"I had the happiness," stated Mr. Farrington, "of being present when the censors saw the first run of your eminently successful picture, "The Heart of a Schoolgirl," Miss Fielding, and through a mutual friend I learned where you were to be found. I may say that from your appearance on the screen I was enabled to recognize you just now."
Ruth said nothing, but waited for him to explain. There really did not seem to be anything she could say.
"I see in that film, Miss Fielding," pursued Mr. Farrington, "the promise of better work--in time, of course, in time. You are young yet. I believe you attend this boarding school?"
"Yes," said Ruth, simply.
"From the maturity of your treatment of the scenario I fancied you might be a teacher here at Briarwood," pursued the man, smirking. "But I find you a young person--extremely young, if I may be allowed the observation, to have written a scenario of the character of "The Heart of a Schoolgirl.""
"I wrote it," said Ruth, for she thought the remark was a question. "I had written one before."
"Yes, yes, yes!" exclaimed Mr. Farrington. "So I understand. In fact, I have seen your "Curiosity." A very ingeniously thought out reel. And well acted by the Alectrion Company. Rather good acting, indeed, for _them_."
"I have not seen it myself," Ruth said, not knowing what the man wanted or how she ought to speak to him. "Did you wish to talk to me on any matter of importance?"
"I may say, Yes, very important--to yourself, Miss Fielding," he said, with a wide smile. "This is a most important matter. It affects your entire career as--- I may say--one of our most ingenious young writers for the screen."
Ruth stared at him in amazement. Just because she had written two moving picture scenarios she was quite sure that she was neither famous nor a genius. Mr. Amasa Farrington"s enthusiasm was more amazing than his appearance.
"I am sure I do not understand you," Ruth confessed. "Is it something that you would better talk to Mrs. Tellingham about? I will introduce you to her----"
"No, no!" said Mr. Farrington, waving a black-gloved hand with the gesture _Hamlet_ might have used in waving to his father"s ghost. "The lady preceptress of your school has naught to do with this matter. It is personal with you."
"But what _is_ it?" queried Ruth, rather exasperated now.
"Be not hasty--be not hasty, I beg," said Amasa Farrington. "I know I may surprise you. I, too, was unknown at one time, and never expected to be anything more than a traveling Indian Bitters pedler. My latent talent was developed and fostered by a kindly soul, and I come to you now, Miss Fielding, in the remembrance of my own youth and inexperience----"
"For mercy"s sake!" gasped Ruth, finally. "What do you wish? I am not in need of any Indian Bitters."
"You mistake me--you mistake me," said the man, stiffly. "Amasa Farrington has long since graduated from the ranks of such sordid toilers. See my card."
"I _do_ see your card," the impatient Ruth said, again glancing at the bit of pasteboard. "I see that you represent something called the "Criterion Films." What are they?"
"Ah! now you ask a pointed question, young lady," declared Mr. Farrington.
"Rather you should ask, "What will they be?" They will be the most widely advertised films ever released for the entertainment of the public. They will be written by the most famous writers of scenarios. They will be produced by the greatest directors in the business. They will be acted by our foremost Thespians."
"I--I hope you will be successful, Mr. Farrington," said Ruth, faintly, not knowing what else to say.
"We shall be--we must be--I may say that we have _got_ to be!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the ex-Indian Bitters pedler. "And I come to you, Miss Fielding, for your co-operation."
"Mine?" gasped Ruth.
"Yes, Miss Fielding. You are a coming writer of scenarios of a high character. We geniuses must help each other--we must keep together and refuse to further the ends of the sordid producers who would bleed us of our best work."
This was rather wild talk, and Ruth did not understand it. She said, frankly:
"Just what do you mean, Mr. Farrington? What do you want me to do?"
"Ah! Practical! I like to see you so," said the man, with a flourish, drawing forth a doc.u.ment of several typewritten pages. "I want you to read and sign this, Miss Fielding. It is a contract with the Criterion Films--a most liberal contract, I might say--in which you bind yourself to turn over to us your scenarios for a term of years, we, meanwhile, agreeing to push your work and make you known to the public."
