. This will be our last New York play for some time--that is,
after we get the outdoor scenes for this."

"Where are we going next?" asked the elderly actor before mentioned. He
spoke in very hoarse voice, and it was evident that he had some throat
affection. In fact, it was the ailment which had forced him to give up
acting in the "legitimate," and take to the "movies."

"We are going to Florida--the land of the palms!" announced the manager.
"You know I spoke of tentative plans for a drama down there when we were
in the backwoods. Now I have everything arranged, and we will leave on a
steamer for St. Augustine one week from to-day."

"Hurrah for Florida!" exclaimed a young actor, with a strikingly
good-looking face. "There's where I've always wanted to go."

"So have I!" exclaimed a young girl who stood near him,--a girl with
merry, brown eyes. "Will you take me out after oranges, Paul?" she asked,
mischievously.

"Certainly, Alice," he answered.

"Why don't you say orange blossoms while you're about it?" inquired
another actress, with a pert manner.

Alice blushed, and her sister Ruth looked sharply at Miss Laura Dixon,
who had made the rather pointed remark.

"I'm willing to make it orange blossoms!" laughed the young fellow. "That
is, if they're in season."

"Ah, stop all this nonsense!" exclaimed Alice. "I want to ask Mr. Pertell
a lot of questions about where we're going, and all that. Oh, to think we
are really going to Florida!"

"Yes, we are all going," went on Mr. Pertell. "I think--"

"One moment, if you please!" interrupted a middle-aged actor whose face
seemed to indicate that he lived more on vinegar than on the milk of
human kindness. "We are not _all_ going, if you please, Mr. Pertell."

"Who is not going, Mr. Sneed, pray?" the manager wanted to know.

"I, for one. I have gone through many hardships and dangers acting in
moving pictures for you, but I draw the line at Florida."

"Why, I think it's perfectly lovely there!" exclaimed Miss Pearl
Pennington, a chum of Miss Dixon.

"Do you call alligators lovely?" asked Mr. Pepper Sneed, who was known as
"the actor with the grouch." He was always finding fault. "Lovely
alligators!" he sneered. "If you want to go to Florida, and be eaten by
an alligator--go. I'll not!"

Some of the younger members of the company looked rather serious at this.
They had not counted on alligators.

"Now look here!" exclaimed Mr. Pertell. "That's all nonsense.