn-like on account of its great width.</p> + +<p>“They might better have had the stage at the +side,” was Pep’s criticism.</p> + +<p>“Say, fellows,” remarked Vic, “if you want +to see anything clearly, you had better get seats +on a line with the stage.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I see that,” nodded Randy. “Here +we are. There’s quite a crowd,” he added, looking +around the room. “It isn’t half bad for a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> +common everyday movie, but it isn’t in the class +of the Standard.”</p> + +<p>“I should say it wasn’t,” retorted Pep, spicily. +“Say, upon my word all the music they’ve got +is an electric piano! Hope you see me,” added +Pep in a quick undertone, but loud enough for +his companions to hear.</p> + +<p>As Pep spoke he stared back at a bustling, +officious-acting man coming down the aisle, who +was staring hard at him. This individual +paused, as if taken off his guard. Then he +scowled slightly, shifted his glance, and went +on his way.</p> + +<p>“Slavin,” observed Randy, with a shrug of +his shoulders.</p> + +<p>“Yes, our old friend of Riverside Grove, sure +enough,” responded Pep. “And he saw us, +too.”</p> + +<p>Pep followed the former rival of the Airdrome +with his eyes. He noticed Slavin approach +an usher and give him some orders as to +seating the people as they came in. Then Slavin +went over to a man lounging near the back row +of seats. Slavin looked at Pep and his friends, +and the man with him followed his example. In +a minute the man started down the center aisle.</p> + +<p>“Say, fellows,” whispered Pep, hastily, “I’ll +wager the suppers that Slavin has set a spy on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> +us, who is coming to take a seat directly behind.”</p> + +<p>“Why, what for?” inquired Vic, in a wondering +way.</p> + +<p>“To listen to what we say about the show, and +probably hoping we’ll let out some points about +the Standard that Slavin would like to know. +S—st, now!”</p> + +<p>Pep’s surmise was correct. The man he +had noticed Slavin talking to—evidently some +hanger-on of the place—took a seat in the row +directly behind them. Pep gave Randy a wink.</p> + +<p>“Say,” he said, in a voice he did not try to +restrain, “I’ve had enough training in the movies +line to see that these people here are going to +have a visit soon from the city building department.”</p> + +<p>“How’s that?” inquired Randy with affected +artlessness.</p> + +<p>“Look at the exits—none on the sides and just +one at the rear, and not even a red light set.”</p> + +<p>“Sure enough,” nodded Randy, as if intensely +interested. “In New York they wouldn’t be +allowed to run this way,” and Randy added to +himself: “That will give this spy something to +set Slavin thinking.”</p> + +<p>“Did they tell you about the big features the +Standard has coming,” was Pep’s next purposeful +break.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span>“Oh, you mean the great film?” answered +Randy. “Say, that must have cost a lot of +money. Just think! A man sent specially thousands +of miles away to get reels on things never +before seen by civilized man, and covering subjects +never before caught by the camera! It +will create a sensation; won’t it?”</p> + +<p>“I should say so!” declared Pep, and then he +subsided as their watcher squirmed and rustled +about in his seat.</p> + +<p>“That’s pretty fair,” said Randy, as the first +film of the entertainment was concluded.</p> + +<p>The subject was “Beaver Land.” It was old +to Pep and Randy, but they were fairly indulgent +about it. Vic had never seen it before.</p> + +<p>“Those are real good pictures,” he observed. +“Interesting, too. I know something about beavers +and they show them up quite natural.”</p> + +<p>“The Great Philanthropic Film—Among the +Lowly,” was next announced on the screen. The +delineation began with a guide starting out with +a party of slummers to view the under life of a +great city. The only philanthropic part of the +display was where one of the group gave some +money to a cripple, and another paid off a constable +who was about to eject an invalid widow, +and her little family of children, for non-payment +of the rent.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span>“The Modern Fagin” was the central feature +of this film. This was an elaborate showing of +the life of petty thieves. There was a scene +where one street gamin tripped up a market +woman, while his accomplice made away with +the contents of her basket.</p> + +<p>Then there was a training scene in the thieves’ +school. A wretched old man showed his apt +pupils how to pick a pocket, snatch a purse, and +pry up a window. The film ended with the +successful robbers making a great raid by smashing +in the window of a jewelry store.</p> + +<p>“Why!” gasped Randy, “that ought to be +censored! It’s the kind of a picture that gilds +crime. Those pictures are the most dangerous +I ever saw.”</p> + +<p>“The camels next,” said Vic, as a new announcement +flashed across the screen. “I lived +in a tent with some of them with my father when +I was a small boy. My!” he added rather dolefully, +“I do hope we get some word about my +camels from the man Mr. Durham has hired +to look them up.”</p> + +<p>“Frank always knows what he’s doing,” replied +Pep, encouragingly, “and the man he has +sent to look up your camels, does, too, very +likely. You’ll soon hear some news, I feel sure.”</p> + +<p>The film showed a fenced-in space, the tops<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span> +of trees beyond it. A camel was standing feeding +in one corner of the enclosure. A man +with a hooked pole came in by a little gate. He +approached the animal and gave it a jab with +the pole.</p> + +<p>The camel turned around. As it did so, its +other side came into full view. It was a clean, +intelligent looking animal and as the man tapped +one of its feet the camel lifted that leg and +waved it.</p> + +<p>“Say, oh, say!” burst from Vic so suddenly +and sharply that Pep glanced at him in sheer wonderment. +Vic had started from his seat. His +eyes were dilating. He seemed about to blurt out +the cause of his extraordinary emotion.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” inquired the marveling +Pep, placing a hand on the arm of his companion +to quiet him.</p> + +<p>Vic was trembling all over. He appeared to +be in a paroxysm of suppressed excitement. He +was about to reply to Pep, when apparently he +was put on his guard by a glance back of him. +The spy was leaning over with an eager face +to catch what he might say.</p> + +<p>“Just get out of this, Pep; will you?” whispered +Vic in a positive gasp. “I’ve something to +tell you—something of great importance.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIX<br> + +<small>DONE WITH A CLICK</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">What’s</span> the matter, fellows?” propounded +Randy, as he noticed Pep arising to his feet +and, also, the evident perturbation of Vic.</p> + +<p>Pep gave him a nudge and a look which told +his quick-witted comrade that something was up. +The trio crowded past the others in the seat and +started for the door. Pep shot a glance backward. +He caught sight of the man who had sat +directly behind them and whom they had every +reason to believe was a spy on their movements, +staring after them in a wondering and undecided +manner.</p> + +<p>Pep led the way to the sidewalk, out of the way +of passing pedestrians and possible watchers +from the playhouse.</p> + +<p>“Now then, Vic,” he challenged—“what’s +new and strange?”</p> + +<p>“That film!” gulped Vic, his face pale and his +frame in a quiver of excitement.</p> + +<p>“You mean that camel reel?” inquired Pep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span>“Just that. Say, I thought I’d holler right +out! That camel was mine!”</p> + +<p>“You mean to say it is a picture of one of +your stolen camels,” asked Pep.</p> + +<p>“Sure—don’t I tell you so?” retorted Vic. +“Why, I’d know him anywhere.”</p> + +<p>“Camels are a good deal alike—” began +Randy, but Vic interrupted him with the words:</p> + +<p>“That’s so, but there’s only one marked as +he is marked.”</p> + +<p>“Marked—how do you mean?” questioned +Pep, tremendously worked up now.</p> + +<p>“On his right forefoot,” explained Vic. +“Bolivar is branded there, plain as day. It’s +what they call a monogram. This one is ‘G. B.,’ +the initials of my uncle’s name. Bill told me +about it—Bill Purvis, you know?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” nodded Pep assentingly.</p> + +<p>“That’s the clew we gave the people down at +Wardham who went hunting for the camels +when they were stolen. It’s in the picture, too—that +mark.”</p> + +<p>“What picture?” demanded Randy.</p> + +<p>“Oh, didn’t I ever show it to you—the one +Bill gave me? Here, get nearer to the electric +light—see?” and Vic drew from his pocket a +fair sized card photograph.</p> + +<p>At this both Pep and Randy gazed closely.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> +Sure enough, as Vic had told, on the right forefoot +of the leading animal pictured the mark +Vic had described was clearly to be seen.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t notice that mark on the camel in +the film,” said Pep, “but of course I wasn’t +looking for it. There’s something to this, Vic, +sure.”</p> + +<p>Pep was always ready to jump at a speedy +conclusion, especially if something new and exciting +was involved in the subject in hand. He +pushed his cap back in his impulsive way, as if +here was a new mystery to solve.</p> + +<p>“It looks as if that camel in the film was +yours,” said Randy. “If that’s so——”</p> + +<p>“It is so,” declared Vic confidently. “That +being true, you can see what it means. That +camel is alive, and he’s being used as an actor, +or a model, or whatever you call it—”</p> + +<p>“In motion picture scenarios!” burst out Pep, +seeing the light in a flash. “You’ve hit it. Just +that.”</p> + +<p>“Well, well, isn’t it strange to get a trace of +the camel this way now?” cried Randy. “All +you’ve got to do is to find out where these New +Idea people get their films, and you’ve got the +starting point to running down the whole four +camels.”</p> + +<p>“Hold on,” directed Pep at once. “Maybe +that isn’t so easy. Say, there’s some thinking to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> +do here,” and his brow wrinkled in a dreadfully +wise way. He wriggled about as if his mind +was acting at lightning speed. “If anybody but +this especial New Idea crowd was running those +films, I’d say you could get on the track of the +people who made that film right away. Where +that rascal Slavin has a hand in anything, though, +look out, I say. Didn’t you tell me, Vic, that +you heard Slavin say something about the poor +stock films in the educational line?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I did,” assented Vic, “and that they +must get some special features to keep up with +the procession.”