Polly and Her Friends Abroad Part 36

"'Before she knew it, Lois was commandeered to follow the shop-girl, Esther Brown, and find out all about her, as the reporter had heard of a reward of $500 offered for news of the girl described, who came from New Hamps.h.i.+re. Miss Johnson agreed to go fifty-fifty with Lois if the shop-girl turned out to be the one they were looking for.

"'That is how Esther Brown met her rich husband and how Janet Schuyler lost a rich young admirer, and how Miss Johnson won not only the reward Reginald paid, but also had a fine story for her paper; and Lois Miller earned enough money to fit herself out in decent clothes and pay her arrears of room-rent and board.'

"Now comes the final reel, as written by Rose Chalmys," said the Count, waiting until the merriment over the various phases of Janet and Esther's reel life had subsided; then he continued:

"'Janet Schuyler, being under heavy obligations to the shop-girl for having saved her life from the hold-up men in the park, remembered how she had snubbed the meek girl in the store, and had caused her to be reprimanded by the head of the department.

"'"I want you to come home with me, and receive my mother's thanks and my father's reward for your bravery in defending me," said Janet, finally.

"'"I do not wish any reward for what I did, and your thanks are quite sufficient," murmured Esther.

"'The two girls walked along the street leading to the Schuyler home, however, and just before they reached the place, a sporty car drew up to the curb and stopped suddenly. A young man sprang out and ran over to greet Janet Schuyler. She was delighted to see Reginald Deane, after the long months he had been away from the city, but Deane could not take his eyes from Janet's companion. It was her place to introduce the girl with her, yet she could not humble her pride to accept a salesgirl as her equal, and this she would do if she introduced her. Reginald ended the doubt.

"'"Aren't you Esther Brown?" And the girl smiled as she replied, "And you are Reggie Deane, aren't you?"

"'Janet was forgotten after that, for the two who had been beaus in schooldays and had never heard from each other since Deane went to Texas with his family, were so engrossed with each other.

"'Janet made the best of a bad bargain and invited both the young people to her home, but Esther pleaded her lack of time, and Deane offered to see Esther to her home. Thus ended Janet's dream of capturing the richest young oil-financier in the country.'"

The young authors considered their work to be par-excellence, but the adults in the audience forbore to render an opinion.

"Of course, I shall have to edit, somewhat, but I think we may look forward to having a very successful run of this picture," announced the Count, very seriously. "One important item is fortunate for the company-that is, we need not have costly costumes, nor scenes of Court Life in Europe. Our little play is simple to stage and inexpensive in production.

"Now I will retire to the Studio and edit the scenario, but I wish all the actors to be on time at the casting room at ten o'clock, sharp, tomorrow. Besides the star leads, I may need extras, so I would suggest that any one desiring a part in this great melodrama, to report to me when we meet at the Studio." The Count looked at the adults as he spoke, and they smilingly accepted the invitation to be on hand to act as supers, in case of need.

Well, the six-reel production went on apace, and on the last night of the voyage, the photo-drama was presented to a crowded salon. It had been suddenly decided to charge an entrance fee of a dollar each and devote the proceeds to charity. This detracted not a whit from the entertainment, but rather added to it.

Many a laugh echoed through that salon, at the pathetic scenes in the story, because of the amateur acting of the stars. In fact, the vamp was so full of mischief while playing the heart-stirring drama of her life when she was hungry and without a home, that the "pathos" acted upon the audience as if it had been comedy.

The "Marquis" as Reggie Deane, made not reel, but real, love to Esther Brown in the picture; so much so that Mr. Ashby felt relieved to think the two would never meet again, once the steamer landed at the New York dock.

So with bright plans for the future, Polly and her chums spent the last few hours on the steamer, and were ready for their "career" before they landed in New York City again.

THE END