The Moving Picture Girls Snowbound

L >> Laura Lee Hope >> The Moving Picture Girls Snowbound

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

They reached it, struggling, panting and out of breath, and after
waiting a moment, to allow their laboring hearts to quiet down, that
they might speak less brokenly, Alice knocked at the door. There was no
answer.

"Oh, suppose they should not be home?" cried Ruth.

"That seems to be the case," spoke Alice, as she knocked again, without
result.

"What shall we do--go to the other cabin?" asked Ruth.

"Let's see if this one is open," proposed Alice. "They may be hospitable
enough to have left the door unlocked."

As she spoke she tried the latch. Somewhat to her surprise the door did
open, and then to the astonishment of both girls they found themselves
in an unoccupied cabin.

"Oh dear!" cried Ruth. "What a disappointment!"

"Isn't it?" agreed Alice. "Well, we can try the other."

They stood for a moment in the main room of the small cabin, and looked
about. There was nothing in it save a few boxes.

"We could make a fire--I have matches, and we could break up the boxes
on the hearth," said Alice. "Shall we?"

"No, let's go to the other cabin. I'm sure someone will be there,"
suggested her sister.

"Come on!"

They stepped to the door, but at that instant the snow began again,
harder than before.

"No use!" cried Alice. "We're doomed to stay here, I guess."

"Well, it's a shelter, at any rate," sighed Ruth. She was not frightened
now.

"And there's another good thing," went on Alice. "These cabins are a
definite place. If a searching party starts out for us Mr. Macksey will
be sure to think about these, and look here for us. I think we are all
right now."

"We're better off, at any rate," observed Ruth. "I believe we might make
a fire, Alice."

"That's what I say."

They had taken off their snowshoes, and now, by stamping and kicking at
the boxes, they managed to break them up into kindling wood. Soon a
little blaze was crackling on the hearth. The warmth was grateful to the
chilled girls.

They stood before it toasting their cold hands, and then, when Ruth
went to the window to look out, she called:

"It's stopped snowing again. Don't you think we'd better run to the
other cabin while we have the chance?"

"I suppose it would be wise," agreed Alice. "We really ought to start
for Elk Lodge, and we could if we had a guide. Come on."

Together they started for the larger cabin, but when half way to it they
saw three men coming out. The men had guns over their shoulders, and
they headed down the trail, away from the girls.

Not before, however, the two sisters had a good view of the features of
the trio. And instantly the same thought came to both.

"Did you see who one of those men was?" gasped Ruth.

"Yes, it is he! And those are the same two men who were with him
before," answered Alice.

"Dan Merley--the man who is going to sue daddy for that five hundred
dollars!" went on Ruth, clasping her hands.

"And with him are the two men who were present when the street car
accident happened in New York--Fripp and Jagle. They are the hunters who
have been annoying Mr. Macksey."

"Oh, what shall we do?" asked Ruth. "We can't appeal to them for help,
not after the way Merley behaved to us."

"Of course not! Oh, isn't it provoking? Just as we see help we can't
avail ourselves of it. The men are getting farther and farther away,"
Alice went on. "If we are going to appeal to them we must be quick about
it."

"Don't call to them!" exclaimed Ruth. "It might be dangerous. They
haven't noticed us--let them go. But Alice, did you see how Merley seems
to have recovered from his accident? He walks as well as the others."

"Yes, so he does. I'm glad they didn't see us. But I have a plan. There
may be other persons in the cabin. When the three men are out of sight,
and they will be in the woods in a little while, we can go and ask help
of whoever is left in the cabin."

"Yes," agreed Ruth, and they waited, going back to the small cabin. "I
remember now," Ruth added after a pause, "that man who was in the bushes
the time of the coasting race was Fripp. I knew I had seen him somewhere
before, but I could not recall him then."

CHAPTER XXIII

THE PLAN OF RUSS

The three men, with their guns on their shoulders, passed out of sight
into a clump of woodland.

"Now's our chance," said Alice. "We'll slip over to the other cabin, and
see if we can get help. These men are evidently up here on a hunting
trip, and they may have a man cook, or some sort of help in the cabin.
Whoever it is can't refuse to at least set us on the right road. We
don't need to mention that Mr. Merley is going to sue our father."

"I should say not," agreed Ruth. "Oh, that horrid man! I never want to
see him again. But isn't it queer how soon he recovered from his
injury?"

"Rather odd. We must tell daddy about it when we get back."

"If we ever do," sighed the older girl.

"If we ever do?" repeated Alice. "Why of course we'll get back. I don't
believe it is going to storm any more."

