ken by surprise, that is all."

"Well, it made good pictures," declared the manager, indifferently.

"Too bad I couldn't get you just as you went overboard!" sighed Russ. "I
was taken by surprise, too; but I did the best I could. We can have you
do that part over."

"Never!" cried Mr. Towne, angrily. "I will never be seen in an
undignified position again, nor in clothes that have not been freshly
pressed," and he stalked away toward his stateroom.

"I can sympathize with you, my dear fellow," murmured Mr. Bunn, who was
as careful of his dignity, in a way, as was the other. "They have made me
do the most idiotic things in some of the dramas," the older man went on.
"I have had to play fireman, and ride in donkey carts, slide down hill
and all such foolishness--all to the great detriment of my dignity."

"Yes, this moving picture business is horrid," agreed Mr. Towne, who was
dripping water at every step. "But what is a chap to do? I tried the
other sort of drama--on the stage, you know; but I did not seem to have
the temperament for it."

"Ah, would that I were back again, treading the boards in my beloved
Shakespeare, instead of in this miserable moving picture acting," sighed
the tragedian.

The excitement caused by the mishap to Mr. Towne soon subsided. The
steamer got on her way again, once the small boat had been hoisted up,
and several tugs and motor craft that had gathered to give aid, if
needed, went on their courses.

"Well, that's something for a start," remarked Alice, as she walked the
deck with Ruth.

"Yes, I knew something would happen," spoke Mr. Sneed, gloomily. "I felt
it coming."

"How could you?" asked Paul, winking at Russ.

"Because to-day is Friday. Something always happens on Friday."

"Yes, we generally have fish for dinner," remarked Russ, with a twinkle
in his eyes.

"You may laugh," sneered the gloomy actor, "but the day is not over yet.
I am sure that something else will happen. The ship may sink before it
gets to Florida."

"Oh!" cried Ruth.

"Don't be silly!" laughed Alice, while Russ gave Mr. Sneed a meaning look
and remarked in a low voice:

"That's enough of such talk, old man. It gets on the girls' nerves. Why
can't you be cheerful?"

"I never am--on Friday," grumbled Mr. Sneed.

"No, and on very few other days," commented Russ, as he went below to
take the film out of his camera in readiness to ship it back to New York
for development.

Ruth and Alice had done