The suggestion of there being any work attached to the counting of one or two voters caused a ripple of merriment from the small group.

"How many favor t.i.tle one, 'Life's Th.o.r.n.y Road'?"

Mr. and Mrs. Ashby stood up. Not even Ruth favored her own work but her doting parents did. This caused a general laugh at their expense and so they seated themselves, again.

"Who favors the second, 'The Great Secret'?" asked the amateur manager.

Nolla had faith in herself, and so had Polly. But two votes could not carry the day, and they sat down again.

"Well, how about 'His Easy Conquest'? Who wants that?"

No one stood up at this t.i.tle, and every one laughed at the Countess; she laughed more merrily than the others.

"Next comes, 'Her Friend's Husband'-by Dodo Alexander."

Dodo's father and Polly voted for this t.i.tle, but they were over-ruled by the others.

"'Greatest Thing on Earth,' by Miss Fabian-how about that?"

No one stirred at that invitation to vote, and the Count laughingly remarked, "Your talent is not appreciated, Miss Fabian.

"This is the last one, friends, and we have not yet had a majority of voters decide upon one of the others so you must be waiting for this one! Now, who wants 'Just a n.o.body'?"

At this, everyone but Polly stood up, and without further ado the manager acclaimed Polly's t.i.tle as the prize-winner.

"All right, then; the photo-drama about to be played will be called 'Just a n.o.body,' t.i.tle by Miss Polly Brewster; directed by Professor Fabian; a.s.sisted by Mr. Alexander; Camera-man, Chalmys, etc., etc."

The very select audience laughed at the Count's mimicry of all the first-snaps of a feature play, in which every one is mentioned, even the pet cat or canary which stood near when the reels were run off.

"Now for the gist of this whole thing-the story. I will open the picture by reading from Polly Brewster's chapter.

"'Janet Schuyler was a regulation young debutante in New York's social circle-sn.o.bbish, arrogant, vain. Young admirer worth millions, not in love with her, but nearing that fatal crisis. Janet's mother, usual social aspirant for daughter,-father reverse of such qualities. Scene in large department store, Janet accuses meek young saleswoman of taking her purse which had been placed on counter a moment before. Girl, frightened, denies the charge. Mrs. Schuyler creates scene-buyer of the department hurries to scene to defend girl. Mrs. S- demands floor-walker to take girl to dressing room and search her for purse.

Being prominent charge-customer, Mrs S- has her way, and weeping Esther is forced to small sideroom to be ignominiously disrobed and carefully searched.

"'At counter young vamp who stood near Janet Schuyler, leaves hurriedly and is about to make for the door when a bright-looking young woman placed detaining hand upon her arm. Vamp is persuaded to step to a corner of the store and answer questions, because she mistook woman for private store detective. Young woman, who is a reporter, takes notes of moment, then says peremptorily: 'Hand over that purse or you'll get more than you want!' Vamp registers personal affront! Acts indignant.

Reporter laughs, insists upon having purse. Vamp angry, threatens the law if she is detained. Reporter now ill at ease and lets vamp go.

Hurries back to counter where Esther arrives, followed by gesticulating accuser and her daughter. Floor-walker promises to search further but insists that accused girl was innocent of the theft.

"'Mrs. S- and daughter turn to leave store when reporter accosts them and hands them her card. Says she will write up this negligence of the authorities in a high-cla.s.s shop. Mrs. S- decides to punish the firm for their carelessness and tells the reporter what she believes to be the truth-purse was stolen by girl.

"'Miss Johnson, the young reporter, knows better than this, but a.s.sents with lady. She determines to have a talk with Esther and find out whether, or no, she saw the beaded purse claimed to have been stolen.

"'Esther tells how Miss S- fumbled over many boxes of lace and then said to her mother: 'Wait here-I'll go across to the opposite counter and look at that net before I decide.' Then the society girl turned her back and stooped over the display of net and beaded tr.i.m.m.i.n.g. No clerk was near to wait on her, and the girl at the lace-counter was called upon to serve another customer, and that kept her from watching Janet Schuyler.'"

This ended Polly's allotment of words in the scenario, and then the Count announced, "I will proceed to read Dodo's story because it fits in here better than elsewhere in the script.

"'Pretty little shop-girl, while waiting for customer, has visions of comfortable home back on the farm. (Show scene of girl in rural life, walking home from district school-house with handsome lad of fourteen-evidently admirer.) Esther sighs, as she remembers the day Reggie's father moved from the village to go to Texas to raise cattle.

She had never heard again from Reggie, and believes he has forgotten her entirely.

"'Then comes Mrs. Schuyler and her daughter to look at laces. Esther overhears society girl plan dress for conquest of young man, then hears mother mention name of Deane-and tells daughter she must capture such a prize as the heir to his father's millions in oil-lands of the South-west. Esther, excited, is about to ask the two haughty ladies for Reginald Deane's city address, when the floor-walker frowns upon her and thus ends her attempt to secure the desired information.

