We are
going where there are no alligators; but I'll pay anyone who is injured
in the slightest by one of the saurians a thousand dollars!"

"Then I'll go!" cried Mr. Sneed, who was rather "close," and fond of
money. "But I'm not going to stand a very big bite for that sum!" he
stipulated, while the others laughed.

"I'll grade the payments according to the bites, at the rate of a
thousand dollars a big bite," declared the manager, also laughing.

"Now then, you may make your plans accordingly. As I said, we leave by
steamer for St. Augustine by way of Jacksonville this day week."

"And will all the scenes be taken in St. Augustine?" asked one of the
company.

"No, we shall go into the interior. I expect we may go to a place near
Lake Kissimmee, and there--"

"Lake Kissimmee!" exclaimed Alice DeVere, in surprise.

"What about it?" asked Mr. Pertell. "Are you afraid to go there?"

"No, but two girls whom we met on the train going to Deerfield, when we
were preparing to make the ice and snow dramas, were going to a place
near there. We may meet them."

"That's so!" agreed Ruth.

"I hope you will," went on Mr. Pertell. "Lake Kissimmee, however, is only
one of the interior places we shall touch. I will tell you more detailed
plans later."

"I--ah--er--presume we shall have a little time to--er--see the sights of
St. Augustine; will we not?" asked one of the actors, in affected,
drawling tones.

"Oh, yes, plenty of time, Mr. Towne," answered Mr. Pertell. Claude Towne
was a new member of the company, rather a "dudish" sort of chap, and not,
as yet, very well liked. He dressed in what he considered the "height of
fashion."

The week that followed was a busy one for every member of the Comet Film
Company. Not that they were required to do much acting in front of the
camera; for, after the outdoor scenes in connection with the current
play were made, Russ Dalwood, the operator, packed up his belongings
ready for the Florida trip.

The others were doing the same thing, and Mr. Pertell was kept busy
arranging for transportation, and hotel accommodations, and for the
taking care of such films as he would send back from the interior of
Florida, since none would be developed there. This work would have to be
done, and positives printed for the projecting machines, in New York.
This custom was generally followed when the company went out of town.

"Well, are we all here?" asked Mr. Pertell one morning as he reached