Mr. DeVere and his two daughters lived in the Fenmore Apartment house, in New York City.  Across the hall lived Mrs. Sarah Dalwood, and her sons, Russ and Billy, the latter aged about twelve.  The Dalwoods and the DeVeres became very friendly, and Russ thought there never was a girl like Ruth.  Paul Ardite, the younger leading man of the Comet Film Company, thought the same thing of Alice.

Frank Pertell was the manager and chief owner of the film company.  He had a large studio in New York, where all indoor scenes of the plays were enacted, and where the films were made for rental to the various chains of moving picture theaters throughout the country.

He engaged many actors and actresses, but only the principal ones with whom the stories are concerned will be recounted.

Wellington Bunn and Pepper Sneed were the ones who made the most trouble for the manager.  Mr. Bunn was an former Shakespearean actor.  With his tall hat and frock coat—­which costume he was seldom without—­Mr. Bunn was a typical tragedian of the old school.

Mr. Sneed was different.  He had no particular ambition toward stardom, but he disliked hard work, and he was rather superstitious.  Then, too, he was always looking for trouble and often finding it.  In short, he was the “grouch” of the company.

Mrs. Margaret Maguire was a motherly member of the troupe.  She played “old woman” parts with real feeling, perhaps the more so as her two grandchildren, Tommy and Nellie, were dependent upon her.  The youngsters usually went with the company, and were taken on the Florida trip.  Occasionally they acted small parts.

Carl Switzer was the German comedian, and was a first-rate actor in his line.  His jollity proved an offset to the gloom of Mr. Sneed.

Pop Snooks, the efficient property man, has already been mentioned.  His work was easier when the company was on the road, as there the natural scenery was depended on to a great extent.

Pearl Pennington and Laura Dixon were former vaudeville actresses who had gone into the “movies.”  Some said it was because they failed to longer draw on the stage.  Whether or not this was so, it was certain that the two had very large ideas of their own abilities.  They cared little for Ruth and Alice, and the latter had few interests in common with Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon.  Paul Ardite has been mentioned.  With the exception of Mr. Towne the players had been associated together for some time.

But, just at present Mr. Towne was “disassociated” from the others.

“Oh, can you see him?” cried Ruth, as she clung to Alice.  “I—­I can’t bear to look!”

“Of course I can see him!” Alice returned.  “He’s trying to swim.  Oh, he has grabbed the life ring!”

“That will keep him up,” spoke Paul.  “Are they lowering the boat?”

“There she goes!” cried Russ.  “Ha!  I’ve got an idea.  I’ll film this, and Mr. Pertell may be able to use it in some drama.”