io again, especially after the scene
with the jealous actresses.

But Miss Dixon and Miss Pennington appeared to have gotten over their
pique, and they acted as though they had never said anything to wound
or annoy Ruth and Alice. The latter, however, could not forget it,
and were rather cool toward their fellow-players.

"Here are your new parts," said Mr. Pertell. "Look them over with
your father as soon as you can. He is to be in the play with you."

"Oh, isn't this exciting!" cried Alice, as she took the typewritten
manuscript. "Real parts at last, Ruth!"

"Yes. We will be real actresses if we keep on. I wonder what I am
cast for?"

"My! We're becoming quite adept in theatrical talk. Ahem!" laughed
Alice with pretended sarcasm.

Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon, who were already rehearsing for
another play, looked over at the two enthusiastic sisters, and
shrugged their shoulders.

"Wait until they have been in it as long as we have, my dear, then
they won't be so jolly," remarked Miss Pennington.

"Oh, I don't know as you can include me," was Miss Dixon's rather
tart comment. "_I_ haven't been at it so many years."

"Oh, haven't you?" asked Miss Pennington, with a raising of her
penciled eyebrows. "Excuse me, my dear!"

"Don't mention it!"

"Get on to that, would you!" exclaimed Pop Snooks to Mr. Sneed. "The
two old-timers are scrappin'."

"I knew they would," was the grouchy rejoinder. "They'll have a real
quarrel, and both quit, and that'll mean some new members in the
company. And just as we are about through rehearsing that piece, and
about to film it, too. That means I'll have to do it all over again.
I knew something would happen!"

"Oh, cheer up! The worst is yet to come!" laughed Paul Ardite.
"Here's Switzer looking as red as a lobster. What is it now, Carl?"
he asked.

"Ach! Vot isn't der matter?" cried the moon-faced one. "I haf a part
vot incessitates me to be bound und gagged by a band of robbers, und
stood in a corner vhile dey loot der blace."

"Well, that's a nice, romantic part," observed Paul.

"Yah, but how would you like to haf a rag stuffed in your mout so vot
you couldn't breath yet for five minutes? How vould you like dot;
hey? Dell me dot!"

"Oh, well, tell 'em to leave you a breathing hole," laughed Paul.

"Where is Mr. Pertell? Where is he? I demand to see him at once!"
broke in the voice of Wellington Bunn. "I must see him instantly!"

"He was here a moment ago, giv