Page:Minnie Flynn (1925).pdf/96

 Minnie was the only one who laughed. The others, that is the pretty ones, had heard this before. They knew exactly what would follow. Minnie would not get a number which would herd her in with one of the groups, but she would be set aside with the favored few for Bacon to choose from. So they exchanged glances when Letcher said:

"Don't want to separate you two girls, so, Miss Flynn, you go over and sit on the bench with Eleanor. Bacon will look you over later."

Minnie smiled with a fresh assurance and when she walked, following Eleanor, she tilted her head and drooped her eyelashes. Under their lowered veil she could see the other girls staring after her in jealousy mingled with admiration.

To think that she, Minnie Flynn, late of the Odds and Ends, was in the movies!

When Bacon came on the set Letcher blew his shrill whistle again. Silence clapped down upon the stage. All the people stood there rigid, tense, their eyes on Letcher as he raised the huge megaphone.

"Places," he bawled. "Ones—to the stairway."

Instantly there was a stir in the crowd and those given the number one scurried to the stairway.

"Twos—take your places on the floor." The twos moved swiftly to the positions given them.

"Where do we come in?" whispered Minnie, her heart pounding.

"Wait till the numbers are given out. He'll tell us where to go."

"Threes—beat it to the lobby."