Laura Lee Hope

“ And so near was it to the fence railing off the descent over the cliff—which fence was, later, to be crashed into by the make-believe auto—so near was the girls' car to this fence that the front wheels bent one of the rails.
"A close call!" said Russ, and his voice was unsteady as he stepped away from the camera.
Ruth and Alice were pale, and Paul, too, had lost some of his color. But it was Alice who first relieved the strain of the situation.
"A miss is as good as a mile," she said, and tried to laugh, but it was not easy. ”

“ No one was hurt and after the excitement Russ went about, making views of the demolished places, and of the standing grain, which had been blown almost flat.
"I don't believe I'd like to live in Kansas," said Ruth as she re-arranged her hair, tossed about by the wind.
"Nor I," laughed Alice, in a similar plight.
"Oh, we get used to it," remarked the farmer, with a laugh. Yet how he could laugh as he surveyed the ruins of his buildings was rather strange. "We don't get a 'twister' every day," he went on, "and we're glad when we escape alive. A few shacks more or less don't matter. ”

“ Ruth and Alice really got into moving picture work by accident. One day two extra actresses failed to appear when needed, and Mr. Pertell, who was in a hurry, appealed to Mr. DeVere to allow his daughters to "fill in." They did so well that they were engaged permanently, and very much did they like their work.
Alice was like her dead mother, happy, full of life and jollity, and her brown eyes generally sparkled with laughter. She was a rather matter-of-fact nature, whereas Ruth was more romantic. Ruth was a deal like her father, inclined to look on the more serious side of life. ”

“ With a sudden rush the whole bunch of cattle were in motion, and headed in a solid mass for the mound.
"If they rush over that——" said Mr. Pertell in fear.
"This is too much realism!" cried Mr. Norton, putting spurs to his steed and racing off to help the cowboys. The latter had seen the danger of the girls, and were hastening to once more stop the stampede that had unexpectedly become a real one.
"Look at those fellows over there!" shouted Pete Batso as he rode up, his horse in a lather. "They're none of our crowd!" ”

“ Paul and Russ "bunked" together, for Baldy said he wanted to be free to come and go as he liked.
"I'll have to be on the watch," he said.
"What's that big open place over there?" asked Russ, pointing to a level, sandy circle surrounded by small huts.
"That's where they have all the rites and ceremonies," explained Baldy.
"Then that's just what I want!" went on Russ, with enthusiasm. "I can poke a hole in the side of our hut, stick the lens of the camera through, and get moving pictures of the whole business. That will be great!" ”

“ Don't rush! Form in line!"
Sharp and crisp came the words of the forewoman. The screaming of the girls ceased almost instantly.
Clang! sounded a big gong through the room. Clang! Clang!
"Fire drill!" called the efficient forewoman, and afterward Ruth and Alice felt what a blessing it was she kept her wits about her. "Fire drill! Form in line and march to the fire escapes!"
"Oh! Oh, I know I'm going to faint!" cried Miss Pennington. "This is a regular fire trap! All shirt waist factories are. I am going to faint!"
"Miss Dixon, just—slap her!" called Alice. ”

“ Into the creek with you! It's our last chance, and our only one!" went on Baldy. "Into the water with you!"
And into the welcome coolness of the creek splashed the cowboys on their ponies and the wagon containing the refugees.
"Where are you going?" cried Ruth, as Russ swung himself down off the seat.
"I'm going to get this last film, showing the escape," he answered. "It's too good a chance to miss." [202]
"But you'll be burned!" she exclaimed. "The fire is coming closer."
And indeed the flames, closing up the circle of fire, were drawing nearer and nearer. ”

“ Besides, it is always safer to be in the saddle among the lot of Western steers.
"Oh, what a narrow escape!" panted Miss Dixon.
"It was," agreed Alice. "But it shows you what cowboys can do! It was just splendid!" she cried to Baldy Johnson, who was riding beside her.
"Glad you liked it, Miss," he responded, breathing hard, "but it was rather hot work all around."
"You're not hurt; are you, girls?" cried Mr. DeVere as he came up to them, having had no part in the drama, but having heard in the ranch house of the real stampede. ”

