"We read about it in a newspaper," said Ruth.

"Yes, there were some items, but not many," the clerk said. "There wasn't
much to print, I guess. So I just thought I'd warn you folks not to go
too far off into the swamps or bayous."

"And you may depend upon it--we won't!" exclaimed Miss Pennington.

"Our party will probably keep together," explained Ruth, "as we will all
be needed in the moving pictures."

"That's a good idea," the clerk said. "Take no chances."

It was not long before the entire moving picture company had heard the
story of the lost girls, and there was universal sympathy for them, and
for their grief-stricken parents.

"I only wish we could do something!" said Ruth, and there were tears in
her eyes as she looked toward her sister. "Suppose it should be us?" she
added.

"I don't like to suppose any such horrible thing!" returned Alice,
brightly. "It's terrible, to be sure; but let's not think too much about
it. It may get on our nerves."

"But if we could only help find them," went on Ruth, on whom the story
seemed to have made a profound impression.

"I don't see how we can," remarked Alice, thoughtfully. "We know nothing