She was got up to the best of her ability as a siren, more popularly a “vamp”⁠—a picker up and thrower away of men, an unscrupulous and fundamentally unmoved toyer with affections.

On the appointed Wednesday in February Anthony had gone to the imposing offices of Wilson, Hiemer and Hardy and listened to many vague instructions delivered by an energetic young man of about his own age, named Kahler, who wore a defiant yellow pompadour, and in announcing himself as an assistant secretary gave the impression that it was a tribute to exceptional ability.

The moving picture industry had borne him up with it where it threw off dozens of men with more financial ability, more imagination, and more practical ideas⁠ ⁠… and now he sat here and contemplated the immortal Gloria for whom young Stuart Holcome had gone from New York to Pasadena⁠—watched her, and knew that presently she would cease dancing and come back to sit on his left hand.