Better see it afternoon and evening both。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said Merton。
〃And watch Parmalee。 Study him in this picture。 You look like him already； but see if you can pick up some of his tricks； see what I mean？ Because it's a regular Parmalee part I'm going to have you do； see？ Kind of a society part to start with； and then we work in some of your Western stuff at the finish。 But get Parmalee as much as you can。 That's all now。 Oh； yes； and can you leave these stills with me？ Our publicity man may want to use them later。〃
〃All right； Mr。 Baird； I'll do just what you say； and of course you can keep the stills as long as I got an engagement with you； and I'm very glad you're trying to do something really worth while。〃
〃Thanks；〃 said Baird； averting his face。
The girl followed him into the hall。 〃Great work； boy； and take it from me； you'll go over。 Say； honest now； I'm glad clear down into my boots。〃 She had both his hands again； and he could see that her eyes were moist。 She seemed to be an impressionable little thing； hysterical one minute while looking at a bunch of good stills； and sort of weepy the next。 But he was beginning to like her； in spite of her funny talk and free ways。
〃And say；〃 she called after him when he had reached the top of the stairs； 〃you know you haven't had much experience yet with a bunch of hard…boiled troupers； many a one will be jealous of you the minute you begin to climb； and maybe they'll get fresh and try to kid you； see？ But don't you mind itgive it right back to them。 Or tell me if they get too raw。 Just remember I got a mean right when I swing free。〃
〃All right； thank you；〃 he replied； but his bewilderment was plain。
She stared a moment； danced up to him； and seized a hand in both of hers。 〃What I mean son； if you feel bothered any timeby anything just come to me with it； see？ I'm in this piece； and I'll look out for you。 Don't forget that。〃 She dropped his hand； and was back in the office while he mumbled his thanks for what he knew she had meant as a kindness。
So she was to be in the Baird piece； she； too； would be trying to give the public something better and finer。 Still； he was puzzled at her believing he might need to be looked out for。 An actor drawing forty dollars a week could surely look out for himself。 He emerged into the open of the Holden lot as one who had at last achieved success after long and gruelling privation。 He walked briefly among the scenes of this privation； pausing in reminiscent mood before the Crystal Palace Hotel and other outstanding spots where he had so stoically suffered the torments of hunger and discouragement。
He remembered to be glad now that no letter of appeal had actually gone to Gashwiler。 Suppose he had built up in the old gentleman's mind a false hope that he might again employ Merton Gill？ A good thing he had held out！ Yesterday he was starving and penniless； to… day he was fed and on someone's payroll for probably as much money a week as Gashwiler netted from his entire business。 From sheer force of association； as he thus meditated； he found himself hungry； and a few moments later he was selecting from the food counter of the cafeteria whatever chanced to appeal to the eyeno weighing of prices now。
Before he had finished his meal Henshaw and his so…called Governor brought their trays to the adjoining table。 Merton studied with new interest the director who would some day be telling people that he had been the first to observe the aptitude of this new starhad； in fact； given him a lot of footage and close…ups and medium shots and 〃dramatics〃 in The Blight of Broadway when he was a mere extra before he had made himself known to the public in Jeff Baird's first worth…while piece。
He was strongly moved； now； to bring himself to Henshaw's notice when he heard the latter say； 〃It's a regular Harold Parmalee part； good light comedy； plenty of heart interest； and that corking fight on the cliff。〃
He wanted to tell Henshaw that he himself was already engaged to do a Harold Parmalee part； and had been told； not two hours ago； that he would by most people be taken for Parmalee's twin brother。 He restrained this impulse； however； as Henshaw went on to talk of the piece in hand。
It proved to be Robinson Crusoe； which he had already discussed。 Or； rather； not Robinson Crusoe any longer。 Not even Robinson Crusoe； Junior。 It was to have been called Island Passion； he learned； but this title had been amended to Island Love。
〃They're getting fed up on that word 'passion；'〃 Henshaw was saying； 〃and anyhow； 'love' seems to go better with 'island；' don't you think； Governor？ 'Desert Passion' was all rightthere's something strong and intense about a desert。 But 'island' is different。〃
And it appeared that Island Love； though having begun as Robinson Crusoe； would contain few of the outstanding features of that tale。 Instead of Crusoe's wrecked sailing…ship； there was a wrecked steam yacht； a very expensive yacht stocked with all modern luxuries； nor would there be a native Friday and his supposed sister with the tattooed shoulder； but a wealthy young New Yorker and his valet who would be good for comedy on a desert island； and a beautiful girl； and a scoundrel who would in the last reel be thrown over the cliffs。
