ld. 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 had come to
nothing, because the Pulvers had moved away from Simsbury and he had
practically forgotten Edwina May; forgotten even the scared haste of
those embraces. He seemed to remember that he had grabbed her and kissed
her, but was it on her cheek or nose?

Anyway, he was now quite certain that the mechanics of this dead amour
were not those approved of in the best screen circles. Never had he
gathered a beauteous girl in his arms and very slowly, very accurately,
very tenderly, done what Parmalee and other screen actors did in their
final fade-outs. Even when Beulah Baxter had been his screen ideal he
had never seen himself as doing more than save her from some dreadful
fate. Of course, later, if he had found out that she was unwed--

He resolved now to devote special study to Parmalee's methods of wooing
the fair creature who would be found in his arm