merton of the movies-第48章
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He had been rescued from death by starvation； but had anything more than this come about？ Had he not fed upon the charity of a strange girl； taking her money without seeing ways to discharge the debt？ How could he ever discharge it？ Probably before this she had begun to think of him as a cheat。 She had asked him to come to the lot； but had been vague as to the purpose。 Probably his ordeal of struggle and sacrifice was not yet over。 At any rate； he must find a job that would let him pay back the borrowed twenty…five dollars。
He would meet her as she had requested； assure her of his honest intentions； and then seek for work。 He would try all the emporiums in Hollywood。 They were numerous and some one of them would need the services of an experienced assistant。 This plan of endeavour crystallized as he made his way to the Holden lot。 He had brought his package of stills； but only because the girl had insisted on seeing them。
The Countess made nothing of letting him in。 She had missed him； she said； for what seemed like months； and was glad to hear that he now had something definite in view； because the picture game was mighty uncertain and it was only the lucky few nowadays that could see something definite。 He did not confide to her that the definite something now within his view would demand his presence at some distance from her friendly self。
He approached the entrance to Stage Five with head bent in calculation； and not until he heard her voice did he glance up to observe that the Montague girl was dancing from pleasure； it would seem； at merely beholding him。 She seized both his hands in her strong grasp and revolved him at the centre of a circle she danced。 Then she held him off while her eyes took in the details of his restoration。
〃Well； well； well！ That shows what a few ham and eggs and sleep will do。 Kid； you gross a million at this minute。 New suit； new shoes； snappy cravat right from the Men's Quality Shop； and all shaved and combed slick and everything！ Sayand I was afraid maybe you wouldn't show。〃
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
