payment to Madame Papillon, her father had cried too. Tears welled into his faded blue eyes and coursed down his cheeks. He said it was because he couldn't bear to see mama so worried. He didn't want to touch that little nest egg they had saved by years of self-denial, yet how were they going to pay off Minnie's terrible debts? Pete and Elsie had been over twice, Pete continually probing the wound by his tantalizing, "Didn't I tell you so?" Jimmy alone had never reproached her. He thought she'd better go back to the store and see if Jeeps wouldn't speak to the manager about taking her on again. Or else . . . how about making up with Billy MacNally? Better grab him before it was too late, Jimmy warned her, he'd heard that Billy was now keeping company with Madge Connors. That news somewhat startled Minnie; Madge Connors wasn't a pretty girl, but her father was a well-to-do grocer.
On the eighth day, weakened by the fever of fear and uncertainty, Minnie reached the studio at 7:30. She was determined to wait on the street corner for Binns, believing that he alone would help her.
Binns was late that morning. As Minnie stood watching for him Bacon passed in his huge closed car. Minnie smiled and bowed to him after she had scrambled out of the way, but he didn't see her. A second later Letcher jumped off the street car and if he hadn't been looking straight ahead he would have noticed Minnie's quick, eager smile, as she stretched out her hand to signal him. He was hurrying to spring upon the running board of Bacon's car. She ran after them, but a swirl of dust completely veiled her. Then a sense of helplessness came over her, leaving in its wake a physical pain, a gnawing in her stomach, a pounding headache.
Many street cars passed before Binns arrived. He was
