shame to take the money under these circumstances," added
Russ, with a laugh.

"It's like a vacation," agreed Alice. "Oh, but isn't it just--just too--"

She was evidently searching for a fitting simile.

"Alice," warned Ruth, gently. She was endeavoring to wean her sister from
the habit of using slang expressions; but Alice always boasted that she
liked to take "short cuts," and that slang--that is, her refined
variety--offered the best method of accomplishing this very desirable
object.

"Oh, I was only just going to say--scrumptious!" laughed the younger
girl. "You don't mind that; do you, sister mine? This is really the most
scrumptiously scrumptious place I've ever seen!"

"I'm afraid you're hopeless," was the smiling retort.

"Well, it's certainly swell--that's my word for it," answered Russ, with
a frank laugh.

Indeed, Mr. Pertell had not spared expense in taking out his moving
picture company. And he had a method in going to one of the largest and
finest hotels in St. Augustine. He intended to stage some scenes of one
of the Southern plays there, and having his actors and actresses right in
the hotel made it much more practical.

"Let's take a walk," proposed Russ. "There's nothing to do to-day."

It was the morning after their arrival and Mr. Pertell was not quite
ready to proceed with making films. The fire aboard the _Tarsus_, and the
necessity of taking another vessel, had rather upset everyone, so a day
or so of rest had been decided upon.

"Where shall we go?" asked Alice, readily falling in with the proposal.
"You'll come, won't you, Ruth?"

"I think so--yes."

"There are lots of places to see," suggested Paul. "This is the oldest
city in the United States. I've got some guide books up in my room, and a
lot of views. We'll pick out some points of interest and visit them."

"We'll have plenty of chance to see the sights," remarked Russ. "I
understand there are to be a number of films made in the city and
vicinity, so you'll probably have to act out around Fort Marion and at
Fort Mantanzas, as well as in the slave market. I'll be with you in a
minute. I just want to get my little hand camera, to make a few
snap-shots."

While waiting for him and Paul to return, the girls slipped up to their
room a minute.

"Just to freshen up," as Alice put it, though really there was no need in
her case, nor on the part of Ruth, either. The day was perfect--like
summer--and the girls, knowing they were