“Sit down, Mr. Jones; pray sit down!” exclaimed Goldstein eagerly, pointing to his own chair.  “Would you like me to clear the room, so that our conversation may be private?”

“Not yet,” replied the boy, refusing the seat of honor and taking a vacant chair.  “Miss Stanton has precedence, and I believe she wishes to speak with you.”

Goldstein took his seat at the desk and cast an inquiring glance at Flo.

“Well?” he demanded, impatiently.

“Mr. Werner has ordered me to do the airship stunt for his picture, because Nance Holden isn’t here to-day,” began the girl.

“Well, why annoy me with such trifles?  Werner knows what he wants, and you’ll do as well as the Holden girl.”

“But I don’t want to tumble out of that airship,” she protested.

“There’s no danger.  Life nets will be spread underneath the aeroplane,” said the manager.  “The camera merely catches you as you are falling, so the thing won’t be more than twenty or thirty feet from the ground.  Now run away and don’t bother.  I must speak with Mr. Jones.”

“But I’m afraid, Mr. Goldstein!” pleaded the girl.  “I don’t want to go up in the aeroplane, and these stunts are not in my line, or what I was engaged to do.”

“You’ll do what I tell you!” asserted the manager, with marked irritation.  “I won’t stand for any rebellion among my actors, and you’ll do as Werner orders or you’ll forfeit your week’s pay.”

Here Maud half rose from her sofa to address her employer.

“Please, Mr. Goldstein,” she said, “don’t make Flo do that fall.  There are plenty of other girls to take her place, and she—­”

“Silence, Miss Stanton!” roared the manager.  “You’ll disrupt all discipline if you interfere.  A nice time we’d have here, if we allowed our actors to choose their own parts!  I insist that your sister obey my producer’s orders.”

“Quite right, Goldstein,” remarked young Jones, in his quiet voice.  “You’ve carried your point and maintained discipline.  I like that.  Miss Flo Stanton will do exactly what you request her to do.  But you’re going to change your mind and think better of her protest.  I’m almost sure, Goldstein, from the expression of your face, that you intend to issue prompt orders that another girl must take her place.”

Goldstein looked at him steadily a moment and the arrogant expression changed to one of meek subservience.

“To be sure!” he muttered.  “You have read my mind accurately, Mr. Jones.  Here, Judd,” to his secretary, “find Werner and tell him I don’t approve his choice of Flo Stanton as a substitute for Nance Holden.  Let’s see; tell him to put that Moore girl in her place.”

The young fellow bowed and left the room.  McNeil smiled slyly to himself as he bent over his manuscript.  Jones had gone to Maud’s side to inquire anxiously after her injury.

“I don’t imagine it will amount to much,” she said reassuringly.  “Mr. Goldstein wants me to rest quietly until this afternoon, when our new photo-play is to be produced.  I’m to do the leading part, you know, and he thinks I’ll be able by that time to get through all right.”