merton of the movies-第34章

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e！　This；　surely；　was　not　art　such　as　Clifford　Armytage　was　rapidly　fitting　himself；　by　trial　and　hardship；　to　confer　upon　the　public。

It　was　with　curiously　conflicting　emotions　that　he　watched　the　ensuing　Hazards　of　Hortense。　He　had　to　remind　himself　that　the　slim　little　girl　with　the　wistful　eyes　was　not　only　not　performing　certain　feats　of　daring　that　the　film　exposed；　but　that　she　was　Mrs。　Sigmund　Rosenblatt　and　crazy　about　her　husband。　Yet　the　magic　had　not　wholly　departed　from　this　wronged　heroine。　He　thought　perhaps　this　might　be　because　he　now　knew；　and　actually　liked；　that　talkative　Montague　girl　who　would　be　doing　the　choice　bits　of　this　drama。　Certainly　he　was　loyal　to　the　hand　that　fed　him。

Black　Steve　and　his　base　crew；　hirelings　of　the　scoundrelly　guardian　who　was　〃a　Power　in　Wall　Street；〃　again　and　again　seemed　to　have　encompassed　the　ruin；　body　and　soul；　of　the　persecuted　Hortense。　They　had　her　prisoner　in　a　foul　den　of　Chinatown；　whence　she　escaped　to　balance　precariously　upon　the　narrow　cornice　of　a　skyscraper；　hundreds　of　feet　above　a　crowded　thoroughfare。　They　had　her；　as　the　screen　said；　〃Depressed　by　the　Grim　Menace　of　Tragedy　that　Impended　in　the　Shadows。〃　They　gave　her　a　brief　respite　in　one　of　those　gilded　resorts　〃Where　the　Clink　of　Coin　Opens　Wide　the　Portals　of　Pleasure；　Where　Wealth　Beckons　with　Golden　Fingers；〃　but　this　was　only　a　trap　for　the　unsuspecting　girl；　who　was　presently；　sewed　in　a　plain　sack；　tossed　from　the　stern　of　an　ocean　liner　far　out　at　sea　by　creatures　who　would　do　anything　for　moneywho；　so　it　was　said；　were　Remorseless　in　the　Mad　Pursuit　of　Gain。

At　certain　gripping　moments　it　became　apparent　to　one　of　the　audience　that　Mrs。　Sigmund　Rosenblatt　herself　was　no　longer　in　jeopardy。　He　knew　the　girl　who　was；　and　profoundly　admired　her　artistry　as　she　fled　along　the　narrow　cornice　of　the　skyscraper。　For　all　purposes　she　was　Beulah　Baxter。　He　recalled　her　figure　as　being…　…not　exactly　stubby；　but　at　least　not　of　marked　slenderness。　Yet　in　the　distance　she　was　indeed　all　that　an　audience　could　demand。　And　she　was　honest；　while　Mrs。　Rosenblatt；　in　the　Majestic　Theatre　at　Peoria；　Illinois；　had　trifled　airily　with　his　faith　in　women　and　deceived　him　by　word　of　mouth。

He　applauded　loudly　at　the　sensational　finish；　when　Hortense；　driving　her　motor　car　at　high　speed　across　the　great　bridge；　ran　into　the　draw；　that　opened　too　late　for　her　to　slow　down；　and　plunged　to　the　cruel　waters　far　below。

Mrs。　Rosenblatt　would　possibly　have　been　a　fool　to　do　this　herself。　The　Montague　girl　had　been　insistent　on　that　point；　there　were　enough　things　she　couldn't　avoid　doing；　and　all　stars　very　sensibly　had　doubles　for　such　scenes　when　distance　or　action　permitted。　At　the　same　time；　he　could　never　again　feel　the　same　toward　her。　Indeed；　he　would　never　have　felt　the　same　even　had　there　been　no　Rosenblatt。　Art　was　art！

It　was　only　five　o'clock　when　he　left　the　picture　theatre；　but　he　ate　again　at　the　luxurious　cafeteria。　He　ate　a　large　steak；　drank　an　immense　quantity　of　milk；　and　bought　another　box　of　candy　on　his　way　to　the　Patterson　home。　Lights　were　on　there；　and　he　went　in　to　face　the　woman　he　had　so　long　kept　out　of　her　money。　She　would　probably　greet　him　coldly　and　tell　him　she　was　surprised　at　his　actions。

Yet　it　seemed　that　he　had　been　deceived　in　this　society　woman。　She　was　human；　after　all。　She　shook　hands　with　him　warmly　and　said　they　were　glad　to　see　him　back；　he　must　have　been　out　on　location；　and　she　was　glad　they　were　not　to　lose　him；　because　he　was　so　quiet　and　regular　and　not　like　some　other　motion…picture　actors　she　had　known。

