Chapter XIX: The Moving Picture "moved"

"Where shall we go first?" asked Bess, in a very fever of delight. "There are so many places down here. I had no idea it was such a lively place."

"I vote for moving pictures," said Cora. "I have not seen a really good motion picture show since last summer."

"But we have to get down to our bungalow," objected Jack. "When fellows rent a place they are expected to see that it doesn't burn down or--blow away."

"Oh, can't you put up some place else to-night?" asked Belle. "Mother will not let us go out alone, and we are just dying to see some of the seaside sights."

"Well, seein' as it's you," he replied, "we might arrange to sit on the beach all night. But otherwise we have got to get down to the bungalow, and see if there is sleeping room in it, for we will not--absolutely will not--go to a hotel."

They were seated on the porch of Clover Cottage, having just had a supper which the young ladies prepared, and which every one, including Mrs. Robinson, declared was as good and tasty a supper as one could desire. True, there was some difficulty about its preparation, as there was no gas in the cottage, and the boys had considerable trouble in procuring the sort of oil that is used in the sort of stove to be found in the furnished house at the seashore. But all this, and much more, was finally accomplished, and the meal that evolved from the process did credit to the girls from Chelton.

"I'm with Cora for the motion pictures," Ed declared, as he swung himself out of the hammock, and onto his feet. "And I'm also in for a quiet little spin thereto."

"We can all pile in the _Whirlwind_," said Jack, "and with Walter at the wheel we will all have a jolly good time and nothing to do but admire the--curve of Wallie's ears."

"Well, I guess not," objected Walter. "I went for the kerosene. It's up to somebody else to do the chores this time."

It was then decided that Ed should drive the car, and presently the girls reappeared on the porch, each dressed in her regulation summer garb: Bess in her dainty muslin princess, Belle in her faultless linen outing suit, and Cora in her pretty blue sailor gown. The change from motor attire was welcome, and the boys did not fail to pass their compliments, and other remarks upon it. This last included the criticism that Bess might do well to add another bow behind her other ear, that Belle break off at least two yards of her single pond lily stem, and that Cora might shift her tie two or three degrees farther north; otherwise, the boys declared, the girls looked "very sweet."

"We must put the steerage chairs in the tonneau," said Cora. "Belle, we vote that you and Walter occupy these state chairs, as you will take up the least room."

"Go slow," said Jack, with better intent than grammar. "We want to see--the pretty girls."

"And we want to see--everything," added Bess. "Isn't this perfectly delightful? I am sure we will have wonderful complexions after our summer here. Why, the spray fairly washes one's face."

"Nice of the spray," declared Walter, "and I fancy it will be very useful to the bungaloafers, for we have to carry the house water from the ocean. I can see myself washing in the atmosphere."

Along the broad, ocean driveway the lights were already blinking and sputtering in their regular nightly glow. Music could be heard from many and various attractions, and altogether the scene was as merry as the motor maids might have desired.

"Let's stop here and walk on the boardwalk," suggested Jack. "We can put the machine up at that garage."

This hint was promptly acted upon, and as soon as Ed had delivered the _Whirlwind_ to the man, who would charge outrageously for housing the machine for a few hours, he joined his friends, who were all expectant for the first night's pleasure at the seaside.

Scarcely had they decided which way to go when a shout, in a familiar voice, attracted their attention.

"Hello there, Chelton!" came the call. "Where are you bound for?"

"There are Paul and Hazel!" exclaimed Cora. "Isn't that fine! Now we _will_ have a party!"

And sure enough, along came Paul Hastings and his sister Hazel. Paul, handsomer than ever, with the ocean tan just acquired in his return trip from Europe, and Hazel as bright and fetching as possible, her eyes always ready to "gleam," and her lips always ready to smile, for Hazel had the reputation of being the sort of girl who is brilliant, and knows how to "do all things well."

"This _is_ luck," declared Jack. He was very fond of Hazel.

"Isn't it though!" reiterated Cora. She never tried to hide her admiration for Paul Hastings, who knew how to make his brains work for his hands.

"Where are you stopping?" asked Belle.

"We intend to stop at the Spray," said Hazel, "but the fact is, we only came down this afternoon and haven't stopped at all yet."

"And how's Old Briney?" asked Ed. "Salty as ever?"

