al 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
hard--hard as nails, he thought--and 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 i