That was only one of the many details the director and his assistants had to look after. If eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, it is much more so the price of good films. The camera sees everything in a pitiless light. It exaggerates faults and it refuses to shut its eye to anything at which it is pointed. The absolute truth is told every time. Of course, there are trick films, but even then the camera tells the truth fearlessly. It is only the on-lookers' eyes that are deceived. The camera can not be fooled. And though a man may be seen to be shaking hands with himself or cutting off his own head, it is done by double exposure, and could not be accomplished were it not for the fact that the camera and the film are so fearlessly honest and truth-telling. "What's the matter, Estelle?" asked Alice of the rider that afternoon, when they were in Ruth's room resting after the work of the day. "You seem to be in pain." "I am. I strained my side a little in that water jump. Petro slipped a bit on the muddy bank." "Did you do much jumping out West?" asked Ruth, while Alice was getting a bottle of liniment. "In the West? I don't know that I ever jumped there. I can't remember----" Estelle paused, and passed her hand across her eyes as though to shut out some vision. "Are you faint?" asked Ruth. "No--no, it isn't that. It--it is just that I--that I---- Oh, I wonder if I can tell you?" and Estelle seemed in such distress that the two sisters hastened to her. "What is it? Tell me, are you badly hurt?" asked Ruth. For she had known of performers who concealed injuries that they might not be laid off, and so lose a day's work. "What is the matter, Estelle?" "It is my--my head." "Did you fall? I didn't hear them say anything about it!" exclaimed Alice. "No, it isn't that," and the girl looked from one sister to the other. "Oh, I wonder if I dare tell you?" "If there is anything in which we can help you, tell us, by all means!" answered Ruth, warmly--sympathetically. "But we don't want to force ourselves----" "Oh, no! It isn't that. I'm only wondering what you will think of me afterward." "We shall love you just the same!" cried impulsive Alice. "Don't be too sure. But I feel that I must tell some one. I have borne all I can alone. It is getting to the point where I fear I shall scream my secret to the cameras--or some one!" Then Estelle had a secret! "Do tell us. Perhaps we can help you--or perhaps my father can," suggested Ruth. "I don't believe any one can help me," said Estelle. "But at least it will be a relief to tell it. I--I am living under false pretenses!" she blurted out desperately. "False pretenses!" repeated Alice. At once her mind flashed back to Miss Dixon's ring. Was it the taking of this that Estelle was hinting at? The girl must have guessed what was in the mind of her hearers, for she hastened to add: