Professional Lover Part 14

His smile faded. His blue*gray eyes opened wide in astonishment.

"Who ever put that idea into your head?"

"Isn't it the truth?"

The astonishment pa.s.sed to a grim look of anger. "No, it isn't the truth. No one with any decency would have suggested such a thing."

There was a pause. Strained and uncomfortable. Starr fought against an awful sense of humiliation. It was stinging and painful.

"Shall I tell you why I want you to play opposite me, Starr?" he asked quietly. He got off the table and came over to where she stood by the window.

She didn't reply. That queer sense of humiliation still held her speechless.

"For one thing, I believe in you. I think you've the right stuff in you to make a great talkie star. I'm sure you've talent. Too, I think you've got what is known as 'popular appeal.' Without that, no amount of talent would get you anywhere. You've guts, too, and I know you're not afraid of hard work. I think, once started, you'll go on and on.... I want to see you going on and on, Starr. I want you to succeed."

"Is that the only reason you want me to play opposite you in the picture?" she asked quietly, when he had paused for breath.

A slight, faintly whimsical smile broke over his face. "No, not the only reason, child. The other is, I happen to be in love with you."

And again there came a pause.

"Don't you see that's the chief reason why I can't, Rex?" she murmured.

"No, I'm d.a.m.ned if I do!" He shot it out in sharp exasperation.

"There's Stephen," she said.

"What right has he to you? He isn't even divorced yet!'

"But * but we're going to be married as soon as he is.""Then he's no right to try to tie you down definitely until then. It's darned selfish. And I don't care what you say, this absurd stand he's taking about trying to stop your having a film career is pure selfishness, too!"

You're always most angry when you realize there's some justification in what the other person is saying. Starr was furious.

"How dare you criticize Stephen to me? And it isn't his wish. It's mine. I don't want to play opposite you in this or any other picture, so there!"

"Well," * he thrust his hands into his pockets, and his chin protruded aggressively * "if you're going to be stubborn, I can be stubborn, too. Unless you play opposite me in this film, I won't play in it either. I refuse to play with any other leading lady. If you won't accept Al's offer, he'll have to find some other male star for Lovable Rake."

For the moment her chief sensation was amazement. "You're joking, of course."

He gripped her elbows and swung her round to face him.

"Do I look as though I were joking?" he demanded, belligerently.

No, she was forced to admit that he didn't.

"But it's absurd," she protested breathlessly.

"No more absurd than your refusing to play the lead because of a selfish whim on Stephen's part!"

"You can't force me to play in Lovable Rake."

"No" * grimly * "and they can't force me to play in it either."

"But there's your contract, Rex. If you walk out on them it will be automatically broken."

"Well, let it be broken."

"But * but your career?"

"To h.e.l.l with my career.... I can be as stubborn as you, on occasion, Starr."

"You couldn't be so mad, Rex, as to walk out on them!"

"Couldn't I?"

And she realized suddenly, with a queer, sharp anxiety, that he might be!

All the same, she wasn't going to give in to him. Nothing would induce her to give in to him. It would upset Stephen frightfully. And if Rex chose to wreck his career over this ridiculous stand, that was his own affair, wasn't it? Her first, second, and last duty was to Stephen. Stephen whom she loved, whom she was going to marry.

They continued to quarrel. It ended in Rex seizing his light gray felt hat savagely and marching out of the apartment.

"He'll think better of it in the morning, " she tried to console herself. "And, of course, it's all nonsense about his threatening to walk out on them. Why, they'd be so mad with him at the studios it would ruin him."

She tried to think this didn't matter to her. Yet all the time she knew, in an annoying, nagging way, that it did matter. And that made her all the more determined to stand by her decision.She didn't mention the interview to Stephen. Oddly she felt she didn't want to talk about Rex to Stephen. They dined together and went to the theater, but Starr found the whole evening curiously flat. She had continually to whip her enthusiasm. And when Stephen kissed her good*night she felt queerly stifled. As though she wanted to push him away from her.

The next day when she met him for lunch he seemed in abnormally good spirits. "There's a h.e.l.l of a row going on at the West East Studios," he told her, chuckling. "I think Rex has certainly queered his pitch this time. Old Al won't get over it in a hurry, believe me!"

"Why, what's happened?" Starr asked sharply. Strange how tense she felt suddenly. And there was a cold sense of fear gripping her heart.

"Rex has got too big for his boots, obviously. But then I told you so the other day, didn't I?

That's the worst of these stars. Directly they've got any fame at all, they think they can rule the whole roost. Why, Rex calmly announced this morning that he wasn't going to play in Lovable Rake! After it had all been arranged that he should, too! I tell you, I've never seen old Al so mad. He stormed about that studio as though forty demons were perched on his shoulder.

Swore that unless Rex came off his high horse and played in the picture he'd tear up his contract. Yes, and he'd see the story got around so that he didn't get a contract from any other studio either." Stephen laughed with grim satisfaction. "He'll stick to his word, too; I know the old boy. He's given Rex until this afternoon to decide. And I'm willing to bet a thousand dollars that unless Rex capitulates, his career as a famous star is as good as over. In this country at least!"

Starr was sitting stiff and straight in her chair.

"You mean that?" she muttered. 'You really think it would ruin him?"

"Not a doubt about it," Stephen grinned. "In a couple of years no one would even remember the name of Rex Brandon."

There was a longish pause. Starr was staring down at her plate, but she didn't see anything that was on it. Her hands were clenched tightly about the sides of her chair.

