merton of the movies-第39部分

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resently　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　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。　Stud