"We can't tell until Russ comes home," replied her father. "I'll leave our door ajar, and we can hear if anyone goes into the Dalwood rooms. As soon as some of them return we will tell them what has taken place." Alice helped herself to the needed salt, and the meal began, with pauses now and then to learn if there was any movement in the flat across the hallway. Presently footsteps were heard, and proved to be those of Russ himself. "Plumber!" he exclaimed. "So he was masquerading as that; eh?" the moving picture operator exclaimed when Alice told him what had occurred. "You're right, he was after my patent," and a worried look came over his face. "Did he get it?" asked Ruth, anxiously. "No, for it isn't here. The model is at a machine shop on the East Side, and several of the attachments are being made from it to be tested." "Then it's all right," declared Alice, in a tone of relief. "Yes--and no," returned Russ. "It's all right, for the time being, but I don't like what has happened. Simp Wolley must be getting desperate to come here in broad daylight and rummage the house under the pretense of being a plumber. It shows, too, that he must be watching this place, or he wouldn't have known when I went out." "Hadn't you better notify the police?" suggested Mr. DeVere. "I'll think about it," agreed Russ. "Of course he hasn't really done anything yet that they could arrest him for, unless coming into our apartment without being invited is illegal, and he could wriggle out of a charge of that sort. No, I'll keep my eyes open. In a little while, after I obtain my patent, and the attachment is on the market, he can't bother me. But I don't mind admitting that I'm worried." "Then sit down and have something to eat with us," urged Alice, and Ruth, with a nod and a blush, seconded the request. "You'll be eating some of your own salt, anyhow," Alice suggested, in fun. Russ lost a little of his apprehensive air as the meal progressed. Perhaps it was because Ruth sat opposite. Alice said as much to her sister afterward, when they were getting ready for bed. "Don't be silly!" was Ruth's sole reply. Mr. DeVere attended several rehearsals at the moving picture theater and, one morning, said: "Girls, how would you like to come and see me in my new role? We have a dress rehearsal to-day, so to speak, and we'll "film" the play, as they call it, to-morrow." "Oh, let's go, Ruth!" cried Alice, clapping her hands. "I know you'll enjoy it!" "I'm sure I will," agreed Ruth. Her attitude toward the movies was also changing. Together father and daughters went. It did Alice good to see how Mr. DeVere was welcomed by his fellow actors. He had already made himself friendly with most of them.