"He's stolen a march on us," declared Paul, grimly.
"Probably took fright because the girls located his hiding place," said Russ.
"And I reckon he is in hidin' for some reason or other," remarked Sandy. "I wish I could have him arrested!"
"What for?" Russ wanted to know. "I'm afraid you'd have hard work to make a charge that would hold. So far he hasn't done anything that we know of."
"He could be held as a trespasser," spoke Paul. "He was in the Apgar barn; wasn't he?"
"That fellow's up to more than jest trespassin'," declared Sandy. "He's got some motive, and I'm goin' to find out what it is."
But for the present this was out of the question. The man was gone, and none at Oak Farm knew his whereabouts. The only thing they could do was to wait until he showed himself again.
"But having a dog was a new one," said Russ. "That is, if it was his the girls saw."
But even on this point they could not be sure. They returned to the house, for Russ had to make several films that day.
Several acts of one of the plays were to take place in the woods, and Russ had found a spot, not far from the lonely cabin, where there was the proper background of trees and hills.
Thither the company went that afternoon, and after a little rehearsal, Mr. Pertell gave the word for the real action of the drama to begin.
Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon were in this, as were Ruth and Alice. There was to be a picnic scene, with a campfire at which a meal was to be cooked, and real food had been prepared for the act.
"All ready!" called the manager, when he had looked over the little company, and seen that they were all in their proper positions. "Go ahead, Russ!"
For a time all went well, and then came a scream from Miss Dixon, who jumped up with such suddenness that she upset a pitcher of lemonade over Mr. Switzer.
"Cut that out, Russ!" called the manager, sharply. "We seem to be having all sorts of accidents of late."
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" apologized the actress. "But I--I saw a bug!"
"You usually do in der voods, my dear young lady!" said Mr. Switzer, as he sopped up the lemonade from his trousers with his handkerchief. "Und, if it iss all der same mit you, I vould like to have my oder lemonade on der insides of me und not on der outsides, ef you pliss!"