Page:Spider Boy (1928).pdf/275

 away with the show, but the fans don't like actors who play unsympathetic rôles.

Why do they want to kill him? Why don't they build up his reputation?

He's too expensive for the magnates. They'll wait till the fans walk out on him and then renew his contract cheap. It isn't for nothing that Griesheimer used to run a cloak and suit business. Why, I believe he'd pull a fire if it wouldn't take so long to build the place up again.

Is that what Invincible is doing with Imperia Starling? Ambrose found an appropriate opportunity to inquire.

Imperia's expensive at any price. Nobody else out here would have her. She's through.

You don't think Griesheimer. . . ?

Lawrence laughed. Say, he'd take her on as an extra girl. Invincible's stung good and hard. Oh boy, wait till her contract runs out. She'll be lucky to get twenty-five cents a week.

Music!

The vast crowd of well-dressed extras began to spin about the set to the languorous measures of Love's Dream After the Ball. In and out among them threaded Auburn Six in the arms of the Russian General. It was not long before Hallam lifted