“Of course not. It was a case of mash.”
Frank scowled still more.
“Dunton,” he said, “I hope you are not a masher. I hope you do not make it a practice of trying to mash pretty girls in the places where we play.”
“Oh, of course not; but when——”
“Mashing actors I detest,” declared Frank, plainly. “They have done no end of harm. They have given the profession a bad name. I would like a company who did not make a business of mashing.”
“Oh, I don’t make a business of it!” protested Douglas. “But when a fellow sees a nice little thing like this, he doesn’t feel like letting it go by—especially when it is easy.”
“I am sorry you spoke to the girl. She has an innocent face. Dunton, I wish you would let such girls alone.”
“What? Why, you wouldn’t want the members of your company running around with fly girls in the places where we go, would you?”
“No! I want them to mind their own business. I hope you will understand me, my dear fellow, and will not be offended. I do not wish my people to get a bad name by associating with those who are bad; nor do I wish them to get bad names by misleading those who are weak and foolish. It is likely that little girl has a mother who——”
“No; her mother is dead.”