e finest results out of the drama
was discussed.

In the days that followed, Ruth and Alice, as well as the others, did
hard work. It is not as easy to go through a moving picture play as
it appears merely from seeing the film on the white curtain. Some
scenes have to be rehearsed over and over again, and often, after
being filmed, some defect results and the work has to be all done
once more.

Mr. DeVere rehearsed his daughters at home in the intervals of their
appearance at the studio, and this redounded to their benefit. They
were thus able to do effective work, and Mr. Pertell complimented
them on it.

The play was soon ready for filming, and Russ was chosen to work the
camera. Some of the scenes were out of doors, in a big flower garden,
and for this the company was taken to Brooklyn, where a private owner
was induced to allow his place to be used for a few minutes. Ruth and
Alice enjoyed their part in the flower garden very much.

Finally the last rehearsal was had, and the day was set for making
the films of the first real, big play in which the two girls had ever
taken part. As they were leaving the studio together, on the
afternoon of the day before the first "performance," they saw a group
of children standing down near the main entrance.

"There go some of the moving picture girls now," one boy exclaimed.

"Don't I wish I was them!" sighed a tall, lanky girl next him. "Ain't
they nice, Jimmie?"

"They sure is!" was the enthusiastic rejoinder.

"We're achieving fame, Ruth," laughed Alice.

"Such as it is--yes," replied her sister. "'Moving picture girls';
eh? Well, I suppose we are."

CHAPTER XVII

A PROMISE

"Now then, are we all ready?" asked Mr. Pertell. He looked about the
studio, at the groups of actors and actresses, at the camera
men--particularly at Russ. "Everybody here?" he went on.

"All here," replied Pop Snooks, checking off a list he held.

"How about your props?"

"Nothing missing, not even the firecracker Miss Alice sets off under
the chair of the false count," replied the property man.

"Good! I don't want any failure at the last minute. Now, Russ, how is
the camera working?"

"Fine, sir."

"Good fresh film?"

"Fresh to-day, Mr. Pertell--just like new-laid eggs."

"All right. You may have a chance to snap some newly laid eggs if my
future plans work out all right. Well, I guess we'll begin. Take your
places for the first scene."

"Oh, I'm so nervous!" conf