so, so-and-so, so-and-so--Miss Hoffmeyer, I have loved you since the
day I first set eyes on you--so-and-so, so-and-so, so-and-so, I have
nothing to offer but the love of an honest man--she's falling for
it, see? So you get up close and grab her--cave-man stuff. Do a good
hard clench--she's yours at last; she just naturally sags right down
on to you. You've got her.

"Do a regular Parmalee. Take your time. You're going to kiss her and
kiss her right. But just as you get down to it the father busts in
and says what's the meaning of this, so you fly apart and the father
says you're discharged, because his daughter is the affianced wife
of this Count Aspirin, see? Then he goes back to the safe and finds
all the money has been taken, because the son has sneaked in and
grabbed out the bundle and hid it in the ice-box on his way out,
taking only a few bills to get down on a horse. So he says call the
police--but that's enough for now. Go ahead and do that love scene
for me."

Slowly the scene was brought to Baird's liking. Slowly, because
Merton Gill at first proved to be diffident at the crisis. For three
rehearsals the muscular arm of Miss Montague had most of the
clenching to do. He believed he was being rough and masterful, but
Baird wished a greater show of violence. They had also to time this
scene with the surreptitious entrance of the brother, his theft of
the money which he stuffed into a paper sack and placed in the ice-
box, and his exit.

The leading man having at last proved that he could be Harold
Parmalee even in this crisis, the scene was extended to the entrance
of the indignant father. He was one of those self-made men of