e been putting into it, it's old stuff.
He's a darned good director, and all that, but he hasn't got the knack
of building real stories. You see what I mean. If you have, why--"

"I wonder," said Jean with a sudden small doubt of her literary
talents, "if I have!"

"Sure, you have!" Gil's faith in Jean was of the kind that scorns
proof. "You see, you've got the dope on the West, and he knows it.
Why, I've been watching how he takes the cue from you right along for
his features. Ever since you told Lee Milligan how to lay a saddle on
the ground, Burns has been getting tips; and half the time you didn't
even know you were giving them. Get into this game right, Jean. Make
'em pay for that kind of thing."

Jean regarded him thoughtfully, tempted to yield. "Mrs. Gay says a
hundred dollars a week--"

"It's good pay for a beginner. She's right, and she's wrong. They're
featuring you in stuff that nobody else can do. Who would they put in
your place, to do the stunts you've been doing? Muriel Gay was a good
actress, and as good a Western lead as they could produce; and you know
how she stacked up alongside you. You're in a class by yourself, Jean.
You want to keep that in mind. They aren't just trying to be nice to
you; it's hard-boiled business with the Great Western. You're going
awfully strong with the public. Why, my chum writes me that you're
announced ahead on the screen at one of the best theaters on Broadway!
'Coming: Jean Douglas in So-and-so.' Do you know what that means? No,
you don't; of course not. But let me tell you that it means a whole
lot! I wish I'd had a chance to tip you off to a little business
caution before you signed that contract. That salary clause should
have been doctored to make a sliding scale of it. As it is, you're
stuck for a year at a hundred dollars a week, unless you spring
something the contract does not cover. Don't give away any more dope.
You've got an idea there, if Burns will let you work up to it. Make 'em
pay for it."

"O-h-h, Gil!" came the throaty call of Burns; and Gil, with a last,
earnest warning, left her hurriedly.

Jean sat down on a rock and meditated, her chin in her palms, and her
elbows on her knees. Vague shadows; of thoughts clouded her mind and
then slowly clarified into definite ideas. Unconsciously she had been
growing away from her first formulated plans. She was gradually laying
aside the idea of reaching wealth and fame by way of the s