water. Don't go to France at all."

"Then the picture is spoiled!"

"No picture is spoiled until it goes out of our hands, you know," and Mr.
Hooley smiled satirically. "You know how it is in the picture business,
Miss Fielding. Some unfortunate producer buys a script or a story. The
scenario writer 'saves' the story by his work on the script. Then the
continuity man 'saves' it a second time. Then the director 'saves' it
after he gets it into his hands. We know that the star performer always
'saves' it again. And then the film cutter and the title writer each
'save' it.

"Most pictures are 'saved' in this way by the omniscience of all who work
on it so that, when it is finally produced, the writer seldom recognizes
more than a glimmer of his original idea in the final product.

"You are much better treated than most picture writers, you know very
well. And here you have a chance to 'save' your own work," and Mr. Hooley
finished with a laugh.

"It is no laughing matter," she told him. "I wanted this to be a really
big picture. And I do not want to cut out Wonota. Without that
throne-room scene it will fall flat."

"We should have taken it in New York," grumbled Mr. Hooley. "I felt it at
the time. But Mr. Hammond contracted for so many weeks' use of this
island and the time is running out already."

"And Wonota and Totantora are gone!"

"Exactly."

"Do you know where they have gone?"

"Haven't the least idea. But Mr. Hammond knows."

"He went to town?" asked Ruth thoughtfully.

"He has gone to confer with the lawyers and see if they can get the court
to vacate the injunction issued against our use of Wonota. Bilby and the
sheriff came again. They had a warrant this time. It called for the
production of Wonota. Luckily you had her off the island at the time.
They searched every nook and cranny, and meanwhile Totantora got away.
They wanted him too."

"I think that Bilby is too mean for words!"

"Well, I take it that it was his trump card. He must have some powerful
influence behind him. But--"

"But what, Mr. Hooley?" asked Ruth eagerly.

"I can see how we might get over the difficulty if the courts will not
listen to reason."

"Oh! Do tell me!"

"We can move the whole company over the Canadian border, and before Bilby
can do anything over there we'll have finished 'The Long Lane's Turning.'
That's the only way I see out of the mess."

"But think of the expense!"

"Sure! I'm thinking of that all