ruddy hue. There was an
uncertain look in her brown eyes.

"Well, what?" asked Russ, smilingly. "Surely you don't mind going
with me to the manager's office? It's a public place. Lots of girls
go there, looking for engagements."

"Oh, no, it isn't that!" she hastened to assure him.

"Or, if you don't like going with me, I can give you a note to Mr.
Pertell, the manager. I know him quite well, as I've been negotiating
with him about my patent."

"Oh, Russ, you know it isn't that!" she exclaimed.

"And, if you like, we'll go back and get Ruth. Maybe that would be
better!" he exclaimed eagerly, and as Alice looked into his honest
gray eyes she read his little secret, and smiled at him
understandingly.

"Oh, never that!" she cried gaily. "Ruth would be the last one in the
world to be let into this secret, until it is more assured of
success. Besides, I guess when you walk with Ruth you don't want me,"
she challenged.

"Oh, now----" he began.

"That's all right. I understand," she laughed at him. "No, we won't
tell Ruth."

"Then you'll go and see the manager--I know he'll give your father a
trial, and that's all that's needed, for I'm sure he can do the
acting. And they're always looking for new characters. Come on!"

Once more, in his enthusiasm, he tried to lead her down the street.
But she hung back.

"No, really, Russ," she said earnestly enough now, and her eyes took
on a more grave and serious look. "It isn't that. It's only--well, I
might as well tell you, though it may be rather mean after your
kindness. But my father thinks the movies are so--so vulgar!
There--I've said it."

She looked at her companion anxiously. To her surprise Russ laughed.

"So, you were afraid of hurting my feelings; were you?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered, in a low voice.

"Nothing like that!" he assured her. "I've heard worse things than
that said about the movies. But I want to tell you that you're wrong,
and, with all due respect to him, your father is wrong too. There's
nothing vulgar or low about the movies--except the price."

He was becoming really enthusiastic now. His voice rang, and his eyes
sparkled.

"I'm not saying that because I make my living at them, either," Russ
went on. "It's because it's true. The moving picture shows were once,
perhaps, places where nice persons didn't go. But it's different now.
All that has been changed. Why, look at Sarah Bernhardt, doing her
famous plays before the camera? Ev