</p> + +<p>“Then you just make up your mind that this +is one of them, and I’ll bet that it doesn’t come +from any of the regular exchanges,” declared +Pep. “A real live camel isn’t so common. A +real clever scenario man with a central feature +like that could keep on getting out a whole lot of +real taking stuff. Slavin would steal a whole +menagerie if he had the chance. I can’t see how +he might have come across your camel. Maybe +he didn’t. A bad crowd did, though, of course, +or they wouldn’t have stolen him. It’s just such +people Slavin trains with. You can figure it out +your own way,” concluded Pep sapiently, “but +Slavin is clever enough to hide his evil work, if +he really has any hand in this business, and you’re +not going to catch him napping.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span>“I think as Pep does, Vic,” put in Randy. +“Some pirate movies have got hold of your +camel. They’re a kind decent folks in the line +won’t usually trade with. Slavin would. He +must know the whole four camels are being +hunted and that they might be traced down by +someone interested accidentally seeing that film, +so he has probably fixed it so the crowd using +the camel can’t be easily traced.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve got it!” exclaimed Pep, suddenly. +“I’ve thought it all out! Say, fellows, you +wait here till I come back; will you? I’ll be +gone only a few minutes. Come farther away +from here, too.”</p> + +<p>“What for?” inquired Vic blankly.</p> + +<p>“So if that spy of Slavin gets sight of us, he +won’t guess what we’re plotting and suspect us +and head us off.”</p> + +<p>“What’s your idea anyway, Pep?” asked the +curious Randy.</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you when I get back. It’s only as +far as the hotel. I want to get to the New Idea +in time for the second camel film.”</p> + +<p>Pep bounded away, leaving his comrades puzzled +but hopeful. He was not gone five minutes +and came back with sparkling eyes.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got it,” he said, and tapped a side pocket +of his coat which bulged out considerably.</p> + +<p>“What have you got, Pep?” asked Randy,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> +straining his eyes to guess from the object in his +pocket its identity and purpose. Pep drew into +view a flat book-shaped case.</p> + +<p>“Hello! your camera,” exclaimed Randy.</p> + +<p>“That’s it,” nodded Pep. “I am going to +take a photo of that camel film.”</p> + +<p>“Why, say, what’s the good?” inquired Vic, +“I’ve got a bigger and better picture of that +camel than you can get.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t the camel so much I’m after,” explained +Pep.</p> + +<p>“What, then?” inquired Vic.</p> + +<p>“His surroundings. There may be some figure, +or building, or view that might give a hint +as to where the picture was taken. Now, see +here, you two had better go to the hotel. The +three of us going back to the New Idea might excite +suspicion. I’ll slip in quietly, watching out +for the fellow who sat behind us there. Leave +it to me to get what I’m after.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” assented Vic, only somewhat +dubiously. “The main thing, though, is to +find out where the film was made. If you’ll +let me, I’d hang around and run up against a +couple of the boy ushers there. We worked together +carrying in the chairs, you see. Maybe +it’s generally known around the New Idea where +the reels came from.”</p> + +<p>“It’s not, that I know,” declared Pep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span>“How do you know it, Pep?” asked Randy.</p> + +<p>“From the fact that the name of the film +maker wasn’t shown in announcing the reel. It’s +an independent, in the first place—under cover, +I’ll wager. Say, fellows, don’t waste my time. +Let me try out my idea. There’ll be plenty to +do after that to keep us thinking.”</p> + +<p>Rather reluctantly Randy and Vic started in +the direction of their hotel. Pep proceeded +straight back to the Slavin playhouse. He knew +a good deal about photo work and he had an excellent +small camera. Once inside he waited in +a rear seat until the third film ended. Then, the +dispersing crowd out of the way, he selected a +seat near the center aisle close to the front of +the house, securing just the right focus on the +stage.</p> + +<p>Pep was so absorbed in his plans that he +noticed little of those around as the first film +played on the screen. When the camel film was +announced. His eyes were in full use. Again +he noticed that no credit was given to the maker +of the film. What he was looking for was the +introduction of some object, surroundings or +person likely to give him a hint that could be +followed down.</p> + +<p>Pep kept the camera in his lap ready to raise, +focus it and snap it at the right moment. He +had kept it out of view when the lights were on.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span> +All of the time he held the camera in an unobtrusive +way. He did not wish to excite suspicion +or even attention.</p> + +<p>From all that Pep could judge, the training +scene in which half a dozen characters appeared +had been enacted in some kind of an enclosure. +He was disappointed in it. He did not like to +let the slides pass by without catching the faces +of the actors, which might count for something.</p> + +<p>“There’s something!” almost aloud in his excitement +Pep soliloquized.</p> + +<p>A large box had been carried into the scene +by two men. It was upside down, but Pep could +make out the words, a name made by a marking +brush.</p> + +<p>“That is probably an address—maybe a shipment +box to the scenario camp,” mused Pep. +“It’s a good time, too, for the actors and the +camel are nearly stationary.”</p> + +<p>Pep lifted the camera even with his chest.</p> + +<p>Click! the shutter closed back. The operation +was over and Pep felt that he had accomplished +something.</p> + +<p>Just at that moment a hand shot out at his +side. His neighbor, whom he had not particularly +noticed, grasped him suddenly by one wrist.</p> + +<p>“Give that up!” he ordered hoarsely, snatching +out for the camera, which Pep instantly +thrust behind him.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XX<br> + +<small>PEP A PRISONER</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pep Smith</span> at once decided that the man who +now held his hand captive was another of the +Slavin spies. He was sure of it as the latter +added to his fierce command the words:</p> + +<p>“I’ve been watching out for your sort—stealing, +hey?”</p> + +<p>“Stealing what?” retorted Pep, vigorously. +“No, you don’t!” he added, as the man tried to +reach the camera. “That’s my property, as it +happens.”</p> + +<p>Several persons had caught the echo of the +snap-clip of the camera. The rising up of the +man and Pep, the start of a struggle, began to +attract attention. Pep’s captor took a new tack. +He waved a hand towards the entrance, uttering +a low whistle. The house policeman came hurrying +to the row of seats where the commotion was +going on.</p> + +<p>“Take this fellow out of here, officer,” spoke +Pep’s captor. “He’s been up to tricks.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span>Pep knew that resistance would be useless. +Further than that, some ladies and children near +to him were becoming nervous and alarmed. No +one better than Pep knew how quickly a dangerous +panic might start from a trifling incident. +He went quietly with the officer, his captor following.</p> + +<p>“What is it—an arrest?” inquired the policeman, +as they got down the aisle away from the +center of excitement.</p> + +<p>“Later, maybe,” was the response. “Let the +management decide that. Take him to the office.”</p> + +<p>The policeman now grasped Pep’s arm, which +the other man released. He marched him clear +to the rear, then around the rows of seats and +down a side aisle to the stage end of the house. +He opened a door at one side of the stage, went +through a passageway, and ushered Pep into a +lighted room.</p> + +<p>This was the office of the New Idea. It little +resembled the tasty business-looking office of the +Standard. It contained chairs, a desk and a table. +The air was cloudy with tobacco smoke. Their +chairs tilted back against the wall, their feet elevated +on the table, and smoking cigars, were +Slavin and another person.</p> + +<p>There was no doubt that Slavin instantly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span> +recognized Pep, for at a sharp stare at the youth +down came chair and feet.</p> + +<p>“Hello! what’s this?” he shot out.</p> + +<p>“Stealing,” reported Pep’s first captor, stepping +forward briskly. “You can go, officer. +We’ll let you know if we need you later.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” nodded the policeman, lightly, +and retired with a knowing look on his face.</p> + +<p>“Stealing; eh?” spoke Slavin, bending a +scowling face towards Pep. “Picking pockets?”</p> + +<p>“Say, you don’t have to ask that,” retorted +Pep, hotly. “No one better than yourself knows +I don’t have to do that.”</p> + +<p>“He was stealing, all the same,” insisted his +captor, and as Pep realized the special emissary +of Slavin. “I caught him red-handed.”</p> + +<p>“What doing?” inquired the other man, evidently +Slavin’s business partner.</p> + +<p>“You get him to give you that camera and +you’ll probably find out,” was the explanation. +“I know the fellow, for I’ve seen him before. +He’s one of the Standard crowd.”</p> + +<p>The speaker concluded by snatching at the +camera. Pep was off his guard for that. His +despoiler handed it to Slavin, who looked it over +casually and pushed it into a drawer of his desk +with the words:</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span>“We’ll keep that for evidence and look it over +later. Stealing a film; eh?” he interrogated the +previous speaker.</p> + +<p>“That’s what. He had that camera in his +lap ready for snapping. It’s an old trick and I +suspected him, knowing the crowd he came +from.”</p> + +<p>“What was he stealing?” interrogated Slavin’s +partner.</p> + +<p>“The camel film,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“Eh? What’s that?” ejaculated Slavin, with +a start. Then he swept Pep’s face with swift +suspicion and added: “Of course that—one of +our own specials. You’re in fine business, you +Standard people; aren’t you? I believe I’ll just +hand you over to the police.”</p> + +<p>“I wasn’t stealing your films,” protested Pep.</p> + +<p>“What do you call it, then?” sneered Slavin.</p> + +<p>“I wanted a photo for a friend of mine, who +was interested.”</p> + +<p>“Yah, that!” jibed Slavin. “It’ll be a fine +thing to have the public know that a partner in +the high and lofty Standard goes around stealing +New Idea films; won’t it, now? Say,” he added +to his partner, “we’ll just cage this fellow. It +will be a downfall for old Strapp and his crowd +and a capital advertisement for us. Call the officer +and make a regular complaint, Norris,” he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> +ordered, to the man who stood on guard between +Pep and the doorway.