ight to be perceived. The slips
were ready in hand. Instead of joining the line Merton decided upon
luncheon. It was two o'clock, and though waiters with trays had been
abundant in the gilded cabaret, the best screen art had not seemed to
demand a serving of actual food. Further, he would eat in the cafeteria
in evening dress, his make-up still on, like a real actor. The other
time he had felt conspicuous because nothing had identified him with the
ordinary clientele of the place.

The room was not crowded now. Only a table here and there held late
comers, and the choice of foods when he reached the serving counter
at the back was limited. He permitted himself to complain of this in a
practised manner, but made a selection and bore his tray to the centre
of the room. He had chosen a table and was about to sit, when he
detected Henshaw farther down the room, and promptly took the one next
him. It was probable that Henshaw would recall him and praise the work
he had done. But the director merely rolled unseeing eyes over him as
he seated himself, and continued his speech to the man Merton had before
seen him with, the grizzled dark man with the stubby gray mustache
whom he called Governor. Merton wondered if he could be the governor of
California, but decided not. Perhaps an ex-governor.

"She's working out well," he was saying. "I consider it one of the best
continuities Belmore has done. Not a line of smut in it, but to make up
for that we'll have over thirty changes of costume."

Merton Gill coughed violently, then stared moodily at his plate of baked
beans. He hoped that this, at least, would recall him to Henshaw who
might fix an eye on him to say: "And, by the way, here is a young actor
that was of great help to me this morning." But neither man even glanced
up. Seemingly this young actor could choke to death without exciting
their notice. He stared less moodily at the baked beans. Henshaw would
notice him sometime, and you couldn't do everything at once.

The men had finished their luncheon and were smoking. The animated
Henshaw continued his talk. "And about that other thing we were
discussing, Governor, I want to go into that with you. I tell you if we
can do Robinson Crusoe, and do it right, a regular five-thousand-foot
program feature, the thing ought to gross a million. A good, clean,
censor-proof picture--great kid show, run forever. Shipwreck stuff,
loading the raft, island stuff, hut stuff, goats, findin