n't! I mean--I--er----"

"Oh, don't try to make it any worse!" she laughed at his discomfiture.
"Let it go at that! Did you just come from the studio?"

"Yes, and we had a hard day of it. I forget how many thousand feet of
film I reeled off."

"Was my father there?"

"Yes, he was with Mr. Pertell when I came out."

"I wonder what makes him so late?"

"Oh, there's a rush of work on. But I think he'll be along soon, for I
heard Mr. Pertell say he wouldn't keep him five minutes."

"That's good. Oh, dear! Isn't it slippery!" she cried, as she barely
saved herself from falling.

"Take my arm," invited Russ.

"Thanks, I will. I came out in a hurry to do a little shopping. Ruth is
at home. There, I told you after all. I'm of a forgiving spirit, you
see."

"I see," he laughed.

They stepped along lightly together, laughing and talking, for Russ was
almost like a brother to the DeVere girls, though the two families had
only known each other since both had come to the Fenmore Apartment,
about a year before.

"Did they film any big plays to-day?" asked Alice. "I know Mr. Pertell
said he wouldn't need Ruth and myself, so of course they didn't do
anything really good. Not at all conceited; am I?" she asked, with a
rippling laugh.

"Well, you're right this time--there wasn't much of importance doing,"
Russ replied. "Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon had some pretty good
parts, but the stuff was mostly comic to-day."

"That suited Mr. Switzer, then. I think he is the nicest German comedian
I ever knew, and I met quite a number when father was appearing in real
plays."

"Yes, Switzer is a good sort. But you should have seen Mr. Sneed
to-day!"

"Found fault with everything; eh?"

"I should say so, and then some, as the boys say. He said something was
sure to happen before the day was over, and it did--a stone wall fell on
him."

"Really?"

"Really, but not real stone. It was one of Pop Snooks's scenic
creations. One of the pieces of wood hit Mr. Sneed on the head, so
something happened. And what a fuss he made! He's the real grouch of
the company, all right. Well, here we are!" and the young man guided his
companion into the hallway of the Fenmore.

"See you again!" called Alice, as she went into her door and Russ into
his.

"Is that you, Alice?" called Ruth, from an inner room.

"Yes, dear. Has daddy come home?"

"Not yet. I wonder if we'd better telephone?"

"No, I just met Russ, and he said daddy would