Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1916)

The Golden Chance 85 not my sewing woman. Your name is — er — Denby, I think you said." "Yes. Mary Denby." "Now, listen ! As Miss Mary Denby I am going to have you meet Mr. Roger Manning, a young man who has more money than a young man ought to have. You will wear this gown and be as nice to Mr. Manning as you possibly can be." "That won't be very difficult in a gown like this," said Mary, smiling. "Mr. Manning is the son of an old friend of my husband's, and a very estimable young man, I believe. I may as well confess to you that it is all important that he should be kept in good humor. My husband has been offered a big contract, but it will take more capital than he can put his hands on to take it up — several hundred thousand, I understand ; and he is hoping to be able to persuade Mr. Manning to go in with him. We have invited him to dine with us, and after dinner my husband and he will talk business. As a bait to him, I promised to introduce him to the prettiest girl in the city. I had Alice Martin in mind, but Alice has taken sick, and I cannot find anybody to fill her place. You see my difficulty, don't you? Now the question is, will you come to my rescue?" "Oh, indeed, I will," said Mary. "I'd love to." Mrs. Hillary sighed her relief. "That's settled, then. You can dress in my room. Cecile, the maid, will assist you. Try to keep Mr. Manning interested in outside topics. Tell him any story you like about yourself. You have only recently come to New York and have been introduced by a mutual friend — Miss Martin, let us say. You know little about me, and we have few mutual acquaintances. This will spare any embarrassing breaks. I see your eyes shining with the adventure. Child, you are very, very beautiful." CHAPTER II. TO WIN A HALF MILLION. Half an hour before the arrival of Mr. Hillary with his distinguished guest, Mary was arrayed in the wonderful gown ; her hair was dressed high on her head, and just the merest touch of rouge on her cheeks gave them color, and made her look radiant when Mrs. Hillary, inspected her through her lorgnette. "I am proud of you," she said honestly. "The only thing you lack is something to relieve the dead whiteness of your throat." She hastened away, and reappeared with a necklace of pearls. She fastened the pearl rope around the girl's throat, then gazing at her for a moment, suddenly bent forward and impulsively kissed her. Soon afterward Mr. Manning was being introduced — a tall, solidly built young fellow, with fine eyes and a chin that indicated strength of mind. Mary was a little shy at first, but she found the young millionaire a man without any affectation, and they soon became the best of friends. Very deftly she put him off when he inquired about her parents, and playfully told him that some girls liked to ring themselves about with mystery, and she was a girl of mystery. "I quite believe it," he said seriously. "I have never met a girl more charming, more winsome, and yet I feel that there is something about you that is a real mystery." All this was said at the dinner table, while Mrs. Hillary was plying Mr. Manning with dishes and endeavoring to interest him in gossip about her "set." Presently her more observing spouse drew her attention surreptitiously to the fact that the girl was interesting their guest more than the chatter about other people. She had contrived in the few mo