“I don’t see how Billy can expect to be in touch with any of those things,” commented Walter, more puzzled than ever.  “We’ll just have to wait and see, as Hugh told us.  It may be that they’ve coaxed Hugh to consent to get up there on the platform to-night, and tell all about what happened to them the time they went off to spend the week-end up the country.”

“Walter, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d guessed it, after all,” said one of the other fellows; and then as a loud clapping of hands announced that the well-known local violinist was about to make his bow to the big audience, the boys stopped exchanging opinions, and settled down to the policy of “watchful waiting” so often spoken of by the occupant of the Executive Chair at Washington.

The educational value of the “Trip through Ceylon” could not be gainsaid, and the humorous film caused much laughter, and boisterous merriment.  Finally the announcement was made that they were now about to be treated to a most wonderful series of pictures, showing the details of how one of the best-known companies of moving-picture artists went about their work when engaged in producing a drama of olden days, with an appropriate setting and background.

They were first of all discovered starting forth from their hotel in the city, and taking train for some place in the country, together with much paraphernalia connected with their undertaking, so that it looked very much like an exodus on the part of a whole village of fashionables.

Next the pictures showed them leaving the train, at some country town, where a whole string of capacious cars awaited them, into which they crowded, joking and laughing, and carrying bundles without end.

Then another scene disclosed the company clad in all manner of remarkable garments, all of which might be recognized as having to do with the historical time of the Crusades, when knights in armor attended by their faithful squires were wont to roam the country in search of adventure.

Of course the younger element in the audience watched all this with exceeding interest.  They doubtless sensed with that intuition boys always display, that sooner or later there would necessarily come along heaps of fighting, and stirring pictures, when those men in shining armor met in deadly combat.

One by one, the scenes passed in review, and finally there was flashed upon the screen a picture of what seemed to be a veritable olden castle, true to tradition, turreted tower, drawbridge, portcullis, deep moat, apparently unscalable walls, and all.

Just at this interesting juncture, as the music happened to die down temporarily, a boy who had been around some was heard to say aloud, though he had not expected to make himself conspicuous: 

“If that isn’t the old place called Randall’s Folly, I’ll eat my hat!”

Walter Osborne gave Dud Morgan a quick dig in the ribs.

“Hey! it’s coming, you mark my words if it isn’t!” he hissed in the other’s ear.  “Just look at Billy Worth there, bobbing up and down as if he might be sitting on tacks.  And see how he grins, and looks prouder than a turkey gobbler.  Something’s going to break loose right away, Bud, believe me.”