CHAPTER XI
A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS
The day had not started auspiciously for the Stanton sisters. Soon afterthey arrived at the Continental Film Company's plant Maud had wrenchedher ankle by stumbling over some loose planks which had been carelesslyleft on the open-air stage, and she was now lying upon a sofa in themanager's room with her limb bandaged and soaked with liniment.
Flo was having troubles, too. A girl who had been selected by theproducer to fall from an aeroplane in mid-air had sent word she was illand could not work to-day, and the producer had ordered Flo to preparefor the part. Indignantly she sought the manager, to file a protest, andwhile she waited in the anteroom for an audience, Mr. A. Jones of Sangoacame in and greeted her with a bow and a smile.
"Good gracious! Where did _you_ come from?" she inquired.
"My hotel. I've just driven over to see Goldstein," he replied.
"You'll have to wait, I'm afraid," she warned him. "The manager is busyjust now. I've been wiggling on this bench half an hour, and haven't seenhim yet--and my business is very important."
"So is mine, Miss Flo," he rejoined, looking at her with an oddexpression. Then, as a stenographer came hurrying from the inner room, hestopped the girl and said:
"Please take my card to Mr. Goldstein."
"Oh, he won't see anybody now, for he's busy talking with one of ourproducers. You'll have to call again," she said flippantly. But even asshe spoke she glanced at the card, started and turned red. "Oh, pardonme!" she added hastily and fled back to the managerial sanctum.
"That's funny!" muttered Flo, half to herself.
"Yes," he said, laughing, "my cards are charged with electricity, andthey're bound to galvanize anyone in this establishment. Come in, MissFlo," he added, as Goldstein rushed out of his office to greet the boyeffusively; "your business takes precedence to mine, you know."
The manager ushered them into his office, a big room with a busy aspect.At one end were two or three girls industriously thumping typewriters;McNeil, the producer, was sorting manuscript on Goldstein's own desk; ayoung man who served as the manager's private secretary was poring over avoluminous record-book, wherein were listed all the films ever made bythe manufacturers of the world. On a sofa in a far corner reclined theinjured "star" of the company, Maud Stanton, who--being half asleep atthe moment--did not notice the entrance of her sister and young Jones.
"Sit down, Mr. Jones; pray sit down!" exclaimed Goldstein eagerly,pointing to his own chair. "Would you like me to clear the room, so thatour conversation may be private?"
"Not yet," replied the boy, refusing the seat of honor and taking avacant chair. "Miss Stanton has precedence, and I believe she wishes tospeak 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, andyou'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, sothe thing won't be more than twenty or thirty feet from the ground. Nowrun 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 upin the aeroplane, and these stunts are not in my line, or what I wasengaged to do."
"You'll do what I tell you!" asserted the manager, with markedirritation. "I won't stand for any rebellion among my actors, and you'lldo 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. Thereare plenty of other girls to take her place, and she--"
"Silence, Miss Stanton!" roared the manager. "You'll disrupt alldiscipline if you interfere. A nice time we'd have here, if we allowedour actors to choose their own parts! I insist that your sister obey myproducer's orders."
"Quite right, Goldstein," remarked young Jones, in his quiet voice."You've carried your point and maintained discipline. I like that. MissFlo Stanton will do exactly what you request her to do. But you're goingto change your mind and think better of her protest. I'm almost sure,Goldstein, from the expression of your face, that you intend to issueprompt orders that another girl must take her place."
Goldstein looked at him steadily a moment and the arrogant expressionchanged 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 approvehis 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 himselfas he bent over his manuscript. Jones had gone to Maud's side to inquireanxiously 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 newphoto-play is to be produced. I'm to do the leading part, you know, andhe thinks I'll be able by that time to get through all right."
Goldstein overheard this and came toward them, rubbing his hands togethernervously.
"That seems unwise, Miss Maud," objected Jones. "To use your foot sosoon might make it much worse. Let us postpone the play until someother time."
Goldstein's face was a study. His body twitched spasmodically.
