merton of the movies-第38章
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in her print dress and sunbonnet； who would love him for himself alone。 Beside a blossoming orange tree on the simple Long Island farm he declared his love； warning the child that he had nothing to offer her but two strong arms and a heart full of devotion。
The little girl shyly betrayed that she returned his love but told him that he must first obtain the permission of her grandmother without which she would never consent to wed him。 She hastened into the old farmhouse to prepare Grandmother for the interview。
Throckmorton presently faced the old lady who sat huddled in an armchair； her hands crooked over a cane； a ruffled cap above her silvery hair。 He manfully voiced his request for the child's hand in marriage。 The old lady seemed to mumble an assent。 The happy lover looked about for his fiance when； to his stupefaction； the old lady arose briskly from her chair； threw off cap； silvery wig； gown of black； and stood revealed as the child herself； smiling roguishly up at him from beneath the sunbonnet。 With a glad cry he would have seized her； when she stayed him with lifted hand。 Once more she astounded him。 Swiftly she threw off sunbonnet； blonde wig； print dress； and stood before him revealed as none other than the Gordon daughter。
Hubert Throckmorton had lost his wager。 Slowly； as the light of recognition dawned in his widening eyes； he gathered the beautiful girl into his arms。 〃Now may I be your leading lady？〃 she asked。
〃My leading lady； not only in my next picture； but for life；〃 he replied。
There was a pretty little scene in which the wager was paid。 Merton studied it。 Twice again； that evening； he studied it。 He was doubtful。 It would seem queer to take a girl around the waist that way and kiss her so slowly。 Maybe he could learn。 And he knew he could already do that widening of the eyes。 He could probably do it as well as Parmalee did。
* * * * * * *
Back in the Buckeye office； when the Montague girl had returned from her parting with Merton； Baird had said：
〃Kid； you've brightened my whole day。〃
〃Didn't I tell you？〃
〃He's a lot better than you said。〃
〃But can you use him？〃
〃You can't tell。 You can't tell till you try him out。 He might be good； and he might blow up right at the start。〃
〃I bet he'll be good。 I tell you。 Jeff； that boy is just full of acting。 All you got to dokeep his stuff straight； serious。 He can't help but be funny that way。〃
〃We'll see。 To…morrow we'll kind of feel him out。 He'll see this Parmalee film to…dayI caught it last nightand there's some stuff in it I want to play horse with； see？ So I'll start him to…morrow in a quiet scene； and find out does he handle。 If he does； we'll go right into some hokum drama stuff。 The more serious he plays it the better。 It ought to be good； but you can't ever tell in our trade。 You know that as well as I do。〃
The girl was confident。 〃I can tell about this lad；〃 she insisted。
CHAPTER XIII
GENIUS COMES INTO ITS OWN
Merton Gill； enacting the part of a popular screen idol； as in the play of yesterday； sat at breakfast in his apartments on Stage Number Five。 Outwardly he was cool； wary； unperturbed； as he peeled the shell from a hard…boiled egg and sprinkled salt upon it。 For the breakfast consisted of hard…boiled eggs and potato salad brought on in a wooden dish。
He had been slightly disturbed by the items of this meal； it was not so elegant a breakfast as Hubert Throckmorton's； but he had been told by Baird that they must be a little different。
He had been slightly disturbed； too； at discovering the faithful valet who brought on the simple repast was the crosseyed man。 Still； the fellow had behaved respectfully； as a valet should。 He had been quietly obsequious of manner； revealing only a profound admiration for his master and a constant solicitude for his comfort。 Probably he； like Baird； was trying to do something distinctive and worth while。
Having finished the last eggglad they had given him no more than threethe popular screen idol at the prompting of Baird； back by the cameras； arose； withdrew a metal cigarette case； purchased that very morning with this scene in view； and selected a cigarette。 He stood negligently； as Parmalee had stood； tapped the end of the cigarette on the side of the case； as Parmalee had done； lighted a match on the sole of his boot； and idly smoked in the Parmalee manner。
Three times the day before he had studied Parmalee in this bit of business。 Now he idly crossed to the centre…table upon which reposed a large photograph album。 He turned the pages of this； pausing to admire the pictures there revealed。 Baird had not only given him general instructions for this scene； but now prompted him in low； encouraging tones。
〃Turn over slowly； you like 'em all。 Now lift the album up and hold it for a better light on that one。 It's one of the best； it pleases you a lot。 Look even more pleasedsmile！ That's good。 Put down the album； turn again； slowly； turn twice more； that's it； pick it up again。 This one is fine〃
Baird took him through the album in this manner； had him close it when all the leaves were turned； and stand a moment with one hand resting on it。 The album had been empty。 It had been deemed best not to inform the actor that later close…ups of the pages would show him to have been refreshed by studying photographs of himselfcopies； in fact； of the stills of Clifford Armytage at that moment resting on Baird's desk。
As he stood now； a hand affectionately upon the album； a trace of the fatuously admiring smile still lingering on his expressive face； a knock sounded upon the door。 〃Come in；〃 he called。