"Oh, dear me!" gasped Ruth. "I"m not sure I want to be so publicly known."
"Nonsense!" cried the man, in amazement. "Why! in publicity is the breath of life. Without it, we faint--we die--we, worse--we _vegetate_!"
"I--I guess I don"t mind vegetating--a--a little," stammered Ruth, weakly.
At that moment Mary Pease came racing down the walk. She waved a letter in her hand and was calling Ruth"s name.
"Oh, Ruthie Fielding!" she called, when she saw Ruth with the man. "Here"s a letter Mrs. Tellingham forgot to give you. She says it came enclosed in one from Mr. Hammond to her."
The excited girl stopped by Ruth, handed her the letter, and stared frankly at Mr. Amasa Farrington. That person"s face began to redden as Ruth idly opened the unsealed missive.
Again a green slip fell out. Mary darted toward it and picked it up. She read the check loudly--excitedly--almost in a shriek!
"Goodness, gracious me, Ruthie Fielding! Is Mr. Hammond giving you this money--_all_ this money--for your very own?"
But Ruth did not reply. She was scanning the letter from the president of the Alectrion Film Corporation. Mr. Farrington was plainly nervous.
"Come, Miss Fielding, I am waiting for your answer," he said stiffly. "If you join the Criterion Films, your success is a.s.sured. You are famous from the start----"
Ruth was just reading a clause in Mr. Hammond"s kind and friendly letter:
"Don"t let your head be turned by success, little girl. And I don"t think it will be. You have succeeded in inventing two very original scenarios. We will hope you can do better work in time.
But don"t force yourself. Above all have nothing to do with agents of film people who may want you to write something that they may rush into the market for the benefit of the advertising your school play will give you."
"No, Mr. Farrington," said Ruth, kindly. "I do not want to join your forces. I am not even sure that I shall ever be able to write another scenario. Circ.u.mstances seemed really to force me to write "The Heart of a Schoolgirl." I am glad you think well of it. Good afternoon."
"Can you beat her?" demanded Jennie, a minute later, when the long-legged Mr. Farrington had strutted angrily away. "Ruthie is as calm as a summer lake. She can turn an offer of fame and fortune down with the greatest ease. Let"s see that check, you miserable infant," she went on, grabbing the slip of paper out of Mary"s hand. "Oh, girls, it"s really so!"
Ruth was reading another paragraph in Mr. Hammond"s letter. He said:
"The check enclosed is for you, yourself. It has nothing to do with the profits of the films we now release. It is a bribe. I want to see whatever scenarios you may write during the next two years. I want to see them first. That is all. We do not need a contract, but if you keep the check I shall know that I am to have first choice of anything you may write in this line."
The check went into Ruth"s bank account.
That very week "The Heart of a Schoolgirl" was to be shown at the local Opera House. Mrs. Tellingham gave a half holiday and engaged enough stages besides Noah"s old Ark, to take all the girls to the play. They went to the matinee, and the center of enthusiasm was in the seats in the body of the house reserved for the Briarwood girls.
The house was well filled at this first showing of the picture in Lumberton, and more than the girls themselves were enthusiastic over it.
To Ruth"s surprise the manager of the house showed "Curiosity" first, and when she saw her name emblazoned under the t.i.tle of the one-reel film, Ruth Fielding had a distinct shock.
It was a joyful feeling that shook her, however. As never before she realized that she had really accomplished something in the world. She had earned money with her brains! And she had written something really worth while, too.
When the five-reel drama came on, she was as much absorbed in the story as though she had not written it and acted in it. It gave her a strange feeling indeed when she saw herself come on to the screen, and knew just what she was saying in the picture by the movement of her lips--whether she remembered the words spoken when the film was made or not.
Everything went off smoothly. The girls cheered the picture to the echo, and at the end went marching out, shouting:
"S.B.--Ah-h-h!
S.B.--Ah-h-h!
Sound our battle-cry Near and far!