merton of the movies-第43节

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He　regarded　her　earnestly。　〃Oh；　I　would　have　come　back；　all　right；　I'd　never　forget　that　twenty…five　dollars　I　owe　you；　and　you'll　get　it　all　back；　only　it　may　take　a　little　time。　I　thought　I'd　see　you　for　a　minute；　then　go　out　and　find　a　jobyou　know；　a　regular　job　in　a　store。〃

〃Nothing　of　the　sort；　old　Trouper！〃　She　danced　again　about　him；　both　his　hands　in　hers；　which　annoyed　him　because　it　was　rather　loud　public　behaviour；　though　he　forgave　her　in　the　light　of　youth　and　kindliness。　〃No　regular　job　for　you；　old　Pippinnothing　but　acting　all　over　the　placereal　acting　that　people　come　miles　to　see。〃

〃Do　you　think　I　can　really　get　a　part？〃　Perhaps　the　creature　had　something　definite　in　view　for　him。

〃Sure　you　can　get　a　part！　Yesterday　morning　I　simply　walked　into　a　part　for　you。　Come　along　over　to　the　office　with　me。　GoodyI　see　you　brought　the　stills。　I'll　take　a　peek　at　'em　myself　before　Baird　gets　here。〃　〃Baird？　Not　the　Buckeye　comedy　man？〃　He　was　chilled　by　a　sudden　fear。

〃Yes；　Jeff　Baird。　You　see　he　is　going　to　do　some　fivereelers　and　this　first　one　has　a　part　that　might　do　for　you。　At　least；　I　told　him　some　things　about　you；　and　he　thinks　you　can　get　away　with　it。〃

He　went　moodily　at　her　side；　thinking　swift　thoughts。　It　seemed　ungracious　to　tell　her　of　his　loathing　for　the　Buckeye　comedies；　those　blasphemous　caricatures　of　worth…while　screen　art。　It　would　not　be　fair。　And　perhaps　here　was　a　quick　way　to　discharge　his　debt　and　be　free　of　obligation　to　the　girl。　Of　course　he　would　always　feel　a　warm　gratitude　for　her　trusting　kindness；　but　when　he　no　longer　owed　her　money　he　could　choose　his　own　line　of　work。　Rather　bondage　to　some　Hollywood　Gashwiler　than　clowning　in　Baird's　infamies！

〃Well；　I'll　try　anything　he　gives　me；〃　he　said　at　last；　striving　for　the　enthusiasm　he　could　not　feel。

〃You'll　go　big；　too；〃　said　the　girl。　〃Believe；　me　Kid；　you'll　go　grand。〃

In　Baird's　offices　he　sat　at　the　desk　and　excitedly　undid　the　package　of　stills。　〃We'll　give　'em　the　once…over　before　he　comes；〃　she　said；　and　was　presently　exclaiming　with　delight　at　the　art　study　of　Clifford　Armytage　in　evening　dress；　two　straight　fingers　pressing　the　left　temple；　the　face　in　three…quarter　view。

〃Well；　now；　if　that　ain't　Harold　Parmalee　to　the　life！　If　it　wasn't　for　that　Clifford　Armytage　signed　under　it；　you'd　had　me　guessing。　I　knew　yesterday　you　looked　like　him；　but　I　didn't　dream　it　would　be　as　much　like　him　as　this　picture　is。　Say；　we　won't　show　Baird　this　at　first。　We'll　let　him　size　you　up　and　see　if　your　face　don't　remind　him　of　Parmalee　right　away。　Then　we'll　show　him　this　and　it'll　be　a　cinch。　And　my；　look　at　these　othershere　you're　a　soldier；　and　here　you're　a…a…a　polo　playerthat　is　polo；　ain't　it；　or　is　it　tennis？　And　will　you　look　at　these　stunning　Westerns！　These　are　simply　the　best　of　allon　horseback；　and　throwing　a　rope；　and　the　fighting　face　with　the　gun　drawn；　and　rolling　a　cigaretteand；　as　I　live；　saying　good…by　to　the　horse。　Wouldn't　that　get　youBuck　Benson　to　the　life！〃