He　told　her　he　had　just　put　in　a　hard　week　on　the　Holden　lot；　where　things　were　beginning　to　pick　up。　He　was　glad　she　had　missed　him；　and　he　certainly　had　missed　his　comfortable　room；　because　the　accommodations　on　the　lot　were　not　of　the　best。　In　fact；　they　were　pretty　unsatisfactory；　if　you　came　right　down　to　it；　and　he　hoped　they　wouldn't　keep　him　there　again。　And；　oh；　yeshe　was　almost　forgetting。　Here　was　ten　dollarshe　believed　there　were　two　weeks'　rent　now　due。　He　passed　over　the　money　with　rather　a　Clifford　Armytage　flourish。

Mrs。　Patterson　accepted　the　bill　almost　protestingly。　She　hadn't　once　thought　about　the　rent；　because　she　knew　he　was　reliable；　and　he　was　to　remember　that　any　time　convenient　to　him　would　always　suit　her　in　these　matters。　She　did　accept　the　bill；　still　she　was　not　the　heartless　creature　he　had　supposed　her　to　be。

As　he　bade　her　good…night　at　the　door　she　regarded　him　closely　and　said；　〃Somehow　you　look　a　whole　lot　older；　Mr。　Armytage。〃

〃I　am；〃　replied　Mr。　Armytage。

*　*　*　*　*　*　*

Miss　Montague；　after　parting　with　her　protege　had　walked　quickly；　not　without　little　recurrent　dance　stepsas　if　some　excess　of　joy　would　ever　and　again　overwhelm　herto　the　long　office　building　on　the　Holden　lot；　where　she　entered　a　door　marked　〃Buckeye　Comedies。　Jeff　Baird；　Manager。〃　The　outer　office　was　vacant；　but　through　the　open　door　to　another　room　she　observed　Baird　at　his　desk；　his　head　bent　low　over　certain　sheets　of　yellow　paper。　He　was　a　bulky；　rather　phlegmatic　looking　man；　with　a　parrot…like　crest　of　gray　hair。　He　did　not　look　up　as　the　girl　entered。　She　stood　a　moment　as　if　to　control　her　excitement；　then　spoke。

〃Jeff；　I　found　a　million　dollars　for　you　this　morning。〃

〃Thanks！〃　said　Mr。　Baird；　still　not　looking　up。　〃Chuck　it　down　in　the　coal　cellar；　will　you？　We're　littered　with　the　stuff　up　here。〃

〃On　the　level；　Jeff。〃

Baird　looked　up。　〃On　the　level？〃

〃You'll　say　so。〃

〃Shoot！〃

〃Well；　he's　a　small…town　hick　that　saved　up　seventy…two　dollars　to　come　here　from　Goosewallow；　Michigan；　to　go　into　pictures…took　a　correspondence　course　in　screenacting　and　all　that；　and　he　went　broke　and　slept　in　a　property　room　down　in　the　village　all　last　week；　no　eats　at　all　for　three；　four　days。　I'd　noticed　him　around　the　lot　on　different　sets；　something　about　him　that　makes　you　look　a　second　time。　I　don't　know　what　it　is…kind　of　innocent　and　bug…eyed　the　way　he'd　rubber　at　things；　but　all　the　time　like　as　if　he　thought　he　was　someone。　Well；　I　keep　running　across　him　and　pretty　soon　I　notice　he's　up　against　it。　He　still　thinks　he's　someone；　and　is　very　up…stage　if　you　start　to　kid　him　the　least　bit；　but　the　signs　are　there；　all　right。　He's　up　against　it　good　and　hard。

〃All　last　week　he　got　to　looking　worse　and　worse。　But　he　still　had　his　stage　presence。　Say；　yesterday　he　looked　like　the　juvenile　lead　of　a　busted　road　show　that　has　walked　in　from　Albany　and　was　just　standing　around　on　Broadway　wondering　who　he'd　consent　to　sign　up　with　for　forty　weekssee　what　I　mean？…hungry　but　proud。　He　was　over　on　the　Baxter　set　last　night　while　I　was　doing　the　water　stuff；　and　you'd　ought　to　see　him　freeze　me　when　I　suggested　a　sandwich　and　a　cup　o'　coffee。　It　was　grand。

〃Well；　this　morning　I'm　back　for　a　bar　pin　of　Baxter's　I'd　lost；　and　there　he　is　again；　no　overcoat；　shivering　his　teeth　loose；　and　all　in。　So　I　fell　for　him。　Took　him　up　for　some　coffee　and　eggs；　staked　him　to　his　room　rent；　and　sent　him　off　to　get　cleaned　and　barbered。　But　before　he　went　he　cut　loose　and　told　me　his　history　from　the　cradle　to　Hollywood。

〃I'd　'a'　given　something　good　if　you'd　been　at　the　next　table。　I　guess　he　got　kind　of　jagged　on　the　food；　see？　He'd　tell　me　anything　that　run　in　his　mind；　and　most　of　it　was　good。　You'll　say　so。　I'll　get　him　to　do　it　for　you　sometime。　Of　all　the　funny　nuts　that　make　this　lot！　Well；　take　my　word　for　it；　that's　all　I　ask。　And　listen　here；　JeffI'm　down　to　cases。　There's　something　about　this　kid；　like　when　I　tell　you　I'd　always　look　at　him　twice。　And　it's　something　rich　that　I　won't　let　out　for　a　minute　or　two。　But　here's　what　you　and　me　do；　right　quick：

