Jack caught it deftly and held it in his hand.
“Out on first,” he said, with a grin. “Now, when you want it back you’ll have to kiss me.”
“Oh, I don’t mind doing that a little bit,” cried the girl, unhesitatingly, and in a second she had both arms over the property man’s shoulders.
“You’re a daisy, Jack, and I’m awfully mashed on you,” she said, candidly; “but you haven’t got enough wealth, so, you see, I must stick to the Johnnies.”
“Oh, I don’t want you,” was the fellow’s equally honest answer. “I’m stuck on the new beauty, the charming Ila. I wonder if she would give me a kiss if I asked her.”
Marion was standing right in front of him as he made the remark, and in an instant all of the chorus girls came out to see how she took it.
“No use to play the prude,” thought Marion, with a shudder. “These people see no harm in kissing, so I must try and get out of it nicely.”
“No, Mr. Green,” she said, with a half smile, “I would not dream of kissing you before all these young ladies! Why, they would scratch my eyes out, and I am sure I would deserve it.”
“That’s not so bad for a ‘greeny,’” said Jennie. She had got her slipper back now, and was adjusting it carefully.
“Make less noise up there, girls!” called out the stage manager from the stairs.