"We'll all have a day or so of rest," Mr. Pertell said. "That is, you
folks will, while I lay out my plans and decide what we are to make
first. Russ, I'll want you, the first thing in the morning, to take a
walk around the farm with me, and we'll decide on which are the best
backgrounds."
"Oh, may I come!" cried Alice, before Ruth could restrain her.
"Why, yes, I guess so," answered the manager, slowly. "Only we'll
probably do a deal of walking."
"I don't tire easily," Alice replied.
"Oh, by the way, Mr. Apgar," said Mr. Pertell after a pause, turning
to the farmer, "I am planning one play that has a barn-burning
incident in it. Have you some old barn on the premises I could set
fire to."
"Good land!" exclaimed the farmer, starting from his chair. "Set fire
to a barn! Why th' idea! Th' sheriff will git after you, sure pop.
That's arson, man!"
"Oh, no, not the way I'd do it," laughed the manager. "I'd be willing
to pay you for the barn, so no one would lose anything. Haven't you
some such building on the place--one that isn't of much use?"
"Wa'al, I reckon there might be," was the slow answer, as if the
farmer could not understand the strange proposition. "But as fer
settin' fire to it; wa'al, I reckon you'll have to git permission of
th' mortgagee.
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