"Cut out what's been done so far," ordered the manager to Russ. "It
will have to be done over."

"Yes, sir," answered the operator, as he noted from the automatic
register at the side of the camera how many feet of film had been run
on the new scene. Then, when it came to be developed, it could be
eliminated. The figures also showed how much of the thousand-foot
reel was left for succeeding scenes.

Everyone was a little nervous, fearing he or she had made the
trouble, but all were reassured a moment later, when the manager
said:

"I think it will be a little more effective if Miss Alice makes her
entrance from the other side. It brings her out better. Try it that
way once, and then, if it goes, film it, Russ."

The benefit of the change was at once apparent, and after a moment of
rehearsal it was decided on. Again the camera began its clicking and
everyone breathed freely once more, Alice most of all, for failure
would have meant so much to her.

"Very good--very good," spoke the manager encouragingly, as the play
developed.

Alice and Ruth had rather difficult parts, and in one scene they held
the stage alone, "plotting" to disclose the false count. It was in
this scene that Alice had some effective work along comedy lines.

It seemed to go off very well--at least, as far as the girls could
tell. Alice, as a rather hoydenish school girl, home for the summer,
played havoc with the admirers of the romantic Ruth, who seemed to
fill the role to perfection.

"You're doing well, little girl," whispered Paul to Alice, when she
stepped out of the scene for a moment, while another part of the play
went on.

"Do you really mean it?" she asked him.

"I certainly do. Say, you've got the other two guessing, all right."

"What other two?"

"Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon."

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"I mean, I don't want them to dislike me," returned Alice.

"Oh, don't worry about that, little girl. They don't like anyone who
can do better than themselves. But they're the only ones. The rest of
us like you!"

"Really?"

"Well I should say!" and there was more energy in the words than was
actually necessary. Alice blushed, but looked pleased.

"Very good!" observed the manager, after an effective scene in which
Alice and Ruth took part. "You are doing excellent work. If this play
is a hit I'll star you two in something more elaborate next week."

"Will you, really?" asked Ruth, as she came o