"'A young lady, waiting for her turn, watches the two rich customers and when they have gone she speaks to the shop-girl. 'Who are they?' Esther explains by showing name of charge account and address. 'Well, I have my own opinion of them. I think they are n.o.bodies, if you ask me. I've seen so many climbers that I can spot them at once.'

"'This opens a pleasant chat between the girl and the young journalist, Esther speaking of Reginald Deane, and Miss Johnson giving Esther her card and asking her to come in some evening when she has nothing better to do. Esther promises and watches while Miss Johnson leaves.

"'That evening, in her meagre little room, Esther takes up the card again, and dreams of an evening in the near future when she shall meet the pleasant young woman, again.

"'Few days later-Esther receives invitation to small party at Miss Johnson's bachelor apartment, and is duly elated over the event. Dresses in her best frock, which is simple voile, home-made, and starts out.

Miss Johnson has two other young women and four young men present, when Esther arrives and is introduced. One of the men gazes intently at her, during the evening, then whispers to his hostess, 'That girl reminds me of someone I know or have seen, and I can't place her.' Miss Johnson gives him Esther's history, and he exclaims 'That's it! She's the school-girl my friend talks about-he has a picture of her taken years ago when he lived in the country.'

"'Miss Johnson calls to Esther and tells her the news and the girl is thrilled at hearing where she can find Reginald, and then the young man promises to bring him soon, to see Esther. Esther walks home with William Stratford that night, talking of nothing but Reggie and their schooldays. But she is not aware of Reggie's inheritance of millions of dollars' worth of oil-wells.'

"The third installment by Ruth Ashby, works in here, all right, so I will read it," announced the Count, and continued his reading.

"'Miss Schuyler was giving a ball. Her new evening costume had not yet arrived from the exclusive importers on Fifth Avenue and she was storming around the house, driving everyone insane with her complaints against the Frenchman.

"'The doorbell rang, Miss S- waited in the front hall to see if it might be a messenger with the gown. When she spied a meek little face peering over the great box, she called insolently, 'Bring her right in here, James. I want to give her a piece of my mind for dallying this way!'

"'Frightened little Esther tip-toed across the rich rug and waited to be told to open the box and remove the gorgeous gown. She obeyed with trembling fingers, kneeling upon the floor in order to undo the knot of twine. As she did so, a young man entered the front door and was told that Miss Janet was in the small reception room. He started for that room without waiting to be announced.

"'The moment Janet saw the much desired young heir of millions, standing in the doorway, she hastily commanded the girl to stop removing the gown, for she did not wish to have her caller see the dress before the proper time that evening.

"'Janet Schuyler went forward to speak to the young man and Esther sat back to rest and see who had interrupted the scene between herself and the society girl. She was astounded to find that the young man was no other than her old school-mate, Reginald Deane, whom she had not heard of since they were children at school.

"'The moment Reginald recognized Esther, he ran forward and showed how delighted he was to meet her once more. He paid no heed to her shabby dress or meek behavior, but turned to introduce her to his young hostess. When he saw the expression of scorn and hauteur on Janet's face he realized that she was not the sort of a girl he cared to have for a wife, so he helped Esther to her feet and said politely to Janet, 'I will bid you good-afternoon, as I now have to escort my dear old friend to her home.'

"'Then the two went out leaving the haughty miss in a fury.'"

As the Count ended Ruth's chapter, there were smiles on the faces of the audience, for it sounded exactly like Ruth-a genuine Cinderella Chapter.

"Now I will read the next installment, written by Miss Fabian. I shall have to edit more of this chapter in order to hinge it on to the preceding one," explained the Count.

"'Lois Miller was not a vamp by choice but by force of circ.u.mstances.

She was so pretty that she had found it difficult to secure a position as saleslady in a store, for the reason that the other girls generally got jealous of the attention paid her. When she was offered a minor part in a Chorus on the stage, she accepted, although the salary was no more than enough to pay her room rent and scanty meals. For clothes to keep up appearances she had to rely on her wit and ability to make over things.

"'By chance, she happened to be in the large store just when Janet Schuyler and her mother were shopping there. Then she overheard Mrs.

Schuyler command the little saleslady, Esther Brown, to send the lace for her daughter's evening gown with special messenger. The address was given, and the two society ladies left the shop. Lois really had nothing to buy but she was killing time in the shops, hoping to gain some information that might give her a chance to earn some extra money.

"'She pondered over the name and address of the obviously rich ladies, then decided to try for a position, as companion, because the wretched life of an underpaid chorus girl was palling on her. As she turned to leave the shop, she found a bright-eyed young woman watching her.

Instantly she thought of the private detective, but she was innocent of crime and she gave back the look with interest added.

"'As she went out she realized she was being followed, so she turned and said: Well, what do you want?'

"'"Aren't you Lois Miller? Used to be stenographer at the office of _The Earth_?" asked the woman.

"'"Sure thing! But that was ages ago," retorted Lois.

"'"I knew you there. I was just breaking in. What are you doing, now, Lois? I've got something to unravel."