hought　of　money。
  He　would　buy　her　a　gift　whose　presentation　should　mark　a　certain　great　occasion。　It　should　occur　on　the　eve　of　his　screen　debut；　and　would　fittingly　testify　his　gratitude。　For　the　girl；　after　all；　had　made　him　what　he　was。　And　the　first　piece　was　close　to　its　premiere。　Already　he　had　seen　advance　notices　in　the　newspapers。　The　piece　was　called　Hearts　On　Fire；　and　in　it；　so　the　notices　said；　the　comedy　manager　had　at　last　realized　an　ambition　long　nourished。　He　had　done　something　new　and　something　big：　a　big　thing　done　in　a　big　way。　The　Montague　girl　would　see　that　the　leading　man　who　had　done　so　much　to　insure　the　success　of　Baird's　striving　for　the　worth…while　drama　was　not　unforgetful　of　her　favours　and　continuous　solicitude。
  He　thought　first　of　a　ring；　but　across　the　blank　brick　wall　of　the　jewellery　shop　he　elected　to　patronize　was　an　enormous　sign　in　white：　The　House　of　Lucky　Wedding　Rings。　This　staring　announcement　so　alarmed　him　that　he　not　only　abandoned　the　plan　for　a　ring…any　sort　of　ring　might　be　misconstrued；　he　saw…but　in　an　excess　of　caution　chose　another　establishment　not　so　outspoken。　If　it　kept　wedding　rings　at　all；　it　was　decently　reticent　about　them；　and　it　did　keep　a　profusion　of　other　trinkets　about　which　a　possible　recipient　could　entertain　no　false　notions。　Wrist　watches；　for　example。　No　one　could　find　subtle　or　hidden　meanings　in　a　wrist　watch。
  He　chose　a　bauble　that　glittered　prettily　on　its　black　silk　bracelet；　and　was　not　shocked　in　the　least　when　told　by　the　engaging　salesman　that　its　price　was　a　sum　for　which　in　the　old　days　Gashwiler　had　demanded　a　good　ten　weeks　of　his　life。　Indeed　it　seemed　rather　cheap　to　him　when　he　remembered　the　event　it　should　celebrate。　Still；　it　was　a　pleasing　trifle　and　did　not　look　cheap。
  〃Do　you　warrant　it　to　keep　good　time？〃　he　sternly　demanded。
  The　salesman　became　diplomatic；　though　not　without　an　effect　of　genial　man…to…man　frankness。　〃Well；　I　guess　you　and　I　both　know　what　women's　bracelet…watches　are。〃　He　smiled　a　superior　masculine　smile　that　drew　his　customer　within　the　informed　brotherhood。　〃Now　here；　there's　a　platinum　little　thing　that　costs　seven　hundred　and　fifty；　and　this　one　you　like　will　keep　just　as　good　time　as　that　one　that　costs　six　hundred　more。　What　could　be　fairer　than　that？〃
  〃All　right；〃　said　the　customer。　〃I'll　take　it。〃　During　the　remaining　formalities　attending　the　purchase　the　salesman；　observing　that　he　dealt　with　a　tolerant　man　of　the　world；　became　even　franker。　〃Of　course　no　one；〃　he　remarked　pleasantly　while　couching　the　purchase　in　a　chaste　bed　of　white　satin；　〃expects　women's　bracelet…watches　to　keep　time。　Not　even　the　women。〃
  〃Want　'em　for　looks；〃　said　the　customer。
  〃You've　hit　it；　you've　hit　it！〃　exclaimed　the　salesman　delightedly；　as　if　the　customer　had　expertly　probed　the　heart　of　a　world…old　mystery。
  He　had　now　but　to　await　his　great　moment。　The　final　scenes　of　the　new　piece　were　shot。　Again　he　was　resting　between　pictures。　As　the　date　for　showing　the　first　piece　drew　near　he　was　puzzled　to　notice　that　both　Baird　and　the　Montague　girl　curiously　avoided　any　mention　of　it。　Several　times　he　referred　to　it　in　their　presence；　but　they　seemed　resolutely　deaf　to　his　〃Well；　I　see　the　big　show　opens　Monday　night。〃