</p> + +<p>Pep felt that he had placed himself in something +of a quandary. He thought quickly and +to some purpose. He turned upon Slavin in a +defiant, fearless way.</p> + +<p>“You’ll do nothing of the sort, I’ll guarantee,” +he said boldly, “if you think twice about it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, is that so?” jeered Slavin. “Why +won’t I?”</p> + +<p>“Because I shall explain why I photographed +that film. I said a friend of mine wanted a picture +of the camel in it. I spoke the truth. He +wants that picture because the animal in your +film was stolen.”</p> + +<p>“The mischief!” ejaculated the partner of +Slavin, staring at Pep as if he had found him out +to be a pretty smart boy—and one to be feared.</p> + +<p>But if this man was startled—the effect upon +Slavin of Pep’s audacious statement, impolitic +though it might have been, was fairly extraordinary. +He actually paled and trembled. For a +moment his mind seemed taking in all the words +might imply. Then springing to his feet he +pounced down upon Pep.</p> + +<p>“Norris,” he spoke in husky, unsteady tones, +“take this fellow down to the lumber room. +Lock him in safe and sound. When the crowd<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> +is gone we’ll put him through the third degree. +It isn’t safe to let him loose.”</p> + +<p>“No, he knows a lot too much for our good,” +growled Slavin’s partner.</p> + +<p>Pep’s eyes glowed. He had deftly got these +men to verify his suspicions. There was something +underhanded about their possession of the +camel film. Pep had surmised correctly when +he had told Vic Belton and Randy that the starting +point in the hunt for the stolen camels was +the New Idea photo playhouse.</p> + +<p>Pep was a fighter on most occasions when +cornered. However, he knew that Slavin was +in an ugly mood. The three men he faced were +big burly ruffians. Pep did not care about being +battered. They could not detain him long, +for Randy and Vic knew that he had come to +the New Idea. They would suspect Slavin and +look for him there if he was absent for any +length of time.</p> + +<p>“Go ahead,” said Pep, indifferently. “You +won’t help yourself by locking me up.”</p> + +<p>The man Slavin had called Norris led the +youth to a door at the rear of the room.</p> + +<p>“Get down there,” he ordered, and turned on +an electric light in the vague darkness below. +As Pep descended a pair of rickety steps Norris +closed and locked the door.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span>The apartment Pep found himself in was used +as a lumber room. It seemed to run under the +entire stage space. It was littered up with damaged +chairs, pieces of boards, some stage scenery +and such trumpery as is regularly broken or discarded +in a motion picture playhouse.</p> + +<p>There was not a break in the solid stone wall +enclosing the apartment except where a deep, +barred window showed, too high for Pep to +reach. Even could he have done this and have +removed the bars, he quickly discerned that a +cat could hardly hope to squeeze through the +narrow aperture.</p> + +<p>“I’m fairly booked, I guess,” reflected the +youth. “I wonder how it will all come out? +There’s a ventilator that might help me, if I +could reach it. No, it isn’t that. It’s a dump +chute.”</p> + +<p>As Pep spoke he advanced under a hole in +the floor that formed the ceiling overhead. It +was far beyond ready reach. Studying the +break in the floor, however, he found that a box-like +structure ran up about four feet into the +room overhead. Then Pep knew that it was a +chute into which the sweepings of the playhouse +were dumped.</p> + +<p>A heap of dust, scraps of paper, splinters of +wood and the like, littered the floor. Pep the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> +inquisitive pulled the mass over. He apparently +had some leisure to spare. He proceeded to +utilize it to some purpose.</p> + +<p>He felt that he could not know too much of +the enemies of the Standard. There were quite +a lot of envelopes, postals, advertising matter +and the like. He inspected what there was. +There were several duns for unpaid bills, applications +for engagements, offers of service from +film houses.</p> + +<p>Pep’s eyes brightened as he fished out a part +of a letter. There was not much of it and he +could not find the connecting fragments, but +he felt satisfied with his discovery.</p> + +<p>“It’s from the people who got up that camel +film,” decided Pep. “‘Can make a series of +about twenty camel subjects’ that scrawl says, +‘and then work in educational nature reels like +bees, butterflies and birds. Must be secret and +cautious and will ship from B twice a week.’ +Where’s ‘B’, I wonder?”</p> + +<p>Pep pulled over the papers in the heap several +times, but he could not find the rest of the letter. +He had kicked aside a creased sheet of +manilla paper several times. Casually picking +it up, Pep noticed that it had enclosed some +goods shipped to the New Idea. It bore an address +in ink. Then he noticed that it had the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span> +impress of a red stamp in one corner. As he read +what this said he almost uttered a shout.</p> + +<p>“Got it, sure!” he crowed and he tore address +and stamped words from the manilla sheet. +“This is the paper a package of camel films +came in, sure as shooting. I want to get out of +here now, if I can. Yes, I’m going to do it.”</p> + +<p>Pep cast his eyes once more up at the ceiling +five feet overhead. Then he went over to a +long plank. This he lifted, dragged and tilted in +an incline against the side wall just under the +chute.</p> + +<p>It was no task for a healthy, nimble boy to +scale this. When Pep reached the top of the +plank he elbowed his way up into the chute, keeping +a safe anchor purchase on the top of the +board with one toe.</p> + +<p>Very cautiously he grasped the edge of the +top of the chute and stuck his head up. The +chute was located in a partitioned-off space behind +the stage. Pep lifted himself out of the +chute, felt a blast of fresh air, and groped his +way to its source, an open window.</p> + +<p>It was a ten foot drop to a paved court, and +to find his way to the nearest street was nothing. +Inside of five minutes Pep was at the hotel.</p> + +<p>Randy and Vic greeted him with expectant +faces as he burst in upon them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span>“Did you get the picture?” questioned Vic +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“No—lost my camera; but I’ve found something +better. Look here.”</p> + +<p>Pep drew forth the scrap of manilla paper. +In ink it bore the address of the New Idea. A +red stamp across one corner read “Prepaid” +and under it were the words: “Brinton, Massachusetts.”</p> + +<p>“That’s part of the covering that enclosed +the camel film,” announced Pep. “Vic, I think +you’ll find your camels at or near Brinton.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXI<br> + +<small>A GRAND SUCCESS</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">What</span> have you decided, Frank?” asked +Pep.</p> + +<p>“I think our duty to Vic is to do what we can +for him,” was the prompt reply of the whole-souled +leader of the motion picture chums.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he is a good-hearted fellow,” declared +Pep, warmly, “and he is worrying more than +you think about those camels of his.”</p> + +<p>“I can see that. I can see also,” added Frank +with a quizzical expression of face, “that you are +about as anxious as he is to play detective and +get on the track of the animals.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll do better than that man you sent out to +find the camels, I’ll bet,” vaunted Pep. “Why, +he just wasted time. Then when you gave him +the tip about Brinton, he either missed his cue or +botched it and scared away the game. No, sir—you +give Vic and me a chance and we’ll find out +where the camels are hidden unless the animals +have been spirited away to some distant place.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span>“It’s a bad time to spare you, Pep,” said +Frank, in a business-like way.</p> + +<p>“I know that,” responded Pep. “The last +two days have shown what people think of the +Standard. Wasn’t it just grand last night?”</p> + +<p>“See you in a minute, Pep,” interrupted Frank, +as Mr. Strapp called to him from the office, and +he left Pep to think over how grand, indeed, +had been the progress of the Standard since +opening up regularly.</p> + +<p>The week had started in with a programme +of only two daily entertainments—a matinee +from two to four and an evening bill from eight +to ten. This was to continue for that week to +try out the plan. The programme was quite a +long one, but this very fact induced the class of +people the Standard was reaching for to come +from a distance to an entertainment lasting two +hours.</p> + +<p>There had been almost a scramble for seats +the day before. The Standard, roomy as it was, +had its auditorium packed at both afternoon and +evening entertainments. The night before, Pep, +as he now sat recalling it, fancied he would never +forget.</p> + +<p>The feature of the evening was the most +beautiful floral film he had ever seen. It was +labelled “The Century Plant.” Professor Barrington<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span> +had held high hopes as to the attractive +qualities of this unusual film and had not been +disappointed.</p> + +<p>It appeared that a convention of horticulturists +from all over the East was being held in Boston. +The professor knew its officers. His suggestions +and influence had resulted in a viva voce +resolution on the part of the convention to go and +see the famous film in a body.</p> + +<p>By eight o’clock nearly three hundred of the +delegates and their wives filled one entire section +of the big auditorium. Then there filed in +over one hundred students from Harvard University +and Wellesley College.</p> + +<p>“You could fairly smell the perfume!” declared +Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p>It was no wonder, therefore, that Pep reflected +that he was missing a great thing in leaving +Boston on the proposed mission. He was, +however, loyal to Vic. They had become great +friends, and to Pep more particularly Vic betrayed +his deep anxiety to learn the fate of the +stolen “ships of the desert.”</p> + +<p>The day after Pep’s stirring adventures at the +New Idea he and Vic had related their details +to Frank. The latter was fully convinced that +Pep had made an important discovery. Frank at +once telegraphed to the special agent who was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> +trying to find the stolen animals to go to Brinton +and see what he could find out. As a matter of +fact the man had discovered nothing and Frank +had called him in and paid him off.</p> + +<p>Frank handed Pep a roll of bank notes as he +returned from the office of the playhouse.