"Oh, Mr. Jones!" he exclaimed; "that's impossible; it wouldn't do atall! We've been rehearsing this play and preparing for its production forthe last two weeks, and to-day all our actors and assistants are here andready to make the picture. I've already postponed it four hours--untilthis afternoon--to favor Miss Stanton, but, really--"
"Never mind the details," interrupted the boy. "I do not consider MissStanton able to do her work to-day. Send her back to her hotel at onceand order the play postponed until she is able to attend."
Goldstein was greatly disturbed by this order, issued quietly but in atone of command that brooked no opposition. Again he glanced shrewdly atthe young man, and in the manager's face astonishment and fear wereintermingled.
"Sir," he said in repressed tones, for he was really angry and had beenaccustomed to wield the power of an autocrat in this establishment, "youare placing me in an embarrassing position. I am expected to make everyday count, so that the Continental may pay a liberal profit to itsowners. To follow your instructions would burden us with an enormousexpense, quite useless, I assure you, and--"
"Very well. Incur the expense, Goldstein."
"All right, Mr. Jones. Excuse me a moment while I issue instructions forthe postponement."
McNeil rose and faced the manager.
"Are you really going to postpone this important play?" he demanded, in avoice of wonder.
Goldstein was glad to vent his chagrin on the producer.
"No insolence, sir!" he roared. "Come with me, and," as he dragged McNeilto the door and paused there, "if you dare lisp a word of what you'veoverheard, I'll fire you like a shot!"
When they had left the room Maud said with a puzzled air:
"I can't understand your power over Goldstein, Mr. Jones. He is adictator--almost a tyrant--and in this place his word is law. At least,it was until you came, and--and--"
"Don't try to understand it, Miss Stanton," he answered in a carelessmanner. "Do you think you can manage to crawl to the automobile, or shallwe carry you?"
"I'll bet Goldstein has murdered someone, and Mr. Jones knows all aboutit!" exclaimed Flo, who had been an interested witness of the scene.
Maud stood up, with her sister's support, and tested her lame ankle.
"It still hurts a little," she said, "but I can manage to hobble on it."
 
; "Get your sister's wraps," the boy said to Flo, "and we'll send herstraight home."
"I expect Goldstein will dock my salary, as well as fine Flo," remarkedMaud musingly, as she waited for her hat and coat. "He obeyed you verymeekly, Mr. Jones, but I could see a wicked glitter in his eye,nevertheless."
"I am sure the manager will neither dock nor fine either of you," hereplied reassuringly. "On the contrary, you might sue the company fordamages, for leaving that lumber where you would fall over it."
"Oh, no," she returned, laughing at the idea. "We have signed contractswaiving any damages for injuries sustained while at work on the premises.We all have to do that, you know, because the business is hazardous atits best. On the other hand, Mr. Goldstein has a physician and surgeonalways within call, in case of accident, and the service is quite free toall the employees."
He nodded.
"I know. But the fact that you signed such a contract, under compulsion,would not prevent the court from awarding damages, if you sustained themwhile on duty."
"This hurt is nothing of importance," she said hastily. "In a day or twoI shall be able to walk as well as ever."
Flo came running back with Maud's things. Aunt Jane followed, sayingthat if Maud was to go to the hotel she would accompany her and takecare of her.
"I've examined the ankle," she said to young Jones, "and I assure you itis not a severe strain. But it is true that she will be better off in herown room, where she can rest quietly. So I will go with her."
"How about Miss Flo?" asked the boy.
"Flo is very self-reliant and will get along to-day very nicely withoutme," replied Mrs. Montrose.
Mr. Goldstein entered, frowning and still resenting the interference ofthis Mr. A. Jones of Sangoa. But he ventured no further protest nor didhe speak until Maud, Flo and Aunt Jane had all left the room.
"You're not going, Mr. Jones?" he asked.
"Only to see Miss Stanton started for home. Then I'll come back and havea little talk with you."
"Thank you, sir."