按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
That was actuality； in a way。 But here it was in full measure； without mental subterfuge or vain imaginings。 Had he not beheld from this posthe was pretty sure he hadMiss Baxter herself； swathed in costly furs； drive a robin's…egg…blue roadster through the gate without even a nod to the warder？ Indeed； that one glimpse of reality had been worth his ten days of waitingworth all his watching of the gate and its keeper until he knew every dent in the keeper's derby hat； every bristle in his unkempt mustache； every wrinkle of his inferior raiment； and every pocket from which throughout the day he would vainly draw matches to relight an apparently fireproof cigar。 Surely waiting thus rewarded could not be called barren。 When he grew tired of standing he could cross the street and rest on a low bench that encircled one of the eucalyptus trees。 Here were other waiters without the pale； usually men of strongly marked features； with a tendency to extremes in stature or hair or beards or noses； and not conspicuously neat in attire。 These； he discovered； were extras awaiting employment； many of them Mexicans or strange…appearing mongrels； with a sprinkling of Negroes。 Often he could have recruited there a band of outlaws for desperate deeds over the border。 He did not fraternize with these waifs； feeling that his was another plane。
He had spent three days thus about the studio gate when he learned of the existence of another entrance。 This was a door almost opposite the bench。 He ventured through it and discovered a bare room with a wooden seat running about its sides。 In a partition opposite the entrance was a small window and over it the words 〃Casting Director。〃 One of the two other doors led to the interior； and through this he observed pass many of the chosen。 Another door led to the office of the casting director； glimpses of which could be obtained through the little window。
The waiting room itself was not only bare as to floor and walls； but was bleak and inhospitable in its general effect。 The wooden seat was uncomfortable； and those who sat upon it along the dull…toned walls appeared depressed and unhopeful； especially after they had braved a talk through the little window with someone who seemed always to be saying； 〃No； nothing to…day。 Yes； perhaps next week。 I have your address。〃 When the aspirants were women； as they mostly were； the someone back of the window would add 〃dear〃 to the speech： 〃No； nothing to…day； dear。〃
There seemed never to be anything to…day； and Clifford Armytage spent very little of his waiting time in this room。 It made him uncomfortable to be stared at by other applicants； whether they stared casually； incuriously； or whether they seemed to appraise him disparagingly； as if telling him frankly that for him there would never be anything to…day。
Then he saw that he； too； must undergo that encounter at the little window。 Too apparently he was not getting anywhere by loitering about outside。 It was exciting； but the producers would hardly look there for new talent。
He chose a moment for this encounter when the waiting room was vacant； not caring to be stared at when he took this first step in forming a connection that was to be notable in screen annals。 He approached the window； bent his head； and encountered the gaze of a small； comely woman with warm brown eyes； neat reddish hair； and a quick manner。 The gaze was shrewd； it seemed to read all that was needed to be known of this new candidate。
〃Yes？〃 said the woman。
She looked tired and very businesslike； but her manner was not unkind。 The novice was at once reassured。 He was presently explaining to her that he wished to act in the pictures at this particular studio。 No； he had not had much experience； that is； you could hardly call it experience in actual acting； but he had finished a course of study and had a diploma from the General Film Production Company of Stebbinsville； Arkansas； certifying him to be a competent screen actor。 And of course he would not at first expect a big part。 He would be glad to take a small part to begin with almost any small part until he could familiarize himself with studio conditions。 And here was a bunch of stills that would give any one an idea of the range of parts he was prepared to play； society parts in a full…dress suit； or soldier parts in a trench coat and lieutenant's cap； or juveniles in the natty suit with the belted coat； and in the storm…king model belted overcoat。 And of course Western stuffthese would give an idea of what he could docowboy outfit and all that sort of thing； chaps and spurs and guns and so forth。 And he was prepared to work hard and struggle and sacrifice in order to give the public something better and finer； and would it be possible to secure some small part at once？ Was a good all…round actor by any chance at that moment needed in the company of Miss Beulah Baxter； because he would especially like such a part； and he would be ready to start to work at any timeto…morrow； or even to… day。
The tired little woman beyond the opening listened patiently to this； interrupting several times to say over an insistent telephone； 〃No； nothing to…day； dear。〃 She looked at the stills with evident interest and curiously studied the face of the speaker as she listened。 She smiled wearily when he was through and spoke briskly。
〃Now； I'll tell you； son； all that is very nice； but you haven't had a lick of real experience yet； have you？and things are pretty quiet on the lot just now。 To…day there are only two companies shooting。 So you couldn't get anything to…day or to…morrow or probably for a good many days after that； and it won't be much when you get it。 You may get on as an extra after a while when some of the other companies start shooting； but I can't promise anything； you understand。 What you do nowleave me your name and address and telephone number。〃
〃Yes； ma'am；〃 said the applicant； and supplied these data。
〃Clifford Armytage！〃 exclaimed the woman。 〃I'll say that's some warm name！〃
〃Well； you see〃he paused； but resolved to confide freely in this friendly seeming person〃you see； I picked that out for a good name to act under。 It sounds good； doesn't it？ And my own right name is only Merton Gill； so I thought I'd better have something that sounded a little morewell； you know。〃
〃Sure！〃 said the woman。 〃All right； have any name you want； but I think I'll call you Merton when you come again。 You needn't act with me； you know。 Now； let's seename； age； height； good general wardrobe； house address； telephone numberoh； yes； tell me where I can find you during the day。〃
〃Right out here；〃 he replied firmly。 〃I'm going to stick to this studio and not go near any of the others。 If I'm not in this room I'll be just outside there； on that bench around the tree； or just across the street where you can see through the gate and watch the people go through。〃
〃Say！〃 Again the woman searched his face and broke into her friendly smile。 〃Say； you're a real nut； aren't you？ How'd you ever get this way？〃
And again he was talking； telling now of his past and his struggles to educate himself as a screen actorone of the best。 He spoke of Simsbury and Gashwiler and of Lowell Hardy who took his stills； and of Tessie Kearns； whose sympathy and advice had done so much to encourage him。 The woman was joyously attentive。 Now she did more than smile。 She laughed at intervals throughout the narrative； though her laughter seemed entirely sympathetic and in no way daunted the speaker。
〃Well； Merton； you're a funny oneI'll say that。 You're so kind of ignorant and appealing。 And you say this Bughalter or Gigwater or whatever his name is will take you back into the store any time？ Well； that's a good thing to remember； because the picture game is a hard game。 I wouldn't discourage a nice clean boy like you for the world； but there are a lot of people in pictures right now that would prefer a steady job like that one you left。〃
〃It's Gashwilerthat name。〃
〃Oh； all right； just so you don't forget it and forget the address。〃
The new applicant warmly reassured her。
〃I wouldn't be likely to forget that； after living there all those years。〃
When he left the window the woman was again saying into the telephone； 〃No； dear； nothing to…day。 I'm sorry。〃
It was that night he wrote to Tessie Kearns：
Dear Friend Tessie：
Well； Tessie； here I am safe and sound in Hollywood after a long ride on the cars that went through many strange and interesting cities and different parts of the country； and I guess by this time you must have thought I was forgetting my old friends back in Simsbury； but not so； I can assure you； for I will never forget our long talks together and how you cheered me up often when the sacrifice and struggle seemed more than any man could bear。 But now I feel repaid for all that sacrifice and struggle； for I am here where the pictures are made； and soon I will be acting different parts in them； though things are quiet on the lot now with only two companies shooting to…day； but more companies will be shooting in a few days more and then will come the great opportunity for me as soon as I get known； and my different capabilities； and what I can do and everything。
I had a lo