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Strapp thinks you and Vic had better +try your luck on this proposition,” he advised his +eager chum. “Don’t let money stand in the way +of accomplishing something.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we’re going to find those camels,” declared +the optimistic Pep. “I’d better go to the +hotel and get Vic and start for Brinton on the +first evening train.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” nodded Frank. “I’ll go with +you as far as the hotel.”</p> + +<p>“Say, Frank,” remarked Pep, as they left +the Standard, “I hope we’re not going to miss +‘the great film.’”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t think that will be ready until next +week. That reminds me, too: I must send +Randy with a message right away to Mr. Randall. +He hasn’t been feeling very well for a day +or two. I don’t want to have him think we are +neglecting him, but we have been so busy yesterday +and to-day that neither Professor Barrington +nor myself could find time to visit him.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Randall was the man who had been sent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> +out on the big film expedition. Pep and Randy +had seen him only once, and he had impressed +them greatly. He had received a joyous greeting +from the professor when he arrived, and +had at once been placed in possession of a little +studio about a mile from the playhouse. The +location was retired and pains had been taken +to keep it secret.</p> + +<p>Mr. Randall had come back from his wonderful +expedition a good deal of a wreck. One ear +had been bitten off by some beast of prey, the +other had been frozen and a part of it was missing.</p> + +<p>The scarred and battered adventurer was now +working on the development of the negatives of +the great film and had been given a full studio +equipment to perfect this.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the Standard had whetted public +curiosity and interest by putting out in the daily +prints little hints as to the coming great film. +They had also announced this grand feature on +the screen at the Standard.</p> + +<p>“I suppose Slavin and his crowd are just +worrying themselves to death guessing what the +great film really is,” Randy had remarked.</p> + +<p>Frank had decided it the best policy to leave +the New Idea crowd entirely alone. He did not +even strive to find out how they were succeeding<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span> +with their new enterprise. The bustling Pep, +however, was an inquisitive news gatherer. He +had reported only the evening before.</p> + +<p>“Slavin had no crowd at all the second night.”</p> + +<p>“And the third?” Randy had asked.</p> + +<p>“There wasn’t any third night,” explained +Pep with a grin. “They had some trouble with +the people who furnished their electric light outfit, +I heard. Anyway, they weren’t allowed to +open till they settled the bill. Last night they +ran a second camel film, but there weren’t many +there to see it.”</p> + +<p>When they got to the hotel it took Pep and +Vic only a few minutes to make up a package of +necessaries for what they believed would be a +brief trip. Frank had written a hurried note +while they were packing up.</p> + +<p>“Here, Randy,” he said, “I would like to +have you take a message to Mr. Randall and see +how he is getting along. You know where his +studio is?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” replied Randy, “I’ve been there +once already, you know. Why, it’s on the way +to your depot, fellows,” he added to Pep and +Vic. “We’ll take the walk together; eh?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing better,” chirped the lively Pep, and +the little coterie bade Frank good-bye and started +on their way.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>Pep kept up his usual brisk chattering the mile +or less they had to cover. When they came to +a point where the street leading to Randy’s +destination diverged they parted.</p> + +<p>“Come on,” directed Pep, as Randy turned +away with an expressed hope that they would +have all kinds of good luck in their mission. +Pep had found Vic staring back of him and +caught his arm urging him along.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” he added.</p> + +<p>“I was just looking,” replied Vic, rather +strangely.</p> + +<p>“Looking for what?” asked Pep.</p> + +<p>“Well, I fancied I saw two fellows who +looked a good deal like some men we saw at the +New Idea the other night dodge into a doorway +back of us. They’ve disappeared, though. Say, +do you suppose they were following us?”</p> + +<p>“If they were,” replied Pep, “I’ll fool them. +Quick, now!” as they turned a sharp corner.</p> + +<p>Out of view of any possible pursuers, Pep +made a dive through a narrow space between +two buildings and Vic followed him. In three +minutes’ time they had reached the next street.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXII<br> + +<small>A FEARFUL LOSS</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Randy</span> proceeded on his way, chirp and chipper +and whistling a careless tune. There was so +much to feel proud and happy over as to present +and future prospects, that all of life seemed to +him to be gilded with sunshine.</p> + +<p>Randy had been to the studio of Mr. Randall +once before. He knew the location generally +and had no difficulty in finding the house where +the professor’s agent lived. Its lower part was +occupied by a woman who rented out the rooms +above. She was scrubbing out the little front +hall as Randy appeared.</p> + +<p>Randy stepped past the woman and ascended +the stairs. If he had chanced to look behind +him as he left the street, he might have made out +two men dodging after him. They were the twain +who had just recently attracted the attention of +Vic and aroused the suspicions of Pep.</p> + +<p>All unconscious of being followed, Randy +proceeded to the second story of the old house.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> +The rear room of that floor was a large glass-roofed +apartment. It had been once used as a +photograph gallery. It was now being utilized +not only as a living room by Mr. Randall, but +also to develop and perfect the films he had +brought back with him from over a year’s travel +and adventure.</p> + +<p>Randy knocked at the door of the room, but +no attention was paid to the summons. He +waited a minute or two and knocked again. +There was still no invitation to enter. Randy +held his ear close to the door.</p> + +<p>“There’s surely someone in there, for I can +hear hard breathing,” he declared. “Maybe Mr. +Randall is asleep.”</p> + +<p>Randy tried the door, and the knob turned +readily in his grasp. It was quite late in the +afternoon, but by no means dusk yet. However, +the slanting glass roof had inside screens to exclude +the sunlight. These had been pulled close. +They were made of thin cambric and while they +were thin and did not entirely shut out the light, +they shadowed the interior and for a moment +caused Randy to make out his surroundings imperfectly.</p> + +<p>Then he saw that someone was lying on a +couch set in an embrasure in the wall. Randy +approached the recumbent figure. He made out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> +the man he had come to see. Mr. Randall was +apparently asleep, and the youth touched his +arm.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Randall, it’s a messenger from Professor +Barrington,” he announced.</p> + +<p>The sleeper roused up, turned over, and blinked +his eyes in a tired, bothered way at Randy. The +latter became concerned at once. The man appeared +quite ill. His face was flushed and his +eyes watery. As he sat on the edge of the couch +he moved to and fro. His hand rubbed his brow +in a confused, unsteady way. Then, as he gave +a lurch forward, Randy sprang to his side and +eased him back on the pillow, the man gasping +painfully. His hands were hot as fire and he lay +there panting weakly.</p> + +<p>“It’s another attack of the old fever coming +on,” voiced the sufferer, faintly. “You see, I +had a hard tussle of it. The Esquimaux got me +just in time. Did you say Professor Barrington +sent you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” answered Randy, “and I’m going +straight back to tell him how sick you are. +He never dreamed it and I know he will be very +anxious about you.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe it’s nothing,” said Mr. Randall. +“I’ll soon get over it. Feel very much prostrated, +though. I—I wish you would tell Professor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> +Barrington to bring a doctor with him. +And—on the table. That package. Just take it +to him, will you? I’ve got the film in shape. +He’ll find directions for the shade and color effects +in the envelopes inside.”</p> + +<p>“You mean this?” inquired Randy, as he +moved towards the table where lay an oblong +package.</p> + +<p>His fingers tingled as he placed them upon +this. The great film! The thought filled the +impressible Randy with an awed sense. Here +was the great photo production secured at the +cost of so much money, patience, intelligence and +peril!</p> + +<p>Just then the patient uttered a sharp cry and +started up on the couch, his eyes wild looking, +his hands waving about excitedly.</p> + +<p>“It’s blinding me—the sun shining on those +icebergs!” he shouted out. Then he shivered. +“The cold—the cold!” he added. “Seventy-two +below at noon! I’m perishing!”</p> + +<p>“He’s out of his mind—he’s delirious,” exclaimed +Randy, very greatly alarmed. He replaced +the package on the table and hastened +down the stairs. The woman below was just +wiping off the stone sill of the street doorway.</p> + +<p>“Quick!” he spoke—“the gentleman upstairs +is dangerously ill.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span>“I knew that,” interrupted the woman. “I +wanted to bring him hot tea when I was cleaning +up his room just now, but he said it was +nothing.”</p> + +<p>“He is in a fever and out of his head,” said +Randy. “Could you go up and stay with him +till I come back and watch him to see that he +does himself no harm? I must fetch a doctor at +once.”</p> + +<p>“Surely I’ll attend to him,” responded the +woman, readily.</p> + +<p>“Where can I find the nearest doctor?” inquired +Randy.</p> + +<p>“There’s none very near here that I know +of,” said the woman. “The way we do is to +go to the nearest drug store.”</p> + +<p>“Keep a watch on Mr. Randall,” was Randy’s +hasty direction, and he bolted through the open +doorway for the street.</p> + +<p>He almost ran into two men who stood at one +side of the steps as he flew down them. They +must have overheard his conversation with the +landlady of the house, was the thought that flitted +through Randy’s mind. He was so intent on +calling aid for the sufferer, however, that he paid +no particular attention to the men.