ed,
perhaps, until you had a glimpse of the markings on their trunks. But
when you noted the words: "Comet Film Company," you understood.

"Oh, won't it be just delightful, Ruth!" exclaimed one of the younger
girls.

"It certainly will, Alice. I'm just crazy to get out where I can
gather new-laid eggs and know they are fresh!"

"Little housekeeper!" exclaimed the man standing beside the one who
looked as though he dreamed of nothing else but "Hamlet."

"Well, Daddy dear, won't it be just fine to have fresh eggs?"
demanded the one addressed as Ruth. "If Alice thinks it's easy to get
them in the city----"

"Now Ruth DeVere, you know I was only chaffing!" exclaimed Alice.
"But I don't believe you'll get much chance to gather eggs, Ruth."

"Why not?"

"Those two youngsters will claim that as one of their
daily--chores--I believe they're called on a farm," and with laughing
brown eyes she motioned to the boy and girl who, at that moment, were
playing tag around the motherly-looking woman.

"Oh, yes, I suppose Tommy and Nellie will be after them," agreed
Ruth. "But I can go with them."

"And jump off the beam in the barn down into the hay! Won't that be
fun!" cried Alice. "I haven't done that--not in years, when we went
once to grandfather's farm. Oh, for a good jump into the fragrant
hay!"

"Why, Alice, you wouldn't do that; would you?" asked Ruth, as she
straightened her sailor.

"She may--and you may all have to!" spoke the man who seemed in
charge of this odd theatrical company.

"How is that, Mr. Pertell?" asked Ruth.

"Well, you know we're going to make moving pictures of all sorts of
rural scenes that will fit in the plays, and jumping into a haymow
may be one of them," he laughed.

"I refuse to do any such foolishness as that!" broke in the tragic
actor. "I have demeaned myself enough already in this farce and
travesty of acting, and to jump into a haymow--ye gods! Never!" and
he seemed to shudder.

"Oh, I guess you'll do it, Mr. Bunn, or give up your place to someone
who will," said Mr. Frank Pertell, the manager, calmly.

The tragic actor sighed, and said nothing.

"Huh! Yes! Jumping around in barns! Some of us will break our arms or
legs, that's certain!" exclaimed the man who looked as though all the
world were sad. "I know some accident will happen to us yet."

"Oh, cheer up, Mr. Sneed. The worst is yet to come, Sir Knight of the
Doleful Countenance!" exclaimed a fresh-faced young man who