大陆电影公司的戈尔茨坦经理怒气冲冲地来找莫德，说她违背了竞争原则，为其他公司拍摄了一张名为“英勇救援”的海报。大家愤怒地与粗鲁的戈尔茨坦争论起来。奇怪的是，当戈尔茨坦看到琼斯先生的名片之后，竟然瞬间改变了态度，结结巴巴地向所有人道歉并离开了现场。神秘的琼斯先生究竟是谁呢？
The newcomer proved to be Goldstein，the manager of the Continental.His face was frowning and severe as he rudely marched up to the group and，without the formalitya of a greeting，pointedly addressed the Stanton girls.
"W h a t d o e s i t m e a n ？"h e d e m a n d e d i n e v i d e n texcitement，for his voice shook and the accusing finger he held out trembled."How does it happen that my people，under contract to work for the Continental，are working for other ？rms ？"Maud paled and her eyes glistened with resentment as she rose and faced her manager.Florence pulled her sister's sleeve and said with a forced laugh："Sit down，Maud；the man has probably been drinking."He turned on the young girl fiercely，but now it wasArthur Weldon who seized the manager's arm and whirled him around.
"Sir，you are intruding，"he said sternly."If you havebusiness with these ladies，choose the proper time and place to address them.""I have ！"cried Goldstein，blusteringly."They havetreated me shamefully—unprofessionally ！They have played me a trick，and I've the right to demand why they are working for a rival ？rm while in my pay."Mrs.Montrose now arose and said with quiet dignity：
"Mr.Goldstein，you are intruding，as Mr.Weldon says.
But you have said so much to defamea my nieces in the eyes of our friends，here assembled，that you must explain yourself more fully."The manager seemed astonished by his reception.He looked from one to another and said more mildly：
"It is easy enough for me to explain，but how can the Stantons explain their conduct ？They are under contract to act exclusively for the Continental Film Company and I pay them a liberal salary.Yet only yesterday，when I was kind enough to give them a holiday，they went down to the beach and posed for a picture for our rivals，the Corona Company ！""You are mistaken，sir ！"retorted Arthur."The young ladies were in our company the entire afternoon and they did not pose for any picture whatever.""Don't tell me！"cried Goldstein."I've just seen the picturedown town.I was going by one of the theatres when I noticed a placardb that read：'Sensational Film by Maud Stanton，the Queen of Motion Picture Actresses，entitled "A Gallantc Rescue ！"First run to—night.'I went in and saw the picture—with my own eyes！—and I saw Maud Stanton in a sea scene，rescuing a man who was drowning.Don't deny it，Miss，"he added，turning upon Maud ？ercely."I saw it with my own eyes—not an hour ago！"After a moment's amazed silence his hearers broke into achorus of laughter，led by Flo，who was almost hysterical.Even A.Jones smiled indulgently upon the irate manager，who was now fairly bristling witha indignation.
"The Corona people，"remarked Arthur Weldon，"arequite enterprising.I did not know they had a camera—man at the beach yesterday，but he must have secured a very interesting picture.It was not posed，Mr.Goldstein，but taken from life.""It was Maud Stanton！"asserted，the manager.
"Yes；she and some others.A man was really drowning and the brave girl swam to his rescue，without a thought of posing.""I don't believe it！"cried the man rudely.
Here A.Jones struggled to his feet.
"It is true，"he said."I was the drowning man whom Miss Stanton saved."Goldstein eyed him shrewdly.
"Perhaps you were，"he admitted，"for the man in the picture was about your style of make—up.But how can you prove it was not a put—up jobb with the Corona people ？How do I know you are not all in the employ of the Corona people ？""I give you my word.""Pah ！I don't know you.""I see you don't，"returned the youth stif？y.
"Here is my card.Perhaps you will recognize the name."He fumbleda in his pocket，took out a card and handed it to the manager.Goldstein looked at it，started，turned red and then white and began bobbing his head with absurd deferenceb to the youth.
"Pardon，Mr.Jones—pardon ！"he gasped."I—I heardyou were in our neighborhood，but I—I did not recognize you.I—I hope you will pardon me，Mr.Jones！I was angry at what I supposed was the treacheryc of an employee.You will—will—understand that，I am sure.It is my duty to protect the interests of the Continental，you know，sir.But it's all right now，of course ！Isn't it all right now，Mr.Jones ？""You'd better go，Goldstein，"said the boy in a weary tone，and sat down again.
The manager hesitated.Then he bowed to Maud Stanton and to the others，murmuring：
"All a mistake，you see；all a mistake.I—I beg everybody's pardon."With this he backed away，still bowing，and finallyturned and beat a hasty retreat.But no one was noticing him especially.All eyes were regarding the boy with a new curiosity.
"That Goldstein is an ill—bred boor ！"remarked UncleJohn in an annoyed tone.
"I suppose，"said Maud，slowly，"he thought he was right in demanding an explanation.There is great rivalry between the various ？lm manufacturers and it was rather mean of the Corona to put my name on that placard.""It's wonderful！"exclaimed Patsy."How did they get thepicture，do you suppose ？""They have camera—men everywhere，looking for some picture worth while."explained Mrs.Montrose."If there's a fire，the chances are a camera—man is on the spot before the ？remen arrive.If there's an accident，it is often caught by the camera before the victim realizes what has happened.Perhaps a camera—man has been at the beach for weeks，waiting patiently for some tragedy to occur.Anyway，he was on hand yesterday and quietly ran his ？lm during the excitement of the rescue.He was in rare luck to get Maud，because she is a favorite with the public；but it was not fair to connect her name with the picture，when they know she is employed by the Continental."Young Jones rose from his chair with a gesture of weariness.
"If you will excuse me，"he said，"I will go to my room.