“ The novelty of seeing the pretty girls and the well-dressed men appealed to the rough but sterling chaps who had so little to soften their hard lives.
Nearly every one of them smoked cigarettes, which they rolled skillfully and quickly.
"Give us a song, Buster!" one of the cowboys called to a comrade. "Tune up! Bring out that mouth organ, Necktie!"
"What odd names!" remarked Alice to Pete Batso, who constituted himself a sort of guide to Ruth and her sister.
"They call Dick Jones 'Buster' because he's a good bronco trainer, or buster," the foreman said. ”

“ Can't we go to that fire escape?" faltered Miss Pennington, who seemed to have entirely recovered from her desire to faint.
"That is for the operatives on the upper floor," explained the forewoman. "If you will follow my girls you will be all right. There are plenty of fire escapes for all."
"Come on!" called Alice, as she marched behind the nearest shirt waist girls. "There is no danger—and plenty of time."
"That's the way to talk!" declared the forewoman, admiringly. ”

“ DeVere.
"There's an easy way up on the other side," returned Baldy. "The Indians always use that side. It's a narrow path to the top."
The cowboys, their work over for the day, were indulging in some of their pastimes—rough riding, feats in throwing the lariat, jumping, wrestling and the like.
"Don't you want to go with them?" asked Alice of their escort.
"No, Miss, I—I'd rather be with you," Baldy replied, simply, but he blushed even under his coat of tan.
"Now who's to blame?" asked Ruth in a low voice of her sister, as she regarded her with a quizzical smile. ”

“ Look!" and she waved her hand toward the rear. There the black clouds of smoke were thicker and heavier, and the shooting flames went higher toward the heavens.
"Oh!" gasped Miss Pennington, and then she realized as she had not done before—the import of Ruth's words:
"We are hemmed in!"
"Can't—can't we go back?" gasped Miss Dixon.
"The fire behind us is worse than that before us," said Paul, in a low voice. "Perhaps, after all, we can make a rush for it."
"No, don't try dot!" spoke Mr. Switzer, and somehow, in this emergency, he seemed very calm and collected. ”

“ The cattle were now almost at the hill where the four young ladies stood in fear and trembling, but with the advent of the cowboys new hope had come to them.
"Now we're all right!" cried Alice, joyfully.
"How do you know?" Miss Pennington wanted to know.
"You'll see. They'll stop the stampede," was the confident answer. [172]
And this was done. With the piling up of some of the steers into an almost inextricable mass, and the dividing of the other bunch just as they reached the foot of the mound, the danger to the girls was over. ”

“ But she was at once tossed back on the seat, owing to the swaying of the car, which was going very fast.
"Something's broken!" cried Paul.
"Yes, the foot brake. But I have the emergency one still!" the chauffeur yelled.
"Is there any danger? Shall we jump?" demanded Alice.
"No! Sit still!" the chauffeur cried. "I'll stop her in time, I think."
It was evident the car was beyond control. There was no need of pretending this.
"Look out!" warned Russ, who in his excitement did not forget to work the camera.
"Stop! Stop!" yelled Mr. Pertell. "You're going too far—you'll go over the cliff!" ”

“ During a period when he was not engaged in one of the plays he had gone into the room, permission to enter which was not often granted, even to favored members of the Comet Film concern—at least until after the release of the film was decided.
"Don't let that man get way!" cried Mr. Pertell, sharply, as he saw Wilson edging toward the hallway. "Lock the doors and we'll search him!"
There was some confusion for a moment, but the doors were locked, and Pop Snooks seized the new actor. ”

“ The scene in the studio of the moving picture concern was a lively one. Men were moving [9] about whole "rooms"—or, at least they appeared as such on the film. Others were setting various parts of the stage, electricians were adjusting the powerful lights, cameras were being set up on their tripods, and operators were at the handles, grinding away, for several plays were being made at once.
"Just in time, Ruth and Alice!" called Russ Dalwood, who was one of the chief camera men. "Your scene goes on in ten minutes. You have just time to dress." ”

