"I know it is," agreed Mr. Pertell, "It has to be. I only want a few feet of the film showing the actual smash. If it runs too long the public may see the dummies too plainly. I want this as real an accident as it's possible to have it." "It seems like tempting Providence," murmured Ruth. "Don't get 'Sneedified'," was the retort of Alice. Russ had set up his camera to get views of the auto coming down the steep slope, and now, at his signal that all was in readiness, the chauffeur of the car started it again. "Business! Business!" called Mr. Pertell to the moving picture girls and Paul, meaning that they were to use the proper gestures, and register the desired emotions to coincide with the play. On rushed the auto, straight toward the dangerous turn in the road. Paul, who had risen to his feet, was talking vigorously to Ruth and Alice, as called for in the scenario. Now and then he would look back, as though to see if the other car was coming. Suddenly, as the auto was dashing down hill, there came a snap as if some metal part had broken, and the car's speed was quickly increased. "What is it? Oh, what has happened?" cried Ruth, springing to her feet. But she was at once tossed back on the seat, owing to the swaying of the car, which was going very fast. "Something's broken!" cried Paul. "Yes, the foot brake. But I have the emergency one still!" the chauffeur yelled. "Is there any danger? Shall we jump?" demanded Alice. "No! Sit still!" the chauffeur cried. "I'll stop her in time, I think." It was evident the car was beyond control. There was no need of pretending this. "Look out!" warned Russ, who in his excitement did not forget to work the camera. "Stop! Stop!" yelled Mr. Pertell. "You're going too far--you'll go over the cliff!" The chauffeur realized this as well as any one, and he was pulling with all his strength on the emergency brake lever. "I've got to stop her!" he panted through his clenched teeth. "I've got to stop her!" Ruth and Alice were in a frenzy of fear now, and Paul, standing up in the swaying auto, and holding to the back of the front seat, was trying desperately to think of some plan whereby he could save the girls. The car was now at the turn. Now it was beyond the marking stone specified by Mr. Pertell. "They'll go over the cliff!" shouted Mr. Sneed, who was to take part in the play later. Mr. Pertell rushed forward as though he would halt the auto by getting in front and pushing it back, and for one wild moment it looked as though there would be a veritable tragedy. But with a last desperate pull on the brake lever, while the metal bands shrilly protested against such strenuous work, the car came to a slow stop. And so near was it to the fence railing off the descent over the cliff--which fence was, later, to be crashed into by the make-believe auto--so near was the girls' car to this fence that the front wheels bent one of the rails.