until they made the acquaintance of Mr. Calvert Hadley,
a moving picture photographer. The latter had come to Fayetteburg with a
theatrical company to get some views in a country drama that was being
enacted, some of the scenes being laid in the nearby city of Syracuse.

Blake and Joe watched a mimic rescue scene in the creek, thinking it
real, and later Mr. Hadley offered them work as his assistants in New
York. He was employed by the Film Theatrical Company, to make its moving
pictures.

The boys jumped at the chance. Before the little country drama was over,
however, an accident occurred, in full view of the moving picture
camera. Mrs. Betty Randolph, a wealthy Southern lady, was run into,
while riding in her carriage, by a reckless autoist. Mrs. Randolph
offered a reward for the arrest of this man, who escaped in the
confusion, and urged the two boys to try to effect his capture.

They said they would, and how they went to New York, learned the moving
picture business, and helped Mr. Hadley get films for his "moving
picture newspaper," is all set down in the first book.

The perils of taking views in a great city, at fires, elevated railroad
accidents, burning vessels, of divers at work, in making educational
films--all this is told.

Eventually, while making scenes at a thrilling balloon ascension, Joe
and Blake discovered the reckless autoist and gave chase in a car. They
caught him, too, and got the reward, with which they purchased some
moving picture cameras, and went into business on their own account.
They made films to order, and were often employed by Mr. Hadley or by
Mr. Ringold, head of the Film Theatrical Company.

This company consisted of a number of actors and actresses who were
engaged to enact various sorts of plays and dramas before the camera.

Among them was Henry Robertson, who did "juvenile leads"; Harris
Levinberg, the "villain"; Miss Nellie Shay, the leading lady, and Miss
Birdie Lee, who did girls' parts. Last, but not least, was Christopher
Cutler Piper--known variously as "C. C." or "Gloomy." He preferred to be
called just C. C., not liking his two first names, but he was so often
looking on the dark side of life, and predicting direful happenings that
never came to pass, that he was often dubbed "Gloomy." However, he was
the comedian of the troupe, and could utter the most unhappy expressions
while doing the most comical acting.

It was not all easy sailing for the two lads. One