Henshaw was vivacious about the effects he would get。 〃I've been wondering； Governor；〃 he continued； 〃if we're going to kill off the heavy； whether we shouldn't plant it early that besides wanting this girl who's on the island； he's the same scoundrel that wronged the young sister of the lead that owns the yacht。 See what I mean？…it would give more conflict。〃
〃But here〃 The Governor frowned and spoke after a moment's pause。 〃Your young New Yorker is rich； isn't he？ Fine old family； and all that； how could he have a sister that would get wronged？ You couldn't do it。 If he's got a wronged sister； he'd have to be a workingman or a sailor or something。 And she couldn't be a New York society girl； she'd have to be working some place； in a store or officedon't you see？ How could you have a swell young New Yorker with a wronged sister？ Real society girls never get wronged unless their father loses his money； and then it's never anything serious enough to kill a heavy for。 Nothat's out。〃 〃Wait； I have it。〃 Henshaw beamed with a new inspiration。 〃You just said a sailor could have his sister wronged； so why not have one on the yacht； a good strong type； you know； and his little sister was wronged by the heavy； and he'd never known who it was； because the little girl wouldn't tell him； even on her death…bed； but he found the chap's photograph in her trunk； and on the yacht he sees that it was this same heavyand there you are。 Revengesee what I mean？ He fights with the heavy on the cliff； after showing him the little sister's picture； and pushes him over to death on the rocks belowget it？ And the lead doesn't have to kill him。 How about that？〃 Henshaw regarded his companion with pleasant anticipation。
The Governor again debated before he spoke。 He still doubted。 〃Say； whose show is this； the lead's or the sailor's that had the wronged sister？ You'd have to show the sailor and his sister； and show her being wronged by the heavythat'd take a big cabaret set； at least… …and you'd have to let the sailor begin his stuff on the yacht； and then by the time he'd kept it up a bit after the wreck had pulled off the fight； where would your lead be？ Can you see Parmalee playing second to this sailor？ Why； the sailor'd run away with the piece。 And that cabaret set would cost money when we don't need it just keep those things in mind a little。〃
〃Well；〃 Henshaw submitted gracefully； 〃anyway； I think my suggestion of Island Love is better than Island Passionkind of sounds more attractive； don't you think？〃
The Governor lighted a cigarette。 〃Say； Howard； it's a wonderful business； isn't it？ We start with poor old Robinson Crusoe and his goats and parrot and man Friday； and after dropping Friday's sister who would really be the Countess of Kleig； we wind up with a steam… yacht and a comic butler and call it Island Love。 Who said the art of the motion picture is in its infancy？ In this case it'll be plumb senile。 Well； go ahead with the boys and dope out your hogwash。 Gosh！ Sometimes I think I wouldn't stay in the business if it wasn't for the money。 And remember； don't you let a single solitary sailor on that yacht have a wronged sister that can blame it on the heavy； or you'll never have Parmalee playing the lead。〃
Again Merton Gill debated bringing himself to the notice of these gentlemen。 If Parmalee wouldn't play the part for any reason like a sailor's wronged sister； he would。 It would help him to be known in Parmalee parts。 Still； he couldn't tell how soon they might need him； nor how soon Baird would release him。 He regretfully saw the two men leave； however。 He might have missed a chance even better than Baird would give him。
He suddenly remembered that he had still a professional duty to perform。 He must that afternoon； and also that evening； watch a Harold Parmalee picture。 He left the cafeteria； swaggered by the watchman at the gate…he had now the professional standing to silence that fellow…and made his way to the theatre Baird had mentioned。
In front he studied the billing of the Parmalee picture。 It was 〃Object； Matrimony…a Smashing Comedy of Love and Laughter。〃 Harold Parmalee； with a gesture of mock dismay； seemed to repulse a bevy of beautiful maidens who wooed him。 Merton took his seat with a dismay that was not mock； for it now occurred to him that he had no experience in love scenes； and that an actor playing Parmalee parts would need a great deal of such experience。 In Simsbury there had been no opportunity for an intending actor to learn certain little niceties expected at sentimental moments。 Even his private life had been almost barren of adventures that might now profit him。
He had sometimes played kissing games at parties； and there had been the more serious affair with Edwina May Pulver…nights when he had escorted her from church or sociables to the Pulver gate and lingered in a sort of nervously worded ecstasy until he could summon courage to kiss the girl。 Twice this had actually happened； but the affair