d here. Oh, the
reward! Well, I suppose the police got it. I don't remember, to tell you
the truth. I know that her disappearance at the time created quite a
sensation."

"And are you sure she was found?"

"Oh, yes, quite sure. Look here!" and with a smile on his face he
leaned forward, one rather fat finger pointing to the article he had
just been reading. "I was wondering how you girls got hold of this old
back-number paper, but I see it's one of several I saved because they
had printed notices of my acting. This is a very good and fair criticism
of my work when I was appearing in Shakespearian drama--a very fair
notice, ahem!" and Mr. DeVere leaned back in his chair, a gratified
smile on his face.

"A fair notice! I should say it was!" laughed Alice. "It does nothing
but praise you, and says the others offered you miserable support."

"Well, it was fair to _me_," said Mr. DeVere. "Yes, I remember that tour
very well. We were in California at the time of this Miss Passamore's
disappearance. Helen Gordon was my leading lady then. Ah, yes, that was
four years ago."

"No wonder there wasn't anything in to-day's New York papers," said
Alice. "Well, let me wrap up my shoes, and I'll try to have this packing
done in time to get out to Oak Farm."

"Yes, I just stopped in to see how you were coming on," put in her
father. "Mr. Pertell wants to get started, and it won't do to disappoint
him. There are to be several thousand men and horses in the production,
and the bill for extras will be heavy."

"I'll hustle along, Daddy!" cried Alice. "Do you want that paper?"

"No, you may take it. I'll just tear out this page with the theatrical
notice of myself."

He handed the remainder of the paper to his daughter, who, with the help
of her sister, wrapped up the muddy shoes.

Then the girls proceeded with the putting in of other articles and
garments that would be needed during their stay at Oak Farm.

"I wonder----" began Alice, when there came a knock on their door, and a
voice demanded:

"I say, girls!--are you there?"

"Yes, Russ. Come on in!" answered Alice.

"Oh, and with the room looking the way it is!" remonstrated Ruth.

"Can't be helped. Russ knows what packing is," Alice declared, as a
tall, good-looking young man entered.

"Come on!" he cried. "No time to lose."

"What's the matter? Is the place on fire?" asked Ruth.

"No. But there's got to be a retake in that last scene of 'Only a
Flivver,' and Mr