Part 7 (1/2)
”I know it,” she said, quietly. ”But that makes no difference. I must leave last. You will kindly go ahead.”
”I guess we'll have to, Russ,” remarked the manager. ”But I don't like it.”
”Those are the rules,” insisted the forewoman, and she would not go out on the fire escape until Russ, Paul and Mr. Pertell had preceded her.
By this time the street below was filled with fire apparatus, puffing, clanging and whistling. And not until the girls were down and out of the building did they realize what a big fire it was. For the entire structure was now ablaze.
Fortunately the same efficient fire drill inst.i.tuted by the forewoman on the floor where Ruth and Alice had been prevailed in other parts of the building, and not a life was lost, though there were many narrow escapes.
And you may well believe that Russ did not miss this opportunity to get moving pictures. Of course the plot of the play had been spoiled by the fire, but a far better drama than the one originally planned was afterward made of it.
As the building continued to burn Russ found that he was not going to have film enough. He sent Paul for a new supply and also to telephone for another operator from the Comet studio, so that pictures of the big fire from various viewpoints might be secured.
And it was a big fire--one of the largest in New York in many years, but aside from a few persons who received minor injuries there was none seriously hurt. The Comet concern scored heavily in making films of the blaze.
”Well, that was one exciting day, yesterday,” remarked Russ the next morning at the studio. ”I never worked so hard, not even when we were lost in Florida.”
”I had a premonition something would happen,” declared Mr. Sneed, as he was making up for his part in a play. ”When I got up yesterday morning I stepped on my collar b.u.t.ton, and that's always a sure sign something will happen.”
”It's sometimes a sign you'll be late for rehearsal if you don't find the collar b.u.t.ton,” laughed Paul.
Orders for the day's work were issued, and Paul, Ruth, Alice and Mr.
Bunn found that they had to go to the Grand Central Terminal where, once before, some film pictures had been made.
”There is quite a complicated plot to this play,” explained Mr. Pertell, in issuing his instructions. ”Mr. Bunn has some valuable papers, and Paul, as the villain, takes them from his pocket in the station. That starts the action.”
Fully instructed what to do, the moving picture girls, with Paul and Russ, went up to Forty-second street.
As the use of the train platforms was not required in this act of the play nothing was said to the station authorities, but Mr. Bunn, with Alice and Ruth, mingled with the crowds, as though they were ordinary travelers.
The operator began taking the necessary pictures, and then came Paul's ”cue” to abstract the papers.
He had done it successfully from Mr. Bunn's pocket, seemingly without the knowledge of the actor, and Paul was going on with the rest of the ”business,” when a policeman stepped up and clapping his hand on Paul's shoulder exclaimed:
”I want you, young man! I saw you take those papers. You're under arrest!”
”But--but it's for the movies!” cried Paul, not wis.h.i.+ng the scene spoiled.
”Tell that to the taxicab man! I've heard that yarn before! You come with me. And you too,” he added to Mr. Bunn. ”I want you for a witness.
You've been robbed!”
CHAPTER VI
THE AUTO SMASH
”The scene will be spoiled!” exclaimed Alice, as she saw a crowd surge up when the officer grasped Paul.
”Too bad!” declared Ruth.