"I hope not."

On their snowshoes the moving picture girls made their way to the second
cabin. But again disappointment awaited them, for there was no answer to
their repeated knocks.

"No one at home," spoke Alice. "Shall we try to go in?"

"It would do no good," Ruth decided. "If it is shelter we want we can
get it at the other cabin. And as there is no one at home here we can't
ask our way. Besides, those men might come back unexpectedly, and I
wouldn't have Merley and his two companions find us in their cabin for
anything!"

"Neither would I. That Merley would be mean enough," Alice declared, "to
charge us rent, and add that to the five hundred dollars he is going to
make daddy pay."

"Oh, Alice! What queer ideas you have. But, dear, we mustn't linger
here. I wonder if it would do to follow those men?"

"Follow them? What in the world for?"

"Why they seem to have taken some sort of a trail, and it may lead out
to a road that will take us to Elk Lodge."

"It isn't very likely," Alice declared. "I'm sure I know the general
direction in which Elk Lodge lies, and it's just opposite from where
those men went. I think, now, that the storm has stopped, that we can
get back on the path."

"Then, for goodness sakes, let's try!" proposed Ruth. "It seems to be
getting darker. Oh, if they would only come for us!"

"Let us try to help ourselves first," counseled Alice.

The girls retraced their steps, going back toward the smaller cabin.
They stopped in for a moment to see that the blaze they had kindled on
the hearth was out, for they did not want a chance spark to set fire to
the place. But the embers were cold and dead, for the wood had been
light, and there was not much of it.

Then gliding over the crust on their snowshoes, Ruth and Alice got back
to the sheltering rock.

"Let me look about a bit," Alice requested. "I think I can pick up the
trail again. If I could only get back to the point where we got off from
I would be all right."

She walked about a little and then, passing through a small clump of
trees, while Ruth remained at the rock, Alice suddenly gave a joyful
cry.

"I've found it!" she called. "Come on, Ruth. It's all right. I'm on the
proper path now."

Ruth hurried to join her sister, and confirmed the good news. They
recognized the path by which they had come, and soon they were traveling
along it, certain, now, that they were headed for Elk Lodge.

And their adventures seemed to be over for that day at least, for, on
covering about three-quarters of a mile they were delighted to see,
hurrying toward them, Russ and Paul.

"There are the boys!" cried Alice.

"And I was never more glad to see anyone in all my life!" exclaimed
Ruth.

"We're not lost now, and don't really need them," said Alice.

"Well, don't tell them that--especially after they have been so good as
to come for us," advised Ruth.

"Silly! Of course I won't!"

"Well, you two seem to have the oddest faculty for getting into
trouble!" cried Russ as he and Paul reached the girls. "The whole Lodge
is worried to death about you, and we're all out searching for you."

"Oh, it's too bad we gave so much trouble," responded Ruth, contritely.
"But we couldn't help it. We were lost in the storm."

"We thought that likely," Paul said. "Your father is quite worried."

"Is he out searching, too?" Alice asked.

"No, his throat troubles him," the young actor replied. "But every other
man at the Lodge is. Mr. Macksey told us to come this way, and if we
didn't locate you we were to meet him at some place where there are two
cabins."

"We just came from there," Ruth said, "and we had the oddest adventure.
I'll tell you about it when we get back. We tried to get a guide to show
us the path, but as it happened we didn't need one. Oh, I believe it's
snowing again!"

Some white flakes were sifting down.

"It's only a little flurry," decided Paul. "And it won't matter, for the
path back is very plain now. But what happened?"

The girls told him, and when he heard that Merley was in the
neighborhood, and apparently uninjured, Russ said:

"I always thought that fellow was a faker. I'd like to know what his
game was."

"Do you think it is a game?" asked Alice.

"Yes, and I think it's more of a game than the game they are after up
here. I think they're hatching some plot."

They arrived at Elk Lodge a little later, and leaving the girls with
their father, Russ and Paul went after the other searchers, to tell
them that the lost ones were found.

"You must not go away alone again," cautioned Mr. DeVere to his
daughters, when all the searchers had returned, and there was a joyful
reunion in the big living room.

"We won't!" promised Alice. "I was really a bit frightened this time."

"A _bit_ frightened!" cried Ruth. "I was awfully scared! I could see us
both frozen stiff under the snow, and the dogs nosing us out as they do
travelers in the Alps."

"I'm glad that didn't happen," laughed Russ. "For I suppose if it had
Mr. Pertell would have insisted on having a moving picture of it, and I
would have been too prostrated with grief to be able to work the
camera."