</p> + +<p>Randy ran all the way to the drug store, two +squares distant. Its proprietor stared rather<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span> +wonderingly at the breathless, excited boy who +dashed into the place precipitately.</p> + +<p>“Mister, will you call the nearest doctor, +quick!” panted Randy.</p> + +<p>“Urgent case?” questioned the druggist.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, very much so,” declared Randy. +“It’s right on this street—No. 217.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Dean’s? I know the place,” nodded +the druggist. “You had better wait till I see who +I can get,” and the speaker hurried to the telegraph +booth.</p> + +<p>Randy was on pins and needles of suspense. +He knew that Professor Barrington would never +forgive himself if anything happened to his faithful +agent through any real or seeming neglect. +The druggist had to make several calls on the +telephone before he found a doctor at home.</p> + +<p>“I’ve caught Dr. Rolfe at home,” he advised +Randy as he came out of the booth. “He says +he’ll come at once. His office is a mile away, +though, and it will probably be fully fifteen minutes +before he shows up.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, thank you,” said Randy, gratefully. “I +must hurry back,” and he bolted out.</p> + +<p>He was dreadfully stirred up and anxious as +he ran up the steps of the house he had recently +left. The stairway was dark and shadowy. +Someone coming down them half-way up jostled<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span> +violently against Randy. The latter supposed it +was some roomer in the place. Then, as he +reached the upper hall, he almost bolted into the +landlady. She had just come up the rear stairs +from the kitchen, it appeared, and she carried a +basin of steaming hot water in her hands.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s you?” she hailed. “I was just +bringing the doctor some boiling water he +ordered. You got him here very quick; didn’t +you?”</p> + +<p>“What doctor?” bolted out Randy.</p> + +<p>“The one you went for. He got here ahead of +you. I took him up to the studio and he sent me +for this.”</p> + +<p>“The doctor—here?” cried Randy. “That is +impossible! The doctor the druggist telephoned +for lives a mile away and couldn’t possibly get +here inside of the next fifteen minutes.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand—” began the landlady, +but Randy darted past her.</p> + +<p>“Something’s wrong,” he faltered, as he +crossed the threshold of the studio. “See,” he +added to the landlady—“there is no doctor here.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I left him here not two minutes since,” +declared the woman, staring about the room and +almost dropping the basin she carried in her +sheer amaze and bewilderment.</p> + +<p>Randy’s quick eyes swept the room with a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span> +swift, comprehending glance. Mr. Randall lay +quiet as if exhausted on the couch where Randy +had seen him last. Except for him and themselves +the apartment held no occupant.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Randy uttered a startled cry. It was +a fairly terrified one, shocking afresh the already +disturbed nerves of the landlady.</p> + +<p>“Where is the package that was on that +table?” he cried, wildly.</p> + +<p>“Eh—oh, yes, I noticed it when I went for +the hot water. It’s gone; isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Gone—it’s been stolen!” shouted Randy, almost +overcome by the discovery. “Oh, I see it +all. It was no doctor whom you saw.”</p> + +<p>“But he said he was,” declared the landlady. +“He said he was sent for. He even mentioned +Mr. Randall’s name and—”</p> + +<p>Randy did not wait to hear the rest of the +sentence. He was out of the room, down the +stairs, and out upon the street in a flash. The +worst of fears appalled him.</p> + +<p>“Those two men!” he faltered, gazing up and +down the deserted street. “They must have +followed me! They overheard me and one of +them impersonated the doctor. They are gone +and with them,—oh the fearful loss!—the great +film!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIII<br> + +<small>“GETTING WARM”</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was well on towards midnight when Pep +and Vic reached Brinton. There had been two +changes to make and the village was asleep when +they got off the cars at the little railroad depot. +Its door was locked, they were the only passengers +who had left the train and they stood looking +about them in a cheerless, undecided way.</p> + +<p>Brinton was decidedly a way-back, one-horse +town. When they traced the only light visible +to its source, the boys found that it hung over +the doorway of a little restaurant. Across this +there was a sign reading: “<i>Hotel</i>.”</p> + +<p>They had to knock long and loud to arouse a +frowsy appearing old man, who opened the door +and viewed them with a sleepy and unfriendly eye.</p> + +<p>“What do you want?” he challenged, holding +the door open about two inches.</p> + +<p>“A room, if you’ve got it,” was Pep’s prompt +reply.</p> + +<p>Somewhat grudgingly the old man finally admitted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span> +them. He waited until they had produced +a dollar, which was his demand for a double-bedded +room. Then he led them to the apartment.</p> + +<p>The boys made a very fair shift in getting +comfortably landed in beds that sagged at one +end and bumped up in the center.</p> + +<p>They were supplied with a capital breakfast +in the morning, to their surprise this being included +in the one dollar paid in advance.</p> + +<p>“Now then—what?” inquired Vic, as they +came out upon the street.</p> + +<p>“Why, my idea is to see the express agent +here. It was by express that the film we saw at +the New Idea came. It was stamped as coming +from here. We’ll make for the depot first.”</p> + +<p>The boys came across the man in charge of +the railroad depot. He was a loose-jointed, lazy-acting +man who pottered about as if he was tired +of living.</p> + +<p>“Are you in charge here, mister?” inquired +Pep.</p> + +<p>“Yes, depot agent, telegraph operator, real +estate, loans and insurance on the side, baggage +master——”</p> + +<p>“Stop there,” said Pep. “That’s where we +want you. We are looking up some packages +that have been sent from here to the New Idea,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span> +a picture show in Boston.”</p> + +<p>“Hello!” exclaimed the man with a start—“you’re +the second one.”</p> + +<p>“Second one, what?” propounded Pep.</p> + +<p>“To come here, asking about them packages. +Yes, there’s been two we sent—‘John Smith’ to +the ‘New Idea.’ Don’t believe that’s his right +name, though. He sent two of the packages, as +I say. About a week ago he stopped sending +’em. Haven’t seen him since.”</p> + +<p>“About a week ago?” ruminated Pep. “I +can guess that Slavin sent him a warning. +Where did the man come from?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Dunno, and no one else. A man who was +here a few days since asked me that same question. +I gave him a description of the man. He +went out searching for him, but he came back +and took the train for Boston next morning, looking +sort of discouraged, so I reckon he didn’t +find out much.”</p> + +<p>“The detective Frank Durham hired, I’ll bet,” +whispered Vic to Pep.</p> + +<p>“Likely enough,” replied the latter. Then he +said to the station agent: “Describe the man to +us, too; will you, mister?”</p> + +<p>The agent did so, “John Smith” was tall, +dark and wore a light suit. He had come to the +depot on two occasions on horseback, and, it +looked, from some distance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span>“You’d know that hoss if you saw him,” declared +the man. “He was a succus hoss.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, a circus horse?” guessed Pep.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I said—all mottled like a zebra. +And spotted—brown and white. Say, is there +something wrong about that fellow that so many +people are looking after him?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing that you are mixed up in,” assured +Pep. Then he learned the direction the shipper +of the packages had come from, and he and Vic +went outside and held a brief consultation.</p> + +<p>“South,” decided Pep, “and that road,” and +he pointed in the direction the man they were +seeking had taken when last seen by the express +agent. “Now then, my opinion is this man +comes from some movies camp probably quite a +distance from Brinton and in an isolated spot. +The railroad map shows no railway to the west +for thirty miles. We will follow this road till +we strike that line. Then we will make inquiries +at the stations we reach if we don’t strike a clew +before then.”</p> + +<p>“I hope we may do that, Pep,” sighed Vic. +“This looks like a dreadful tangle.”</p> + +<p>“We’re here to untangle things; aren’t we?” +demanded Pep. “Here’s the programme: You +take one side of the road, and I’ll take the other. +We must make inquiries at every farm house we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span> +come to about a tall dark man and a piebald +circus horse.”</p> + +<p>That was tedious work. At noon they came +to a little village some ten miles from their starting +point. It had a few houses only and a small +general store. The boys bought some crackers +and cheese and rested for an hour while they +compared notes. Altogether they had found five +persons who recalled seeing the mottled horse. +They had only casually noticed it, however, and +had no idea of where it came from or where it +was going.</p> + +<p>“Well,” commented Pep, “we’re only sure +of one thing.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” inquired Vic.</p> + +<p>“That the man we are looking for came this +far, homeward bound on this road.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s so,” agreed Vic, “for the people +in the last house you called at saw the horse, and +that was less than a mile away.”</p> + +<p>During the next two hours they found only +one more person, a field hand, who had seen the +circus horse and its rider. Then they seemed +to have lost the trail. There were many confusing +cross roads, and the boys were uncertain as +to which they should pursue. It was fairly dusk, +when dusty, travel worn and tired out, they +entered a farm yard and put their usual question<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> +to a man refreshing himself at the pump after +a hard day’s work.</p> + +<p>“We’ll put up here till morning, if they can +accommodate us,” Pep told Vic. “Say, mister,” +he added, advancing to the farmer, “have +you seen anything of a man and a horse—” and +Pep rattled off the tiresome formula comprising +a description of man and beast.</p> + +<p>“A piebald horse!” fairly snorted the man, +looking both interested and suspicious—“no, I +haven’t; but I’d give a dollar to anyone who +has.