"Oh, to no place where you are not welcome," answered Alice, graciously, with a side look at her companion to see if Estelle objected. But the latter gave no sign, one way or the other. "Thank you!" exclaimed the guardsman. "I have to take part in a little scene in about an hour, but I would enjoy a walk in the meanwhile. You are both made up, I see?" "Yes, we are Southern belles to-day," laughed Alice. "Belles every day," returned the lieutenant with a bow. "Nicely said!" laughed Estelle. "You are improving!" She and Alice wore the costumes of generations ago, big bonnets and hoopskirts. "Let's go over and see what they're filming there," suggested Alice, pointing to where a crossroads store had been put up. The scene at the store was one to represent a dispute among some Southerners and some Northern sympathizers. It was to end in a fight in which one man was to draw his revolver. All went well up to the quarrel, and then it became too realistic, for, by some chance, there was a bullet in the revolver instead of a blank cartridge, and it entered the leg of one of the disputants. He fell and bled profusely. "Get Dr. Wherry!" yelled Mr. Pertell. "Dr. Wherry went into the village this morning to get some stuff," Russ said, "and he hasn't come back yet." "Then somebody will have to go after him!" cried the director. "I'll go!" offered Alice. "I can take this horse and carriage!" for a rig was hitched outside the "store." "I'll go with you!" cried Estelle, and then, in costume and made up for the pictures as they were, they got into the vehicle and drove off. CHAPTER XIV IN THE SMOKE "Do you think he'll die?" asked Estelle, as she took the reins and flicked the horse lightly with the whip. "I hope not," answered Alice. "Did it make you faint to see the blood?" "A little. Did it you?" "Yes. I can't bear it! It makes me---- Oh, it makes me----" Estelle closed her eyes, and Alice was surprised to see her turn pale, even under her rouge, and shudder. "That's queer," Alice said. "I should have thought, being on a ranch as you were, you might have become used to accidents and scenes of violence." "Who said I was on a ranch?" "Why, you did!" "I did?" "Yes; don't you remember? That day when we were talking about branding cows----" "Oh, maybe I did. I'd forgotten. Oh, dear! here comes an auto, and I'm not sure about this horse. I'm afraid he'll start to rear." At this intimation that there might be trouble, Alice's face took on a worried look, and she fore-bore to press the questions she had been asking Estelle. The horse showed some signs of fear as he passed the automobile in the road, but the man driving the car was considerate enough to stop his machine and motion to the girls to pass. They did so, the horse getting as far to one side of the road as he could, his nostrils distended and his ears pricked forward.