登陆注册
15290000000072

第72章

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! Say--and 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 you; and you'll get it all back, only it may take a little time. I thought I'd see you for a minute, then go out and find a job--you know, a regular job in a store.""Nothing of the sort, old Trouper!" She danced again about him, both his hands in hers, which annoyed him because it was rather loud public behaviour, though he forgave her in the light of youth and kindliness. "No regular job for you, old Pippin--nothing but acting all over the place--real acting that people come miles to see.""Do you think I can really get a part?" Perhaps the creature had something definite in view for him.

"Sure you can get a part! Yesterday morning I simply walked into a part for you. Come along over to the office with me. Goody--I see you brought the stills. I'll take a peek at 'em myself before Baird gets here." "Baird? Not the Buckeye comedy man?" He was chilled by a sudden fear.

"Yes, Jeff Baird. You see he is going to do some five--reelers and this first one has a part that might do for you. At least, I told him some things about you, and he thinks you can get away with it."He went moodily at her side, thinking swift thoughts. It seemed ungracious to tell her of his loathing for the Buckeye comedies, those blasphemous caricatures of worth-while screen art. It would not be fair. And perhaps here was a quick way to discharge his debt and be free of obligation to the girl. Of course he would always feel a warm gratitude for her trusting kindness, but when he no longer owed her money he could choose his own line of work. Rather bondage to some Hollywood Gashwiler than clowning in Baird's infamies!

"Well, I'll try anything he gives me," he said at last, striving for the enthusiasm he could not feel.

"You'll go big, too," said the girl. "Believe, me Kid, you'll go grand."In Baird's offices he sat at the desk and excitedly undid the package of stills. "We'll give 'em the once-over before he comes,"she said, and was presently 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.

同类推荐
  • 柏岩感旧诗话

    柏岩感旧诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Bunyan Characters

    Bunyan Characters

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 太上混元老子史略

    太上混元老子史略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 西王母女修正余十则

    西王母女修正余十则

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大道真传

    大道真传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 永恒炼阵师

    永恒炼阵师

    元初世界的文明火焰从未熄灭。炼阵师,元初文明之火中一颗饱受诟病的渺茫火苗,没有斗士的力量,也没有术士的玄奥,有的只是无穷无尽的汗水与劳累。这是一位炼阵师的故事,起源于大陆北方的一个边陲小镇
  • 樵史通俗演义

    樵史通俗演义

    叙述了明末天启、崇祯及南明弘光朝的历史。该书开篇即详细述写明代天启年间,朝廷内部阉党与东林党、复社之间的惨烈的斗争。该书所记明末及南明朝政,多为实录,当时有各种杂史如《两朝从信录》、《颂天胪笔》等可以取资,大体可信。
  • 九州苍穹歌

    九州苍穹歌

    回到各个朝代,和各个朝代的历史名流狼狈为奸,这是什么样的情怀?每一个朝代都是一场精彩的故事,每一次的回到过去,每一次的改变过去,终将会影响现代,改变现代。世界有点小,外债有点多,我华夏这条巨龙也该睡醒了。
  • 六界轮回之神殒天殇

    六界轮回之神殒天殇

    遨游六界生与死的眷恋,觉味人生千万般爱恨情仇。成神之路,成魔之路,都只在一念之间。天若逆我,我便逆天而行,红尘叛我,定要倾覆红尘。尸山血海填满杀戮无边,赤子丹心六界至性至情,翻手为云覆为雨,乱世英雄逐鹿来……红尘世界,神魔之间,六界轮回,众族林立,笑看红尘陨落之路,愿与所有玄幻梦的书友共勉。公子想要写出温暖人心的力量,振奋心灵的梦宇,希望有缘唤醒书友们心间那沉寂了久违的心动。
  • 夜未央月无眠

    夜未央月无眠

    他是不染尘俗的天人,她是深隐红尘的假面淑女,他是因恩生情的落难贵公子,他是不甘被命运摆布的孪生哥哥。带着一朵能知世间万象的法华妙莲,和一条流落人间的桀骜青龙,从人间穿越到神魔乱舞的异界,这些人聚在一起会演变出怎样的故事……失去记忆后的我,你该如何来寻找?另结尘缘的我,你会如何来面对?失去记忆后的你,我会遍寻天下来寻找。另结尘缘的你,我会用一生来等候。随着一幕幕的真相揭开,一个个瞒天过海、偷天换日的阴谋棋局暴露在天下神魔面前。心碎的柔情,蚀骨的思念,极尽的缠绵,以及整个天地的恩怨,都不及你一声温柔的呼唤。千古轮回难为爱,万世沧桑只因情……
  • 奇妙的重生

    奇妙的重生

    李天,来自一个神秘大陆,被自己弟弟暗算,坠入崖底,来到了地球,他的生活会发生什么变化呢?来看小说吧
  • 独家蜜宠:左少,宠入骨

    独家蜜宠:左少,宠入骨

    【新书(盛宠甜妻:总裁老公,缠不休)已发,求包养】深夜,男人霸道的声音低响在耳边,“女人,你身上印着我的印记这辈子只能是我的!”他,是F市商界的传奇,传闻他高冷孤傲,却很少有人见过他的真容。她,一个应届毕业生,前脚遇到一个神经病大叔,后脚遭男朋友劈腿。某个雨天相遇,注定两人此生纠缠不休。“女人,你对左太太这个称呼感兴趣么?”男人顶着一张妖孽的脸问。“没兴趣。”女人眨了眨清澈的眼眸,露出狐狸一样的笑容,“我只对你配偶栏的空白处有点想法。”话落,女人整个人被扛在肩上,“今天天气不错,我们去民政局逛逛。”
  • 妃要不可:晴空万里

    妃要不可:晴空万里

    作为二十一世纪培养出的最优秀的人类——云晚晴。没有之一,记忆力超群,武力值爆表……竟然来到了这个鸟不拉屎的地方……古代么?看姑奶奶我玩转江湖,统一天下……
  • 家有霸道老公

    家有霸道老公

    一个野兽化身羔羊,一步步连环计,一个个圈套生,如暴风雨席卷而来,将猎物狠狠禁锢。 她看似精明,却是傻傻,被骗上床,芳心遗落,才知原来他本是他...... 是一纸契约娶她的人? 是痴情绝对爱她的人? 是霸道冷酷拐她的人? 原本他......是他......非他......即将忘却,却难相忘...... 谁是谁的兽奴?谁是谁的兽主?谁是那隐藏兽性的凶猛野兽?谁是背叛爱的元凶? 太多的恨,全是由爱。
  • 力战苍穹

    力战苍穹

    玄天大陆,百族林立,群魔共舞,以武为尊,以力称王。绝世强者力王逆天重生,夺异宝,泡美妞,脚踏诸天,力战苍穹。别跟我扯什么天才,老子是天才他爹,别跟我说什么无敌,老子面前是废铁,别跟我论什么公道,黄土下掩埋了多少不甘的鲜血,别跟我讲什么天理,苍穹上孤寂了多少愤怒的天劫。恨天夺我一万年,战遍诸天化战仙。