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 chief here couldn't be annoyed with her. She's just made an awful fool of herself."

"I know, I saw it."

But neither Deane's eyes nor ears were for Letcher. He was intently watching Minnie. Then he electrified them by a prophecy they were never to forget.

"Mark my word, Bacon," he said to them, "that girl is going to rise to the top one of these days. She's got that something which makes for success. If I had time I'd work with the youngster. Yes, she's got the stuff in her. Look at her now. See how her eyes light up, how her mouth trembles under the pressure of any excitement. She's little and lithe. She could be taught to handle herself very well. If I weren't doing cut and dried feature stuff now, just grinding them out for so much per picture, I'd pick up a bet like that and try to make something out of her."

"I tell you it can't be done!" stormed Bacon again. "The girl's an idiot."

Bacon was antagonized by Deane's enthusiasm, his acceptance of a type which he had rejected, so he took it out on Letcher. "The next time you bring anyone like that to me and allow her to take up my time," he said in an even tone more ugly than his normal explosiveness, "I'm going to fire you, do you understand?"

"But I wanted to give you a laugh," whined Letcher. "I did, didn't I?"

Bacon turned livid with rage.

"Are you trying to argue with me?" he roared.

"No, chief."

"Then keep your mouth shut."

"Yes, sir."

The result of this call-down was that Letcher gave Minnie such a surly look as he passed her by that fear again laid