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hought of money。
He would buy her a gift whose presentation should mark a certain great occasion。 It should occur on the eve of his screen debut； and would fittingly testify his gratitude。 For the girl； after all； had made him what he was。 And the first piece was close to its premiere。 Already he had seen advance notices in the newspapers。 The piece was called Hearts On Fire； and in it； so the notices said； the comedy manager had at last realized an ambition long nourished。 He had done something new and something big： a big thing done in a big way。 The Montague girl would see that the leading man who had done so much to insure the success of Baird's striving for the worth…while drama was not unforgetful of her favours and continuous solicitude。
He thought first of a ring； but across the blank brick wall of the jewellery shop he elected to patronize was an enormous sign in white： The House of Lucky Wedding Rings。 This staring announcement so alarmed him that he not only abandoned the plan for a ring…any sort of ring might be misconstrued； he saw…but in an excess of caution chose another establishment not so outspoken。 If it kept wedding rings at all； it was decently reticent about them； and it did keep a profusion of other trinkets about which a possible recipient could entertain no false notions。 Wrist watches； for example。 No one could find subtle or hidden meanings in a wrist watch。
He chose a bauble that glittered prettily on its black silk bracelet； and was not shocked in the least when told by the engaging salesman that its price was a sum for which in the old days Gashwiler had demanded a good ten weeks of his life。 Indeed it seemed rather cheap to him when he remembered the event it should celebrate。 Still； it was a pleasing trifle and did not look cheap。
〃Do you warrant it to keep good time？〃 he sternly demanded。
The salesman became diplomatic； though not without an effect of genial man…to…man frankness。 〃Well； I guess you and I both know what women's bracelet…watches are。〃 He smiled a superior masculine smile that drew his customer within the informed brotherhood。 〃Now here； there's a platinum little thing that costs seven hundred and fifty； and this one you like will keep just as good time as that one that costs six hundred more。 What could be fairer than that？〃
〃All right；〃 said the customer。 〃I'll take it。〃 During the remaining formalities attending the purchase the salesman； observing that he dealt with a tolerant man of the world； became even franker。 〃Of course no one；〃 he remarked pleasantly while couching the purchase in a chaste bed of white satin； 〃expects women's bracelet…watches to keep time。 Not even the women。〃
〃Want 'em for looks；〃 said the customer。
〃You've hit it； you've hit it！〃 exclaimed the salesman delightedly； as if the customer had expertly probed the heart of a world…old mystery。
He had now but to await his great moment。 The final 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 hardhard as nails； he thoughtand 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 it； too。 Don't you； Jeff？〃
〃Well〃 Baird considered。 〃If his work keeps up I'm not getting any the worst of it。〃
〃You said it。 You know very well what birds will be looking for this boy next week； and what money they'll have in their mitts。
〃Maybe；〃 said Baird。
〃Well； you got the best of it； and you deserve to have。 I ain't ever denied that； have I？ You've earned the best of it the way you've handled him。 All I'm here for； I didn't want you to have too much the best of it； see？ I think I treated you well。〃
〃You're all right； Flips。〃 〃Well； everything's jake； then？〃
〃Everything's jake with me。〃
〃All right！ And about his work keeping uptrust your old friend and well…wisher。 And say； Jeff〃 Her eyes gleamed reminiscently。 〃You ain't caught him dancing yet。 Wellwait； that's all。 We'll put on a fox…trot in the next picture that will sure hog the footage。〃
As this dialogue progressed； Merton had felt more and more like a child in the presence of grave and knowing elders。 They had seemed to forget him； to forget that the amazing contract just signed bore his name。 He thought the Montague girl was taking a great deal upon herself。 Her face； he noted； when she had stated terms to Baird； was the face she wore when risking a small bet at poker on a high hand。 She seemed old； indeed。 But he knew how he was going to make her feel younger。 In his pocket was a gift of rare beauty； even if you couldn't run railway trains by it。 And pretty things made a child of her。
Baird shook hands with him warmly at parting。 〃It'll be a week yet before we start on the new piece。 Have a good time。 Oh； yes； and drop around some time next week if there's any little thing you want to talk overor maybe you don't understand。〃
He wondered if this were a veiled reference to the piece about to be shown。 Certainly nothing more definite was said about it。 Yet it was a thing that must be of momentous interest to the manager； and the manager must know that it would be thrilling to the actor。
He left with the Montague girl； who had become suddenly grave and quiet。 But outside the Holden lot； with one of those quick transitions he had so often remarked in her； she brightened with a desperate sort of gaiety。
〃I'll tell you what！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Let's go straight down town it'll be six by the time we get thereand have the best dinner money can buy： lobster and chicken and vanilla ice…cream and everything； right in a real restaurantnone of this tray stuffand I'll let you pay for it all by yourself。 You got a right to； after that contract。 And we'll be gay； and all the extra people that's eating in the restaurant'll think we're a couple o' prominent film actors。 How about it？〃 She danced at his side。
〃We'll have soup； too；〃 he amended。 〃One of those thick ones that costs about sixty cents。 Sixty cents just for soup！〃 he repeated； putting a hand to the contract that now stiffened one side of his coat。
〃Well； just this once；〃 she agreed。 〃It might be for the last time。〃
〃Nothing like that；〃 he assured her。 〃More you spend； more you make… …that's my motto。〃
They waited for a city…bound car； sitting again on the bench that was so outspoken。 〃You furnish the girl； we furnish the home；〃 it shouted。 He put his back against several of the bold words and felt of the bracelet…watch in his pocket。
〃It might be the last time for me；〃 insisted the girl。 〃I feel as if I might die most any time。 My health's breaking down under the strain。 I feel kind of a fever coming on right this minute。〃
〃Maybe you shouldn't go out。〃
〃Yes； I should。〃
They boarded the car and reached the real restaurant； a cozy and discreet resort up a flight of carpeted stairs。 Side by side on a seat that ran along the wall they sat at a table for two and the dinner was ordered。 〃Ruin yourself if you want to；〃 said the girl as her host included celery and olives in the menu。 〃