"Well, we're all right now," declared Alice. "And such an appetite as I
have!"

"Did you tell your father about Dan Merley?" asked Russ.

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Ruth. "Listen Daddy, whom do you think we saw?"

"Not Dan Merley up here?" cried the actor.

"Yes, he was with two other men--those who were with him when he was
hurt by the street car."

"Dan Merley up here?" mused Mr. DeVere. "I wonder what he can want? Can
he be going to make trouble for me?"

"We won't let him, Daddy!" cried Alice. "If he walks over here to ask
for that five hundred dollars again, I'll----"

"You say he was walking around?" cried Mr. DeVere.

"Yes, on snowshoes," answered Ruth. "He was walking as well as anyone."

"And he was supposed to be seriously hurt!" murmured the actor. "Where
is that paper?" and he looked about him.

"What paper?" asked Ruth.

"That New York paper I was just reading. There is something in it I want
to show you. I begin to see through this."

The journal was found, and Mr. DeVere glanced through it rapidly,
looking for some item. Russ and the two girls watched him curiously.

"Here it is!" cried the actor. "It is headed 'Brings Damage Suit for Ten
Thousand Dollars.' Listen, I'll just give you the main facts. It says
Dan Merley had started an action in one of the courts demanding ten
thousand dollars' damages for being hurt by a street car. Merley claims
he will never be able to walk again, because his back is permanently
hurt. And yet you saw him walking?" he appealed to the two girls.

"We certainly saw him," declared Ruth.

"Then that is a bogus damage suit. He isn't hurt at all. The court
should know of this, and so should the street car company. I shall write
to them!"

"Wait!" cried Russ. "I have a better idea."

"What is it?" asked Mr. DeVere.

"I'll get some moving pictures of him," went on the young operator.
"I'll take a film, showing him tramping around, hunting, and when that
is shown to the street car company's lawyer I guess that will put an end
to Mr. Merley's suit. I'll film the faker!"

CHAPTER XXIV

THE PROOF ON THE FILM

Enthusiastic over his new idea, Russ gazed triumphantly at Mr. DeVere
and the two girls. They did not seem to comprehend.

"What--what was that you said?" asked Mr. DeVere.

"I said I was going to make a moving picture of that faker," repeated
Russ. "Excuse that word, but it's the only one that fits."

"Yes, he really is a faker and cheat," agreed the actor. "And, Russ,
your idea is most excellent. It will be the best kind of evidence
against the scoundrel, and evidence that can not be controverted."

"That's my idea," went on the young operator. "Some of these accident
fakers are so clever that they fool the doctors."

"Do they really make a business of it?" asked Ruth.

"Indeed they do," Russ answered. "Sometimes a gang of men, who don't
like to work for a living, plan to have a series of accidents. They
decide on who shall be 'hurt,' and where. Then they get their witnesses,
who will testify to anything as long as they get paid for it. They hire
rascally lawyers, too. Sometimes they have fake accidents happen to
their wagons or automobiles instead of themselves. And more than once
conductors or motormen of cars have been in with the rascals."

"It doesn't seem possible!" protested Alice.

"It is though," her father assured her. "I read in a newspaper the other
day how two fakers were found out and arrested. But they had secured a
large sum in damages, so I presume they figured that it paid them. I
knew Dan Merley was an unprincipled man, but I did not believe he was an
accident swindler. But you can stop him, Russ."

"I don't see how you are going to do it," remarked Alice. "I mean, I
don't see that Dan Merley will let you take a moving picture of him, to
show to the court, proving that he is a swindler."

"I don't suppose he would--if he knew it," laughed Russ. "But I don't
propose to let him see me filming him. I've got to do it on the sly,
and it isn't going to be very easy. But I think I can manage it."

"I wish we could help you," said Ruth.

"Perhaps you can," the young moving picture operator answered. "I'll
have to make some plans. But we've got a big day ahead of us to-morrow,
and I can't do it then. I'll have to wait."

"Do you think I had better write to the court, and to the lawyers of the
street car company?" asked Mr. DeVere. "Your plan might fail, Russ."

"Well, of course it might, that's a fact. But there is time enough. I'd
like to try my way first, though, for it would be conclusive proof. If
you sent word to the lawyers, and they sent a witness up here to get his
evidence by eyesight, Merley might hear of it in some way and fool them.
He might pretend to be lame again, if he knew he was being watched.

"Then, too, he could bring his own witnesses to prove that he was lame
and unable to walk. It would be a case of which witnesses the court and
jury would believe.

