mine."

"Well, let's have supper," suggested Alice. "Matters may look brighter
then."

"And I'll go see Mr. Pertell this evening," promised Mr. DeVere. "He may
be able to advise and help me."

The meal was not a very jolly one at first, but gradually the feeling of
gloom passed as the supper progressed. Mr. DeVere told of what had
happened that day at the film studio where the moving pictures were
made.

"Now I think I'll go see Mr. Pertell," the actor announced, as he rose
from the table. "He said he would be in his office late to-night, as he
is working on some new plans."

"What are they, Daddy?" asked Alice. "Are we to go off to some farm
again?"

"Not this time. I believe there are to be some winter scenes taken,
though just where we will go for them has not been announced. Well, I'm
off," and, kissing the girls good-bye, Mr. DeVere went out.

Ruth and Alice, in his absence, discussed the new source of trouble that
had come to them. They had been so happy all summer, that the blow fell
doubly heavy.

"Isn't it just horrid!" exclaimed Ruth.

"Too mean for anything!" agreed Alice. "I wish I had that Dan Merley
here. I--I'd----"

But Alice did not finish. Ruth had looked at her, to stop her rather
impulsive sister from the use of too violent an expression. But there
was no need of this. An interruption came in the form of a knock at the
door.

"Who is it?" asked Ruth, and there came a little note of fear into her
voice, for she was timid, and she realized at once that it was not one
of their kind neighbors from across the hall. Russ, his mother, and his
brother Billy always rapped in a characteristic manner.

"It's me--Dan Merley, and I want to see the old man!" was the answer.
The girls drew together in fright, for they recognized by the thickness
of the voice that the owner was not altogether himself.

"Oh!" gasped Alice, and then the door was pushed open, for the catch had
been left off, and a man came unsteadily into the room.

CHAPTER III

RUSS TO THE RESCUE

"Where's the boss?" asked the man, as he leaned heavily against the
table. "I want to see the boss."

"Do you--do you mean my--my father?" faltered Ruth, as she stepped
protectingly in front of Alice.

"That's jest who I mean, young lady," and the new-comer leered at her.
"Is he in? If he isn't I won't mind an awful lot. I'll wait for him.
This is a nice place," and, without being invited he slouched into a
chair.

"My--my