"You won't say anything mean about us, will you?" Mrs. Knight
implored. "In this business a girl's reputation is all she has."

"I promise." Pope held out his hand to Lorelei, and as she took it
her lips parted in her ever-ready smile. "Nice girl, that," the
critic remarked, as he and Slosson descended the stairs.

"Which one--Lorelei, Lilas, or the female gorilla?"

"How did she come to choose THAT for a mother?" muttered Pope.

"One of Nature's inscrutable mysteries. But wait. Have you seen
brother Jim?"

"No. Who's he?"

"His mother's son. Need we say more? He's a great help to the
family, for he keeps 'em from getting too proud over Lorelei. He
sells introductions to his sister."

Campbell Pope's exclamation was lost in a babble of voices as a
bevy of "Swimming Girls" descended from the enchanted regions
above and scurried out upon the stage. Through the double curtain
the orchestra could be faintly heard; a voice was crying,
"Places."

"Some Soul Kissers with this troupe, eh?" remarked Slosson, when
the scampering figures had disappeared.

"Yes. Bergman has made a fortune out of this kind of show. He's a