the
steamer, which lay at her dock in New York, ready for the trip to the
land of the palms.

"I think so," answered Russ, who had with him a small moving picture
camera. He had an idea he might see something that would make a good
film.

"No one missing?" went on the manager. "That's good. Oh, by the way, did
Mr. Towne arrive? He 'phoned to me that he might be a little late."

"Yes, he's here," answered Russ. "The last I saw of him he was looking in
a mirror, arranging his necktie."

"Humph! He's too fond of dress," commented the manager, "but he does well
in certain society parts, and that's why I keep him."

The confusion of the passengers and late freight coming aboard gradually
grew less. Whistles sounded their bass notes, and gongs clanged.

"All ashore that's goin' ashore!" came the warning cry, and there was a
hurried departure of those who had come to see friends or relatives off
on the voyage.

The moving picture company were gathered together in one place on the
deck, and they waved to other members of the company who were not to
make the trip, for Mr. Pertell employed a large number of actors, and
only a comparatively few of them were going to Florida. The others would
continue to work in New York.

The steamer moved slowly away from the dock, in charge of a fussy tug,
but presently she began forging ahead under her own steam, moving slowly
at first. Soon, however, the vessel was well down the harbor.

Alice and Ruth DeVere, with Russ Dalwood and Paul Ardite, were standing
amidships, on the port side, looking down into the water. A little in
advance of them stood Mr. Towne and Miss Pennington. The latter had been
much in the new actor's company of late.

"They seem quite interested in each other," remarked Russ, in a low tone.

"Yes, they have something in common," added Alice--"a love of good
clothes."

"I like nice things myself," put in Ruth, straightening a bow she wore.
"You shouldn't say such things, Alice."

"Oh, but you like them in the right way--so do I, for that matter. But I
don't go to the extremes they do, and neither do you."

"Hush! They'll hear you," cautioned her sister, for Alice was very
impulsive at times.

Indeed the dudish actor and Miss Pennington were glancing rather
curiously in the direction of our friends. Then Miss Dixon came along,
whispering something that caused the other to laugh.

"Fawncy that now! Only fawncy!" exclaimed Mr. Towne, in his exaggerated
E