nd generous and
kind,--but he hates anything like deceit,--and almost worse, he hates
the whole moving-picture racket. I don't mean the pictures themselves,
exactly,--but the idea of anybody of his being in them. And, oh,
Ray,--it isn't only myself,--but I took--I took--"

"I know,--you took the kiddy."

"Yes, I did. It didn't seem any harm, at first, and then, one day when I
brought her home,--she was sleepy,--unusually so, I mean, and Nurse
said she had been given soothing sirup,--and--I found out afterward she
had! Mrs. Bixby had given her some, to keep her quiet in the picture,
you know. Of course, I never dreamed of such a thing,--why, Ray, that
little girl is as dear to me,--almost,--as she is to Patty! I wouldn't
harm a hair of her blessed little curly head! And I'd never have allowed
a drop of that sirup, if I'd known it! But I just gave her to Mrs. Bixby
to hold, while I changed my costume,--Mrs. Bixby seems a good woman--"

"Oh, come now, I don't believe it hurt the child."

"You don't know anything about such things. I don't know much, but I
know they must never have a bit of that stuff! Anyway, Ray?--we must go
in now,--don't give my secret away until I give you permission, will
you?"

"No; if you'll promise to think it over and try to believe what I've
told you,--that it's best to tell all."

"All right, I'll promise that, and I may decide to tell. But I want to
wait until after to-morrow, anyway."

CHAPTER XIV

AT THE PICTURE PLAY

By a little adroit manoeuvring Van Reypen managed things so that he and
Azalea did not go to New York in the motor with Patty and Mona, but went
down by themselves in the train.

For Azalea was most anxious that Patty should not know she was going to
the moving pictures, and especially that she was going to see "Star of
the West."

It had already become a popular picture and was drawing crowds. And
though Azalea's part in it was a small one, yet her work was so good
that one or two reviews had mentioned it approvingly.

Azalea had hoped that it would be possible to let Van Reypen continue in
his mistaken impression that the girl on the screen was not herself, but
some one who looked marvellously like her.

But the first sight of herself in the play so thrilled Azalea that she
was unable to repress an exclamation of surprised delight.

"It _is_ you, Azalea!" whispered Phil, realising the truth. "How _did_
you manage it? Oh, you wonderful girl!"

Azalea