!" thought Mary in despair. "This man is
a villain. It is he who has been filling Lorna's mind with stage talk.
I don't believe he is a theatrical man, either. They would not insult
me so!"

The manager bustled about.

"Closing time, girls. Get everything orderly now, and hurry up. You
know, the boss has been kicking about the waste light bills which you
girls run up in getting things straight at the end of the day."

Mary turned to her own particular counter, and she saw the big man
leave the store, as the manager obsequiously bowed him out.

In the wardrobe room where they kept their wraps, Mary took Lorna
aside. Her eyes were flaming orbs, as she laid a trembling hand upon
the girl's arm.

"Lorna, you are not going to that man's office?"

"Oh, not right away," responded her sister airily. "We are going to
Martin's first for a little dinner, and maybe a tango or two. What's
that to you, Mary? Stick to your policeman."

Mary dropped her hand weakly. She put on her hat and street-coat,
hardly knowing what she was doing.

"Oh, Lorna, child, you are so mistaken, so weak," she began.

"I'm not weak, nor foolish. A girl can't live decently on the money
they pay in this place. I'm going to show how strong I am by earning a
real salary. I can get a hundred a week on the stage with my looks,
and my voice, and my ... figure...."

In spite of her bravado she hesitated at the last word. It was a
little daring, even to her, and she was forcing a bold front to
maintain her own determination, for the girl had hesitated at the man's
pleadings until her sister's interference had piqued her into obstinacy.

"It won't hurt to find out how much I can get, even if I don't take the
offer at all," Lorna thought. "I simply will not submit to Mary's
dictation all the time."

Lorna hurried to the street, closely followed by her sister.

"Don't go, dear," pleaded Mary.

But there by the curb panted a big limousine, such as Lorna had always
pictured waiting for her at a stage door; the big man smiled as he held
open the door. Lorna hesitated an instant. Then she espied, coming
around the corner toward them, Bobbie Burke, on his way to meet Mary.

That settled it. She ran with a laugh toward the door of the
automobile and flounced inside, while the big man followed her,
slamming the portal as the car moved on.

"Oh, Bob," sobbed Mary, as the young officer reached her side. "Follow
them."

"What's the matte