The Moving Picture Girls in War Plays | Page 5

of his success and of the entrance of his
daughters into the field is given in the initial book.
Ruth, the elder girl, was, like her father, of a romantic turn. Also she
was rather tall and willowy, as Mr. DeVere had been before he had
taken on flesh with the passing of the years; and she was cast for parts
that suited her type. She was deliberate in her actions, and in "registry."
Alice, like her late mother, was warm-hearted and impulsive, plump,
vivacious and full of fun. Both girls were excellent movie actresses. In
the company they had joined was Mr. Wellington Bunn, an old actor,
who hoped, some day, to appear in Hamlet--Hamlet in the legitimate.
Paul Ardite, who played light parts, had become very fond of Alice.
Russ Dalwood had a liking for Ruth, and the four had many pleasant
hours in each other's company.

Pearl Pennington was the leading lady at times, and was rather disposed
to domineer over our girls, as was her chum, Laura Dixon. Mrs.
Maguire was the "mother" of the film company. She portrayed old lady
parts, and her two grandchildren, Tommie and Nellie, the orphans,
were cast for characters suitable to them.
Carl Switzer, a German-American, did comedy parts and was a good
fellow, though occasionally he would unconsciously say some very
funny things. His opposite in character was Pepper Sneed, the grouch
of the company. But Pepper could do valuable work, especially as a
villain, and so he was kept on. As for Pop Snooks, the company could
not have got along without him. It was Pop, the property man of the
company, who made many of the devices used when the company went
to "Oak Farm," as told in the second volume, where scenes for farm
dramas were filmed. Pop could use a drawbridge in one scene, and, in
the next, convert it into a perfectly good cow-barn. Pop was a valuable
man.
There were other members of the company, of more or less importance,
whom you will meet as this story progresses.
It was in the third volume of the series, "The Moving Picture Girls
Snowbound," that Ruth and Alice succeeded in getting "the proof on
the film" that saved Mr. DeVere from an unjust charge.
From the cold and frostiness of Deerfield the girls went to Florida,
where "Under the Palms," many stirring acts were filmed. It was here
that Alice and Ruth helped find two girls who were lost in the wilds of
the Everglades.
"The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch" gave Ruth and Alice a
taste of cowboy life, and though rivals tried to spoil some of the
valuable films, they were not altogether successful, even though a
prairie fire figured in their schemes.
The girls, with their father, had recently returned from a perilous trip.
This is told about in the volume immediately preceding the one you are
reading--"The Moving Picture Girls at Sea." In that Alice and Ruth

proved, not only their versatility as actresses, but also that they could
be brave and resourceful in the face of danger. And they more than
repaid the old sailor, Jack Jepson, who saved their lives, by doing him a
good turn.
"Well, life at Oak Farm will be vastly different from that on the Mary
Ellen," remarked Alice, as she looked from the automobile as it swung
along through the New York streets on the way to the park.
"Yes," agreed her sister. "But I like it up there."
"There are going to be some strenuous times," said Paul. "We've got to
do some hustling work."
"All the better," declared Russ. "I like to keep the film running. This
sitting about all day and reeling off only ten feet makes me tired."
"You like action!" laughed Ruth.
"Yes; and plenty of it."
Oak Farm was the property of the Apgars. There was Mr. Belix Apgar,
the father, Nance, his wife, and Sandy, an energetic son. The farm was
located in New Jersey, about forty miles from New York, and it
provided a picturesque background for the scenes evolved by Mr.
Pertell and his company. It was during a scene on the farm, some time
before, that a valuable discovery had been made, which endeared the
moving picture girls and their chums to the Apgars.
"How did Mr. Pertell come to pick out Oak Farm for the war plays?"
asked Ruth, as the automobile bounced along.
"Well, I suggested it to him," answered Russ. "I remembered the
background, and I felt sure we could get all sorts of settings there to
make the proper scenes. There are hills, mountains, valleys, streams,
bridges, waterfalls, cliffs and caves. Everything needed for perfectly
good war dramas."

"How did they come to want that sort of stuff?" asked Paul.
"Oh, war