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 barnor 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 drawedout 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 alensthat 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 longas 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 proofof 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.
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.
"I—er—I—what does this mean?" stammered the lawyer, springing to his feet.
"It means that Dan Merley is a faker!" cried Russ, as the lights were turned up again, and Mr. Pertell came up from the booth where he had been working the moving picture machine.
"It means that he is a faker when he says he was injured by the street car," cried Russ, "and we're going to show these pictures in court if he persists in the suit. And it means he's a faker when he says Mr. DeVere owes him five hundred dollars. It means he's a faker from beginning to end! We've got the proof on the film!" and his voice rang out.
"Oh, Russ!" cried Ruth, and she clasped his hand in delight.
"I—er—I—" stammered Mr. DeVere as he sank into a chair.
"Daddy, you won't have to pay!" exclaimed Alice, joyfully.
"How about that, Mr. Black?" asked Russ of the lawyer. "Do you think your client will go on with the street car suit?"
"Well, my dear young man, in view of whatyou have shown me, I—er—I think not. In fact I know not." The lawyer was beaten and he realized it.
"And about Mr. DeVere's note?" asked Russ.
The lawyer took out his pocketbook.
"Here is the note," he muttered. "You have beaten us. I presume if we drop both suits that you will not show these pictures in court?"
"It won't be necessary," said Russ. "If the suits are withdrawn the pictures will not be shown. But they will be kept—for future reference," he added significantly.
"I understand,"spokethe lawyer. "You are a very clever young man."
"Oh, the young ladies helped me," laughed Russ.
"Good-night," said the lawyer, bowing himself out.
"There you are, Mr. DeVere!" cried Russ, as they were on their way from the studio. "You'd better destroy that note. It's the only evidence Merley had, and now you have it back. Tear it up—burn it!"
"I will indeed! I never can thank you enough for securing it for me. Those moving pictures were a clever idea."
The next day formal notice was sent to Mr. DeVere that the suit against him had been withdrawn, and Merley had to pay all advance court charges. The actor would not again be made to pay the five hundred dollars. The suit against the street car company was also taken out of court. And Dan Merley and his confederates disappeared for a time. It seems that Merley went to the woods to hunt as a sort of relief from having to pose all the while in New York as an injured man. He felt at home up in that locality, having been there many times before.
"Well," said Mr. Pertell to Mr. DeVere and the girls one day, when he had called to see them, "I suppose you are ready for more camera work by this time?"
"What now?" asked Ruth. "Can't you give us something different from what we have been having?"
"Indeed I can," was his answer. "How would you like to go to Florida?"
"Florida!" the girls cried together. "Oh, how lovely."
"That's answer enough," said the manager. "We leave in a week!"
"I wonder what will happen down there?" asked Alice.
And my readers may learn by perusing the next volume of this series, to be entitled "The Moving Picture Girls Under the Palms; Or, Lost in the Wilds of Florida."
"It seems too good to be true," spoke Alice that night, as she and Ruth were talking over what dresses they would take.
"Doesn't it! Oh, I am just wild to go down South!"
"So am I. I'd like to know what part we're going to."
"Why?"
"Oh, you know those two girls we met in the train. They were going somewhere near Lake Kissimmee. We might meet them."
"We might," answered Ruth sleepily. "Put out the light, dear, and come to bed. We will have some busy times, getting ready to go to Florida."
And thus we will take leave of the moving picture girls.
Transcriber's NotesObvious punctuation errors corrected.The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.
Obvious punctuation errors corrected.
The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.