Louise broke into a series of questions regarding the taking of the
pictures. Her evident interest in the big leading man halted Lawford's
approach. Besides, Miss Louder, who had evidently been introduced to
the Taffy King's son, attached herself to him.

She was a pretty girl despite the layers of grease paint necessary to
accentuate the lights and shadows of her piquant face. Her manner with
men was free without being bold. With a big parasol over her shoulder,
she adapted her step to Lawford's and they strolled nearer.

Bane was speaking of the script he had previously mentioned as
containing a part eminently fitted for Louise. As Lawford and Miss
Louder passed he said:

"I am sure you can do well in that part, Miss Grayling. It is exactly
your style."

Had Lawford any previous reason for doubting Louise Grayling's
connection with the moving picture industry this overheard remark would
have lulled such a doubt to sleep.

The young man realized well enough that Louise was a very different
girl from the blithe young woman at his side. But how could he make I.
Tapp see it?

Money was not everything in the world; Lawford Tapp was far from
thinking it was. He had always considered it of much less importance
than the things one could exchange it for.

However, never having felt the necessity for working for mere pelf, and
being untrained for any form of industry whatsoever, his father's
threat of disowning him loomed a serious menace to the young man.

Not for himself did Lawford fear. He felt warm blood in his veins,
vigor in his muscles, a keen edge to his nerves. He could
work--preferably with his hands. He realized quite fully his
limitation of brain power.

But what right had he to ask any girl to share his lot--especially a
girl like Louise Grayling, who he supposed won a sufficient livelihood
in a profession the emoluments of which must be far greater than those
of any trade he might seek to follow?

He saw now that after his somewhat desultory college course, his months
of loafing about on sea and shore had actually unfitted him for
concentration upon any ordinary work. And he was not sanguine enough
to expect an extraordinary situation to come his way.

Then, too, the young man realized that Louise Grayling had not given
him the least encouragement to lead him to believe that she thought of
him at all. At this moment her preference for Bane's society seemed
marked. Already Cecile had