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 holding her hands in front of her breasts, which were only half hidden by the low-cut chemise.

"Aw, come now, kiddie." There was a ring of sincerity in Letcher's voice. "The girls will all tell you that I didn't mean anything by it. It's just my way. I'm kind of rough, but that's as far as it goes."

He handed back her dress and turned away so she would no longer be embarrassed. Minnie picked up the towel and started to wipe off the make-up. Try as hard as she could to control them, the tears rolled down her cheeks. The girl who had been sitting next to her leaned over and whispered: "I guess you don't know much about studio life or you wouldn't be so upset by a little thing like that. Come on now, don't be unhappy. You're a pretty kid and you don't want to take this first disappointment too hard. If you don't mind, I'd like to help you with your make-up."

Minnie buried her head in her arms. When she looked up again the tears were gone; her jaw was set. In her face the girl next to her read a keen determination to see it through.

A few moments later, Letcher returned. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Minnie's neighbor had loaned her a protective kimono. "You don't happen to be Mineola Flynn?" he asked, his manner so changed that Minnie felt as if she were in the presence of another person.

Minnie nodded.

"Kessler just told me about you," he said. "Binns thought we might be able to use you today."

Minnie looked up.

"Surest thing you know. You're just the girl we're looking for," said Letcher. "Get your little duds on, and come down to the stage; set number fourteen."