  He　wondered　if　there　could　be　some　recondite　bit　of　screen　etiquette　which　he　was　infringing。　Actors　were　superstitious；　he　knew。　Perhaps　it　boded　bad　luck　to　talk　of　a　forthcoming　production。　Baird　and　the　girl　not　only　ignored　his　reference　to　Hearts　on　Fire；　but　they　left　Baird　looking　curiously　secretive　and　the　Montague　girl　looking　curiously　frightened。　It　perplexed　him。　Once　he　was　smitten　with　a　quick　fear　that　his　own　work　in　this　serious　drama　had　not　met　the　expectations　of　the　manager。
  However；　in　this　he　must　be　wrong；　for　Baird　not　only　continued　cordial　but；　as　the　girl　had　prophesied；　he　urged　upon　his　new　actor　the　signing　of　a　long…time　contract。　The　Montague　girl　had　insisted　upon　being　present　at　this　interview；　after　forbidding　Merton　to　put　his　name　to　any　contract　of　which　she　did　not　approve。　〃I　told　Jeff　right　out　that　I　was　protecting　you；〃　she　said。　〃He　understands　he's　got　to　be　reasonable。〃
  It　appeared；　as　they　set　about　Baird's　desk　in　the　Buckeye　office；　that　she　had　been　right。　Baird　submitted　rather　gracefully；　after　but　slight　demur；　to　the　terms　which　Miss　Montague　imposed　in　behalf　of　her　protege。　Under　her　approving　eye　Merton　Gill　affixed　his　name　to　a　contract　by　which　Baird　was　to　pay　him　a　salary　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　a　week　for　three　years。
  It　seemed　an　incredible　sum。　As　he　blotted　his　signature　he　was　conscious　of　a　sudden　pity　for　the　manager。　The　Montague　girl　had　been　hardhard　as　nails；　he　thoughtand　Baird；　a　victim　to　his　own　good　nature；　would　probably　lose　a　great　deal　of　money。　He　resolved　never　to　press　his　advantage　over　a　man　who　had　been　caught　in　a　weak　moment。
  〃I　just　want　to　say；　Mr。　Baird；〃　he　began；　〃that　you　needn't　be　afraid　I'll　hold　you　to　this　paper　if　you　find　it's　too　much　money　to　pay　me。　I　wouldn't　have　taken　it　at　all　if　it　hadn't　been　for　her。〃　He　pointed　an　almost　accusing　finger　at　the　girl。
  Baird　grinned；　the　girl　patted　his　hand。　Even　at　grave　moments　she　was　a　patter。　〃That's　all　right；　Son；〃　she　said　soothingly。　〃Jeff's　got　all　the　best　of　it；　and　Jeff　knows　it；　too。　Don't　you；　Jeff？〃
  〃Well〃　Baird　considered。　〃If　his　work　keeps　up　I'm　not　getting　any　the　worst　of　it。〃
  〃You　said　it。　You　know　very　well　what　birds　will　be　looking　for　this　boy　next　week；　and　what　money　they'll　have　in　their　mitts。
  〃Maybe；〃　said　Baird。
  〃Well；　you　got　the　best　of　it；　and　you　deserve　to　have。　I　ain't　ever　denied　that；　have　I？　You've　earned　the　best　of　it　the　way　you've　handled　him。　All　I'm　here　for；　I　didn't　want　you　to　have　too　much　the　best　of　it；　see？　I　think　I　treated　you　well。〃
  〃You're　all　right；　Flips。〃　〃Well；　everything's　jake；　then？〃
  〃Everything's　jake　with　me。〃
  〃All　right！　And　about　his　work　keeping　uptrust　your　old　friend　and　well…wisher。　And　say；　Jeff〃　Her　eyes　gleamed　reminiscently。　〃You　ain't　caught　him　dancing　yet。　Wellwait；　that's　all。　We'll　put　on　a　fox…trot　in　the　next　picture　that　will　sure　hog　the　footage。〃
