ce　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　morning's　episode。
  〃The　squirrel's　done　it；〃　whispered　the　girl　after　the　opening　scene。　It　seemed　to　her　that　Merton　Gill　on　the　screen　might　overhear　her　comment。
  Even　Baird　was　low…toned。　〃Looks　so；〃　he　agreed。
  〃If　that　ain't　Parmalee　then　I'll　eat　all　the　hard…boiled　eggs　on　the　lot。〃
  Baird　rubbed　his　hands。　〃It's　Parmalee　plus；〃　he　corrected。
  〃Oh；　Mother；　Mother！〃　murmured　the　girl　while　the　screen　revealed　the　actor　studying　his　photographs。
  〃He　handled　all　right　in　that　spot；〃　observed　Baird。
  〃He'll　handle　rightdon't　worry。　Ain't　I　told　you　he's　a　natural　born　trouper？〃
  The　mail　was　abandoned　in　humorous　despair。　The　cigarette　lighted　in　a　flawless　Parmalee　manner；　the　smoke　idly　brushed　aside。　〃Poor；　silly　little　girls；〃　the　actor　was　seen　to　say。　The　girl　gripped　Baird's　arm　until　he　winced。　〃There；　old　Pippin！　There's　your　million；　picked　right　up　on　the　lot！〃
  〃Maybe；〃　assented　the　cooler　Baird；　as　they　left　the　projection　room。
  〃And　say；〃　asked　the　girl；　〃did　you　notice　all　morning　how　he　didn't　even　bat　an　eye　when　you　spoke　to　him；　if　the　camera　was　still　turning？　Not　like　a　beginner　that'll　nearly　always　look　up　and　get　out　of　the　picture。〃
  〃What　I　bet；〃　observed　Baird；　〃I　bet　he'd　'a'　done　that　album　stuff　even　better　than　he　did　if　I'd　actually　put　his　own　pictures　in；　the　way　I'm　going　to　for　the　close…ups。　I　was　afraid　he'd　see　it　was　kidding　if　I　did；　or　if　I　told　him　what　pictures　they　were　going　to　be。　But　I'm　darned　now　if　I　don't　think　he'd　have　stood　for　it。　I　don't　believe　you'll　ever　be　able　to　peeve　that　boy　by　telling　him　he's　good。〃
  The　girl　glanced　up　defensively　as　they　walked。
  〃Now　don't　get　the　idea　he's　conceited；　because　he　ain't。　Not　one　bit。〃
  〃How　do　you　know　he　ain't？〃
  She　considered　this；　then　explained　brightly；　〃Because　I　wouldn't　like　him　if　he　was。　No；　nonow　you　listen　here〃　as　Baird　had　grinned。　〃This　lad　believes　in　himself；　that's　all。　That's　different　from　conceit。　You　can　believe　a　whole　lot　in　yourself；　and　still　be　as　modest　as　a　newhatched　chicken。　That's　what　he　reminds　me　of；　too。〃
  The　following　morning　Baird　halted　him　outside　the　set　on　which　he　would　work　that　day。　Again　he　had　been　made　up　by　the　Montague　girl；　with　especial　attention　to　the　eyebrows　so　that　they　might　show　the　Parmalee　lift。
  〃I　just　want　to　give　you　the　general　dope　of　the　piece　before　you　go　on；〃　said　Baird；　in　the　shelter　of　high　canvas　backing。　〃You're　the　only　son　of　a　widowed　mother　and　both　you　and　she　are　toiling　to　pay　off　the　mortgage　on　the　little　home。　You're　the　cashier　of　this　business　establishment；　and　in　love　with　the　proprietor's　daughter；　only　she's　a　society　girl　and　kind　of　looks　down　on　you　at　first。　Then；　there's　her　brother；　the　proprietor's　only　son。　He's　the　clerk　in　this　place。　He　doesn't　want　to　work；　but　his　father　has　made　him　learn　the　business；　see？　He's　kind　of　a　no…good；　dissipated；　wears　flashy　clothes　and　plays　the　races　and　shoots　craps　and　drinks。　You　try　to　reform　him　because　he's　idolized　by　his　sister　that　you're　in　love　with。
  〃But　you　can't　do　a　thing　with　him。　He　keeps　on　and　gets　in　with　a　rough　crowd；　and　finally　he　steals　a　lot　of　money　out　of　the　safe；　and　just　when　they　are　about　to　discover　that　he's　the　thief　you　see　it　would　break　his　sister's　heart　so　you　take　the　crime　on　your　own　shoulders。　After　that；　just　before　you're　going　to　be　arrested；　you　make　a　getawaybecause；　after　all；　you're　not　guiltyand　you　go　out　West　to　start　all　over　again〃
  〃Out　there　in　the　big　open　spaces？〃　suggested　Merton；　who　had　listened　attentively。
  〃Exactly；〃　assented　Baird；　with　one　of　those　nervous　spasms　that　would　now　and　again　twitch　his　lips　and　chin。　〃Out　there　in　the　big　open　spaces　where　men　are　menthat's　the　idea。　And　you　build　up　a　little　gray　home　in　the　West　for　yourself　and　your　poor　old　mother　who　never　lost　faith　in　you。　There'll　be　a　lot　of　good　Western　stuff　in　thisBuck　Benson　stuff；　you　know；　that　you　can　do　so　welland　the　girl　will　get　out　there　some　way　and　tell　you　that　her　brother　finally　confessed　his　crime；　and　everything'll　be　Jake；　see　what　I　mean？〃
  〃Yes；　sir；　it　sounds　fine；　Mr。　Baird。　And　I　certainly　will　give　the　best　that　is　in　me　to　this　part。〃　He　had　an　impulse　to　tell　the　manager；　too；　how　gratified　he　was　that　one　who　had　been　content　with　the　low　humour　of　the　Buckeye　comedies　should　at　last　have　been　won　over　to　the　better　form　of　photodrama。　But　Baird　was　leading　him　on　to　the　set；　there　was　no　time　for　this　congratulatory　episode。
  Indeed　the　impulse　was　swept　from　his　mind　in　the　novelty　of　the　set　now　exposed；　and　in　the　thought　that　his　personality　was　to　dominate　it。　The　scene　of　the　little　drama's　unfolding　was　a　delicatessen　shop。　Counters　and　shelves　were　arrayed　with　cooked　foods；　salads；　cheeses；　the　latter　under　glass　or　wire　protectors。　At　the　back　was　a　cashier's　desk；　an　open　safe　beside　it。　He　took　his　place　there　at　Baird's　direction　and　began　to　write　in　a　ledger。
  〃Now　your　old　mother's　coming　to　mop　up　the　place；〃　called　Baird。　〃Come　on；　Mother！　You　lo