"Where are we going?" asked Mr. DeVere.
"Our first destination will be a place called Rocky Ranch," the manager went on. "It is a typical Western place, with some broad prairie stretches, and yet near enough to the mountains for diversified scenes. There will be cowboy and Indian pictures to be made, and——"
"Wild Indians?" Mr. Sneed wanted to know.
"Not wild enough to scalp you," returned the manager.
"And can I have a gun?" little Tommy cried.
"Indeed and you won't!" said his grandmother, quickly.
"Well, you can be cowboy and have a lasso," promised the manager.
"Oh, goodie!" Tommy exclaimed, dancing about in delight.
"In this play," went on Mr. Pertell, "I want to get scenes showing our progress West, so we will be rather longer on the trip than otherwise. We will wait over on some trains, to make views in particularly good spots. So you may get ready for the journey. Our Eastern scenes are all made, and I want to thank and congratulate you all on their success. It was the good acting of all of you that made the films what they are."
Preparations for the big trip went on apace. Properties and baggage were gotten in readiness, and Ruth and Alice spent days going over their clothes, to decide what to take and what to leave behind.