arity of her eyes. "Ban, if I tell you that I'm really devoted
to my art, that I believe in it as--as a mission, that the theater is as
big a thing to me as The Patriot is to you, you won't think me an
affected little prig, will you?"

"Of course not, Betty. I know you."

"Yes. I think you do. But you don't know your own paper. Zucker's big
idea, which he sold to Tertius Marrineal together with his precious
self, is that the dramatic critic should be the same identical person as
the assistant advertising manager in charge of theater advertising, and
that Zucker should be both."

"Hell!" snapped Banneker. "I beg your pardon, Betty."

"Don't. I quite agree with you. Isn't it complete and perfect? Zucker
gets his percentage of the advertising revenue which he brings in from
the theaters. Therefore, will he be kind to those attractions which
advertise liberally? And less kind to those which fail to appreciate The
Patriot as a medium? I know that he will! Pay your dollar and get your
puff. Dramatic criticism strictly up to date."

Banneker looked at her searchingly. "Is that why you broke with
Marrineal, Betty?"

"Not exactly. No. This Zucker deal came afterward. But I think I had
begun to see what sort of principles Tertius represented. You and I
aren't children, Ban: I can talk straight talk to you. Well, there's
prostitution on the stage, of course. Not so much of it as outsiders
think, but more than enough. I've kept myself free of any contact with
it. That being so, I'm certainly not going to associate myself with that
sort of thing in another field. Ban, I've made the management refuse
Zucker admittance to the theater. And he gave the play a wonderful
send-off, as you know. Of course, Tertius would have him do that."

Rising, Banneker walked over and soberly shook the girl's hand. "Betty,
you're a fine and straight and big little person. I'm proud to know you.
And I'm ashamed of myself that I can do nothing. Not now, anyway. Later,
perhaps...."

"No, I suppose you can't," she said listlessly. "But you'll be
interested in seeing how the Zucker system works out; a half-page ad. in
the Sunday edition gets a special signed and illustrated feature
article, a quarter-page only a column of ordinary press stuff. A full
page--I don't know what he'll offer for that. An editorial by E.B.
perhaps."

"Betty!"

"Forgive me, Ban. I'm sick at heart over it all. Of course, I know you
wouldn't."

Going back in his car, Ba