"That's the one," said Mr. Pertell. "And I think I shall cast you as Lorna."
"Oh, how nice!" she laughed. "But who will be John Ridd? We need a great big man for him!"
"Well, I was thinking of using Mr. Macksey," went on the manager, with a look at the hunter.
"What? Me have my photograph took in moving pictures!" cried the keeper of the Lodge. "Why, I don't know how to act!"
"You know how a great deal better than some that are in the business," returned Mr. Pertell, coolly. "Present company always excepted," he added, as Mr. Bunn looked up with an injured air. "What I mean is that you are so natural," he continued. "In fact, you have had your pictures taken a number of times lately, when you and your men were clearing away the snow. So you see it will be no novelty for you."
"But I didn't know when you took my pictures!" objected the hunter.
"No, and that's just the point. Don't think of the camera at all. Be unconscious of it. I'll arrange to have it masked, or hidden, if you think you can do better that way. But I have some scenes calling for a big man battling in the snow to save a girl, and you and Miss Alice are the proper characters. So I hope you won't disappoint me."
"I'll do my best," promised Mr. Macksey. "But I'm not used to that sort of work."
However, when the preliminary scenes for the big drama were filmed he did some excellent acting, the more so as he was totally unconscious that he was acting.
Several days were spent in making films of the play, for Mr. Pertell wanted to take advantage of the snow.