"Jealous!" mused Russ. And his diagnosis was confirmed a little later, when, as the two former vaudeville performers passed Ruth and Alice, Miss Pennington, with a sharp glance at the latter, murmured loudly enough to be heard:
"Humph! It takes more than one performance in a little part to make a movie actress! Some folks think they are mighty smart, coming in over the heads of others!"
"That's what I say, too!" added Miss Dixon. "It was a shame the way they took the parts away from Ruby and Maude!"
CHAPTER XVI
THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS
For a moment Ruth and Alice looked at each other with eyes that showed the pain they felt. Ruth turned pale at hearing the unkind words, but Alice blushed a rosy red, and started to say something.
"Don't," advised Mrs. Maguire, coming up beside them, and evidently guessing her intention. "It would only make matters worse to reply to them, my dear."
"But—but——" began Alice.
"Hush!" begged Ruth. "Oh, how could they say it—as if we wanted to displace those girls."