fter the story became known, as though she had been seriously
injured.

Mr. Pertell, after duly saying how sorry he was at the occurrence,
expressed his satisfaction over the fact that Russ had made a film of
the happening, and at once set to work to devise a plot and play in
which it would fit. As Alice had guessed, he had to have other water
scenes, and some in which a boat figured, and Paul and Alice were
called on again to go through some "stunts," on the mill stream. Thus
a pretty little play was made out of what had been an accident. And,
more often than once is that really done in the moving picture
world.

Rather quiet days followed at Oak Farm. A number of rural plays were
acted and filmed, and word came back from New York, where the first
films had been sent for development and printing, that the reels were
most successful. The one where Mr. Bunn was wet with the hose was
particularly good, so said Mr. Pertell's agent.

"But I'll never go through such a thing again," declared the
Shakespearean actor.

The affairs of the Apgar family did not improve with time. Squire
Blasdell paid several visits to the farm, and one day, seeing Sandy
looking particularly gloomy, Ruth asked him what the trouble was.

"The squire is gettin' ready to sell off the farm," he replied. "He's
goin' t' foreclose that mortgage. I've tried all the ways I know to
raise that four thousand dollars; but I can't!"

"I wish we could help," said Ruth, sympathetically, as she thought of
the days of their own poverty, when everything seemed so black.

"I don't reckon anyone can help us," said Sandy. "If only we could
find Uncle Isaac's money, and get what belongs to us, we'd be all
right; but I guess we can't."

Preparations were under way for a barn dance, which was to be part of
a scene in one of the farm plays Mr. Pertell had planned. In order to
make it as natural as possible a number of the country folk living
near Oak Farm had been asked to take part. Young and old were
invited, and all were delighted to come and "have their pictures
took." Thus the original theatrical company would be much augmented
on this occasion.

The affair was to take place in the old barn, which, later, would be
burned in the great drama. And this barn was selected as the dance
was to take place at night. For this good illumination would be
needed, and special magnesium lamps were sent out from New York, to
be lighted inside the barn. In order to run no c