"Yes, isn't it wonderful, after all the storm and stress of the fire, to be in this lovely, calm place?"
"And the best part of it is that we're getting paid for it!" observed a voice behind the two girls. They turned, with a start, for they had lost themselves in a dreaming reverie, to find Russ and Paul smiling at them. It was Paul who spoke.
"It does seem a shame to take the money under these circumstances," added Russ, with a laugh.
"It's like a vacation," agreed Alice. "Oh, but isn't it just—just too—"
She was evidently searching for a fitting simile.
"Alice," warned Ruth, gently. She was endeavoring to wean her sister from the habit of using slang expressions; but Alice always boasted that she liked to take "short cuts," and that slang—that is, her refined variety—offered the best method of accomplishing this very desirable object.
"Oh, I was only just going to say—scrumptious!" laughed the younger girl. "You don't mind that; do you, sister mine? This is really the most scrumptiously scrumptious place I've ever seen!"
"I'm afraid you're hopeless," was the smiling retort.
"Well, it's certainly swell—that's my word for it," answered Russ, with a frank laugh.
Indeed, Mr. Pertell had not spared expense in taking out his moving picture company. And he had a method in going to one of the largest and finest hotels in St. Augustine. He intended to stage some scenes of one of the Southern plays there, and having his actors and actresses right in the hotel made it much more practical.