ng me. I
want it as nearly perfect as I can get it, and I've thought of an
improvement I can put on it. So I'll say good-night."
"Thank you, ever so much, for taking us!" said Alice, warmly.
"Yes, indeed, it was fine!" added Ruth, her eyes sparkling. "To think
of seeing ourselves! It was a great surprise."
"Oh, you'll get used to it after a while," returned Russ. And then he
went to his own room to labor ambitiously over his patent.
"No more work to-night, Dad!" announced Ruth, firmly, as she saw her
father preparing to resume the study of the manuscript containing his
part in a new moving picture drama. "Your eyes must be tired, and you
must save them. It won't do to have them spoiled, as well as your
voice."
"No, I suppose not," he answered, somewhat wearily. "This work is
rather trying. I believe I would like to get out in the open for a
change. Though I always said I never would do open-air parts in the
movies."
"I'd like to get out, too," said Alice. "I enjoyed what little we did
in the Brooklyn garden very much."
"I heard something at the studio about a prospect of the whole
company being given a chance to do some outdoor dramas," observed
Ruth, musingly. "I wonder what was meant?"
"Mr. Pertell will probably tell us when he has his plans perfected,"
Alice returned. "You know, though, that he promised if this 'A False
Count' play should be a success he'd give us a chance in a more
pretentious drama. I'm counting on that."
"And so am I," said Ruth. "Come, now, Daddy. No more work to-night."
As Russ had predicted, Mr. Pertell was not long in learning of the
success of the play in which Ruth and Alice had main parts. In a day
or so there came an increased demand for the films of the drama, and
the manager was well pleased.
"And now I'm going to keep the promise I made you," he said to Ruth
and Alice. "I've been holding back on a big drama, waiting until I
saw how that one turned out. I didn't have any doubts, though, after
I saw you two act. Now I'm going to star you in that. And afterward,
well, we'll see what will happen. I've got a lot of ideas I want to
try," he added.
"Mr. DeVere," the manager went on, "I believe you told me at one time
that you did not care to do any acting that took you out in the open;
am I right?"
"I did say that," admitted the actor, in his husky voice; "but I
think I have changed my mind since then. I believe I would like to
get out of doors more."
"Then I
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