Either Mr. Towne did not hear what Mr. Sneed said, or he was so surprised that he did not think to run, for he stood there and, a moment later, the big beast confronted him. Stretching out his paw the animal took from the nerveless hands of the actor the heavy walking stick, and, shouldering it, began to march around in a circle. Then the hotel proprietor, having been alarmed by Mr. DeVere, came up on the run. As soon as he saw the bear marching around he broke into a laugh. "That's a trained bear!" he exclaimed. "It belongs to that Italian who stopped here last night. I made him chain the brute out in the wagon shed, but I guess he got loose. That bear won't hurt you. I've seen him before. Tony, the Italian who owns him, often stops here with him when he's traveling around giving exhibitions. He's real gentle. Down, Bruno!" commanded the hotel man, and the bear, with a grunt, dropped on all fours. Alice, hearing this talk, opened her door, and then called to Ruth that there was no danger. Mr. Sneed was induced to return, and when Tony himself came to get his escaped pet Mr. Towne's cane was returned to him. The bear had taken it for the pole he was used to performing with. "You want to chain your bear up tighter, Tony," chided the hotel man as the Italian led Bruno away. "Ah, yes. Bruno, he ees a very bad-a-de bear! I wheep heem for dese." "Oh, don't!" pleaded Alice. "He didn't mean anything wrong." "No, mees, but he very bad, just-a de same. He make-a you to be a-skeert." "Oh, it's all over now," declared Ruth, who ventured out, seeing that the bear was in leash. "But I _was_ frightened for a moment." "I don't blame you," said Paul, as he heard what had happened. "Rather an unusual morning caller, Ruth." "Say! I've got an idea!" cried Mr. Pertell, who had come out by this time. "We'll have a film with the bear in it. A sort of Little Red Riding Hood story for children. Something simple, but it will be great to have a real bear in it. Tony, will you let us use Bruno?" "Of a course, Signor. I make up for de scare. Bruno he do-a just-a whatever you tell. He very good-a bear--sometimes!" and he shrugged his shoulders, philosophically. "Very well, then, we'll wait over another train, and I'll get up some little scenario with a bear in it. Mr. Sneed, you will take the part of the bear's keeper, and Miss Alice----" "No, sir!" cried Mr. Sneed. "No bears for me. I won't act with one. Why, he'd claw me to pieces!" "Ah, no, Signor!" interrupted Tony. "Bruno he very gentle just-a like-a de little babe. He no hurt-a you, Signor." "Well, I'm not going to take any chances," declared the "grouch." "This is too dangerous." "Ha! I am not afraid!" cried Mr. Switzer. "I vill act mit der bear alretty yet," and to prove that he was not afraid he fed the big animal some pretzels, without which the German actor seldom went abroad.