"But if I get the proof on the film--you can't go back of that. Just
imagine, working a moving picture machine in one of the courts!" and he
laughed at the idea.

"Perhaps you won't have to go to that end," suggested Ruth.

"No, we may be able to give Merley a hint that he had better not keep on
with the suit," Mr. DeVere said. "Well, Russ, I wish you luck."

A little later all the members of the company had heard of Russ's plan
and Mr. Pertell said that as soon as the big drama was finished Russ
could have as much time as he wanted to try and get a moving picture
film of Merley.

"I'll have to go over to that cabin, and sort of size up the situation,"
Russ decided. "I want to get the lay of the land, and pick out the best
spot to plant my camera. I suppose it will have to be behind a clump of
bushes."

"Oh, no! I know the very place for you!" cried Ruth.

"Where?" he asked.

"In the second, or small cabin. You can hide yourself there and focus
your camera through the window. Then you can film him without him seeing
you."

"Good!" cried Russ. "That will be the very thing!"

As Russ had said, the next day was a very busy one for him, and all the
members of the company. Several important scenes in the big drama were
made. A few of them were interiors, in the barn or in the living room
of Elk Lodge, and for this the players were thankful, for the weather
had turned cold, and it was disagreeable outdoors.

Still, some snow scenes were needed, and the work had to go on. Russ had
one of his hands slightly frost-bitten using it without a glove to make
some adjustments to his camera, and the tips of Mr. Sneed's ears were
nipped with the cold.

This happened when the actor was doing a little bit which called for him
to shovel a supposedly lost and frozen person out of a snow bank. Of
course a "dummy" was put under the snow, and the real person, (in this
case Mr. Bunn,) acted up to the time of the snow burial. Then a clever
substitution was made and the film was exposed again. This is often done
to get trick pictures.

Mr. Sneed was shoveling away at the snow bank. His ears had been very
cold, but suddenly seemed to have lost all feeling. He was rather
surprised, then, when the act was over, to have Mr. Switzer rush up to
him with a handful of snow and hold some over each ear.

"Here! Quit that! What do you mean?" cried the grouchy actor.

"I got to do it alretty yet!" exclaimed the German.

"Quit it! Stop it!"

"No, I stops not until I haf der cold drawed out of your ears. They are
frosted, mine dear chap, und dis is der only vay to make dem proper. I
know, I have been in der Far North."

"That's right--it's the best way. Hold snow on your frosted ears or
nose, whatever it happens to be," declared Mr. Pertell. "You can thank
Mr. Switzer for saving you a lot of trouble, Mr. Sneed."

"Humph! It's a funny thing to be thankful for--because someone washes
your face with snow," declared the grouchy actor.

It was two days later before Russ had time to carry out his plan of
"filming the faker," as he referred to it. Then he and Paul, with Ruth
and Alice, went to the two cabins. Russ took along a special moving
picture camera made for fast work, and one with a lens that admitted of
a long focus.

"For Merley may not come very near the small cabin," the young moving
picture operator said. "I may have to get him a long way off. But I
don't want to miss him."

When the four were in the vicinity of the place they proceeded
cautiously, for they did not want to expose themselves. From a screen of
bushes Russ took an observation, and announced that the coast was clear.

"We'll slip into the cabin, and stay there as long as we can," Russ
said, and they ran across an open space. As far as they could tell they
were not observed.

Two hours passed, and Russ was beginning to be afraid his plan would be
a failure, for that day at least.

"But I'll come back again to-morrow, and the next day--until I film that
faker!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to expose him!"

"Look!" exclaimed Paul, who was standing near a window. "There are two
men over near that other cabin. Is one of them Merley?"

Russ and Alice reached the window at the same time.

"There he is!" Alice cried.

"And walking as well as any man," Russ exclaimed. "Here's where I get
him!"

The moving picture camera was brought to the casement, and a moment
later Russ began clicking away at it. He had it focused on Merley who,
with Fripp, was walking about the other cabin. Merley walked without the
suspicion of a limp, and a little later he took a shovel, and began
clearing snow away from some of the walks.

"Good!" cried Russ. "Better and better! If he can do such strenuous work
as that he isn't hurt. This cooks your goose, Dan Merley!"

He continued to grind away, getting the proof of the fellow's
criminality on the sensitive film.

"Oh, they're coming over this way!" exclaimed Ruth. "What shall we do?"

"Nothing," declared Russ, calmly. "The nearer he comes the better
pictures I can get. Don't be afraid. Paul and I are here."

Merley had indeed started toward the smaller cabin. He was walking
rapidly and well, and Russ got some excellent pictures. Then Fripp, who
remained at the larger cabin, called to his companion, who turned back
for some reason.

