The Moving Picture Girls | Page 3

dear. But you are so--so out-spoken."
"I'm glad of it. Oh, Ruth, when will you ever give up trying to pretend we are what we are not? You're a dear, nice, sweet, romantic sister, and some day I hope the Fairy Prince will come riding past on his milk-white steed--and, say, Ruth, why should a prince always ride a milk-white steed? There's something that's never been explained.
"All the novels and fairy stories have milk-white steeds for the hero to prance up on when he rescues the doleful maiden. And if there's any color that gets dirtier sooner, and makes a horse look most like a lost hope, it's white. Of course I know they can keep a circus horse milk-white, but it isn't practical for princes or heroes. The first mud puddle he splashed through--And, oh, say! If the prince should fail in his fortunes later, and have to hire out to drive a coal wagon! Wouldn't his milk-white steed look sweet then? There goes one now," and she pointed out of the window to the street below.
"Do, Ruth, if your prince comes, insist on his changing his steed for one of sober brown. It will wear better."
"Don't be silly, Alice!"
"Oh, I can't help it. Hark, is that dad's step?"
The two girls listened, turning their heads toward the hall entrance door.
"No, it's someone over at the Dalwoods'--across the corridor."
The noise in the hallway increased. There were hasty footsteps, and then rather loud voices.
"I tell you I won't have anything to do with you, and you needn't come sneaking around here any more. I'm done with you!"
"That's Russ," whispered Alice.
"Yes," agreed Ruth, and her sister noted a slight flush on her fair cheeks.
Then came a voice in expostulation:
"But I tell you I can market it for you, and get you something for it. If you try to go it alone--"
"Well, that's just what I'm going to do--go it alone, and I don't want to hear any more from you. Now you get out!"
"But look here--"
There was a sound of a scuffle, and a body crashed up against the door of the DeVere apartment.
"Oh!" cried Ruth and Alice together.
Their door swung open, for someone had seemingly caught at the knob to save himself from falling. The girls had a glimpse of their neighbor across the hall, Russ Dalwood by name, pushing a strange man toward the head of the stairs.
"Now you get out!" cried Russ, and the man left rather unceremoniously, slipping down two or three steps before he could recover his balance and grasp the railing.
"Oh, shut the door, quickly, Alice!" gasped Ruth.
CHAPTER II
RUSS DALWOOD APOLOGIZES
The portal was closed with a bang--so closed because Alice in a mad rush threw herself against it and turned the key in the lock. Then she gained a place by her sister's side, and slipped an arm about her waist.
"He--he won't come in," Alice whispered. "I saw him going down the stairs."
"Who--who was it?" faltered Ruth. She was very pale.
"I don't know," Alice made answer. "I don't believe he meant to come in here. It was--was just an accident. But the door is locked now. Maybe it was some collector--like those horrid men who have been to see us lately. The Dalwoods may be short of money, too."
"I don't think so, Alice. Russ makes good wages at the moving picture place. Oh, are you sure the door is locked?"
"Positive. Don't worry."
"Let's slip down the back stairs to Mrs. Reilley's flat. She has a telephone, and we can call the police," suggested the taller girl, in a hoarse whisper, her eyes never leaving the hall door that had been so unceremoniously thrust open.
"Silly!" returned Alice. "There's no danger now. That man has gone. I tell you I saw him hurrying down the stairs. Russ sent him about his business, all right--whatever his business was."
"Oh, it's terrible to live this way!" wailed Ruth. "With--with common fighting going on in the halls! If poor mother were alive now--"
"She wouldn't be a bit afraid, if what you tell me of her is true!" insisted Alice, stoutly. "And I'm not a bit afraid, either. Why, Russ is just across the hall, and it was only the other day you were saying how strong and manly he was. Have you forgotten?"
"No," answered Ruth, in a low voice, and again the blush suffused her cheeks.
"Then don't be a silly. I'm not going down and ask Mrs. Reilley to 'phone for the police. That would cause excitement indeed. I don't believe anyone else heard the commotion, and that was only because our door flew open by accident."
"Oh, well, maybe it will be all right," assented the taller girl who, in this emergency, seemed to lean on her younger sister. Perhaps it was because Alice was so merry-hearted--even unthinking at times; despising danger because she