“Now let me explain. I’ve got myself hooked up to an absurd bet, and I’m wantin’ you to help me out. It’s like this. One of the guys back in Hollywood was saying that every girl in the States wanted to be an actress. I told him he was crazy. So we got into an argument and one thing led to another until somehow or other I betted him that I could stop the first girl I met and could bring her back to Hollywood, and she wouldn’t want to be an actress. Do you follow me?”
Marie Leroy nodded, her blue eyes puzzled.
“Well, sister, believe it or not, every girl I’ve asked so far wants to be an actress. Well, I’ve quit tryin’. I’ve gotta go back on Friday an’ I’ll have to say I was licked. Well, it sticks, sister. I don’t like admittin’ I’m licked.
So I’m thinkin’ I’ll cheat a little. I heard from a guy that you want to go out there and you want to be a dancer.
Okay, I’ll take you there if you want to go, if you’ll first of all come to see my boy friend and tell him you want to dance and not act. And if you do this I’ll see you get in one of the dancin’ troupes down there.”
She said, “You wouldn’t be kiddin’, because if you are you’re playin’ an awful mean game.”
Raven shook his head. “I’m not kiddin’. Why so serious, sister? Are things goin’ badly for you?”
She nodded. “I guess they are,” she said, looking out of the window at the crowded street beyond. “I’m broke flat and nowhere to go.”
“Looks like your lucky day,” Raven said, feeling the blood surging through his veins. “Is it a bet?”
“It’s business, isn’t it?” she said.