xpense doesn't seem to enter into their calculations
when they think they've got something that will go. A thousand people
have been used in, one play, I've read, and as much as two hundred
thousand dollars spent on it!"

"Say, here's our same old luck come along again, fellows!" declared
Arthur, as though it gave him a tremendous amount of satisfaction
to realize it. "I've always had a sort of hankering after a chance
to learn just how these queer people managed when staging one of their
plays, and as sure as you live we're in a fair way to find out now."

"Was there ever anything so strange as our being up here just at the
time they came to play their game?" demanded Monkey Stallings. "Why,
it begins to look as if they must have engaged the old castle especially
to cast their play here, and make it seem the real stuff, don't you
think so, Hugh?"

"That's not so very remarkable, after all," ventured Hugh, as all
of them continued to stare at the many moving figures, apparently
resting for the next stage in the exciting drama that was being reeled
off. "I understand that all those big companies have spies out
everywhere about the country."

"Spies!" echoed Billy; "and what for, Hugh, when we're not at war with
anybody?"

"There's a tremendous amount of competition afloat between the numerous
companies," explained the other. "They are looking for all sorts of
queer settings for their plays. Houses have to be burned down,
bridges blown up, railroad trains ditched, and all manner of stunts
pulled off to satisfy the public greed for thrilling spectacles."

Alec gave a plain, unmistakable groan.

"That's it," he said disconsolately, "it's going to spell my finish.
I knew that I didn't have that heavy feeling for nothing. There was
something in the air that told me my fine dreams were going to be
wrecked, sooner or later. Chances are now this big company has gone
and stepped in to buy the old castle for a song, and in the course
of their reproduction of history they expect to blow the same up,
or at least set fire to that part made of wood. It's all off, boys!"

"But you've got your pictures to show for it, Alec," Hugh told him,
consolingly, "and your aunt wouldn't think of taking back your camera
after you've done so well with it. She can see that it isn't your
fault, no matter what happens to the old building now."

Alec gave a cry of triumph.

"Say, that's right, Hugh, and thank you for reminding me I