ongratulate you and your
father," and he nodded to Mr. DeVere.

"I have given them a little instruction in the fundamentals,"
confessed the actor, "and of course they have been about the theatre,
more or less, since they were small children."

"I suppose that accounts for it," observed Mr. Pertell. "Well, I want
to say that I am very much pleased with you, and, if you think you
would like to try it again, I can make parts for you in a drama that
I am going to film next week."

"Oh, Ruth! Let's do it!" begged Alice.

Ruth looked at her father inquiringly.

"What sort of parts are they?" he asked.

"Oh, very much the same as they undertook to-day, only longer and
more elaborate. There will be several changes of scene and costume.
Do you think you'd like it?"

"Like it? I'd love it!" cried Alice, gaily, "Do say we may, Daddy
dear!" and she put her arms around his neck.

"I'll see," was all he would promise. "I must look over the parts,
and then--well, little coaching wouldn't do you any harm, I guess,"
he added with a smile.

"It would make them all the better," declared the manager.

"Oh, Ruth! I believe he's going to let us go in!" whispered Alice in
delight. "Won't you like it?"

"Yes, dear! It's more exciting than I imagined. And I think you did
splendidly!"

"Not half as well as you, Ruth. You are a born actress!"

"And you're a born ingenue!"

"Oh, aren't we silly to compliment each other this way!" laughed
Alice. "But, really, Ruth, I just love it; don't you?"

"Yes, dear. Oh, I wonder what sort of parts we'll get. I'd like
something romantic."

"And I want something funny--with laughs in it," declared Alice. "Oh,
say, Ruth," and her voice went to a whisper, "do you really think I'm
an ingenue--like Miss Dixon?"

"I think you're--better!" responded Ruth, kissing her sister, and
stroking her soft hair.

The work in the film studio was over for the day and the actors and
actresses were getting ready to go home. From the time Ruth and Alice
had taken the emergency parts Russ had observed Miss Pennington and
Miss Dixon casting sharp looks at them.

"Jealous!" mused Russ. And his diagnosis was confirmed a little
later, when, as the two former vaudeville performers passed Ruth and
Alice, Miss Pennington, with a sharp glance at the latter, murmured
loudly enough to be heard:

"Humph! It takes more than one performance in a little part to make
a movie actress! Some folks think they are mighty sma