“Well, it’s all in your mind,” expounded Denver. “Some people are afraid to crack an egg but I’m game to try anything once.”
“So am I!” she defended looking him boldly in the eye but he shook his head and smiled.
“Nope,” he said, “you don’t believe in kisses. But I was willing to take a chance on getting killed.”
“No,” she said, “a kiss means more than that. It means–well, it means that you love someone.”
“It means what you want it to mean,” he corrected. “Don’t you have to kiss the tenor in these operas?”
“Well that’s different,” she responded blushing. “That’s why I’m afraid I’ll never succeed! Of course we’re taught to do stage kisses, but somehow I can’t bring myself to it. But oh, I do so love to sing! I like it all, except just that part of it–and the singers are not all nice men. Some of them 178just make a business of flattering pretty girls and offering to get them a hearing. That’s why some girls succeed and get such big parts–they have an understanding with someone that can use his influence with the directors. They don’t take the best singers and actors at all, it’s all done by intrigue and money. Oh, I wish some real nice man would start a new company and invite me to take a part. I’ve heard one was being organized–a traveling company that will sing in all the big cities–and I’ve written to my music teacher about it. But if I don’t get some position my money will all be gone in no time and then–well, what will I do?”
She looked at him bravely and he saw in her eyes the calmness that goes with desperation.
“You write to me,” he said, “and I’ll send you the last dollar I’ve got.”
“No, I didn’t mean that,” she replied, “I can earn my living at something. But father and mother have spent all their money in training me to be a great singer and I just can’t bear to disappoint them. It’s cost ten thousand dollars to bring me where I am, and this five hundred dollars is nothing. Why the great vocal teachers, who can use their influence to get their pupils a hearing, charge ten dollars for a half-hour lesson; and if I don’t go to them then every door is closed–unless I’m willing to pay the price.”
“Well, I take it all back then,” spoke up Denver at last, “there are different kinds of bravery. But you go on back there and do your best and maybe 179we can make a raise. I’ll just take my gun and go up to your father’s claims and jump out that bunch of bad-men─”