ine."

"Glad to hear it," remarked the manager. "That's some good news in
this day of trouble."

"Did I do all right?" asked Mr. DeVere, hoarsely. "I would like to
see myself--as others see me--and that's possible now, in the
movies."

"Your pictures are fine," answered Ross.

"And I want to congratulate you," went on Mr. Pertell. "You are doing
splendid work, and we are glad to have you with us. It is not
everyone who can come from the legitimate stage and go into the
movies with success; but you have."

"I am glad to hear it," declared the actor. "There was great
necessity, or I should not have done it; but I am not sorry now. It
is a great relief not to have to speak my lines."

"And you mustn't do much talking now, Daddy," cautioned Ruth. "You
want your throat to get well, you know."

"Yes, I know, dear," replied her father, patting her on the shoulder.

"Good-bye!" called Alice, who with Paul, Miss Fillmore, and the
camera operator, were going out for the exterior scenes. "I'll be
home soon."

"I'll take care of her," promised Paul, and, as he and Alice went
out, side by side, Ruth caught a sharp glance from Miss Dixon, who
was narrowly watching the two.

"Well, everything seems to be going on all right now," observed Mr.
Pertell. "Here's Pop with the fence. Now, Mr. Switzer, and Miss
Dixon----well, what is it?" he broke off with, as he saw Wellington
Bunn approaching with an irritated air.

"I must refuse, sir, positively refuse, to go on with the part you
have assigned to me!" exclaimed the former Shakespearean player,
striking what he thought was a dignified attitude. "I cannot do it,
Mr. Pertell, and I wonder that you expect it of me."

"What part is it you object to?" asked the manager. "Let's see,
you're in 'A Man's Home;' aren't you?"

"Yes, and in one scene I am supposed to come home from the office,
and get down on the floor to play with blocks with the children. I
do not mind that so much, but I have to play horse, and ride the
children around on my back, and then, to cap the climax, I have to
turn a somersault."

"Well?" asked the manager, as the actor paused.

"Well, I positively refuse to do that somersault! The idea of
me--Wellington Bunn--who has played in Shakespearean dramas,
groveling on the floor and turning somersaults! The somersaults
positively must be cut out."

"But they can't very well, Mr. Pertell!" broke in one of the other
actors in the same drama. "Because when Mr