on was forgotten. Bones had a manuscript locked away in the
bottom drawer of his desk, and when he had found the key for this, and
had placed the document upon the table, and when he had found certain
other papers, and when the girl was seated in a much more comfortable
chair--Bones fussed about like an old hen--the proceedings began.

Bones explained.

He had seen the derelict cinema company advertised in a technical
journal, had been impressed with the amount of the impedimenta which
accompanied the proprietorship of the syndicate, had been seized with a
brilliant idea, bought the property, lock, stock, and barrel, for two
thousand pounds, for which sum, as an act of grace, the late
proprietors allowed him to take over the contract of Mr. Lew
Becksteine, that amiable and gifted producer.

It may be remarked, in passing, that this arrangement was immensely
satisfactory to the syndicate, which was so tied and bound to Mr.
Becksteine for the next twelve months that to have cancelled his
contract would have cost them the greater part of the purchase price
which Bones paid.

"This is the story," said Bones impressively. "And, partner Ham,
believe me, I've read many, many stories in my life, but never, never
has one touched me as this has. It's a jolly old tear-bringer, Ham.
Even a hardened, wicked old dev--old bird like you would positively
dissolve. You would really, dear old Ham, so don't deny it. You know
you've got one of the tenderest hearts in the world, you rascal!"

He got up and shook hands with Hamilton, though there was no necessity
for him to move.

"Now, clever old Becksteine thinks that this is going to be a scorcher."

"A winner, a winner," murmured Mr. Becksteine, closing his eyes and
shaking his head. He spoke on this occasion very softly, but he could
raise his voice to thrilling heights. "A sure winner, my dear sir. I
have been in the profession for twenty-seven years, and never in my
life have I read a drama which contains so much heart appeal----"

"You hear?" said Bones in a hoarse whisper.

"--so much genuine comedy----"

Bones nodded.

"--so much that I might say goes straight to the passionate heart of
the great public, as this remarkable, brilliantly planned, admirably
planted, exquisitely balanced little cameo of real life."

"It's to be a two-roller," said Bones.

"Reeler," murmured Mr. Becksteine.

"Reeler or roller, dear old thing; don't let's quarrel over how a
thing