"Jane, be an angel and go round the neighbourhood and try to find the Chatfields. I can't go round in this rig." She hurried off. Half an hour later she came back, breathless and flushed, to find Jerry nearly beside himself with nervous excitement, and Bobs white as death. "They aren't anywhere. They must have gone uptown to dine," she reported. "Jane could do it," said Bobs. Jerry looked at Jane, flushed, eyes shining. He had never seen her before. "By the Living Light! Jane Judd, will you do it?" "Do what?" "Be Salome in my show." "Certainly not." "But you've got to! Listen! Put on the costume, and do as I tell you. We'll cut the dance, so you won't have a thing to do but walk down a flight of stairs." "Jane, you've got to do it," cried Bobs. "Somebody has got to help Jerry out, and you're the only one left." "But I couldn't do it. I never was in a show. I would mix it all up." "No, you wouldn't. The whole success of this scene is up to you, Miss Judd. Won't you _please_ do it? We ought to be there in thirty minutes." "Where's the costume?" "Here. It came while you were gone." Bobs sat up and began taking it out of the box. "I can't do it, Mr. Paxton," Jane repeated. He sank down on a chair, despair writ large. Bobs swung her feet round to the floor, and rose, but dizziness flung her back on the couch with a groan. "All right," said Jane, "give it to me." She picked up the costume and went into the bedroom. "Get me in there, Jerry; I want to boss this," said Bobs. He carried her into the bedroom, and left them. "Take off your clothes, Jane, and let down your hair," ordered Bobs. Jane, once having made up her mind, hesitated at nothing. She undressed quickly, and let down her mane. "Lord, what hair!" cried Bobs. "Part it in the middle; make it into two braids and weave these jewels into it." After that they worked together in silence, except for Bobs's brief commands. She put Jane's make-up on, as the girl knelt before her. The costume was very beautiful, very daring. "Have I got to show my skin there?" Jane asked. "Yes. Your skin is good; why not?" Jane frowned, but went on, getting the costume adjusted. When it was complete, headdress and all, Bobs sighed. "You're all right," she said. "Come look at her, Jerry." He appeared at the door and stared. "Jane Judd!" he exclaimed. "Why, Bobs, she's great, she's wonderful!" Bobs nodded. "Come on," said Jane. "Turn around," he ordered. "Do you know about Salome, Jane?" "'I am Salome, daughter of Herodias, Princess of Judea! Speak again, Jokanaan, thy voice is music to mine ear.'" "What's this?" "'Tetrarch, I would that they presently bring me, on a silver charger, the head of Jokanaan,'" Jane cried softly. Jerry look embarrassed. "Oh, my word," laughed Bobs. "Cinderella quoting Oscar Wilde to her fairy godfather!" CHAPTER V