s that?" asked Russ.

"Why, Mr. Pertell and I saw a suspicious-looking man out in the road,
and we chased him," and he told of the circumstance.

"And you think he broke this lock to let the bull out?" asked the
moving picture operator.

"Well, he might have, but I can't think what his object would be,
unless he wanted to spoil some of your moving pictures. Have you got
any enemies?"

Russ thought of Simp Wolley and Bud Briskett, who had tried to get
his invention, as told in the preceding volume, "The Moving Picture
Girls," but they were in jail, as far as he knew. Clearly there was
some mystery here, but it was not to be solved at once.

The gate was made as secure as possible, and Sandy said he would get
a new lock that day.

"I reckon you folks don't want old Nero buttin' in on you again," he
said to Russ.

"Indeed we don't!" answered the young operator. He was puzzled over
Sandy's suggestion as to whether or not some enemy had loosed the
dangerous animal.

A little later the end of the interrupted scene was filmed again, and
then the actors and actresses were at liberty for the rest of the
day.

"I declare, Laura!" exclaimed Miss Pennington, "I'm so nervous about
that bull that I don't want any more farm plays."

"Me, either," returned her chum. "But really, the summer is a bad
time to change. I think we'll have to stay with Mr. Pertell; but I
can't bear this company since those DeVere girls came in."

"Nor can I. They give themselves such airs!"

Which was manifestly unfair to Ruth and Alice, but neither Miss
Pennington nor Miss Dixon was over-burdened with fairness.

At first Russ had an idea of speaking to Mr. DeVere about Sandy's
theory concerning who might have let loose the bull; but, on second
thoughts, he decided not to. The actor had not been so well of late,
his voice troubling him considerably, though he managed to go through
his parts with credit.

"I'd tell Ruth or Alice," reflected Russ, "only I don't like to
bother them. They helped me save my patent, and they know how to do
things in an emergency. But I guess I'll wait."

For the next day Mr. Pertell had planned a little drama which gave
Mr. Bunn a chance to appear in his favorite roles--some Shakespearean
characters. The plot, or at least the first part of it, had to do
with Mr. Bunn coming up to the farmhouse in a frock coat, and his
favorite tall hat. He was to assume the character of a theatrical
man, who, after obtaining bo