hat again."

"Ha! I vould like dot--if I vos on der right side of der hose!"
exclaimed Mr. Switzer.

The day had been a busy one, filled with hard work for all before the
moving picture camera. When evening came the players were glad of the
chance to rest.

"Let's walk down the road," suggested Alice to Ruth. "It is so pretty
and restful on the little white bridge, just before you come to the
red schoolhouse."

They walked down, arm in arm, talking of many things, and soon were
standing on the white bridge that spanned a little stream, which
flowed between green banks, fragrant with mint. Here and there were
patches of green rushes and beds of the spicy water cress.

"Oh, it's just lovely here!" sighed Ruth. "It is too beautiful. I
wish we could share it with some one."

"Here comes someone now, to share it with--a man," spoke Alice,
motioning down the road, which was shaded with many trees, through
which the moon was now shining, making patches of light and shadow.

"Perhaps it is some of our friends," murmured Ruth. "I believe Russ
and Paul started out for a walk before we did."

"That's not two persons; it's only one," declared Alice as she
continued to look at the advancing figure. "And see, Ruth, he--he
limps!"

She caught her sister's arm as she spoke, and the two girls drew
closer together. The same thought came to both.

Was this the man who had run out of the barn?

"I believe it's the same one," whispered Ruth.

"And I'm perfectly positive," answered Alice. "Oh, Ruth, now is our
chance!"

"Chance! Chance for what?"

"I mean we can find out who he is, and perhaps solve the mystery."

"Alice DeVere! We're going to do no such thing! We're going to run
back home--that man is coming straight toward us!" cried Ruth, and
she began to drag Alice away from the bridge.

Meanwhile the limping figure continued to come along the road, going
alternately from bright moonlight to shadow as he passed clumps of
trees.

CHAPTER XIII

ON GUARD

Perhaps Alice really intended to do as she had intimated, and seek to
learn, through a direct question, the identity of the mysterious man
who seemed to have some object in remaining about Oak Farm. Then,
again, she may not. I believe it may not have been altogether clear
in her own mind.

At any rate, once Ruth began to show the white feather, and to insist
that Alice come away--then, if ever, the younger girl made up her
mind that she would do as she