The Weber Literary Journal stopped to chat. Sometimes these selfish fellows would collect in groups and block the traffic. Therefore the crowds would often have to move to the side aisles, where they were looked after by the other two girls. Sadie and Mamie were kept too busy to catch more than occasional glimpses of Inez's admiring collection and until recently Sadie had paid no attention whatever to the center-aisle group. Sadie, like most girls of sixteen, was stage-struck. In fact, that was why she had wanted to work at the theatre. Ushers had such fine chances of learning all the tricks of acting. And then perhaps she had hardly dared to dream it perhaps some actor in a road-show would notice her charm and invite her to join the troup. Mamie Williams had told her that she had such Mary Pickfordish hair and eyes. True, Inez had said there was all the difference in the world, that in fact she resembled more Charlie Chaplin. Sadie chose to believe Mamie. With New York and Chicago footlights glaring in her eyes it was no wonder that Sadie had cared little for Inez's admiring swains. However, the last month things had been a little different. Each new arrival at Inez's shrine was swiftly noted until a certain well-dressed young man appeared at the head of her own aisle. From then on her entire attention was given to the business of the moment. Even Bert Loring, himself, good-looking and college-bred, could win from her only two smiles, one as she took his ticket and another as he chose an end seat. Perhaps the tilt of Sadies' chin was a bit more coquettish and her eyes a bit brighter, but the glare of Broadway was still in her soul and the body of the Threadville theatre was all dark. At last the much heralded "Lake" Players arrived with all the pomp the two taxis could supply. Sadie and Mamie were, of course, just naturally strolling by the hotel when the Fords stopped. From the first taxi stepped Laura Lake, queen of the billboards and idol of all the young girls. From a distance she was beautiful very beautiful almost Mary Pickford herself. Mamie clutched Sadie's arm. "Why, Sadie!" she exclaimed. "You're a dead ringer for her. Honest, you could substitute in a pinch, easily." 26 The Weber Literary Journal "Sh-h-h," was all Sadie was able to answer, for her reflection in Felix's furniture store window convinced her of the near likeness. The girls watched the troup enter Lige Billing's Hotel. Most assuredly, Threadville had a hotel. Had had one for forty years. The same one. It's stout possessor and propietor, Lige Billings, declared it to be as sturdy now as the day it opened its doors to an awe-stricken public on the occasion of a mighty celebration. That the north-east wind had caused it to lean slightly to the south-west, and that it's original and only coat of paint had slightly faded from its first bright green to a dead, weather-beaten brown, indented and scarred with the initials and trade-marks of two generations, was nothing to its discredit. Now, as two score years ago, Lige's Hotel was a favorite gathering place of Threadville's leisure-loving males, who, keeping tradition alive, continued carving their initials along with those of their ancestors. Among the by-standers and the by-sitters at the Hotel entrance stood a stranger to Threadville, apparently interested in the passing star. It wasn't very often strangers came to Threadville unless they were visiting relatives or something. His rusty, unshaven and dirty appearance bespoke plainly that "he didn't belong to the show." As the star drew closer, the stranger began to smile at her. A perfectly idiotic grin, it was. Possibly for the purpose of drawing attention. If so, he well succeeded. At first glance at him, the star stopped abruptly. Then, turning her head, she bolted in the door and out of sight. The stranger glared after her. He then turned and brushed past Sadie with a sneering remark. "Some class to the ol' dame, now. I wonder whose dough she's spreading it on with, now. I just wonder." Sadie sized him up as a braggart. She could see he had been drinking. "Didn't know I knew her, did you, girlie?" Sadie, embarrassed to the extreme, urged Mamie to walk faster. As the two girls turned Jenson's corner another group 27