The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch

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"Did you get close enough to recognize them?" Mr. Pertell wanted to
know.

"I didn't know any of 'em," asserted Baldy. "Not that I got any too
close," he added, grimly. "They sure can ride, even if they don't have
our style."

"I'm not sure," remarked Russ, as he put away the camera which he had
had no chance to use after filming the start of the cowboys, "I'm not
sure, but I think I recognized one of the fellows as the chap who was at
Rocky Ranch when we arrived there."

"Then he has others with him," said Mr. Pertell.

"Evidently."

"And they will probably try to do us some more mischief," went on the
manager. "We still have several important films to make, and if they try
to steal our ideas and get the pictures we go to so much trouble to make
we may as well give up."

"Don't you do it!" cried Baldy Johnson. "Don't you do it! We'll get
after these fellows the first thing in the morning, and round 'em up
good and proper."

"That's what we will!" cried his companion. "Whoop-ee for the round-up!"

"We'll pay 'em for startin' that fire," went on Baldy.

"Yes, and for stampedin' those cattle, too," added Buster Jones.

"Do you think they did that?" Mr. Pertell asked, quickly.

"I wouldn't be a bit surprised," declared Buster. "If they was mean
enough to start a fire to spoil the picture they wouldn't stop at a
little thing like stampedin' a bunch of cattle. I'm sure they done it."

"Then all the more reason for runnin' 'em out of the country!" decided
Baldy. "We'll get on the trail early in the mornin', boys."

"We're with you!" cried the others.

The camp, which had been made on the side of the creek where refuge had
been taken from the fire, was soon in order. The cook wagon and supplies
had been sent far away from the scene of the blaze when it was started,
and it had come up by a different trail. Soon with tents erected, and
with the sleeping wagon for the ladies in readiness, quiet settled down
over the scene.

Believing that it was more necessary to capture or drive out of that
section the rivals who were endeavoring to get ahead of him, Mr. Pertell
decided not to make any more films until after the chase. Preparations
for this were soon under way, next morning, and, save for a small guard
of cowboys left in camp, all the men riders went after the suspected
ones. Mr. DeVere remained with his daughters. Of course Russ went along
to make the pictures.

It was some time before the searchers got on the proper trail. They
followed one or two false ones at first, but finally were set right, and
then they rode furiously.

"There they are!" cried Baldy, who had taken the lead. This was after a
hasty lunch. He pointed to a group of fleeing horsemen.

"After 'em!" yelled Bow Backus.

"They shan't get away this time!" cried Buster Jones.

And they did not. Ride as the fleeing ones might, they were no match for
their pursuers, and after a short chase, which Russ was able to get on
the film, the fugitives were surrounded.

"Surrender!" yelled the cowboys of Rocky Ranch as they rode down their
rivals.

And the others were glad enough to pull up their jaded steeds, for they
had ridden far and hard to escape. But fate was against them.

"So it's you; is it, Wilson!" exclaimed Mr. Pertell, as he recognized
the spy who had been detected in the studio.

"And there's that other chap!" exclaimed Russ, as he saw the man who had
so suddenly left Rocky Ranch. "Now if we could only get back that roll
of stolen film we'd be all right."

The prisoners were searched and bound, and on Wilson were found papers
incriminating him and his confederates in both the moves against our
friends. Other actions to take advantage of Mr. Pertell had also been
planned.

But, best of all, the headquarters of the gang was disclosed and there,
among other things, was found the missing roll of film, with the seals
unbroken, showing that it was not spoiled, but could be developed and
printed. So, after all, there was no need of making the big scene over
again. The surreptitious pictures of the oil well were also recovered
and destroyed.

And then, after no very gentle treatment, the Rocky Ranch cowboys ran
out of the country the men who had been trying to take advantage of Mr.
Pertell's work for the benefit of the International company.

"That's the way!"

"Run 'em out!"

"Give 'em some more!"

To these startling shouts were Wilson's men driven away, and glad enough
they were to go. What other films they had taken on the sly were
destroyed, and their cameras were confiscated. In fact all their efforts
came to naught. It was disclosed, later, that they had not intended to
endanger our friends by starting the prairie fire; only to spoil their
plans.

"And now for the grand finale!" cried Mr. Pertell a few days later, when
the return had been made to Rocky Ranch. "This will be the last scene in
the great drama 'East and West.' There's to be a cowboy festival, with
all sorts of stunts in horsemanship and lariat throwing. You've got a
lot of work ahead of you, Russ."

There were busy days at Rocky Ranch. Cowboys from neighboring places
rode over to take part in the fun and frolic, and Russ got many fine
films.

"Oh, I don't know when I've enjoyed anything so much as I have this life
in the West," said Alice, when the last film had been taken.

"Nor I," added Ruth. "It has been just glorious."

"And I am so much better," declared Mr. DeVere. "I would scarcely know I
had a sore throat now."

"Oh, I'm so glad, Daddy dear!" exclaimed Alice, as she put her arms
around his neck.

"And now we're going back to New York, and have a good, long rest," went
on Ruth. "I shall be sorry to get into the stuffy city again."

"I won't," declared Miss Pennington. "I'm just dying for a sight of dear
old Broadway," and as if that gave her a thought she gently powdered
her nose. Perhaps it needed it, for she was very much sunburned.

"Well, you're going back to New York all right, as far as that is
concerned," said Mr. Pertell, who had overheard part of the talk. "But
as for a rest--well, I suppose I'll have to give you a little one,
before we start off again."

"Oh, have you more plans in prospect?" asked Alice.

"Indeed I have, my dear young lady. We're going in for water stuff
next."

And those of you who desire to follow further the careers of Ruth, Alice
and their friends, may do so by reading the next volume of this series,
to be called, "The Moving Picture Girls at Sea; Or, A Pictured Shipwreck
That Became Real."

"One more day at Rocky Ranch!" cried Alice, as she came out on the
veranda one glorious morning. "Oh, but I don't want to leave it!"

"Neither do I!" cried Paul, coming around the corner of the house so
unexpectedly that Alice was startled. "Suppose we go for a last ride?"
he suggested.

And together they rode over the prairies, side by side toward the Golden
West.

* * * * *

Transcriber's Notes:

Obvious punctuation errors corrected.

Page 17, "Shakspearean" changed to "Shakespearean" to conform
to rest of text. (play Shakespearean parts)

Page 19, "sceond" changed to "second". (the second time)

Page 66, "plaftorm" changed to "platform". (depot platform stood)

Page 104, "billard" changed to "billiard". (a billiard ball)

Page 107, "But's" changed to "But". (But that's a camera)

Page 120, "tting" changed to "getting". (getting up quickly)

Page 120, word "at" added to text. (manager at once)

Page 130, "mischievious" changed to "mischievous". (the mischievous
cowboy)

Page 157, "excitment" changed to "excitement". (all this excitement)

Page 158, "ever" changed to "every". (off every chamber)

Page 158, "caluculated" changed to "calculated". (we calculated we'd)

Page 190, "arragnements" changed to "arrangements". (arrangements
were carefully)

Page 201, "himeslf" changed to "himself". (swung himself down)

Three instances of "DeVere" being split over two lines were repaired
to match the remainder of the text.

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