"You say he's got until this afternoon to decide?" she whispered at last.

Stephen nodded absent*mindedly. He consulted his wrist watch.

'We'd better look sharp, Starr. You know we're going to that preview of the Camedon picture. It starts at two*thirty."

"I'm * I'm afraid I won't be able to go with you, Stephen," Starr said breathlessly. "I've got an important appointment elsewhere. I'm awfully sorry. But I must rush.'

And, before Stephen's startled and amazed eyes, she seized her bag and gloves and literally ran out of the restaurant.

19

When Starr left the restaurant she had no clear idea what she intended doing. Perhaps she merely wanted to get away from Stephen for a time. Perhaps, too, it was pure coincidence that led her to Rex's apartment. But whatever motive guided her steps, she arrived in a curiously breathless state. But Mr. Brandon hadn't returned for lunch. His servant believed him to be still out at the studios.

Still with no definite course of action admitted even to herself, Starr hailed a taxi and was driven out to the West East Studios. She knew, as she drew near the studios, that she had to see Rex. But just what she would say to him she hadn't the least idea. For, of course, she had no intention of backing down. But perhaps she could make him see the whole situation more sensibly.

But Rex wasn't at the studios. Urged on by Starr, the messenger boy searched and searched.

Later she gleaned that he had driven away in his big yellow sporting car shortly before lunch.

No one seemed to know whether or not he intended returning.

But, of course, he would return. Starr was convinced of that at three o'clock. Less convinced at four. In a state of awful doubt and uncertainty at five. Somehow she had pa.s.sed the intervening hours. She had a vague notion that she had wandered from one set to another.

Only two pictures were being filmed in the studios just then, the main set being held in reserve for the commencement of Lovable Rake.

At five*thirty, somehow, she found herself in the anteroom of Al Hammond's office demanding to see him.

"Have you an appointment?" the girl asked doubtfully.

"No, but tell him I must see him. It's * it's about Mr. Brandon."

The girl looked surprised, but retired into the great Al's sanctum.

She returned with the message that Mr. Hammond had heard a h.e.l.l of a lot too much both from and about Mr. Brandon that day. If Mr. Brandon wished to see him himself he could do so. But he'd better look sharp, because only half an hour remained till six o'clock. And after six o'clock there would be nothing at all Mr. Hammond would wish to hear from Mr. Brandon.

"Why, they're squabbling just like a lot of stupid women!" Starr cried in despair. "I didn't think men could be so petty!"

"Gosh! And you were once a secretary yourself!" the girl murmured incredulously.

Starr said very determinedly, "I must see Mr. Hammond. I shall sit out here and wait for him, that's all."

The girl threw her a film magazine. "Please yourself," she said.Starr didn't read it. She didn't even open it. She sat on the edge of the seat and watched the private door that led from Al's office more intently than any wild beast ever watched its prey.

There was a curious taut suggestion about her body. too, as though she were waiting to spring.

And she did, the moment Al appeared.

She rushed towards him and literally clutched him.

"Oh, Mr. Hammond," she cried, "I must talk to you. Please let me talk to you. I know you're busy, but *"

"But it seems you are talking to me, doesn't it?" Al smiled slightly. Not overcordially, but that he did smile helped.

"Can't I come back with you into your office just for a minute?"

"A woman's minute is usually an hour," he grumbled.

"But I swear mine won't be."

His smile broadened. "I don't believe you, but come along."

He lighted a fresh cigar, stood by his big mahogany desk, and said: "Well?"

And, suddenly Starr couldn't think what she had come to say to him.

'Well?" he repeated. This time more sharply.

"It's * it's about Rex Brandon," she stammered.

"Sent you as a little peacemaker, did he? Too darn proud to give in gracefully himself."

There was something faintly approaching a sneer on the little man's face.

"Oh, no," Starr cried hastily. "He doesn't know anything about my being here."

"In that case what's the sense in wasting*my time?" he asked gruffly.

"But * but I feel sure I could persuade him to be reasonable. If you'd only give me time!"

"Why the h.e.l.l should anyone have to persuade Rex Brandon to act in one of my pictures?"

he asked roughly.

"It isn't that," she said hastily. "It's all so involved, Mr. Hammond."

He sat down with a sigh. He saw he was in for it.

"Seems to me it is involved," he said with a grim laugh. "A queer business. First I make you an offer to play opposite Rex * an amazing offer, considering your inexperience * and you turn it down! No reason given, either. Next Rex calmly declares he isn't going to play in the picture. Still no reason given! And he's under contract. Of course, that cancels his contract, but I'm fond of the d.a.m.n fellow, so I stooped to argue with him. Even offered him until this afternoon to think it over. And, far from being grateful, he dashes away from the studios and doesn't return. And now you come here * though I haven't a ghost of a notion what you have come for."

Starr repeated what she had said before. If only he'd give Rex more time to reach a decision.

"And why should you think you can persuade him?" he demanded irritably. "He's not in love with you, is he?" He raised gray bushy eyebrows and shot out the question.

Starr colored. She stammered. "I don't know... he...""Is he or isn't he?" the little man demanded. "You're a girl. You should know."

"Well, perhaps he is," Starr admitted. Al sighed and relaxed. "That alters the situation. You must expect a man in love to behave like a d.a.m.ned lunatic!"

Starr, too, breathed more freely. That is, until Al asked his next question.

"Are you in love with him?"