The Moving Picture Girls at Oak Farm or, Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays   By: Laura Lee Hope

Or

Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays

by

LAURA LEE HOPE

Author Of "The Moving Picture Girls," "The Moving Picture Girls Snowbound," "The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale," "The Bobbsey Twins," Etc.

Illustrated

[Illustration: A BULL CAME RUSHING THROUGH THE CORN. Moving Picture Girls at Oak Farm . Page 54.]

The World Syndicate Publishing Co. Cleveland New York Made in U. S. A. Copyright, 1914, by Grosset & Dunlap

Press of The Commercial Bookbinding Co. Cleveland

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I FILMING A SMASH 1

II A MISSING DOG 11

III ON TO THE FARM 20

IV A QUEER PROPOSAL 29

V SANDY'S STORY 36

VI THE BUTTING BULL 45

VII THE PLAY OF THE HOSE 55

VIII IN THE OLD BARN 64

IX THE RESCUE 70

X THE BARN DANCE 79

XI THE RUNAWAY MOWING MACHINE 89

XII THE MAN WITH THE LIMP 97

XIII ON GUARD 107

XIV AN UPSET 114

XV THE LONELY CABIN 124

XVI THE MAN AND THE UMBRELLA 132

XVII IN THE WOODS 141

XVIII GOING TO SCHOOL 151

XIX FILMING THE BEES 158

XX THAT MAN 166

XXI A CHASE 174

XXII CAUGHT 181

XXIII THE MONEY BOX 193

XXIV EXPLANATIONS 203

XXV THE FIRE FILM 208

THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT OAK FARM

CHAPTER I

FILMING A SMASH

"All aboard for Oak Farm!"

"Are we all here; nobody missing?"

"What a relief to get out of the hot city, with summer coming on!"

"Yes, I'm so glad we can go!"

These were only a few of the expressions that came from a motley assemblage of persons as they stood in a train shed in Hoboken, one June morning. Motley indeed was the gathering, and more than one traveler paused to give a second look at the little group. Perhaps a brief list of them may not be out of place.

There were four pretty girls, two of the innocent type that can so easily forget their own good looks; two not so ingenuous, fully aware that they had certain charms, and anxious that they be given full credit for them.

Then there was a man, with rather long black hair, upon which perched, rather than fitted, a tall silk hat that had lost its first sheen. If ever "actor" was written in a man's make up it was in the case of this personage. Beside him stood, attired much the same, but in garments that fitted him better, another who was obviously of the theater, as were the two girls who were so aware of their own good looks.

Add to this two or three young men, at least two of whom seemed to hover near the two girls who were innocently unaware of their beauty; a bustling gentleman who seemed nervous lest some of the party get lost, a motherly looking woman, with two children who were here, there and everywhere; another man who looked as though all the milk and cream in the world had turned sour, and finally one on whose round German face there was a gladsome smile, which seemed perpetual and you have the main characters.

No, there was one other a genial man who seemed to be constantly trying to solve some puzzle, and taking pleasure in it.

And these personages were waiting for a train. That was evident. You might have puzzled over their occupation and destination, as many other travelers did, and the problem would not have been solved, perhaps, until you had a glimpse of the markings on their trunks. But when you noted the words: "Comet Film Company," you understood.