. I'll bring suit against Mr.
DeVere, and then he'll wish he'd paid me, for he'll have to settle my
claim and costs besides. Oh, I'll sue all right!"

"I don't care what you do, as long as you get out of here!" cried Russ,
sharply, for he saw that the strain was telling on Ruth and Alice.
"Leave at once!"

"Suppose I don't go?"

"Then I'll put you out!"

Russ looked very brave as he said this. Ruth glanced at him, and thought
he had never appeared to better advantage. And between Russ and Ruth
there was--but there, I am getting ahead of my story.

"Are you going?" asked the young moving picture operator, again.

"Well, rather than have a row, I will. But I warn you I'll sue DeVere
and I'll get my money, too. It's all nonsense for him to say he paid me.
Where's his proof? I ask you that. Where's his proof?"

"Never mind about that," returned Russ, calmly. "It's your move, as I
said before. And you can give a good imitation of a moving picture film
showing a man getting out of a room."

With no good grace the man arose clumsily from his chair, and with leers
at Ruth and Alice, who were clinging to each other on the far side of
the room, the visitor started for the door.

"I'll see you again!" he called, coarsely. "Then maybe the laugh will be
on my side. I'm going to have my money, I tell you!"

Russ kept after the man, and walked behind him to the door. There Dan
Merley paused to exclaim, in loud tones:

"You wait--I'll get my money out of DeVere--you'll see!"

Then he stumbled on down the hallway, and Russ quickly closed and locked
the door.

"Oh, Russ!" exclaimed Ruth. Then she sank into a chair, and bent forward
with her head pillowed in her arms on the table.

"There, there," said the young man gently, as he put his hand on her
head. "It's all right--he's gone. Don't be afraid."

"Oh, but what a dreadful man!" cried Alice. "I could----"

"Don't, dear," begged her sister gently, as she raised her head. There
were tears in her eyes. Russ gently slipped his hand over her little
rosy palm.

CHAPTER IV

A FUNNY FILM

For a moment Ruth remained thus, while, Alice, with flashing eyes, stood
looking at the door leading into the hall, as if anticipating the return
of that unpleasant visitor. Then Ruth lifted her head, and with a rosy
blush, and a shy look at Russ, disengaged her hand.

"I--I feel better now," she said.

"That's good," and he smiled. "I don't believe that fellow will come
ba