〃The　kid　was　in　that　cabaret　and　gambling…house　stuff　they　shot　last　week　for　The　Blight　of　Broadway；　and　this　something　that　makes　you　look　at　him　must　of　struck　Henshaw　the　way　it　did　me；　for　he　let　him　stay　right　at　the　edge　of　the　dance　floor　and　took　a　lot　of　close…　ups　of　him　looking　tired　to　death　of　the　gay　night　life。　Well；　you　call　up　the　Victor　folks　and　ask　can　you　get　a　look　at　that　stuff　because　you're　thinking　of　giving　a　part　to　one　of　the　extras　that　worked　in　it。　Maybe　we　can　get　into　the　projection　room　right　away　and　you'll　see　what　I　mean。　Then　I　won't　have　to　tell　you　the　richest　thing　about　it。　Now！〃she　took　a　long　breath〃will　you？〃

Baird　had　listened　with　mild　interest　to　the　recital；　occasionally　seeming　not　to　listen　while　he　altered　the　script　before　him。　But　he　took　the　telephone　receiver　from　its　hook　and　said　briefly　to　the　girl：　〃You　win。　Hello！　Give　me　the　Victor　office。　Hello！　Mr。　Baird　speaking〃

The　two　were　presently　in　the　dark　projection　room　watching　the　scenes　the　girl　had　told　of。

〃They　haven't　started　cutting　yet；〃　she　said　delightedly。　〃All　his　close…ups　will　be　in。　Goody！　There's　the　lad…get　him？　Ain't　he　the　actin'est　thing　you　ever　saw？　Now　wait…you'll　see　others。〃

Baird　watched　the　film　absorbedly。　Three　times　it　was　run　for　the　sole　purpose　of　exposing　to　this　small　audience　Merton　Gill's　notion　of　being　consumed　with　ennui　among　pleasures　that　had　palled。　In　the　gambling…hall　bit　it　could　be　observed　that　he　thought　not　too　well　of　cigarettes。　〃He　screens　well；　too；〃　remarked　the　girl。　〃Of　course　I　couldn't　be　sure　of　that。〃

〃He　screens　all　right；〃　agreed　Baird。

〃Well；　what　do　you　think？〃

〃I　think　he　looks　like　the　first　plume　on　a　hearse。〃

〃He　looks　all　of　that；　but　try　again。　Who　does　he　remind　you　of？　Catch　this　next　one　in　the　gambling　hellget　the　profile　and　the　eyebrows　and　the　chinthere！〃

〃Why〃　Baird　chuckled。　〃I'm　a　Swede　if　he　don't　look　like〃

〃You　got　it！〃　the　girl　broke　in　excitedly。　〃I　knew　you　would。　I　didn't　at　first；　this　morning；　because　he　was　so　hungry　and　needed　a　shave；　and　he　darned　near　had　me　bawling　when　he　couldn't　hold　his　cup　o'　coffee　except　with　two　hands。　But　what　d'you　think？pretty　soon　he　tells　me　himself　that　he　looks　a　great　deal　like　Harold　Parmalee　and　wouldn't　mind　playing　parts　like　Parmalee；　though　he　prefers　Western　stuff。　Wouldn't　that　get　you？〃

The　film　was　run　again　so　that　Baird　could　study　the　Gill　face　in　the　light　of　this　new　knowledge。

〃He　does；　he　does；　he　certainly　doesif　he　don't　look　like　a　No。　9　company　of　Parmalee　I'll　eat　that　film。　Say；　Flips；　you　did　find　something。〃

〃Oh；　I　knew　it；　didn't　I　tell　you　so？〃

〃But；　listendoes　he　know　he's　funny？〃

〃Not　in　a　thousand　years！　He　doesn't　know　anything's　funny；　near　as　I　can　make　him。〃

They　were　out　in　the　light　again；　walking　slowly　back　to　the　Buckeye　offices。

〃Get　this；〃　said　Baird　seriously。　〃You　may　think　I'm　kidding；　but　only　yesterday　I　was　trying　to　think　if　I　couldn't　dig　up　some　guy　that　looked　more　like　Parmalee　than　Parmalee　himself　doesjust　enough　more　to　get　the　laugh；　see？　And　you　spring　this　lad　on　me。　All　he　needs　is　the　eyebrows　worked　up　a　little　bit。　But　how　about　himwill　he　handle？　Because　if　he　will　I'll　use　him　in　the　new　five…reeler。〃

〃Will　he　handle？〃　Miss　Montague　echoed　the　words　with　deep　emphasis。　〃Leave　him　to　me。　He's　got　to　handle。　I　already　got　twenty…five　bucks　invested　in　his　screen　career。　And；　Jeff；　he'll　be　easy　to　work；　except　he　don't　know