_Chapter XXIII_ ON THE SCREEN
Curt Newsom was the first to reach the unconscious Janet. He picked herup, almost without effort, and ran to the car in which Billy Fenstow hadbeen following the action.
"Step on it, Billy. This girl's had a bad fall," he said, and thedirector swung the car quickly and sped back toward the ranchhouse.Helen, mounted, galloped after them and the rest of the company,including the camera crew, trailed along.
When Janet regained her senses she was lying on a bed in the ranchhousewith Helen, her face expressing her anxiety, bending over her.
"What happened?" asked Janet faintly.
"Your saddle came loose and you took a header," explained Curt. "How doyou feel?"
"Let me get up and take a few steps and then I'll tell you," repliedJanet.
"Better stay quiet for a few more minutes. We've got a doctor coming outto look you over," advised Billy Fenstow.
"But I'm sure there's nothing really wrong with me, except perhaps I'mclumsy," replied Janet.
Just then one of the cowboys tiptoed in and whispered something to CurtNewsom. Janet caught a flash of anger in his face as he turned andfollowed the cowboy outside.
The doctor arrived within a few minutes and made a thorough examinationfor possible injuries.
"Just a liberal supply of bumps and bruises," he decided. "Better take iteasy for a day or two."
"Well, that's that," Janet managed to smile when the doctor had departed."I'm afraid I spoiled another sequence and you'll have to shoot it over."
"I should say not," replied Billy Fenstow. "The camera got every bit ofaction and I'll work it in somehow. Any time I let a swell shot like thatgo unused you can write 'finished' after my name. Stay in bed the rest ofthe day. The schedule of scenes you were in is practically completedanyway."
Helen was in and out the rest of the day for there were several shots inwhich she appeared and it was late afternoon when she came in to stay.
"Curt Newsom is on the warpath," she said slowly as she sat down besideJanet.
"Sore about my mussing up that scene?" asked Janet.
"No. He's been looking at the saddle and says someone tried to kill you."
Helen's voice was flat.
Janet sat up in bed.
"Someone tried to kill me?" she demanded.
Tears welled into Helen's tired eyes.
"Oh, this is all a mess," she cried. "We never should have come out here.There are too many intrigues and jealousies among those established."
"Tell me just what you mean?" insisted Janet.
Helen waved her hands helplessly. "Curt's found out that the saddle girthwas almost cut through. That's the reason your saddle came loose and youwere pitched out."
"Does he have any idea who did it?"
"If he does, he isn't saying anything, but I heard him tell Billy Fenstowthat this is the last picture he'll work in with Bertie Jackson."
"I wonder if that means he suspects Bertie?" Janet pondered.
"You could take it that way if you wanted to, and personally I thinkBertie is fully capable of some despicable stunt like that. I'm gladshooting on this picture is practically over. I've seen all of Bertie Iever want to."
"It doesn't seem as though she would do anything like that, though," saidJanet. "But, after all, Bertie's determined to get ahead and I expectshe's wholly unscrupulous when she thinks anything or anyone may beblocking her way. But why should she pick on us?"
"Because we came in as absolute greenhorns and got fairly good bits.She's afraid we may be pushed ahead too fast because of Dad's positionwith the company. I think it's all plain enough."
"Perhaps you're right," conceded Janet. "I'll certainly watch myself whenI'm around Bertie from now on."
Janet felt much better the next morning. She was still stiff and sore,but was able to walk with only a moderate amount of discomfort.
It was the final day of shooting for "Broad Valley" and a certaintenseness gripped the whole company. Billy Fenstow was determined tofinish on time and they worked like mad through the long, hot hours.
Janet had to do another riding sequence, and she went about it gamely,although every bone in her body ached as her horse galloped at a mad paceacross the broad valley and into the rolling hills behind it. Then it wasdone. The picture was "in the can."
Supper was served at the ranchhouse and after the meal, in the softtwilight of the summer evening, they piled into the bus that was to takethem back to Hollywood.
There was little conversation on the way back to the city. Some of themwere completely worn out by the strain of working against time for thelast few days and a number dozed as the bus, striking a concrete road,rolled smoothly and swiftly toward Hollywood.
The days had been exciting and even thrilling for Janet and Helen--anexperience they might never know again and both girls knew they wouldcome to treasure the recent days highly.
