eive the glorious outlines of the
destiny toward which she rode. However, as the cab turned into Lafayette
Place and rolled northward, her curiosity about the unknown became
conscious and articulate.

"Where am I going?" she asked.

"First of all to a nice, quiet hotel." It was Barney who answered;
somehow Barney had naturally moved into the position of leader, and as
naturally her father had receded to second place. "We've got everything
fixed, Maggie. Rooms reserved, and a companion waiting there for you."

"A companion!" exclaimed Maggie. "What for?"

"To teach you the fine points of manners, and to help you buy clothes.
She's a classy bird all right. I advertised and picked her out of a
dozen who applied."

"Barney!" breathed Maggie. She was silent a dazed moment, then asked:
"Just--just what am I going to do?"

"Listen, Maggie: I'll spill you the whole idea. I'd have told you
before, but it's developed rather sudden, and I've not had a real
chance, and, besides, I knew you'd be all for it. Jimmie and I have
canned that stock-selling scheme for good--unless an easy chance for it
develops later. Our big idea now is to put YOU across!" Barney believed
that there might still remain in Maggie some lurking admiration
for Larry, some influence of Larry over her, and to eradicate these
completely by the brilliance of what he offered was the chief purpose of
his further quick-spoken words. "To put you across in the biggest kind
of a way, Maggie! A beautiful, clever woman who knows how to use her
brains, and who has brainy handling, can bring in more money, and in a
safer way, than any dozen men! And I tell you, Maggie, I'll make you a
star!"

"Barney!... But you haven't told me just what I'm to do."

"The first thing will be just a try-out; it'll help finish your
education. I've got it doped out, but I'll not tell you till later. The
main idea is not to use you in just one game, Maggie, but to finish you
off so you'll fit into dozens of games--be good year after year. A big
actress who can step right into any big part that comes her way. That's
what pays! I tell you, Maggie, there's no other such good, steady
proposition on earth as the right kind of woman. And that's what you're
going to be!"

Maggie had heard much this same talk often before. Then it had been
vague, and had dealt with an indefinite future. Now she was too dazzled
by this picture of near events which the eager Barney was drawing to be
able to m