a broad, kindly smile and he babbled pleasantly to everyone whom he interviewed. He told Minnie she was a dear, pretty little girl but he regretted he couldn't use her at once. He smiled benignly. If she came there on Friday morning, however, he would find a place for her—as extra girl on the set with Mary Pickford.
There were tears in Minnie's eyes when she walked out of his office; the relief was almost as much pain as the doubt and worry. Friday she was to work! Four dollars. Reeves had promised her and she was to bring a dress to wear at an afternoon tea.
On the way home Minnie tried to decide which gown to wear, the spangled one with the train she had bought from Eleanor, or the afternoon frock from Madame Papillon's. She decided to take both of them. It wouldn't hurt to let the gang at the Biograph see how well she was outfitted.
That evening, Minnie received a curt note from Eleanor which read:
"I've got to have ten dollars at once to buy a new pair of shoes for the picture I'm in. Thanks for the five dollars. You only owe me seventeen-fifty now.
Minnie took it to her father. She was afraid to face the others.
"Pa, dear," she pleaded, sitting on his lap and drawing his head toward hers, "it means everything to me. You remember what Al Kessler said, 'If you ain't a good gambler you'd better not go into the game.' We know what it means now, don't we, papa?"
