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"You're a smart young fellow, Al, but you're a little premature. This time, however, I'll let you get away with it. Show her to Letcher. Tell him I O. K'd her."

He dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

"Burt, call the next one. No, wait a minute! Hal Deane 'phoned over for a woman to play an Irish mother. Got any Irish mothers out there?"

"Three or four of them might make up like it, sir. But Mrs. Riley's coming in this morning about nine."

"That's good, but we better play safe. I'll look the other women over while we're waiting."

He fixed his attention upon Al and Minnie who were still standing there. "What's the idea, Kessler?" he called out, annoyed. "Pick up your things and get out of here. You're cluttering up the office."

"But you told Miss Flynn to fill out the card," Al protested. "I thought you wanted her to do it now."

"Plenty of time for that," answered Binns. "We'll see how she gets along today. We may not even want her to fill out a card. Can't tell. Clear out of here! Can't you see I'm busy?"

§ 4

Al opened the door marked, "Stage and Dressing Rooms", and Minnie left Binns' office without so much as turning back to cast him one of her luring glances. She realized that all efforts to attract Binns would meet with failure. But there was this comforting thought; he must have found her pretty, or perhaps clever, or he wouldn't have given her a chance. She completely discounted Al's introduction; she had seen too clearly how little stress Binns laid upon Al's recommendation.