The valet entered with the morning mail。 This consisted entirely of letters。 There were hundreds of them； and the valet had heaped them in a large clothes…basket which he now held respectfully in front of him。
The actor motioned him； with an authentic Parmalee gesture； to place them by the table。 The valet obeyed； though spilling many letters from the top of the overflowing basket。 These； while his master seated himself； he briskly swept up with a broom。
The chagrined amusement of Harold Parmalee； the half…savage； half… humorous tolerance for this perhaps excusable weakness of woman； was here accurately manifested。 The actor yawned slightly； lighted another cigarette with flawless Parmalee technique； withdrew a handkerchief from his sleeve…cuff； lightly touched his forehead with it； and began to open the letters。 He glanced at each one in a quick； bored manner； and cast it aside。
When a dozen or so had been thus treated he was aroused by another knock at the door。 It opened to reveal the valet with another basket overflowing with letters。 Upon this the actor arose； spread his arms wide in a gesture of humorous helplessness。 He held this briefly； then drooped in humorous despair。
He lighted another cigarette； eyed the letters with that whimsical lift of the brows so characteristic of Parmalee； and lazily blew smoke toward them。 Then； regarding the smoke； he idly waved a hand through it。 〃Poor； silly little girls！〃 But there was a charming tolerance in his manner。 One felt his generous recognition that they were not wholly without provocation。
This appeared to close the simple episode。 The scenes； to be sure； had not been shot without delays and rehearsals； and a good two hours of the morning had elapsed before the actor was released from the glare of light and the need to remember that he was Harold Parmalee。 His peeling of an egg； for example； had not at first been dainty enough to please the director； and the scene with the album had required many rehearsals to secure the needed variety of expressions； but Baird had been helpful in his promptings； and always kind。
〃Now； this one you've turned overit's someone you love better than anybody。 It might be your dear old mother that you haven't seen for years。 It makes you kind of solemn as you show how fond you were of her。 You're affected deeply by her face。 That's it； fine！ Now the next one； you like it just as much； but it pleases you more。 It's someone else you're fond of； but you're not so solemn。
〃Now turn over another； but very slowslowbut don't let go of it。 Stop a minute and turn back as if you had to have another peek at the last one； see what I mean？ Take plenty of time。 This is a great treat for you。 It makes you feel kind of religious。 Now you're getting itthat's the boy！ All right〃
The scene where he showed humorous dismay at the quantity of his mail had needed but one rehearsal。 He had here been Harold Parmalee without effort。 Also he had not been asked to do again the Parmalee trick of lighting a cigarette nor of withdrawing the handkerchief from its cuff to twice touch his forehead in moments of amused perplexity。 Baird had merely uttered a low 〃Fine！〃 at beholding these bits。
He drew a long breath of relief when released from the set。 Seemingly he had met the test。 Baird had said that morning； 〃Now we'll just run a little kind of test to find out a few things about you；〃 and had followed with a general description of the scenes。 It was to be of no great importancea minor detail of the picture。 Perhaps this had been why the wealthy actor breakfasted in rather a plainly furnished room on hard…boiled eggs and potato salad。 Perhaps this had been why the costume given him had been not too well fitting； not too nice in detail。 Perhaps this was why they had allowed the cross…eyed man to appear as his valet。 He was quite sure this man would not do as a valet in a high…class picture。 Anyway； however unimportant the scene； he felt that he had acquitted himself with credit。
The Montague girl； who had made him up that morning； with close attention to his eyebrows； watched him from back of the cameras； and she seized both his hands when he left the set。 〃You're going to land；〃 she warmly assured him。 〃I can tell a trouper when I see one。〃
She was in costume。 She was apparently doing the part of a society girl； though slightly overdressed； he thought。
〃We're working on another set for this same picture；〃 she explained； 〃but I simply had to catch you acting。 You'll probably be over with us to…morrow。 But you're through for the day； so beat it and have a good time。〃
〃Couldn't I come over and watch you？〃
〃No； Baird doesn't like to have his actors watching things they ain't in； he told me specially that you weren't to be around except when you're working。 You see； he's using you in kind of a special part in this multiple…reeler； and he's afraid you might get confused if you watched the other parts。 I guess he'll start you to…morrow。 You're to be in a good； wholesome heart play。 You'll have a great chance in it。〃
〃Well； I'll go see if I can find another Parmalee picture for this afternoon。 Say； you don't think I was too much like him in that scene； do you？ You know it's one thing if I look like himI can't help thatbut I shouldn't try to imitate him too closely； should I？ I got to think about my own individuality； haven't I？〃
〃Sure； sure you have！ But you were fineyour imitation wasn't a bit too close。 You can think about your own individuality this afternoon when you're watching him。〃
Late that day in the projection room Baird and the Montague girl watched the 〃rush〃 of that
