strips now, then they'll run them in the
projection room, and they won't suit Sig one little bit, and I'll have
to do it some more. I'll be swimming here till daylight doth appear."

She now shot that familiar glance of appraisal at Merton. "Have a
sandwich and some coffee, Kid-give him your cup, Jimmie."

It was Merton Gill's great moment, a heart-gripping climax to a
two-days' drama that had at no time lacked tension. Superbly he arose to
it. Consecrated to his art, Clifford Armytage gave the public something
better and finer. He drew himself up and spoke lightly, clearly, with
careless ease:

"No, thanks-I couldn't eat a mouthful." The smile with which he
accompanied the simple words might be enigmatic, it might hint of secret
sorrows, but it was plain enough that these could not ever so distantly
relate to a need for food.

Having achieved this sensational triumph, with all the quietness of
method that should distinguish the true artist, he became seized with
stage fright amounting almost to panic. He was moved to snatch the
sandwich that Jimmie now proffered, the cup that he had refilled with
coffee. Yet there was but a moment of confusion. Again he wielded an
iron restraint. But he must leave the stage. He could not tarry there
after his big scene, especially under that piercing glance of the girl.
Somehow there was incredulity in it.

"Well, I guess I'll have to be going," he remarked jauntily, and turned
for his exit.

"Say, Kid." The girl halted him a dozen feet away.

"Say, listen here. This is on the level. I want to have a talk with you
to-morrow. You'll be on the lot, won't you?"

He seemed to debate this momentarily, then replied, "Oh, yes. I'll be
around here somewhere." "Well, remember, now. If I don't run into
you, you come down to that set where I was working to-day. See? I got
something to say to you."

"All right. I'll probably see you sometime during the day."

He had gone on to his hotel. But he had no intention of seeing the
Montague girl on the morrow, nor of being seen by her. He would keep out
of that girl's way whatever else he did. She would ask him if everything
was jake, and where was his overcoat, and a lot of silly questions about
matters that should not concern her.

He was in two minds about the girl now. Beneath an unreasonable but very
genuine resentment that she should have doubled for Beulah Baxter-as
if she had basely cheated him of his most cherished ideal-there ran