Again　and　again　she　shuffled　over　the　stills；　dwelling　on　each　with　excited　admiration。　Her　excitement　was　pronounced。　It　seemed　to　be　a　sort　of　nervous　excitement。　It　had　caused　her　face　to　flush　deeply；　and　her　manner；　especially　over　the　Western　pictures；　at　moments　oddly　approached　hysteria。　Merton　was　deeply　gratified。　He　had　expected　the　art　studies　to　produce　no　such　impression　as　this。　The　Countess　in　the　casting　office　had　certainly　manifested　nothing　like　hysteria　at　beholding　them。　It　must　be　that　the　Montague　girl　was　a　better　judge　of　art　studies。

〃I　always　liked　this　one；　after　the　Westerns；〃　he　observed；　indicating　the　Harold　Parmalee　pose。

〃It's　stunning；〃　agreed　the　girl；　still　with　her　nervous　manner。　〃I　tell　you；　sit　over　there　in　Jeff's　chair　and　take　the　same　pose；　so　I　can　compare　you　with　the　photo。〃

Merton　obliged。　He　leaned　an　elbow　on　the　chair…arm　and　a　temple　on　the　two　straightened　fingers。　〃Is　the　light　right？〃　he　asked；　as　he　turned　his　face　to　the　pictured　angle。

〃Fine；〃　applauded　the　girl。　〃Hold　it。〃　He　held　it　until　shocked　by　shrill　laughter　from　the　observer。　Peal　followed　peal。　She　had　seemed　oddly　threatened　with　hysteria；　perhaps　now　it　had　come。　She　rocked　on　her　heels　and　held　her　hands　to　her　sides。　Merton　arose　in　some　alarm；　and　was　reassured　when　the　victim　betrayed　signs　of　mastering　her　infirmity。　She　wiped　her　eyes　presently　and　explained　her　outbreak。

〃You　looked　so　much　like　Parmalee　I　just　couldn't　help　thinking　how　funny　it　wasit　just　seemed　to　go　over　me　like　anything；　like　a　spasm　or　something；　when　I　got　to　thinking　what　Parmalee　would　say　if　he　saw　someone　looking　so　much　like　him。　See？　That　was　why　I　laughed。〃

He　was　sympathetic　and　delighted　in　equal　parts。　The　girl　had　really　seemed　to　suffer　from　her　paroxysm；　yet　it　was　a　splendid　tribute　to　his　screen　worth。

It　was　at　this　moment　that　Baird　entered。　He　tossed　his　hat　on　a　chair　and　turned　to　the　couple。

〃Mr。　Baird；　shake　hands　with　my　friend　Merton　Gill。　His　stage　name　is　Clifford　Armytage。〃

〃Very　pleased　to　meet　you；〃　said　Merton；　grasping　the　extended　hand。　He　hoped　he　had　not　been　too　dignified；　too　condescending。　Baird　would　sometime　doubtless　know　that　he　did　not　approve　of　those　so…　called　comedies；　but　for　the　present　he　must　demean　himself　to　pay　back　some　money　borrowed　from　a　working　girl。

〃Delighted；〃　said　Baird；　then　he　bent　a　suddenly　troubled　gaze　upon　the　Gill　lineaments。　He　held　this　a　long　moment；　breaking　it　only　with　a　sudden　dramatic　turning　to　Miss　Montague。

〃What's　this；　my　child？　You're　playing　tricks　on　the　old　man。〃　Again　he　incredulously　scanned　the　face　of　Merton。　〃Who　is　this　man？〃　he　demanded。

〃I　told　you；　he's　Merton　Gill　from　Gushwomp；　Ohio；〃　said　the　girl；　looking　pleased　and　expectant。

〃Simsbury；　Illinois；〃　put　in　Merton　quickly；　wishing　the　girl　could　be　better　at　remembering　names。

Baird　at　last　seemed　to　be　convinced。　He　heavily　smote　an　open　palm　with　a　clenched　fist。　〃Well；　I'll　be　swoshed！　I　thought　you　must　be　kidding。　If　I'd　seen　him　out　on　the　lot　I'd　'a'　said　he　was　the　twin　brother　of　Harold　Parmalee。〃

