f Totantora and Wonota and the
two Osage Indians were brought back to the moving picture camp before
night.

The work of making the last scenes of "The Long Lane's Turning" was taken
up at once, and until the last scene was taken Ruth and her associates
were very busy indeed. The Cameron twins spent most of the ensuing time
with the Copleys and the other summer visitors. And it was noticeable
that Helen was attended by Chess Copley almost everywhere she went.

Tom saw this with some wonder; but he found very little opportunity to
talk to Ruth about it. And when he tried to question Helen regarding her
change toward Chess, she quite ignored the subject.

"Looks to me," Tom said to himself, "as though I was shut out in the
cold. I wish I hadn't come up here. I might as well be slaving in that
old office. Gee, I'm an unlucky dog!"

For Tom, no more than Helen, could not see that Ruth's attitude toward
the matter of strenuous occupation for a wealthy young man was a fair
one. Tom certainly had none of Uncle Jabez Potter's blood in his veins.

The big scene at the end of the picture--the throne room of the French
king--was as carefully made as the other parts of the picture had been.
And because of Ruth's coaching Wonota did her part so well that Mr.
Hooley was enthusiastic--and to raise enthusiasm in the bosom of a
case-hardened director is no small matter.

"The Boss is rather sore on the whole business," Hooley said to Ruth. "It
has been an expensive picture, I admit. We have gone away over the studio
estimate.

"But that is not my fault, nor your fault, nor the Indian girl's fault.
Mr. Hammond is not to be blamed either, I suppose, for feeling worried.
The motion picture business is getting to that stage now where lavish
expenditure must be curtailed. I fancy Mr. Hammond will make only
five-reel program pictures for some time. And where will your big feature
pictures come in, Miss Fielding?"

"The program pictures are sure-fire, I suppose," the girl admitted. "But
it doesn't take much of a story to make those. Nor does it give the stars
as good a chance."

"Well, lean years may be coming. We shall all have to draw in our horns.
Remember me, Miss Fielding, if you decide to produce with some other
firm. I like to work with you, and I have a more or less elastic contract
with the Alectrion Corporation."

Ruth actually did have an idea for the future. It was in embryo as yet.
But, as will be seen in the next volu