Janet wondered what would be in store for them in Hollywood. Would theywin other roles or were they through? It would depend on the verdictafter "Broad Valley" had its screening before the studio executives.
The lights of Hollywood glowed and they pulled up in front of the studio.Some of the actors and actresses had their own cars; others took bussesand only a few signalled for waiting taxis. Janet and Helen were amongthese.
Henry Thorne was waiting for them when they reached home.
"All done?" he asked.
Helen nodded wearily. "The picture is and we may be too."
"Why?"
"Won't it depend on how our work shows up whether we get any more roles?"
"Yes, I suppose so," said her father, "but I could push you into someminor parts in other films."
"Now you're wrong, Dad. We don't want that any more than you would wantto do it."
"I guess you're right, dear. I did give you a boost with Billy and if youdidn't make good on 'Broad Valley' there's little more that I can do."
They were silent for a time. Helen's mother, who had been to aneighborhood picture house, came home and they went into the dining roomwhere a cold lunch was ready for them.
"I hear you had some unusual experiences," said Helen's father.
"Oh, we had a few falls," admitted Janet. There was no use in voicingtheir suspicions about Bertie Jackson.
The next four days were spent in sight-seeing around Los Angeles, in atrip to Catalina Island and several swimming expeditions at Malibu. Thencame a call from Billy Fenstow.
"We're screening 'Broad Valley' at the studio tonight," he informed them."Better come on out. It's at eight."
This was the news they had been waiting for, but now that the actualscreening was to take place, both girls felt nervous and upset. Helen'sfather and mother insisted on coming with them, "to enjoy the triumph orshare the sorrows." Henry Thorne smiled and Janet later wondered whetherhe had advance information on the outcome of the picture.
The small auditorium in which the picture was screened was well filledthat night with most of the members of the cast on hand, including CurtNewsom and Bertie Jackson.
The lights were out and the picture started. Janet read the title:"'Broad Valley' with Curt Newsom and Bertie Jackson, directed by WilliamFenstow; produced by the Ace Motion Picture Corporation." Then came thecast of characters and well toward the bottom of the list she found hername. Her heart leaped and she held Helen's arm close. What a thrill itwas to actually read her own name in the cast of characters of a film.
Then the action started, the story of Curt Newsom's fight to hold titleto his ranch.
Almost before Janet and Helen knew it they were in the picture, themidwestern cousins arriving for a visit and in spite of herself Janetchuckled as she stumbled over the rug. It DID look wholly accidental.
Then for a time they were out of the action, coming back again in theriding sequence in which Janet was dumped into the watering trough. Thisentire bit of action had been kept in the film and she heard se
veralhearty chuckles as she went headlong into the trough.
After that came the wild ride in which Janet was pitched from her horseand the final victory of Curt over his enemies. "Broad Valley" came to aclose with Curt winning the affections of Bertie Jackson and Janet felther distaste for the actress growing as she watched the final fadeout.
The lights in the projection room flashed up and Henry Thorne turned tothe girls.
"Nice work," he said.
"Do you really mean it, Dad?" asked Helen.
"Of course I do, honey. I think both of you handled your parts very welland Janet added a couple of top notch comedy incidents."
"They weren't intentional," Janet assured him.
"Then that explains why they look so natural. Billy will be a sap if hecuts them out in the final version."
"And I'm not a sap," said Billy Fenstow, who had quietly joined them."How about my next western? Think you could stand a few more weeks in mycompany?"
"Are you serious?" demanded Janet.
"Enough so that I'm promising you parts right now. In fact, we'll pay you$75 a week instead of the $50 a week you got for this first picture. Howdoes that sound?"
"Not enough," put in Henry Thorne, "especially if the girls can give yousome more comedy as good as the stuff they put into this one."
"Now wait a minute," protested the little director. "I don't work onbudgets that run up to half a million. I've got to watch my pay-roll."
"I was only kidding, Billy. But honestly, the girls ought to be worth ahundred a week. You'll only use them a couple of weeks and that's prettycheap."
"I won't make any promises about a hundred a week," said Billy, "but youcan count on another job if you want to join the company for my nextwestern."
"Then we're in right now," decided Helen, and Janet nodded her approval.