I didn't notice anything special," Ruth replied. "But there is
something queer about her, I must admit. She is so absent-minded at
times. This morning I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk, and she
said she had no ticket."

"No ticket?"

"Yes, that's what she said. And when I laughed and told her one didn't
need a ticket to walk around Oak Farm, she sort of 'came to' and said
she was thinking about a boat."

"A boat--what boat?"

"That was all she said. Then she began to talk about something else."

"Do you know what I think?" asked Alice, suddenly.

"No. But then you think so many things it isn't any wonder I can't keep
track of them."

"I think, as I believe I've said before, that she has run away from some
ranch to be in moving pictures. That's why she doesn't write or receive
letters. She doesn't want her folks to know where she is."

"I can hardly believe that," declared Ruth. "She is too nice and refined
a girl to have done anything like that. No, I just think she is a bit
queer, that is all. But certainly she doesn't tell much about herself."

However, further speculation regarding Estelle Brown was cut short, as
orders came for the appearance of nearly the entire company in one of
the plays.

The first scene was to take place in a Southern town, and for the
purpose a street had been constructed by Pop Snooks and his helpers.
There was a stately mansion, smaller houses, a store or two and some
other buildings. True, the buildings were but shells, and, in some
cases, only fronts, but they showed well in the picture.

Ruth, Alice, and a number of the girls and women and men were to be the
inhabitants of this village, and were to take part in an alarm and flee
the place when it was known that the Confederate forces were being
driven back and through the place by the Unionists.

"Come on--get dressed!" cried Alice, and soon she, her sister, Estelle
and the other women were donning their Southern costumes, wide skirts,
with hoops to puff them out, and broad-brimmed hats, under which curls
showed.

There was to be a massed attack by the Unionists on the town, through
which the Confederates were to flee, and it was the part of Ruth and
Alice to rush from their father's "mansion" bearing a few of their
choice possessions.

All was in readiness. The Southern defenders were on the outskirts of
the town, drawn up to receive the Unionists. Toward these Confederates,
their enemies came riding. This was