take the film out of his camera in readiness to ship it back to New York
for development.

Ruth and Alice had done much traveling with their father when he was
engaged in the legitimate drama, for he was with a number of road
companies, that went from place to place. Water journeys were, however,
rather a novelty to them, and now that the excitement of the rescue was
over they went about the ship, looking at the various sights.

The _Tarsus_ was not a big vessel, but it was a new and substantial craft
engaged in the coast trade. A fairly large passenger list was carried
and, as this was the winter season, many tourists were heading for the
sunny South--the warm beaches of the coast, or the interior where the
palms waved their graceful branches in the orange-scented breezes.

"How is your throat, Daddy?" asked Ruth, as Mr. DeVere joined his
daughters in a stroll about the deck.

"Much better, I think," he said. His voice was always hoarse now, totally
unlike the vibrant tones in which he was used to speak his lines. "The
pain seems less. I have hopes that the warm air of Florida may improve,
and even cure it, in connection with the medicine I am taking."

"Oh, wouldn't that be just great!" cried Alice, as she clasped her arms
about his neck. "Perhaps you could go back to the real theaters then,
Daddy."

"I might," he replied with a smile at her; "but I do not know that I
would. I am beginning to like this silent 'drama.' It is a rest from the
hard work we old actors used to have to do. There is much less strain.