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 alively place."
"I vote for moving pictures," said Cora. "I have not seen a reallygood motion picture show since last summer."
"But we have to get down to our bungalow," objected Jack. "Whenfellows rent a place they are expected to see that it doesn't burndown or--blow away."
"Oh, can't you put up some place else to-night?" asked Belle. "Motherwill not let us go out alone, and we are just dying to see some of theseaside sights."
"Well, seein' as it's you," he replied, "we might arrange to sit onthe beach all night. But otherwise we have got to get down to thebungalow, and see if there is sleeping room in it, for we willnot--absolutely will not--go to a hotel."
They were seated on the porch of Clover Cottage, having just had asupper which the young ladies prepared, and which every one, includingMrs. Robinson, declared was as good and tasty a supper as one coulddesire. True, there was some difficulty about its preparation, asthere was no gas in the cottage, and the boys had considerable troublein procuring the sort of oil that is used in the sort of stove to befound in the furnished house at the seashore. But all this, and muchmore, was finally accomplished, and the meal that evolved from theprocess did credit to the girls from Chelton.
"I'm with Cora for the motion pictures," Ed declared, as he swunghimself out of the hammock, and onto his feet. "And I'm also in for aquiet little spin thereto."
"We can all pile in the _Whirlwind_," said Jack, "and with Walter atthe wheel we will all have a jolly good time and nothing to do butadmire the--curve of Wallie's ears."
"Well, I guess not," objected Walter. "I went for the kerosene. It'sup to somebody else to do the chores this time."
It was then decided that Ed should drive the car, and presently thegirls reappeared on the porch, each dressed in her regulation summergarb: Bess in her dainty muslin princess, Belle in her faultless linenouting suit, and Cora in her pretty blue sailor gown. The change frommotor attire was welcome, and the boys did not fail to pass theircompliments, and other remarks upon it. This last included thecriticism that Bess might do well to add another bow behind her otherear, that Belle break off at least two yards of her single pond lilystem, and that Cora might shift her tie two or three degrees farthernorth; 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 willtake up the least room."
"Go slow," said Jack, with better intent than grammar. "We want tosee--the pretty girls."
"And we want to see--everything," added Bess. "Isn't this perfectlydelightful? I am sure we will have wonderful complexions after oursummer here. Why, the spray fairly washes one's face."
"Nice of the spray," declared Walter, "and I fancy it will be veryuseful to the bungaloafers, for we have to carry the house water fromthe ocean. I can see myself washing in the atmosphere."
Along the broad, ocean driveway the lights were already blinking andsputtering in their regular nightly glow. Music could be heard frommany and various attractions, and altogether the scene was as merry asthe motor maids might have desired.
"Let's stop here and walk on the boardwalk," suggested Jack. "We canput 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 themachine for a few hours, he joined his friends, who were all expectantfor the first night's pleasure at the seaside.
Scarcely had they decided which way to go when a shout, in a familiarvoice, 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 returntrip from Europe, and Hazel as bright and fetching as possible, hereyes always ready to "gleam," and her lips always ready to smile, forHazel 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 heradmiration for Paul Hastings, who knew how to make his brains work forhis hands.
"Where are you stopping?" asked Belle.
"We intend to stop at the Spray," said Hazel, "but the fact is, weonly 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--takenexternally."
"You look it," declared Walter. "I would mistake you any place for aregular tar."
With additional compliments from the girls, for indeed the sea tan wasvery 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 toobtain seats together. Bess and Hazel went with Jack and Walter, whilePaul and Ed looked after Cora and Belle.
The performance had begun. It was funny to hear a boy sing a comicalsong that was intended to be pathetic, and to see the illustrativepictures flashed on the big muslin. The song was all about a littlegirl who wanted a mamma, and who said so to a lady who knew thechild's widowed father, and who finally took pity on the child andmarried the parent, thus affording a ready-made mamma for the littlegirl on the canvas. And then they were all so happy!
The intensely amateurish effect put the number beyond criticism, andthe Chelton young folks applauded it vigorously. The small boy whosang was very much surprised at the applause--and so were many othersin the playhouse. But the motor boys and girls kept it up, until thelittle fellow was compelled to come out front and bow. Then they lethim go.
A wonderful story of rustic love and its "terrible" consequences wastold in the regulation motion pictures, the motion of which seemed tohave a very bad spell of ague. Bess was compelled to clap her handover her eyes occasionally, but the others stood the strainwonderfully, although Cora declared she hadn't a wink left for therest of her natural life.
Another picture story was attempted when, suddenly, there was a loudhissing 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 ofcommon sense the audience might have been expected to have held inreserve.
"Keep your seats! Keep your seats!" shouted the manager. "There isnothing at all the matter!"
The frightened and panic-stricken assemblage would not listen to theassurance, but, instead, fought their way toward the doors, until thereal danger, that of being crushed to death, was evident to those whohad 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 allowedto get out.
"What for?" asked Ed. "There is absolutely nothing the matter. Thelights have gone out and the motion picture machine went up, but whatharm is that? Stay where you are, Belle," and he grasped her firmly bythe arm. "I wouldn't risk my--new shoes in that mob."
This quieted the girl, and she sank back against Cora, who was almostlaughing at the situation.
Presently, the manager, realizing that he could not stop the crowdwith his voice, called for music and ordered the other part of theperformance 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 theplace, no substit
ute lights having been provided, and when the voiceof a young girl trembled above the din and racket of the peoplefighting for the open air, it seemed almost ridiculous.
"For our special benefit," announced Walter. "I don't believe there isanother person seated in the place."
But the girl sang on, each bar of her song of the times bringing hervoice out clearer, and fuller.
"I would like to see her face," said Cora to Ed. "There is somethingfamiliar about that voice."
"Well, perhaps we can make a light," he replied. "I have as many astwo 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 onlycould find them--here, and have no further worry about them andtheir--foolish suicide note," for although Cora placed no credence inthe drowning threat, she did not like it, and would very muchpreferred to have it put out of all possibility of occurring.
Still the child sang on--all about the roses and the birds that seemedto get in a most dangerous tangle, until the listeners found itdifficult to tell which was sweeter--the song of the birds, or thecolor of the roses!
The Chelton party was not far from the place where the footlightsought to have been.
"Suppose I go over there and strike a match," suggested Ed. "I canhold 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 desertedplace, 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 hejumped to the stage and almost thrust the little wooden taper into theface 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, thefigure on the platform passed behind the curtain and was gone!
The Motor Girls at Lookout Beach; Or, In Quest of the Runaways Page 19