“ I was going to go up around the Great Lakes and make part of a drama there, showing the effect the lakes and their trade had on the growth of our country. Now I'll wait until we are on our way back from Rocky Ranch."
"That will be a good idea," agreed the young camera operator. "Those International people must be pretty hard put to it to steal your ideas."
"They are," said Mr. Pertell. "They want to do me an injury. I had some trouble with them years ago, and I won out in a lawsuit. ”

“ We have gone through worse things than that."
"Well, I sure am glad to hear you say so," was the hearty response. "You see it's jest plumb natural for a cow-puncher to shoot off his gun, and it would come a bit hard to stop. But I reckon the boys has had enough for to-day. Now, who's the boss of this outfit?"
"I guess I am," replied Mr. Pertell. "I'll introduce you to the different ones when I get a chance. Just now I think we are all anxious to get to the ranch."
"All right, jest as you say. My name is Batso—Pete Batso, and I'm foreman of Rocky Ranch. ”

“ Pertell and Mr. Norton stood. "Something must be wrong," and he set off on the gallop once more.
Meanwhile the steers, which had almost come to a rest, were again in motion. But they were not safely going about in a circle. Instead, they had started off in a long line and now were swinging around in a big circle and heading directly for the mound on which the young ladies were still standing.
Ruth and Alice had started down as they saw the cattle growing quiet, but now several of the cowboys shouted to them:
"Go back! Go back! This is a stampede in earnest." ”

“ The next few days were filled with work for the moving picture actors and actresses. There was much to be done before the Western trip was undertaken, and many of the films made had a bearing on the new play "East and West."
"My idea," announced Mr. Pertell, in explaining some matters to his company, "is to portray briefly the story of the East and West, and to show how the civilization of the East made its way West. I want to show the various sports and industries of both sections, as well as various phases of life and science. Automobiling will be one and——"
"Don't say airships!" ”

“ Russ had set up his camera to get views of the auto coming down the steep slope, and now, at his signal that all was in readiness, the chauffeur of the car started it again.
"Business! Business!" called Mr. Pertell to the moving picture girls and Paul, meaning that they were to use the proper gestures, and register the desired emotions to coincide with the play.
On rushed the auto, straight toward the dangerous turn in the road. Paul, who had risen to his feet, was talking vigorously to Ruth and Alice, as called for in the scenario. ”

“ Russ always likes that, and I'm sure his appetite will come back as soon as we start traveling. It always does."
"You are getting to be a close observer," remarked Ruth, with just the hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Oh, Alice, do finish buttoning your gloves in the house!" she exclaimed. "It looks so careless to go out fussing with them." ”

“ Pertell. "We will make that 'lost' scene we spoke of last night and then try a novelty."
"Something new?" asked Mr. Bunn. "I hope I don't have to be lassoed again," for that had been his most recent "stunt."
"No, we'll let you off easy this time," laughed Mr. Pertell. "All you'll have to do will be to escape from a prairie fire."
"A prairie fire!" gasped the Shakespearean actor. "I refuse to take that chance."
"Don't worry," said the manager. "It will only be a small, imitation blaze. I want to get some scenes of that," he went on to explain to the cowboys. ”

“ Thundering over the ground, the frightened cattle rushed on. After them came the cowboys, determined, at whatever cost, to turn the steers away from the little hill on which stood the four girls, clinging together, and in fear of their lives. For certainly it would be the end of life to fall beneath the hoofs of those on-rushing beasts. ”

“ Some of the inventions were real, and others were "faked" for the occasion, to make a "comic" film.
But nothing as risky as the rope escape was tried, though probably had Paul been required to go through an equally hazardous feat he would not have balked. Moving picture actors often take very big chances, and the public, looking at the finished film, little realize it.
"I have something for you to-day I think you'll like," said Mr. Pertell to Ruth and Alice, as they reported at the studio. ”

“ But there was, among the ranch animals, a "bucking bronco," who looked so much like Mr. Bunn's horse that even some of the cowboys had difficulty in telling them apart. [130]
A bucking bronco, it might be explained, is a steed who by nature or training uses every means in its power to unseat its rider. The bucking consists in the horse leaping into the air, with all four feet off the ground, and coming down stiff-legged, jarring to a considerable degree the person in the saddle. ”