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as shook up and scraped here and there。 But Bert was finished。 That's the funny part。 He'd got it on this boulevard； but back on the lot he'd have rode through that plate… glass window probably without a scratch。 And just because the sun didn't shine that day； I wasn't engaged any more。 Bert was kind of like some old sea…captain that comes back to shore after risking his life on the ocean in all kinds of storms； and falls into a duck…pond and gets drowned。〃
She sat a long time staring out over the landscape； still holding his hand。 Inside the fence before the farmhouse three of the New York villains were again engaged in athletic sports； but she seemed oblivious of these。 At last she turned to him again with an illumining smile。
〃But I was dead in love once before that； and that's how I know just how you feel about Baxter。 He was the preacher where we used to go to church。 He was a good one。 Pa copied a lot of his stuff that he uses to this day if he happens to get a preacher part。 He was the loveliest thing。 Not so young； but dark； with wonderful eyes and black hair； and his voice would go all through you。 I had an awful case on him。 I was twelve； and all week I used to think how I'd see him the next Sunday。 Say； when I'd get there and he'd be working doing pulpit stuffhe'd have me in kind of a trance。
〃Sometimes after the pulpit scene he'd come down right into the audience and shake hands with people。 I'd almost keel over if he'd notice me。 I'd be afraid if he would and afraid if he wouldn't。 If he said 'And how is the little lady this morning？' I wouldn't have a speck of voice to answer him。 I'd just tremble all over。 I used to dream I'd get a job workin' for him as extra； blacking his shoes or fetching his breakfast and things。
〃It was the real thing； all right。 I used to try to pray the way he didasking the Lord to let me do a character bit or something with him。 He had me going all right。 You must 'a' been that way about Baxter。 Sure you were。 When you found she was married and used a double and everything； it was like I'd found this preacher shooting hop or using a double in his pulpit stuff。〃
She was still again； looking back upon this tremendous episode。
〃Yes； that's about the way I felt；〃 he told her。 Already his affair with Mrs。 Rosenblatt seemed a thing of his childhood。 He was wondering； rather； if the preacher could have been the perfect creature the girl was now picturing him。 It would not have displeased him to learn that this refulgent being had actually used a double in his big scenes； or had been guilty of mere human behaviour at odd moments。 Probably； after all； he had been just a preacher。 〃Uncle Sylvester used to want me to be a preacher；〃 he said； with apparent irrelevance； 〃even if he was his own worst enemy。〃 He added presently； as the girl remained silent； 〃I always say my prayers at night。〃 He felt vaguely that this might raise him to the place of the other who had been adored。 He was wishing to be thought well of by this girl。
She was aroused from her musing by his confession。 〃You do？ Now ain't that just like you？ I'd have bet you did that。 Well； keep on； son。 It's good stuff。〃
Her serious mood seemed to pass。 She was presently exchanging tart repartee with the New York villains who had perched in a row on the fence to be funny about that longcontinued holding of hands in the motor car。 She was quite unembarrassed； however； as she dropped the hand with a final pat and vaulted to the ground over the side of the car。
〃Get busy； there！〃 she ordered。 〃Where's your understanderwhere's your top…mounter？〃 She became a circus ringmaster。 〃Three up and a roll for yours；〃 she commanded。 The three villains aligned themselves on the lawn。 One climbed to the shoulders of the other and a third found footing on the second。 They balanced there； presently to lean forward from the summit。 The girl played upon an imaginary snare drum with a guttural； throaty imitation of its roll； culminating in the 〃boom！〃 of a bass…drum as the tower toppled to earth。 Its units； completing their turn with somersaults； again stood in line； bowing and smirking their acknowledgments for imagined applause。
The girl； a moment later； was turning hand…springs。 Merton had never known that actors were so versatile。 It was an astounding profession； he thought； remembering his own registration card that he had filled out at the Holden office。 His age； height； weight； hair； eyes； and his chest and waist measures； these had been specified； and then he had been obliged to write the short 〃No〃 after ride； drive； swim； danceto write 〃No〃 after 〃Ride？〃 even in the artistically photographed presence of Buck Benson on horseback！
Yet in spite of these disabilities he was now a successful actor at an enormous salary。 Baird was already saying that he would soon have a contract for him to sign at a still larger figure。 Seemingly it was a profession in which you could rise even if you were not able to turn hand…springs or were more or less terrified by horses and deep water and dance music。
And the Montague girl； who； he now fervently hoped； would not be killed while doubling for Mrs。 Rosenblatt； was a puzzling creature。 He thought his hand must still be warm from her enfolding of it； even when work was resumed and he saw her； with sunbonnet pushed back； stand at the gate of the little farmhouse and behave in an utterly brazen manner toward one of the New York clubmen who was luring her up to the great city。 She； who had just confided to him that she was afraid of men； was now practically daring an undoubted scoundrel to lure her up to the great city and make a lady of her。 And she had been afraid of all but a clergyman and a stunt actor！ He wondered interestingly if she were afraid of Merton Gill。 She seemed not to be。
On another day of long waits they ate their lunch from the cafeteria box on the steps of the little home and discussed stage names。 〃I guess we better can that 'Clifford Armytage' stuff；〃 she told him as she seriously munched a sandwich。 〃We don't need it。 That's out。 Merton Gill is a lot better name。〃 She had used 〃we〃 quite as if it were a community name。
〃Well； if you think so〃 he began regretfully； for Clifford Armytage still seemed superior to the indistinction of Merton Gill。
〃Sure； it's a lot better；〃 she went on。 〃That 'Clifford Armytage' say； it reminds me of just another such feckless dub as you that acted with us one time when we all trouped in a rep show； playing East Lynne and such things。 He was just as wise as you are； and when he joined out at Kansas City they gave him a whole book of the piece instead of just his sides。 He was a quick study； at that； only he learned everybody's part as well as his own； and that slowed him。 They put him on in Waco； and the manager was laid up； so they told him that after the third act he was to go out and announce the bill for the next night； and he learned that speech； too。
〃He got on fine till the big scene in the third act。 Then he went bloody because that was as far as he'd learned； so he just left the scene cold and walked down to the foots and bowed and said； 'Ladies and gentlemen； we thank you for your attendance here this evening and to…mor