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” spoke Pep, pricking up his ears +and believing he was going to find out something +of value. “Why do you say that?”</p> + +<p>“Because I’m looking for jest sech an animal,” +was the spirited reply. “Night afore last someone +drove into my orchard over by the field gate +with a wagon and a sheet. He lifted one of my +bee hives, stand and all, wrapped it in the sheet +and scooted.”</p> + +<p>“But you didn’t see who did it?” queried Vic, +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“No, but a neighbor boy coming home late +did. That’s how I know about the horse being +a piebald one. He saw the sheet tied around +the hive and got scared. Thought at first it +was a ghost.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span>“We are looking for just that horse,” Pep advised +the farmer.</p> + +<p>“Oh, robbed you, too?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, the people who own that horse did +worse than that. We’ve been hunting for them +the last twenty miles.”</p> + +<p>“You won’t find that horse, I’m thinking,” +said the farmer. “The animile is a total stranger +to these parts. Never heard none such in +the country. My boys spent a hull day trying +to run down the varmints.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we are on the track of the thieves,” +said Pep, “and we’ve got to run them to cover. +Can you put us up for to-night, mister?”</p> + +<p>The farmer looked the boys over critically. +Pep had taken out his pocketbook and that had +some influence.</p> + +<p>“I calculate I can,” he said. “How do I +know, though, that you hain’t in cahoots with +the crowd that took that bee hive, come to get +hold of something more?”</p> + +<p>“I guess I haven’t got as honest a face as you +have,” replied Pep naively. “If I had, you’d +trust me. Here,” and he extended the pocketbook. +“There’s over a hundred dollars there. +You can keep it as security until morning to feel +safe that we won’t make away with your property.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span>“Put it up, put it up,” said the farmer, hastily, +shamed by the boyish appeal of Pep and a glance +at the wistful, appealing eyes of Vic. “I was +only fooling. You can stay, and if you’ll agree +to let me know if you get track of them robbers +it’ll cost you nothing.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we will surely do that,” promised Pep, +“but we want to pay for what we eat.”</p> + +<p>“None of that—I’ve said my say,” retorted the +farmer. “Just sit down on the stoop till I shut +up the tool house and I’ll take you in to marm.”</p> + +<p>“What are you thinking of, Pep?” at once inquired +Vic, as left alone with him his companion’s +face was crossed by a reflective smile.</p> + +<p>“I’m thinking that we’re ‘getting warm,’” +replied Pep, briskly. “No regular thief would +drive away with only one bee hive. He’d take +two or a dozen. To my way of thinking, that +mottled horse we are after carted away that bee +hive to some movies camp near here to get up +‘an educational film.’”</p> + +<p>“I’ll bet you’ve hit it!” cried Vic Belton, +hopefully.</p> + +<p>“Of course I have,” declared Pep. “The +horse this farmer describes is the very horse +we’ve been trying to run down; isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that is sure,” assented Vic.</p> + +<p>“Those movies fellows wouldn’t rummage all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span> +over the country to steal a bee hive,” continued +the confident Pep. “They would naturally select +the nearest point where they could find +one. They weren’t after honey, or they would +have brought a tub and robbed the whole line of +hives. Why, it’s clear as crystal to me. They +wanted the material for a bee film.”</p> + +<p>“Say, Pep, you’re just smart, the way you figure +things out so quick and right,” commended +Vic, who had come to like his new comrade so +greatly that he considered him the cleverest fellow +in the world. “That movies crowd must +have a regular hideout, though, to be able to come +and go with no one able to find out where they +have their camp.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, they seem to have fixed themselves right +in getting out of the way when they want to,” +admitted Pep. “You see, though, this district +isn’t very well filled up and it would take a long +time to go all over it. I think we are ‘getting +warm,’ though, as I told you. There’s something +in the back of my head tells me we are +closer to them than we have been before. We’ll +take a fresh start in the morning and see what +we can make out.”</p> + +<p>“Say, there’s where I can help!” exclaimed +Vic, suddenly, and he darted away to where two +boys were driving some cows from pasture into +a shed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span>“I’ve got my twelve quarts fair and square,” +announced Vic triumphantly, at the end of +fifteen minutes, and he lifted his pail foaming +nearly to the brim. “Why, you’re ages behind +me,” he rallied his competitors.</p> + +<p>The incident made the quartette quite chummy. +They went in to an excellent supper. Vic was in +high spirits over the exercise and excitement of +his exploit. He jollied his rivals in true farm +boy fashion. Finally Pep brought up the bee +hive incident, and the farm boys learned of his +interest in the despoilers who had visited them.</p> + +<p>“I say, Pep,” observed one of them, “you +ought to try my plan of trailing that stolen hive. +I read about it in a farm paper and maybe there’s +something to it.”</p> + +<p>“What was that?” asked Vic, curiously.</p> + +<p>“Why, yesterday I noticed that the bees in +the next hive to the stand where the hive was +stolen were gone all day. They didn’t go near +the clover field. This morning there were only +about half the regular bees in that hive. The +others didn’t come back.”</p> + +<p>“Why,” queried Pep, animatedly, “you don’t +think they’ve gone after the stolen bees?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, that’s just what I do think,” insisted +the lad who had spoken. “Some of ’em +couldn’t find the other hives, maybe, and came +back; but where are the missing ones?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span>“Say,” exclaimed Vic, “that’s a great idea! +If you could only follow them——”</p> + +<p>“Pshaw!” dissented the farmer, “what do the +newspapers know about bees? They just make +up all kinds of ridiculous things to fill up their +columns.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I believe they know something about +it in this case,” declared his son. “Why don’t +you let me try it, Pop? The papers says to +sprinkle the bees with fine flour and keep sight +of them for miles and miles.”</p> + +<p>“Rubbish!” retorted the self-opinionated +father, but after a general discussion of the +situation he agreed “to fool away the time on the +nonsensical experiment,” as he called it.</p> + +<p>Bright and early in the morning both Pep and +Vic were down at the breakfast table. The +farmer’s boys had already attended to the flouring +of the bees and told them about it. They took +their guests to the orchard and showed them the +hive they had doctored. Then they had to start +for their work in the fields.</p> + +<p>“I declare, you’ve been right good and entertaining,” +declared the farmer, as Pep and Vic +came to the house to say good-bye. “None of +that!” he roared, as Pep started to take out his +pocketbook. “You let us have the news if you +find out anything, hey?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span>“We will do just that, you can depend upon +it,” promised Pep.</p> + +<p>Then the boys went back to the orchard. The +bees had begun to come out of the hive. They +fluttered around, shook their wings, rolled into +the grass and seemed working to get the foreign +substance from their bodies. Some of them returned +to the hive, some followed the denizens +of other hives to the clover field. Then one by +one, until they comprised quite a floating cloud, +a great many of them headed down the road.</p> + +<p>“There’s our start,” announced Vic, triumphantly. +“All we’ve got to do is to follow them; +eh, Pep?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, of course we must do that,” was the +answer. “As to keeping them in sight, though, +that is another question.”</p> + +<p>After that they tramped several miles, coming +across single bees resting in flowers as if +they had given up the task of going any further. +Then, too, some bees headed back in the direction +of the farm. The trailers were so tired out and +hungry by about eleven o’clock that they sat +down in a little thicket, and decided to rest for +an hour and eat the generous lunch the farmer’s +wife had provided for them.</p> + +<p>Both dozed for a spell. Pep nudged his snoozing +companion at length and started to wrap up<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span> +the remnants of their feast. As he stooped over +to do this, he drew back suddenly with the sharp +sudden hail:</p> + +<p>“Come here, Vic—quick!”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” inquired his comrade, rising to +his feet and approaching.</p> + +<p>“Look there. See, where the sugar off those +cookies has littered the paper.”</p> + +<p>“Why, there’s half a dozen bees—our floured +ones, too.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” said Pep. “Now then, try +and keep them in sight,” and he gave the newspaper +a smart flip, scattering the sugar into the +grass. Instantly the intruders arose, circled +about in the air and then made a true bee-line +away from the spot.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIV<br> + +<small>THE MOVIES CAMP</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Say</span>, we can’t go there,” spoke Vic, as they +followed an erratic dash through the thicket, +coming to a spongy meadow, a rise created with +undergrowth and finally the edge of a bog.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to,” declared Pep. “For the last +ten minutes all of the bees have disappeared except +two of them, which flew right in among +those high rushes.”</p> + +<p>“I say,” cried Vic, abruptly, “there’s a stream +of them flying into the bog! See—see! They’ve +dropped! No, there they are again.”</p> + +<p>The boys followed the edge of the swamp for +over half a mile. Suddenly, a few feet in advance +of Pep, his companion came to a staring +halt and cried out:</p> + +<p>“There they are!”</p> + +<p>Pep hurried to Vic’s side to obtain a glimpse +of an opening in the flags and willows. A quarter +of a mile away, sloping up ten feet above surrounding +water and bog land, was an island. It +was well wooded, but through the trees in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span> +centre they could see some kind of a high-boarded +enclosure.</p> + +<p>“See it?” cried the excited Vic. “I’ll bet +we’ve discovered something. Looks like a stockade.”</p> + +<p>“We have located our people,” asserted Pep, +with a thrill of exultation in his voice. “The +boards around that enclosure look just like those +in the film.