  As　this　dialogue　progressed；　Merton　had　felt　more　and　more　like　a　child　in　the　presence　of　grave　and　knowing　elders。　They　had　seemed　to　forget　him；　to　forget　that　the　amazing　contract　just　signed　bore　his　name。　He　thought　the　Montague　girl　was　taking　a　great　deal　upon　herself。　Her　face；　he　noted；　when　she　had　stated　terms　to　Baird；　was　the　face　she　wore　when　risking　a　small　bet　at　poker　on　a　high　hand。　She　seemed　old；　indeed。　But　he　knew　how　he　was　going　to　make　her　feel　younger。　In　his　pocket　was　a　gift　of　rare　beauty；　even　if　you　couldn't　run　railway　trains　by　it。　And　pretty　things　made　a　child　of　her。
  Baird　shook　hands　with　him　warmly　at　parting。　〃It'll　be　a　week　yet　before　we　start　on　the　new　piece。　Have　a　good　time。　Oh；　yes；　and　drop　around　some　time　next　week　if　there's　any　little　thing　you　want　to　talk　overor　maybe　you　don't　understand。〃
  He　wondered　if　this　were　a　veiled　reference　to　the　piece　about　to　be　shown。　Certainly　nothing　more　definite　was　said　about　it。　Yet　it　was　a　thing　that　must　be　of　momentous　interest　to　the　manager；　and　the　manager　must　know　that　it　would　be　thrilling　to　the　actor。
  He　left　with　the　Montague　girl；　who　had　become　suddenly　grave　and　quiet。　But　outside　the　Holden　lot；　with　one　of　those　quick　transitions　he　had　so　often　remarked　in　her；　she　brightened　with　a　desperate　sort　of　gaiety。
  〃I'll　tell　you　what！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Let's　go　straight　down　town　it'll　be　six　by　the　time　we　get　thereand　have　the　best　dinner　money　can　buy：　lobster　and　chicken　and　vanilla　ice…cream　and　everything；　right　in　a　real　restaurantnone　of　this　tray　stuffand　I'll　let　you　pay　for　it　all　by　yourself。　You　got　a　right　to；　after　that　contract。　And　we'll　be　gay；　and　all　the　extra　people　that's　eating　in　the　restaurant'll　think　we're　a　couple　o'　prominent　film　actors。　How　about　it？〃　She　danced　at　his　side。
  〃We'll　have　soup；　too；〃　he　amended。　〃One　of　those　thick　ones　that　costs　about　sixty　cents。　Sixty　cents　just　for　soup！〃　he　repeated；　putting　a　hand　to　the　contract　that　now　stiffened　one　side　of　his　coat。
  〃Well；　just　this　once；〃　she　agreed。　〃It　might　be　for　the　last　time。〃
  〃Nothing　like　that；〃　he　assured　her。　〃More　you　spend；　more　you　make…　…that's　my　motto。〃
  They　waited　for　a　city…bound　car；　sitting　again　on　the　bench　that　was　so　outspoken。　〃You　furnish　the　girl；　we　furnish　the　home；〃　it　shouted。　He　put　his　back　against　several　of　the　bold　words　and　felt　of　the　bracelet…watch　in　his　pocket。
  〃It　might　be　the　last　time　for　me；〃　insisted　the　girl。　〃I　feel　as　if　I　might　die　most　any　time。　My　health's　breaking　down　under　the　strain。　I　feel　kind　of　a　fever　coming　on　right　this　minute。〃
  〃Maybe　you　shouldn't　go　out。〃
  〃Yes；　I　should。〃
  They　boarded　the　car　and　reached　the　real　restaurant；　a　cozy　and　discreet　resort　up　a　flight　of　carpeted　stairs。　Side　by　side　on　a　seat　that　ran　along　the　wall　they　sat　at　a　table　for　two　and　the　dinner　was　ordered。　〃Ruin　yourself　if　you　want　to；〃　said　the　girl　as　her　host　included　celery　and　olives　in　the　menu。　〃