merton of the movies-第49章

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e　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　picture。〃

As　Merton　adjusted　himself　to　the　Parmalee　pose　she　handed　the　picture　to　Baird。　〃Now；　Jeff；　I　ask　youain't　that　Harold　to　the　lifeain't　it　so　near　him　that　you　just　have　to　laugh　your　head　off？〃

It　was　even　so。　Baird　and　the　girl　both　laughed　convulsively；　the　former　with　rumbling　chuckles　that　shook　his　frame。　When　he　had　again　composed　himself　he　said；　〃Well；　Mr。　Gill；　I　think　you　and　I　can　do　a　little　business。　I　don't　know　what　your　idea　about　a　contract　is；　but〃

Merton　Gill　quickly　interrupted。　〃Well；　you　see　I'd　hardly　like　to　sign　a　contract　with　you；　not　for　those　mere　comedies　you　do。　I'll　do　anything　to　earn　a　little　money　right　now　so　I　can　pay　back　this　young　lady；　but　I　wouldn't　like　to　go　on　playing　in　such　things；　with　cross…eyed　people　and　waiters　on　roller　skates；　and　all　that。　What　I　really　would　like　to　do　is　something　fine　and　worth　while；　but　not　clowning　in　mere　Buckeye　comedies。〃

Mr。　Baird；　who　had　devoted　the　best　part　of　an　active　career　to　the　production　of　Buckeye　comedies；　and　who　regarded　them　as　at　least　one　expression　of　the　very　highest　art；　did　not　even　flinch　at　these　cool　words。　He　had　once　been　an　actor　himself。　Taking　the　blow　like　a　man；　he　beamed　upon　his　critic。　〃Exactly；　my　boy；　don't　you　think　I'll　ever　ask　you　to　come　down　to　clowning。　You　might　work　with　me　for　years　and　I'd　never　ask　you　to　do　a　thing　that　wasn't　serious。　In　fact；　that's　why　I'm　hoping　to　engage　you　now。　I　want　to　do　a　serious　picture；　I　want　to　get　out　of　all　that　slap…stick　stuff；　see？　Something　fine　and　worth　while；　like　you　say。　And　you're　the　very　actor　I　need　in　this　new　piece。〃

〃Well；　of　course；　in　that　case〃　This　was　different；　he　made　it　plain　that　in　the　case　of　a　manager　striving　for　higher　things　he　was　not　one　to　withhold　a　helping　hand。　He　was　beginning　to　feel　a　great　sympathy　for　Baird　in　his　efforts　for　the　worth　while。　He　thawed　somewhat　from　the　reserve　that　Buckeye　comedies　had　put　upon　him。　He　chatted　amiably。　Under　promptings　from　the　girl　he　spoke　freely　of　his　career；　both　in　Simsbury　and　in　Hollywood。　It　was　twelve　o'clock　before　they　seemed　willing　to　let　him　go；　and　from　time　to　time　they　would　pause　to　gloat　over　the　stills。

At　last　Baird　said　cheerily；　〃Well；　my　lad；　I　need　you　in　my　new　piece。　How'll　it　be　if　I　put　you　on　my　payroll；　beginning　to…day；　at　forty　a　week？　How　about　it；　hey？〃

〃Well；　I'd　like　that　first　rate；　only　I　haven't　worked　any　to…day；　you　shouldn't　pay　me　for　just　coming　here。〃

The　manager　waved　a　hand　airily。　〃That's　all　right；　my　boy；　you've　earned　a　day's　salary　just　coming　here　to　cheer　me　up。　These　mere　comedies　get　me　so　down　in　the　dumps　sometimes。　And　besides；　you're　not　through　yet。　I'm　going　to　use　you　some　more。　Listen；　now〃　The　manager　had　become　coldly　businesslike。　〃You　go　up　to　a　little　theatre　on　Hollywood　Boulevardyou　can't　miss　itwhere　they're　running　a　Harold　Parmalee　picture。　I　saw　it　last　night　and　I　want　you　to　see　it　to…day；　Better　see　it　afternoon　and　evening　both。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Merton。

〃And　watch　Parmalee。　Study　him　in　this　picture。　You　look　like　him　already；　but　see　if　you　can　pick　up　some　of　his　tricks；　see　what　I　mean？　Because　it's　a　regular　Parmalee　part　I'm　going　to　have　you　do；　see？　Kind　of　a　society　part　to　start　with；　and　then　we　work　in　some　of　your　Western　stuff　at　the　finish。　But　get　Parmalee　as　much　as　you　can。　That's　all　now。　Oh；　yes；　and　can　you　leave　these　stills　with　me？　Our　publicity　man　may　want　to　use　them　later。〃

〃All　right；　Mr。　Baird；　I'll　do　just　what　you　say；　and　of　course　you　can　keep　the　stills　as　long　as　I　got　an　engagement　with　you；　and　I'm　very　glad　you're　trying　to　do　something　really　worth　while。〃

〃Thanks；〃　said　Baird；　averting　his　face。

The　girl　followed　him　into　the　hall。　〃Great　work；　boy；　and　take　it　from　me；　you'll　go　over。　Say；　honest　now；　I'm　glad　clear　down　into　my　boots。〃　She　had　both　his　hands　again；　and　he　could　see　that　her　eyes　were　moist。　She　seemed　to　be　an　impressionable　little　thing；　hysterical　one　minute　while　looking　at　a　bunch　of　good　stills；　and　sort　of　weepy　the　next。　But　he　was　beginning　to　like　her；　in　spite　of　her　funny　talk　and　free　ways。

〃And　say；〃　she　called　after　him　when　he　had　reached　the　top　of　the　stairs；　〃you　know　you　haven't　had　much　experience　yet　with　a　bunch　of　hard…boiled　troupers；　many　a　one　will　be　jealous　of　you　the　minute　you　begin　to　climb；　and　maybe　they'll　get　fresh　and　try　to　kid　you；　see？　But　don't　you　mind　itgive　it　right　back　to　them。　Or　tell　me　if　they　get　too　raw。　Just　remember　I　got　a　mean　right　when　I　swing　free。〃

〃All　right；　thank　you；〃　he　replied；　but　his　bewilderment　was　plain。

She　stared　a　moment；　danced　up　to　him；　and　seized　a　hand　in　both　of　hers。　〃What　I　mean　son；　if　you　feel　bothered　any　timeby　anything　just　come　to　me　with　it；　see？　I'm　in　this　piece；　and　I'll　look　out　for　you。　Don't　forget　that。〃　She　dropped　his　hand；　and　was　back　in　the　office　while　he　mumbled　his　thanks　for　what　he　knew　she　had　meant　as　a　kindness。

So　she　was　to　be　in　the　Baird　piece；　she；　too；　would　be　trying　to　give　the　public　something