"They had no right to force us into their dreadful drama，"protested Beth."Motion pictures are dreadfully tiresome things—comedies and tragedies alike.They are wild and weird in conception，quite unreal and wholly impossible.Of course the scenic pictures，and those recording historicalevents，are well enough in their way，but I cannot understand how so many cheap little picture theatres thrive.""They are the poor people's solacea and recreation，"declared Mr.Merrick."The picture theatre has become the laboring man's favorite resort.It costs him but ？ve or ten cents and it's the sort of show he can appreciate.I'm told the motion picture is considered the saloon's worst enemy，for many a man is taking his wife and children to a picture theatre evenings instead of joining a gang of his fellows before the bar，as he formerly did.""That is the best argument in their favor I have ever heard，"admitted Beth，who was strong on temperanceb；"but I hope，Uncle，you are not defending the insolentc methods of those picture—makers.""Not at all，my dear.I consider the trapping of innocentbystandersd to be—eh—er—highly reprehensiblee，and perhaps worse.If I can discover what picture manager was guilty of the act，I shall—shall—""What，Uncle？""I shall hint that he owes you an apology，"he concluded，rather lamely.
Beth smiled scornfully.
"Meantime，"said she，"two very respectable girls，whoare not actresses，will be exhibited before the critical eyes of millions of stupid workmen，reformed drunkards，sad—faced women and wiggling children—not in dignified attitudes，mind you，but scurrying from what they supposed was an imminent danger.""I hope it will do the poor things good to see us，"retorted Patsy."To be strictly honest，Beth，we were not trapped at all；we were the victims of circumstances.When I remember how quick—witted and alert that manager was，to catch us unawares and so add to the value of his picture，I can quite forgive the fellow his audacity.""It wasn't audacity so much as downright impudence！"persisted Beth.
"I quite agree with you，"said Mr.Merrick."Do you wishme to buy that ？lm and prevent the picture's being shown？""Oh，no ！"cried Patsy in protest."I'm dying to see howwe look.I wouldn't have that picture sidetracked for anything.""And you，Beth？""Really，Uncle John，the thing is not worth worrying over，"replied his niece."I am naturally indignanta at being drawn into such a thing against my will，but I doubt if anyone who knows us，or whose opinion we value，will ever visit a moving picture theatre or see this ？lm.The common people will not recognize us，of course."You must not think Beth de Graf was s n o b b i s hb oraristocratica because of this speech，which her cousin Patsy promptly denounced as "snippyb."Beth was really a lovable and sunny—tempered girl，very democratic in her tastes in spite of the fact that she was the possessor of an unusual fortune.She was out of sorts to—day，resentful of the fright she had endured that morning and in the mood to say harsh things.
Even Patricia Doyle had been indignant，at first；butPatsy's judgment was clearer than her cousin's and her nature more responsive.She quickly saw the humorous side of their adventure and could enjoy the recollection of her momentary fear.