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s find out right off if my camels are in +there,” spoke Vic, eagerly.</p> + +<p>Pep looked dubiously at the prospect before +them. The large area surrounding the island +was at places covered with water several feet +in depth, at others with a sticky mass of black +mire. There might be some more secure way of +reaching it from the other side of the swamp, +but this would necessitate a three or four miles’ +tramp.</p> + +<p>“I’ve a good mind to try it,” remarked Pep, +after a brief thinking spell. “See here, Vic, +there seems to be more of mushy mud from here +across than at the first place where we struck +the swamp. There’s clumps of flag roots here +and there, and I think we can get across.”</p> + +<p>“I think so, too,” responded Vic. “We can +try it, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>The boys divested themselves of their shoes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span> +and stockings, rolled up their trousers above their +knees, selected two long stout poles from the +debris of a fallen tree, and started forth on their +expedition, Pep in the lead.</p> + +<p>It was no easy nor pleasant task they had +chosen. They discovered this before they were +half-way across the swampy stretch of ground. +There were places where a misstep sent them +waist deep into a spongy mass of rotted bog +grass. At others a jump to a seemingly solid +clump of roots sent the water spurting up about +them in cascades.</p> + +<p>Twice Vic got mired in the mud and Pep had +to pull him out. They were fully an hour getting +to the edge of the island. Thus far they +had caught no sight of anybody about the place. +They were so exhausted, that as they reached +dry land at last they threw themselves down upon +the ground, panting for breath and completely exhausted.</p> + +<p>“That was a hard pull,” spoke Pep, at length. +“Say,” he added, pointing, “just as we calculated +there is a kind of a road, or rather half +solid path, leading from the island across that +other side of the bog.”</p> + +<p>“I see it,” responded Vic and he got up and +ran to the outside of the high, board enclosure. +“Pep! Pep!” he instantly whispered, beckoning.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span>In an instant both lads were peering through a +broad crack between two boards. Their hearts +fluttered and their eyes distended. An old man +was setting up some painted scenery screens. +Just beyond him was a kind of shed, or covered +stall. Within it, feeding on some hay, was a +camel.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” gasped Vic, tumultuously, “it must be +mine!”</p> + +<p>They could view only the hind feet of the +animal and could make out that one of these was +encircled by a chain running to an iron stake +driven into the ground.</p> + +<p>“We’ve found one of your stolen camels,” +proclaimed Pep, in a satisfied tone. “There +don’t seem to be anybody around except that +old man. Judging from the costumes and features +lying around, though, it’s easy to see that +this is a regular movies camp.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps the rest of the crowd have gone +somewhere to act out a scene,” suggested Vic. +“Say, Pep. I’m going to find out if that is +really mine and if the others are here.”</p> + +<p>As he spoke Vic drew from his pocket a three-tubed +wooden whistle. Pep had seen this before, +for Vic had shown it to him on several occasions +and explained its use. Bill Purvis had +given it to him, telling him that it was a signal<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span> +whistle to which the camels always responded. In +fact he guided the animals through the whistle, +which he had made himself and which gave out a +triple hollow note unlike any whistle Pep had ever +heard before.</p> + +<p>“Try it, if you want to,” advised Pep, and +Vic placed the whistle to his lips. He blew one +brief trilling blast.</p> + +<p>“Gracious!” ejaculated Pep.</p> + +<p>“It’s my camel!” exclaimed the overjoyed Vic.</p> + +<p>That strange echoing call had produced a +startling effect. There was a roar from the shed +confining the camel and then a ripping, tearing +sound. Out of the stall the animal swung, tearing +up the iron stake which now dangled from +the end of the chain behind him.</p> + +<p>The old man within the enclosure turned to +view the aroused camel with frightened eyes. +He ran for a sharp-pointed spear nearby. Before +he could reach the animal, however, the +camel—for the mark on the forefoot proved that +it was one of the stolen pets of Bill Purvis—had +made a reckless, devastating dash for the spot +outside where the familiar signal call had +sounded.</p> + +<p>“He’s coming straight for the fence,” shouted +Pep. “Get out of the way, quick!”</p> + +<p>There was a frightful crash. The high boards<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span> +went hurtling to splinters. The animal crowded +past the wreckage as if the barrier had been made +of tissue paper.</p> + +<p>Overjoyed, but with a great deal of trepidation, +Vic ran in the direction of the beaten way +forming a sort of passage to the mainland, Pep +accompanying him. The camel started after +them, as if he, too, sought a means of leaving the +island where he had been a captive.</p> + +<p>The animal dropped the furious manner he +had shown when he had made his onslaught upon +the fence of the enclosure. He looked as pleasant +at the boys as a camel can look. Apparently +there would have been no trouble whatever, had +not the old man rushed out through the hole in +the fence carrying a sharp, hooked pole.</p> + +<p>As he saw the boys he shook his fist at them, +as if connecting them with the disaster of the +moment. Then he ran up behind the camel and +viciously buried the pointed end of the hook deep +in one flank. The animal uttered a shrill cry +of pain and then turned on the man and gave +him a savage nip in the arm.</p> + +<p>Surprised and alarmed, the man turned and +ran away. At that same moment came other +strange sounds from a sort of barn not far away.</p> + +<p>“Look!” cried Pep.</p> + +<p>“The other camels!” yelled Vic, joyfully.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span>He was right, from out of the structure three +more camels had come. They now ran to join +the leader, and all trotted behind Vic and Pep.</p> + +<p>“Let us lead them to that farm!” cried Vic.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we had better get out of here while we +have time,” was the panting answer.</p> + +<p>“We’ll ride!” went on the owner of the +camels. “Wait, I’ll show you how.”</p> + +<p>He made two of the beasts kneel down and he +climbed up on the back of one and Pep got on +the back of the other. Then the boys lost no +time in finding their way through the marsh +once more. Several times they looked back, but +saw nothing of any pursuers.</p> + +<p>They breathed more freely as, four hours later, +they came within sight of the Bacon place. The +camels in their cumbersome but steady way had +kept up a tramp without a single halt.</p> + +<p>There was a startled scream from the kitchen +of the Bacon homestead as its mistress caught +sight of the camels walking into the yard and +approaching the water trough. From the direction +of the fields Pep saw Mr. Bacon and his +two sons scampering towards them, attracted by +a distant sight of the unfamiliar intruders.</p> + +<p>They had just reached the center of activity +and Pep had barely made them understand the situation,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span> +when two horsemen came dashing along +the road they had just followed.</p> + +<p>One of them rode the piebald horse that had +been so often described to the boys during their +search for its owner.</p> + +<p>“You’ve stolen our camels!” shouted its rider, +leaping to the ground. “Slip the chain hooks on +’em, Ben,” he spoke to his companion.</p> + +<p>“They are mine!” cried Vic. “You stole +them once. You’d better leave them alone and be +off, or you’ll get yourself in a whole heap of +trouble.”</p> + +<p>“No, he won’t be off,” sounded a grim voice, +and Farmer Bacon, who had momentarily run +into the house, now ran out of it. He held a +double-barreled shotgun in his hand.</p> + +<p>“See here, what is this your business?” demanded +the first movies man.</p> + +<p>“Just this! that horse of yours drove away +with one of my bee hives two nights ago. Dick,” +went on the farmer to one of his sons, “Saddle +Nellie and get lickety-switch to Squire Bisbee. +Tell him to fetch a couple of constables with him. +I’m going to sift this business and know the +rights of things before you leave this farm, stranger!”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXV<br> + +<small>EXCELSOR!—CONCLUSION</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">It’s</span> great news!” declared Mr. Strapp.</p> + +<p>“Grand—wonderful!” added Professor Barrington. +“That Pep Smith of yours is a genius. +As to this Vic Belton, he deserves his good fortune +in every way.”</p> + +<p>The “great news” was the arrival of a letter +from Pep, reciting his own and the adventure of +Vic in their search for the stolen camels. Farmer +Bacon had soon straightened out matters. The +leader of the movies bandits was in jail for stealing, +his accomplices had fled, and the camp on the +swamp island was broken up and deserted.</p> + +<p>The two young heroes, as the admiring Ben +Jolly insisted on dubbing them, had the camels in +safe and comfortable charge and would be in +Boston and back at the Standard the next day.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Frank, brightly, “things are +coming out finely all along the line. We should +be very happy and hopeful, Professor, over the +wonderful success of your educational films.”</p> + +<p>“There’s no doubt of that,” acknowledged the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span> +old savant gratefully, but he added with a sigh: +“if we only hadn’t lost the great film!”</p> + +<p>“Forget it!” instantly advised Mr. Strapp, in +his brusque, practical way. “It’s gone, and we +haven’t any time to spare crying over spilled +milk. That Slavin crowd got it. There is no +doubt of that, according to my way of thinking.”</p> + +<p>“It hasn’t brought them much luck,” submitted +Ben Jolly. “Randy here says they’ve not +had the money to go on smoothly. They have +almost dropped the educational line, working in +two ‘funnies’ for part of their programme. Just +as you said at the start, too, Durham, their location +is wrong. It’s just far enough off the +lively belt to lose the transients.”</p> + +<p>“I think we had better give up any idea of ever +getting trace of the stolen film,” said Frank. +“It is my opinion that it has been destroyed, just +to block us. If Slavin hasn’t, he can’t dispose of +it in this country without implicating himself as +a thief. He knows, too, that as soon as it is used +we can stop it and get it back. Going to the +hotel, Randy?”</p> + +<p>“No, I’ve got something to attend to.”