ing the Misses DeVere their parts,"
replied Paul. "Why, is the place on fire?"

"No, but I refuse to take the part he has assigned to me. I utterly
and positively refuse to so demean myself."

"What part have you?" asked the young fellow, looking over at Alice
and nodding.

"Why, he has cast me--I, who have played all the principal
Shakespearean characters--he has cast me--Wellington Bunn--as a
waiter in a hotel scene! Where is Mr. Pertell? I refuse to take that
character!"

"Oh, what's the trouble now?" asked the manager, coming from his
office. The Shakespearean actor explained.

"Now see here!" exclaimed Mr. Pertell, with more anger than he
usually displayed. "You'll take that part, Mr. Bunn, or leave the
company! It is an important part, and has to do with the development
of the plot. Why, as that waiter you intercept the taking of ten
thousand dollars, and prevent the heroine from being abducted.
Afterward you become rich, and blossom out as a theatrical manager."

"And do I produce Shakespeare?" asked the old actor, eagerly.

"There's nothing to stop you--in the play," returned Mr. Pertell,
rather drily.

"Oh, then it's all right," said Mr. Bunn, with a sigh of relief.
"I'll take the part."

Rehearsals were going on in various parts of the studio, and some
plays were being filmed. Russ Dalwood was busy at one of the
cameras.

"Have you got a part you like, Ruth?" asked Alice, when she had
finished looking over her lines.

"Indeed I have, I'm supposed to be Lady Montgomery, and there are two
counts in love with me. At least, one is a count and the other
pretends to be one. It's quite romantic. What is yours?"

"Mine's jolly. I'm a school girl, always up to some trick or other,
and--yes, see here--why in one of my tricks I disclose that the
pretended count who's in love with you is only an organ grinder! Oh,
that will be fun," and she laughed gleefully.

"Do you like your parts?" asked the manager, coming up.

"Indeed we do!" chorused Ruth and Alice.

"Then talk to your father about them," he advised. "See what he says,
and if he is willing you may begin rehearsals with him, and the
others of the cast."

Mr. DeVere was fully satisfied with the parts assigned to his
daughters, and agreed to allow them to enter formally into the work
of the moving pictures at a very fair salary for beginners. The
others of the company were called together, including Paul Ardite,
and the best method of getting th