is said by some, when a
queen bee dies, the workers will select a "cell" containing an egg
that will eventually hatch, and surround this egg with queen bread so
that when the insect develops enough, it can feed on that instead of
on ordinary honey.

This is said to change the character of the insect and make a queen
of it to replace the one that has died. Or, if this is not done the
queenless colony may merge with another that has a queen.

In order to prevent the hatching of too many queens the bee keeper
will examine his hives frequently, and cut out all the "queen cells,"
thus preventing them from hatching and so causing the bees to swarm
frequently.

They all watched while the men shook the cluster of bees into the new
hive, and carried them away, Russ, meanwhile getting a fine film of
the operation. Later this film was shown with much success in New
York, so that, after all, the interruption of the school scene had a
happy outcome. Later the little play was finished.

"Whew!" exclaimed Paul, when it was all over. "That was some going
on, all right!"

"Does your sting hurt much?" asked Alice, solicitously.

"I think it would be better for some ammonia," he replied.

"I'll put some on for you when we get back to the house," she
offered, "and some witch hazel, too."

"It feels better already--just with the thought of that," he answered
gallantly.

CHAPTER XX

THAT MAN

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, we will now get ready for our big play,"
announced Manager Pertell to his company of actors and actresses one
morning. "It will be the biggest farm drama we have yet attempted.
One scene will include the burning of the barn, and the rescue of one
of you ladies from the structure."

"Not any of that for mine," remarked Miss Pennington, pertly. "I'm
not going to run any chances in a burning building."

"There won't be any chances," returned Mr. Pertell, quietly. "I will
have everything arranged in advance so that there will be no danger.
That is why I want to start in plenty of time. We will have a number
of rehearsals. I am going to have part of the roof of the barn cut
away before we start the fire."

"What for?" asked Russ.

"So there will be no danger of anyone getting caught in the burning
structure. The cut-out section can be placed back again, after it is
sawed, or chopped out, and it will not show in the picture. But it
will be a measure of safety. Now, Russ, you come out with me and
we'll