The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch | Page 8

the
pavement with a bump."
"Oh, is it as dangerous as that?" exclaimed Alice, looking at Paul
intently.
"Don't worry," and he smiled. "I guess the apparatus has been tested
before. I'm getting used to risks in this business."
"What time to-morrow is it?" queried Ruth.
"Right after lunch," Russ responded. "I've got to film him."
"Then I'm coming to see you!" declared Alice. "I'm off directly after
lunch. I haven't much on for to-morrow."
"Oh, Alice! You wouldn't go!" cried her sister.
"Of course I would, my dear!"
"But suppose something--happened?" Ruth went on in a low voice, as
Russ and Paul started out together.
"All the more reason why I should be there!" declared Alice, promptly,
and Ruth looked at her with a new light of understanding in her eyes.
And then she looked at Paul, who waved his hand gaily at the younger
girl.
"Dear little sister," murmured Ruth. "I wonder----?"
"I'll look for you there," called Paul, as he went on down the hall.
"And I'll be there," promised Alice.
"Do you feel better now, Daddy?" asked Ruth, in their rooms.

"Much better--yes, my dear. That new spray the doctor gave me seems
to work wonders. And my throat is really better since our trip South. I
feel quite encouraged."
It was after supper in the DeVere apartment. The two girls were seated
at the sitting-room table with their father, who was looking over a new
play in which he had a part. Alice was reading a newspaper and Ruth
mending a pair of stockings.
"Well, there's one good thing about going out West," finally remarked
the younger girl, as she tossed aside the paper, and caught up a hairpin
which her vigorous motion had caused to slip out of her brown tresses.
"What's that--you won't have to fuss so about dress?" asked Ruth, for
her sister did not share her ideas on this subject.
"No, but if we do go there won't be any trouble about that International
company trying to steal Mr. Pertell's secrets."
"I don't know about that," observed Mr. DeVere, slowly. "If they are
after his big drama they may even follow us out West."
"Oh, I hope not!" exclaimed Ruth, pausing with extended needle. "I
don't like trouble."
"There may be no trouble," her father assured her, with a smile. "In fact,
now that the spy is detected, the whole affair may be closed. I hope so,
for Mr. Pertell works hard to get up new ideas, and to have some other
concern step in, and rob him of the fruits of his labor, would be unjust
indeed."
Rehearsals and the filming of plays in the Comet studio were over the
next morning about eleven o'clock.
"Come on," said Paul to Ruth and Alice. "I'm to get a bonus on account
of the fire escape stunt, and I'll take you girls out to lunch. Come along,
Russ. It's extra money and we might as well enjoy it."

"You are too extravagant!" chided Ruth.
"Oh, I like to be--when I have the chance," Paul laughed. "It isn't often
I do."
"Well, then, we may as well help you out," agreed Russ. "Right after
lunch we'll give you a chance to show us what you can do on that
patent rope."
The little meal was a merry one, in spite of the fact that the two girls
were a little nervous about going to see Paul descend from the tenth
story of a building on a slender rope. Ruth had finally consented to
accompany her sister.
Together they went to the place where the test was to take place. It was
a tall office structure, and, as word of what was afoot had spread, quite
a throng had gathered.
Mr. Pertell had made arrangements with the authorities to have Paul
work in a little theatrical business in connection with the test, and the
inventor of the fire escape was also to be in the moving pictures.
There was a little preliminary scene, as part of the projected play, and
then Paul went into the building with the inventor to prepare for his
thrilling descent.
The apparatus seemed simple. It was a round, metallic case, inside of
which was coiled a stout rope. At the end was a broad leather strap,
intended to be fastened about the person who was to make the jump.
The case, and the coil of rope, were to be fastened to a hook at the side
of the window. Then Paul was to jump out, and trust to the slow
uncoiling of the rope to lower him safely.
"Are you all ready?" asked the inventor, after he had explained the
apparatus.
"As ready as I ever shall be," answered Paul a little nervously. He
looked down to the ground. It seemed