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ht 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 he's funny。 If he found out he was； it might queer himsee what I mean？ He's one of that kindyou can tell it。 How will you use him？ He could never do Buckeye stuff。〃
〃Sure not。 But ain't I told you？ In this new piece Jack is stage struck and gets a job as valet to a ham that's just about Parmalee's type； and we show Parmalee acting in the screen； but all straight stuff； you understand。 Unless he's a wise guy he'll go all through the piece and never get on that it's funny。 See； his part's dead straight and serious in a regular drama； and the less he thinks he's funny the bigger scream he'll be。 He's got to be Harold Parmalee acting right out； all over the set； as serious as the lumbagoget what I mean？〃
〃I got you；〃 said the girl； 〃and you'll get him to…morrow morning。 I told him to be over with his stills。 And he'll be serious all the time； make no mistake there。 He's no wise guy。 And one thing； Jeff； he's as innocent as a cupcustard； so you'll have to keep that bunch of Buckeye roughnecks from riding him。 I can tell you that much。 Once they started kidding him； it would be all off。〃
〃And； besides〃 She hesitated briefly。 〃Somehow I don't want him kidded。 I'm pretty hard…boiled； but he sort of made me feel like a fifty…year…old mother watching her only boy go out into the rough world。 See？〃
〃I'll watch out for that；〃 said Baird。
CHAPTER XII
ALIAS HAROLD PARMALEE
Merton Gill awoke to the comforting realization that he was between sheets instead of blankets； and that this morning he need not obscurely leave his room by means of a window。 As he dressed； however； certain misgivings； to which he had been immune the day before； gnawed into his optimism。 He was sober now。 The sheer intoxication of food after fasting； of friendly concern after so long a period when no one had spoken him kindly or otherwise； had evaporated。 He felt the depression following success。
He had been rescued from death by starvation； but had anything more than this come about？ Had he not fed upon the charity of a strange girl； taking her money without seeing ways to discharge the debt？ How could he ever discharge it？ Probably before this she had begun to think of him as a cheat。 She had asked him to come to the lot； but had been vague as to the purpose。 Probably his ordeal of struggle and sacrifice was not yet over。 At any rate； he must find a job that would let him pay back the borrowed twenty…five dollars。
He would meet her as she had requested； assure her of his honest intentions； and then seek for work。 He would try all the emporiums in Hollywood。 They were numerous and some one of them would need the services of an experienced assistant。 This plan of endeavour crystallized as he made his way to the Holden lot。 He had brought his package of stills； but only because the girl had insisted on seeing them。
The Countess made nothing of letting him in。 She had missed him； she said； for what seemed like months； and was glad to hear that he now had something definite in view； because the picture game was mighty uncertain and it was only the lucky few nowadays that could see something definite。 He did not confide to her that the definite something now within his view would demand his presence at some distance from her friendly self。
He approached the entrance to Stage Five with head bent in calculation； and not until he heard her voice did he glance up to observe that the Montague girl was dancing from pleasure； it would seem； at merely beholding him。 She seized both his hands in her strong grasp and revolved him at the centre of a circle she danced。 Then she held him off while her eyes took in the details of his restoration。
〃Well； well； well！ That shows what a few ham and eggs and sleep will do。 Kid； you gross a million at this minute。 New suit； new shoes； snappy cravat right from the Men's Quality Shop； and all shaved and combed slick and everything！ Sayand I was afraid maybe you wouldn't show。〃
He regarded her earnestly。 〃Oh； I would have come back； all right； I'd never forget that twenty…five dollars I owe yo