〃There！〃　exclaimed　the　girl　triumphantly。　〃Didn't　I　say　he'd　see　it　right　quick？　You　can't　keep　a　thing　from　this　old　bey。　Now　you　just　came　over　here　to　this　desk　and　look　at　this　fine　batch　of　stills　he　had　taken　by　a　regular　artist　back　in　Cranberry。〃

〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　Baird　unctuously；　〃I　bet　they're　good。　Show　me。〃　He　went　to　the　desk。　〃Be　seated；　Mr。　Gill；　while　I　have　a　look　at　these。〃

Merton　Gill；　under　the　eye　of　Baird　which　clung　to　him　with　something　close　to　fascination；　sat　down。　He　took　the　chair　with　fine　dignity；　a　certain　masterly　deliberation。　He　sat　easily；　and　seemed　to　await　a　verdict　confidently　foreknown。　Baird's　eyes　did　not　leave　him　for　the　stills　until　he　had　assumed　a　slightly　Harold　Parmalee　pose。　Then　his　head　with　the　girl's　bent　over　the　pictures；　he　began　to　examine　them。

Exclamations　of　delight　came　from　the　pair。　Merton　Gill　listened　amiably。　He　was　not　greatly　thrilled　by　an　admiration　which　he　had　long　believed　to　be　his　due。　Had　he　not　always　supposed　that　things　of　precisely　this　sort　would　be　said　about　those　stills　when　at　last　they　came　under　the　eyes　of　the　right　people？

Like　the　Montague　girl；　Baird　was　chiefly　impressed　with　the　Westerns。　He　looked　a　long　time　at　them；　especially　at　the　one　where　Merton's　face　was　emotionally　averted　from　his　old　pal；　Pinto；　at　the　moment　of　farewell。　Regarding　Baird；　as　he　stood　holding　this　art　study　up　to　the　light；　Merton　became　aware　for　the　first　time　that　Baird　suffered　from　some　nervous　affliction；　a　peculiar　twitching　of　the　lips；　a　trembling　of　the　chin；　which　he　had　sometimes　observed　in　senile　persons。　All　at　once　Baird　seemed　quite　overcome　by　this　infirmity。　He　put　a　handkerchief　to　his　face　and　uttered　a　muffled　excuse　as　he　hastily　left　the　room。　Outside；　the　noise　of　his　heavy　tread　died　swiftly　away　down　the　hall。

The　Montague　girl　remained　at　the　desk。　There　was　a　strange　light　in　her　eyes　and　her　face　was　still　flushed。　She　shot　a　glance　of　encouragement　at　Merton。

〃Don't　be　nervous；　old　Kid；　he　likes　'em　all　right。〃　He　reassured　her　lightly：　〃Oh；　I'm　not　a　bit　nervous　about　him。　It　ain't　as　if　he　was　doing　something　worth　while；　instead　of　mere　comedies。〃

The　girl's　colour　seemed　to　heighten。　〃You　be　sure　to　tell　him　that；　talk　right　up　to　him。　Be　sure　to　say　'mere　comedies。'　It'll　show　him　you　know　what's　what。　And　as　a　matter　of　fact；　Kid；　he's　trying　to　do　something　worth　while；　right　this　minute；　something　serious。　That's　why　he's　so　interested　in　you。〃

〃Well；　of　course；　that's　different。〃　He　was　glad　to　learn　this　of　Baird。　He　would　take　the　man　seriously　if　he　tried　to　be　serious；　to　do　something　fine　and　distinctive。

Baird　here　returned；　looking　grave。　The　Montague　girl　seemed　more　strangely　intense。　She　beckoned　the　manager　to　her　side。

〃Now；　here；　Jeff；　here　was　something　I　just　naturally　had　to　laugh　at。〃

Baird　had　not　wholly　conquered　those　facial　spasms；　but　he　controlled　himself　to　say；　〃Show　me！〃

〃Now；　Merton；〃　directed　the　girl；　〃take　that　same　pose　again；　like　you　did　for　me；　the　way　you　are　in　this　pic