Whether this sound advice actually had its effect upon Mrs. Alexander, or whether she forgot her chagrin, it is hard to say; but at all events, she smiled sweetly upon the Chalmys the next time she met them.

A few days later, the steamer stopped at Dover and Mr. Ashby was delighted to have his wife and Ruth with him again.

They were several days out, when Mrs. Alexander realized that Count Chalmys was only an ordinary mortal! She thought over this revelation for a time, and finally remarked to Dodo and the others: "I am so glad the Count didn't fall in love with Dodo. The little dear would never have been happy with him."

"When did you discover that fact, Maggie?" asked her husband, quizzically.

"Why, a long time ago. I was so disgusted with folks who claim a t.i.tle, and then turn out to be factory men like that Osgood family. And now this Count is nothing but a play-actor! Dodo will be far better off if she falls in love with a first-cla.s.s American, say I!"

"Hurrah, Maggie! You've opened your eyes at last!" cried little Mr.

Alexander.

"But you will be made still happier, Ma, to hear that I am in love, now!" declared Dodo, teasingly.

"What! Who is he?" demanded her mother.

"Ask Eleanor and Polly. They introduced me to my future lord," giggled Dodo.

"Oh, she means her career, Mrs. Alex," said Polly.

"Oh, Dodo!" wailed her mother. "You won't go to work, will you, when your father's worth a million dollars?"

"All the more reason for it! I'm going to marry a profession, just as Polly and Eleanor are, and we three are going to be the most famous decorators in the world."

"And I am goin' to build a swell mansion in New York and turn the contract for fixin's, over to these three partners!" declared little Mr.

Alexander.

That trip across the Atlantic was a merry one for the girls, for the "Marquis" and his friend, aided by the Count and the young Countess, were a never failing source of entertainment for all. They mimicked and acted, whenever occasion offered, so that there was no time for dull care or monotony.

While abroad, the Count had secured a small motion picture outfit; this was brought out and several amusing pictures made on the steamer. They were hastily developed and printed and shown at night, to the pa.s.sengers. It proved to be very interesting to see one's self on the screen, acting and looking so very differently than one imagines himself to act and look.

After the second attempt at this form of amus.e.m.e.nt, Polly made a suggestion.

"Wouldn't it be heaps of fun if each one of us were to go away, alone, and write a chapter of a story for the Count to film. It will be a regular hodge-podge!"

"Oh, that's great!" exclaimed Eleanor, eagerly.

The others seemed to think it would be entertaining, too, so the Count gave them a few important advices to note.

"Let us decide upon the characters, the plot, and the place, of the scenario; then each one write out a condensed chapter, or reel, of the play. Follow these directions. Write your story in continuity; leave out all adjectives, but give us action as expressed by verbs; do not write more than two hundred words in a reel, or chapter. If you find you have more than that in your part of the programme, you'll have to cut it down. And let each one remember to keep her personal work a profound secret. That will insure a surprise when the whole picture is reeled off.

"Now, Miss Polly, you start the scenario, will you, and give us the first act, or reel. Then Miss Nolla will do the second act, or reel; Miss Ruth, the third; Miss Dodo, the fourth, Miss Fabian the fifth, and my wife can wind up the play, or picture, by writing the final reel. Any questions?"

"Who are the characters?" asked Polly, laughingly.

"Why, ourselves, of course. Because we must act in the photoplay, you see, in lieu of other performers. For instance, we will choose Miss Polly as the star lead, Janet Schuyler, in the play; Miss Nolla will be the vamp, Lois Miller, who is jealous of the lovely and prominent society girl; Miss Dodo will be the reporter, Miss Johnson, on a big daily paper who writes up the story for her paper; Miss Ruth can be the hard-working shop-girl, Esther Brown, who is made a scapegoat in the case. Miss Nancy could be the head of the department in the store, Miss Buskin, to whom the trouble is referred for adjustment; Alec will be the floor-walker and the Marquis can be the young man Reginald Deane-unless Miss Polly is too particular about her beaux."

This brought forth a laugh at Polly's expense.

"Mr. Ashby ought to make a good father for the society girl, and Mr.

Alexander will make a good man to adjust the lighting apparatus. I will need the artistic help of Mr. Fabian in directing the scenes while I have charge of the camera. Now, any more questions, before you go away to start your writing?"

The Count was greatly interested in this plan for fun and, finding there were too many questions instantly poured out for him to answer, he made a suggestion.

"Each one go and do the best you can, then come to me if you find any snags too hard to remove from your literary pathway. I will have to go over each reel, anyway, when the whole is done."

For the rest of that morning, no one saw nor heard of either of the young people, but at luncheon, there was such a babel of voices that Mr.

Fabian rapped upon the table and called all to order.

"Hear, hear! The camera-man wishes to say a word!" laughed the Count.

There was instant silence.

"I have been handed three chapters of the scenario and I wish to say, if the other three are as good as the first ones, we will have a thriller.

In the words of the publicity man, we shall produce a 'gripping, heart-melting drama of unprecedented greatness and magnificence.' For quintessence of perfection in pictures, this latest production of ours promises to 'skin 'em' all to the bone.' Fellow-craftsmen! Go back to your work as soon as this bit of sustenance for the inner man is over, and dream of the success your pen is bound to win!-the glory and honor about to rest upon your n.o.ble brows for achieving such a great thing as the breathless, throbbing, soul-moving, pa.s.sionate story of 'Gladys the Shop-Girl'!"

The amateur play-wrights laughed merrily at their manager's comment upon their dramatic work, but they lost no time in gossiping at the table, that noon. Before the dessert had been served, the girls excused themselves and ran back to their work.

That evening all efforts were in Count Chalmys' hands and he was besieged for a report on the progress of the drama. He sent out word that he was to be left absolutely in peace for an hour and then he would appear with the hinged together chapters of a six-reel play.

After dinner, that night, a curious and impatient group of authors sat in one of the smaller saloons, watching the Count a.s.semble the pages of the scenario. He had actually typed them on his folding typewriter and now came across the room, smiling encouragingly upon his company.

"Well, we haven't such a tame play as everyone thought we would be sure to produce. All told, you will find the six reels fit in pretty good, one to the other, in continuity, but I shall have to exchange the chapters by Nolla and Dodo, as to priority. 'Now listen, my children, and you shall hear' etc.-you know the rest!" The Count laughed as he sat down.

"A-hem!" he cleared his throat as a starter. "The name of the play has been suggested by six writers, so I will have to have the t.i.tle chosen by vote. A closed poll, probably, to avoid the usual fight in politics.

First t.i.tle:

"'Life's Th.o.r.n.y Road.' This was submitted by Ruth Ashby.

"'The Great Secret,' is the second t.i.tle, given by Nolla.

"'His Easy Conquest,' is third, submitted by Rose Chalmys.

"'Her Friend's Husband,' is one suggested by Dodo Alexander.

"'Greatest Thing on Earth,' is given us by Nancy Fabian.

"'Just a n.o.body,' is the one suggested by Polly Brewster. Now, friends, which of these t.i.tles do you think will draw the largest crowds and make the production a certain success,-financially, of course. That is all the corporations care about, you know."

Count Chalmys smiled as he noted the faces in the semi-circle about him.

Then Mr. Fabian spoke.

"Will you have to take a vote on that? I believe we can decide the question without going to all the trouble of having a box and officers to guard the voting."

"How many are in favor of voting by a standing vote?" called the Count.

Every hand went up.

"All right. Now, then, when I call off the different t.i.tles as they come in order, those in favor of said t.i.tle please rise and remain standing until we can count."