Ruth Fielding. "It--it sounds quite impressive, I must
say. I guess you think a good deal of your father?"

"Aunt Suse don't," said the girl ungraciously. "My mother's dead. And pa
is resting this season. So I hafter stay here with Aunt Suse. I hate it!"

"Your father is--er--what is his business?" Ruth asked.

"He's one of the profession."

"A doctor?"

"Lands, no! He's a heavy."

"A _what_?"

"A heavy lead--and a good one. But these moving pictures knock out all
the really good people. There are no chances now for him to play
Shakespearean roles----"

"Your father is an actor!" cried Ruth.

"Of course. Montague Fitzmaurice. Surely you have heard the name?" said
the lathlike girl, tossing her head.

"Why--why----of course!" declared Ruth warmly. It was true. She had heard
the name. Bella had just pronounced it!

"Then you know what kind of an actor my pa is," said the proud child. "He
did not have a very good season last winter. He rehearsed with four
companies and was only out three weeks altogether. And one of the managers
did not pay at all."

"That is too bad."

"Yes. It's tough," admitted Bella. "But I liked it."

"You liked it when he was so unsuccessful?" repeated Ruth.

"Pa wasn't unsuccessful. He never is. He can play any part," declared the
girl proudly. "But the plays were punk. He says there are no good plays
written nowadays. That is why so many companies fail."

"But you said you liked it?"

"In New York," explained Bella. "While he was rehearsing pa could get
credit at Mother Grubson's boarding house on West Forty-fourth Street. I
helped her around the house. She said I was worth my keep. But Aunt Suse
says I don't earn my salt here."

"I am sure you do your best, Bella," Ruth observed.

"No, I don't. Nor you wouldn't if you worked for Aunt Suse. She says I'll
give her her nevergitovers--an' I hope I do!" with which final observation
she ran to unlace Aunt Kate's shoes.

"Poor little thing," said Ruth to Helen. "She is worse off than an orphan.
Her Aunt Susan is worse than Uncle Jabez ever was to me. And she has no
Aunt Alvirah to help her to bear it. We ought to do something for her."

"There! You've begun. Every waif and stray on our journey must be aided, I
suppose," pouted Helen, half exasperated.

But Tom was glad to see that Ruth had found a new interest. Bella waited
on the supper table, was snapped at by Miss Timmins, and driven from
pillar to post by that crotchety in