"Good!" cried Russ. "I've got him going and coming! Oh, this will be
great!"

He continued to grind away at the film, and soon had sufficient
pictures.

"But how are we going to get away without them seeing us?" asked Alice.

"We can wait until dark," Russ said.

But there was no need. A little later the two men went into the large
cabin, and presently came out with their guns. There was no sign of
Jagle. But Merley and Fripp started for the woods, and as soon as they
were out of sight the four emerged from the small cabin, Russ carrying
his camera that now contained the proof on the film. They hurried back
to Elk Lodge.

CHAPTER XXV

THE MOVING PICTURE

The last drama of the backwoods had been filmed. The unexposed reels
were sent in to New York, together with the one made of Dan Merley,
showing a supposedly injured man walking vigorously about.

"And now good-bye to Elk Lodge," sighed Alice, when they were packing up
to go back to New York. "I'm sorry to leave it."

"So am I!" added Ruth. "We have had some lovely times here."

"And strenuous ones, too," spoke Alice.

"Oh, but won't I be glad to see dear old Broadway again!" cried Miss
Pennington, affectedly.

"And won't I!" sighed Miss Dixon. "I want to see the sights."

"As if there weren't finer ones here than any in New York!" murmured
Alice.

"Everyone to their notion, my dear," remarked Miss Pennington, in a pert
manner.

The last days at Elk Lodge were ones of delight. For the weather was
good, and there was plenty of snow, which made fine coasting. There was
also skating, with a number of straw rides.

The members of the picture company gave themselves up to pleasure, and
Russ put away his cameras and joined in the fun with the others.

"I don't care what happens now!" he cried. "I don't have to film it."

Paul and Russ, with the two girls, paid another visit to the vicinity of
the two cabins. There was a deserted look about the larger one, and a
cautious examination revealed the fact that the occupants had gone.

"I suppose he has returned to New York to prosecute his suit against the
street car company," said Ruth.

"And also his one against daddy," added Alice.

Three days later the moving picture company returned to New York.

"And what are the next plans--I mean what sort of pictures are you going
to make next?" asked Mr. DeVere of Mr. Pertell.

"I haven't quite made up my mind. I'll let you all know a little later,"
the manager answered.

"I hope it isn't any more snow and ice," remarked Mr. Bunn.

Mr. Pertell only smiled.

Mr. DeVere and his daughters went to their apartment, Russ accompanying
them. His mother and brother were glad, not only to see the young
operator but the DeVere family as well.

The next day Mr. DeVere received a call from a lawyer who said he
represented Dan Merley.

"I have come to see if you are ready to pay that five hundred dollars
before we go to court, Mr. DeVere," the lawyer said, stiffly.

"I haven't got it," answered the actor.

"Very well then, we shall sue and you will have to pay heavy costs and
fees, in addition to the principal."

Mr. DeVere was very much worried, and spoke of the matter to Russ. The
young operator laughed.

"Dan Merley will never collect that money," he said.

"What makes you think so?"

"I don't think--I know. Give me that lawyer's address, and then don't do
anything until you hear from me."

It was two days later that Russ said to the actor:

"Can you make it convenient to be at our film studio this evening?"

"I think so--why?" asked Mr. DeVere.

"You'll see when you get there."

"May we come?" asked Ruth.

"Surely," Russ answered. "I think you'll enjoy it, too!"

Rather mystified, but somehow suspecting what was afoot, the two girls
accompanied their father to the studio at the appointed hour. Russ met
them and took them into the room where the films were first shown after
being prepared for the projector. It was a sort of testing room.

"I think you have met this gentleman before," said Russ, as he nodded at
one sitting in a corner. It was Dan Merley's lawyer.

"Oh, yes, I guess Mr. DeVere knows me," returned the latter. "I
understand you have come here for a settlement," he went on.

"Yes," said Russ, smiling.

"A--a settlement!" murmured Mr. DeVere. "I--I am not prepared to settle.
I have not the money!"

"You don't need the money," declared Russ. "You have brought Mr.
DeVere's promissory note with you; have you not?" he asked the lawyer.

"I brought it, at your request," was the answer. "But I tell you, here
and now, that it will not be surrendered until the five hundred dollars
is paid."

"Oh yes," said Russ gently, "I think it will. Look! Ready!"

As he spoke the room was suddenly darkened, and then, on the big white
screen, there sprang into prominence life-size moving pictures of Dan
Merley, showing him walking about the backwoods cabin, and shoveling
snow. The likeness was perfect.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10