The Moving Picture Girls Snowbound | Page 6

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 father is----"
"He'll be back in just a little while!" interrupted Alice, briskly. "Did he
tell you to come here?"
"Nope! I told myself!" replied the man. "I'm glad I did, too. This is nice
place and you're nice girls, too. Sisters, I take it?"
"You need not discuss us!" exclaimed Ruth with dignity. "If you will
leave word what your business with my father is I will have him call on
you."
"What, leave? Me leave? Nothin' doin', sister. I'm too comfortable
here," and he leaned back in the chair and laughed foolishly.
"What--what did you want to see Mr. DeVere about?" inquired Ruth,
though she could well guess.
"I'll tell you what it's about," said Dan Merley, confidentially. "It's
about money. I want five hundred dollars from your father, and I want
it quick--with interest, too. Don't forget that."
"My father paid you that money!" Ruth declared, with boldness.
"He did not!" denied the unpleasant visitor. "He owes it to me yet, and I

want it. And, what's more I'm going to have it!"
"That is unfair--unjust!" said Ruth, and there was a trace of tears in her
voice. "My father paid you the money, and you promised to give him
back the note--the paper that showed you had loaned it to him. But you
never did."
"How do you know all this?" he asked.
"Because my father was just telling us about it--a little while ago. He
said you had--forgotten."
"Yes, I know! He said I'd been drinking too much; didn't he?"
Ruth and Alice drew further back, offended by his coarse language.
"He--he said you were not--quite yourself," spoke Alice gently.
"Oh ho! Another one! So there's two of you here!" laughed the man.
"Well, this certainly is a nice place. I guess I'll stay until the boss
comes back. That is, unless you have the five hundred dollars here, and
want to pay me," he added, with a sickly grin.
"You have been paid once," Ruth insisted.
"I have not--I never was paid!" Dan Merley cried. "I want my money
and I'm going to have it! Do you hear? I'm going to have it, and have it
soon! You tell your father that from me!" and he banged his fist on the
table.
Ruth and Alice looked at each other. The same thought was in both
their minds, and it shone from their eyes. They must leave at once--the
door was slightly open.
"No more monkey business!" cried the unwelcome caller. "I lent your
father that money and he never paid me back. He may say he did; but
he can't prove it. I hold his note, and if he doesn't pay me I'll----"
"What will you do?" interrupted a new voice, and with relief Ruth and

Alice looked up, to see Russ Dalwood entering the room.
"Excuse me," he said to the girls, "I knocked, but you did not seem to
hear. Possibly there was too much noise," and he looked at the man
significantly. "Is there any trouble here?" the young moving picture
operator asked.
"Oh,