"Just seasoned to taste," replied Paul. "I'm very fond of salt--taken externally."

"You look it," declared Walter. "I would mistake you any place for a regular tar."

With additional compliments from the girls, for indeed the sea tan was very becoming to Paul, the party started off to the theatre where the "barker" at the entrance announced the motion picture performance.

They found the place crowded, so that the party were not able to obtain seats together. Bess and Hazel went with Jack and Walter, while Paul and Ed looked after Cora and Belle.

The performance had begun. It was funny to hear a boy sing a comical song that was intended to be pathetic, and to see the illustrative pictures flashed on the big muslin. The song was all about a little girl who wanted a mamma, and who said so to a lady who knew the child's widowed father, and who finally took pity on the child and married the parent, thus affording a ready-made mamma for the little girl on the canvas. And then they were all so happy!

The intensely amateurish effect put the number beyond criticism, and the Chelton young folks applauded it vigorously. The small boy who sang was very much surprised at the applause--and so were many others in the playhouse. But the motor boys and girls kept it up, until the little fellow was compelled to come out front and bow. Then they let him go.

A wonderful story of rustic love and its "terrible" consequences was told in the regulation motion pictures, the motion of which seemed to have a very bad spell of ague. Bess was compelled to clap her hand over her eyes occasionally, but the others stood the strain wonderfully, although Cora declared she hadn't a wink left for the rest of her natural life.

Another picture story was attempted when, suddenly, there was a loud hissing sound that was followed by a roar!

Instantly the place was in confusion!

Women shouted and children cried!

The lights went out, and with them seemed to go whatever amount of common sense the audience might have been expected to have held in reserve.

"Keep your seats! Keep your seats!" shouted the manager. "There is nothing at all the matter!"

The frightened and panic-stricken assemblage would not listen to the assurance, but, instead, fought their way toward the doors, until the real danger, that of being crushed to death, was evident to those who had not taken fright with the others.

"Don't move!" Jack commanded his party, in the most emphatic tone. "Keep your seats, and don't stir!"

But Belle was almost fainting with fear, and she begged to be allowed to get out.

"What for?" asked Ed. "There is absolutely nothing the matter. The lights have gone out and the motion picture machine went up, but what harm is that? Stay where you are, Belle," and he grasped her firmly by the arm. "I wouldn't risk my--new shoes in that mob."

This quieted the girl, and she sank back against Cora, who was almost laughing at the situation.

Presently, the manager, realizing that he could not stop the crowd with his voice, called for music and ordered the other part of the performance to go on.

"Work slow!" he commanded, and then the old rusty piano "took up" something--just what it was would be hard to say.

To the alleged tune a song was started. It was perfectly dark in the place, no substitute lights having been provided, and when the voice of a young girl trembled above the din and racket of the people fighting for the open air, it seemed almost ridiculous.

"For our special benefit," announced Walter. "I don't believe there is another person seated in the place."

But the girl sang on, each bar of her song of the times bringing her voice out clearer, and fuller.

"I would like to see her face," said Cora to Ed. "There is something familiar about that voice."

"Well, perhaps we can make a light," he replied. "I have as many as two matches, and the other fellows may have a couple."

Bess leaned over to Cora. "Doesn't that sound like Nellie?" she asked. "I am sure she had just that queer lisp."

"I was just saying the same thing," returned Cora. "Oh, if we only could find them--here, and have no further worry about them and their--foolish suicide note," for although Cora placed no credence in the drowning threat, she did not like it, and would very much preferred to have it put out of all possibility of occurring.

Still the child sang on--all about the roses and the birds that seemed to get in a most dangerous tangle, until the listeners found it difficult to tell which was sweeter--the song of the birds, or the color of the roses!

The Chelton party was not far from the place where the footlights ought to have been.

"Suppose I go over there and strike a match," suggested Ed. "I can hold it up near her face, and then you will be able to get a glimpse."

Acting on this plan he felt his way through the dark and deserted place, and did almost reach the stage. Then he struck a match!

It went out.

He lighted another--better luck this time, for it burned away while he jumped to the stage and almost thrust the little wooden taper into the face of the singer.

The girl screamed, and seemed too frightened to move!

The match went out, and, as the place was again black in darkness, the figure on the platform passed behind the curtain and was gone!