</p> + +<p>“Pretty late in the evening for business; isn’t +it?” questioned Frank, curiously.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” answered Randy, very seriously. +“I’ve been watching the New Idea and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span> +I’m going to keep it up until I find out something.”</p> + +<p>“You mean about the stolen film? Don’t +waste the time, Randy,” advised Frank. “As +to how their show is progressing, we don’t care a +snap of a finger. They are pretty nearly at the +end of their rope. Did you know that Trudelle, +the partner of Slavin, met Mr. Strapp on the +street yesterday and hinted at selling out to him +if he would pay a liberal bonus on the lease?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t,” replied Randy, “but I do know +that Slavin and Trudelle are quarrelling with one +another most of the time. I’ve got a friend in +one of their ushers—and he’s keeping me posted.”</p> + +<p>It was to meet this friend in question that +Randy now proceeded to the neighborhood of the +New Idea, instead of going with the others to +their hotel. Randy could not get the great film +out of his mind, and an incident had occurred a +night previous that had started him on a plan +for getting as close to the affairs of Slavin as was +possible. His idea in doing this was the hope +that he might find out what had become of the +great film.</p> + +<p>Randy had been passing the New Idea late at +night. The place had been shut up for over an +hour, but one of the entrance doors was open and +a young fellow about his own age sat outside—on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span> +a stool. He was crying and Randy went up +to him.</p> + +<p>Sympathy and help was what the lad wanted, +Randy soon found out. He was an usher and +handy boy about the place, slept behind the stage +nights, and he said had not been paid his wages +for a week. He had asked for some money to +send to a sick mother after the show that night. +Slavin, in an ugly mood, had refused to give him +even the two dollars he so badly needed and had +kicked him over on a chair, badly bruising his arm.</p> + +<p>“And Slavin and his partner take what money +comes in and go off every night with it, playing +cards and wasting it,” complained the little fellow, +bitterly.</p> + +<p>“Will they be back again to-night?” asked +Randy.</p> + +<p>Yes, the boy said they usually returned a little +after midnight and sat up quarrelling usually. +Randy fancied he saw his chance. He told the +boy he would let him have the two dollars and +would see that he got a better job, if he would let +him share the little den he occupied back of the +stage.</p> + +<p>Randy did not entirely explain to the lad +what he was after when he made his second +visit, after leaving his friends at the Standard. +The boy, however, had little love for his swindling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span> +employers and did not much care. It was +thus that, an hour later, Randy found himself +just where he wanted to be—in a room adjoining +the office of the New Idea.</p> + +<p>About one o’clock Slavin and Trudelle came +into the office apartment. The latter acted reckless +and as if he was under the influence of drink. +Slavin began to upbraid him for gambling away +some money he had taken from the box office.</p> + +<p>“Huh! what you got to kick about?” growled +Trudelle. “You’ve got that big film. You say +it’s a fortune. Why don’t you turn it into +cash?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’ve got it and I intend to keep it,” retorted +Slavin. “I’ll tell you one thing: If you +don’t straighten up I’ll quit and get to a place +where I can find my price for that little piece of +property.”</p> + +<p>“It’s half mine. Aren’t we partners?” demanded +Trudelle. There was some fierce bickering, +he shook his fist in his partner’s face and +Slavin picked up a chair and knocked him flat.</p> + +<p>All this Randy saw and overheard, crouched +close to the partition which had several cracks in +it. He noticed Slavin glance viciously and then +uneasily at the senseless man on the floor. Then +he went over to the desk, opened it, and began +hurriedly to ransack its drawers, selecting several<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span> +papers and stowing them in his pocket. Suddenly +Slavin, as if seized with some urgent idea, +shouted out:</p> + +<p>“Jim—hey, you boy Jim, come in here.”</p> + +<p>“Go ahead,” whispered Randy. “See what +he wants.”</p> + +<p>The boy Jim entered the office room and +Slavin took a key out of his pocket.</p> + +<p>“See here,” he said, “if you want your back +pay and something more, all in cash, take that key +and go to the place where I room. You know +where it is?”</p> + +<p>“I’ve been there a dozen times—yes, sir,” answered +Jim.</p> + +<p>“Well, you get quietly to my room. There’s +a broken trunk under the bed. In the bottom is +a package done up in a pasteboard box. You +can’t miss it. Fetch it here and I’ll pay you as +I say.”</p> + +<p>“Let me go instead of you,” whispered Randy, +breathlessly, as Jim returned to his room. “Go +to my hotel,” and he told the lad where it was. +“Wait for me there and I’ll give you double +what that man promised.”</p> + +<p>“You will?” challenged Jim, earnestly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and a position at the Standard in the +bargain. Slavin is arranging to run away, I can +see that.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span>The boy Jim agreed willingly. Randy’s pulses +beat high as he left the New Idea by the rear. +Jim, accompanying him as far as the hotel, told +him in detail of the location of Slavin’s room.</p> + +<p>“If it’s only the great film that Slavin has sent +for!” cogitated Randy, as he hurried on his way. +“It looks so. He’s going to throw up his hands +here and maybe make for Europe, where he could +dispose of it easily.”</p> + +<p>Twenty minutes later, as Randy reached the +room indicated and lifted the box Slavin had told +about from under the bed, he made investigation +enough to be sure that he had found what he had +hoped to find. It was the great film.</p> + +<p>Frank was still up reading, Mr. Strapp and +Professor Barrington were going over some business +papers. All hands looked up in startled wonderment +as their young friend fairly burst into +the room.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Frank!” almost shouted the breathless +Randy—“I’ve got it!”</p> + +<p>“Got what?” inquired the professor, lifting +his astonished eyes to the excited lad.</p> + +<p>“The great film—and there it is!” and Randy +placed the parcel before him. A satisfied smile +passed over the face of Mr. Hank Strapp of +Montana. He grasped the hand of his young +partner in a grip that made Randy wince.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span>“Great, boy!” was all he said. “I’d be proud +to be your father!”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>It was a gala night at the Standard. The +decks had been cleared for action; the occasion +heralded all over the city. The great film was +to be produced.</p> + +<p>All the motion picture chums were present. +Pep and Vic had returned from their adventurous +quest of the camels, more in love with the +beautiful playhouse than ever. The sale of the +camels was under negotiation and it looked as +though Vic Belton in a few days would have +a tidy sum to share with his faithful old friend, +Bill Purvis.</p> + +<p>The New Idea was completely off the books. +There was no doubt that Slavin had planned to +flee to Europe with the stolen film. He had disappeared, +and his partner closed up the playhouse +with a broken head and an empty pocket.</p> + +<p>Mr. Randall was in the audience and the boy +Jim was an usher. The handsome reception entrance +was crowded with waiting throngs, for +the “full house” signs had been put up half an +hour previous.</p> + +<p>Then as the curtain went up, for the first time +in the history of motion photography the wonders +of the polar world were exhibited to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span> +world. Mr. Randall was something more than +a mere photographer. He had infused his scenes +with rare human interest, every one of them.</p> + +<p>“A New World” was a faithful reproduction +of all that appertained to the far away, almost +unattainable Arctic circle. The film was four +thousand feet in length, divided into that number +of sections, and a story and a romance were deftly +woven into it.</p> + +<p>A spellbound audience saw something new, indeed—pictures +of a land and people that they +had only heard of or read about in books.</p> + +<p>There was shown the building of a snow house, +the capture and skinning of the bearded seal, the +hunting of the caribou and ptarmigan, the skin +boats of the natives, the most northerly white +man’s dwelling on the continent. There were the +dog teams of the Esquimaux, the famous mud +volcano on Lagton Bay, the wreck of a great +whaler, cooking with oil for fuel, heather and +dwarf willows, and a scene showing polar bears +swimming in the sea.</p> + +<p>The last film seemed to revivify some grand +transformation scene. It was here that the art +of the expert Randall shone at its full zenith. +There burst upon the view of the enchanted +audience the glories of the aurora borealis.</p> + +<p>There was one unified breath of delight as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span> +the last reel ran off. A flutter of the most grateful +appreciation swayed the great audience, and +the motion picture chums realized that the future +of the Standard photo playhouse was assured.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to celebrate,” voiced bluff, hearty +Mr. Hank Strapp, as the last light went out in +the beautiful playhouse. “Entertaining the world +in the right way is a big thing. Educating ’em at +the same time is a bigger thing. My friends,” +and he gazed devotedly at the bright faces of his +young business associates, “it was a lucky day +when Mr. Hank Strapp of Montana met you—yes, +sir!”</p> + +<p>“You have made my last days my best days,” +said the old professor, with a tender touch of +feeling.</p> + +<p>“Why,” cried the impetuous Pep, “this is only +a beginning in the educational film field.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we must keep our eyes open for still +other conquests,” declared Frank Durham in his +cheery, confident way.</p> + +<p>And so we leave the motion picture chums, +who had scored their last and greatest triumph +through diligence, pluck and loyalty—each to the +other, and all to their many friends.</p> + +<p class="center">THE END</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote"> +<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> + +<p>Perceived typographical errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> + +<p>Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.</p> +</div></div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75238 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |