hr.thecarpetbaggers-第92部分

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who　could　know　what　might　happen？　The　boy　might　go　far。
　He　smiled　to　himself　as　he　picked　up　the　report。　His　sister　had　been　right。
　Blood　was　thicker　than　water。
　
　8
　
　HARRY　RICHARDS；　CHIEF　OF　THE　STUDIO　POLICE；　was　in　the　booth　when　Nevada　drove　into　the　main　gate　of　the　studio。　He　came　out　of　the　booth；　his　hand　outstretched。　〃Mr。　Smith。　It's　great　to　see　you　again。〃
　Nevada　returned　his　smile；　pleased　by　the　man's　obvious　warmth。　He　shook　his　hand。　〃Good　to　see　you　again；　Harry。〃
　〃It's　been　a　long　time；〃　Richards　said。
　〃Yeah。〃　Nevada　smiled。　〃Seven　years。〃　The　last　time　he'd　been　at　the　studio　was　just　after　The　Renegade　had　been　released；　in　1930。　〃I've　got　an　appointment　with　Dan　Pierce。〃
　〃He's　expecting　you；〃　Richards　said。　〃He's　in　Norman's　old　office。〃
　Nevada　nodded。　He　shifted　into　gear　and　Richards　stepped　back　from　the　car。　〃I　hope　everything　works　out；　Mr。　Smith。　It　would　be　like　old　times　having　you　back。〃
　Nevada　smiled　and　turned　the　car　down　the　road　to　the　executive　building。　One　thing；　at　least；　hadn't　changed　around　the　studio。　There　were　no　secrets。　Everybody　knew　what　was　going　on。　They　obviously　knew　more　than　he　did。　All　he　knew　was　what　he'd　read　in　Dan's　telegram。
　He'd　e　in　from　the　range　and　found　it　lying　on　the　table　in　the　entranceway。　He　picked　it　up　and　ripped　it　open　quickly。
　HAVE　IMPORTANT　PICTURE　DEAL　FOR　YOU。　WOULD　APPRECIATE　YOU　CONTACT　ME　RIGHT　AWAY。
　 DAN　PIERCE。
　Martha　came　into　the　hall　while　he　was　reading　it。　She　had　an　apron　on　over　her　dress；　having　just　e　from　the　kitchen。　〃Lunch　is　about　ready；〃　she　said。
　He　handed　her　the　telegram。　〃Dan　Pierce　has　a　picture　deal　for　me。〃
　〃They　must　be　in　trouble；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃Why　else　would　they　call　you　after　all　these　years？〃
　He　shrugged　his　shoulders；　pretending　a　casualness　he　didn't　feel。　〃It　doesn't　have　to　be　that；〃　he　said。　〃Jonas　ain't　like　Bernie　Norman。　Maybe　things　have　changed　since　he　took　over　the　studio。〃
　〃I　hope　so；〃　she　said。　Her　voice　took　on　a　little　spirit。　〃I　just　don't　want　them　using　you　again。〃　She　turned　and　went　back　into　the　kitchen。
　He　stared　after　her　for　a　moment。　That　was　what　he　liked　about　her。　She　was　solid　and　dependable。　She　was　for　him　and　nobody　else；　not　even　herself。　Somehow；　he　had　known　it　would　be　like　that　when　they　were　married　two　years　ago。　Charlie　Dobbs's　widow　was　the　kind　of　woman　he　should　have　married　a　long　time　ago。
　He　followed　her　into　the　kitchen。　〃I've　got　to　go　up　to　Los　Angeles；　to　see　the　bank　about　the　thousand　acres　I'm　buying　from　Murchison；〃　he　said。　〃It　wouldn't　do　any　harm　to　drop　by　and　see　what　Dan　has　on　his　mind。〃
　〃No；　it　wouldn't；〃　she　said；　putting　the　coffeepot　on　the　table。
　He　straddled　a　chair　and　filled　his　cup。　〃Tell　yuh　what；〃　he　said　suddenly。　〃We'll　drive　up　there。　We'll　stay　at　the　Ambassador　an'　have　ourselves　a　high　old　time。〃
　She　turned　to　look　at　him。　There　was　a　sparkling　excitement　hidden　deep　in　his　eyes。　It　was　then　she　knew　he'd　go　back　if　there　was　anything　for　him。　It　wasn't　that　they　needed　the　money。　Nevada　was　a　rich　man　now　by　any　standards。　Everything　was　paying　off　…　the　Wild…West　show；　which　still　used　his　name；　the　dude　ranch　in　Reno　in　which　he　and　her　late　husband　had　been　partners；　and　the　cattle　ranch　here　in　Texas；　where　they　were　living。
　No；　it　wasn't　the　money。　He'd　turned　down　an　offer　of　a　million　dollars'　down　payment　against　royalties　for　the　mineral　rights　to　the　north　quarter。　Oil　had　been　found　on　the　land　adjoining　it。　But　he　wanted　to　keep　the　range　the　way　it　was；　didn't　want　oil　derricks　lousing　up　his　land。
　It　was　the　excitement；　the　recognition　that　came　when　he　walked　down　the　street。　The　kids　clamoring　and　shouting　after　him。　But　they　had　other　heroes　now。　That　was　what　he　missed。　That　…　and　Jonas。
　In　the　end；　it　was　probably　Jonas。　Jonas　was　the　son　he'd　never　had。　Everything　else　was　a　substitute　…　even　herself。　For　a　moment；　she　felt　sorry　for　him。
　〃How　about　it？〃　he　asked；　looking　up　at　her。
　A　feeling　of　tenderness　welled　up　inside　her。　It　had　always　been　like　that。　Even　years　ago；　when　they'd　been　very　young　and　he'd　e　up　from　Texas　to　the　ranch　in　Reno　where　she　and　Charlie　had　settled。　Weary　and　beaten　and　hiding　from　the　law；　he'd　had　a　haunted；　lonely　look　in　his　eyes。　Even　then　she'd　felt　the　essential　goodness　in　him。
　She　smiled。　〃I　think　that　would　be　real　nice；〃　she　said；　almost　shyly。
　
　〃It's　a　rat　race；〃　Dan　said。　〃We　don't　make　pictures　any　more。　We're　a　factory。　We　have　to　grind　out　a　quota　of　film　each　month。〃
　Nevada　slid　back　in　his　chair　and　smiled。　〃It　seems　to　agree　with　you；　Dan。　You　don't　look　none　the　worse　for　it。〃
　〃The　responsibilities　are　killin'　me。　But　it's　a　job。〃
　Nevada　looked　at　him　shrewdly。　Pierce　had　put　on　weight。　〃But　it　beats　the　hell　out　of　workin'　for　a　livin'；　don't　it？〃
　Dan　held　up　his　hands。　〃I　knew　there'd　be　no　point　in　looking　for　sympathy　from　you；　Nevada。〃　They　both　laughed　and　Dan　looked　down　at　his　desk。　When　he　looked　up　again；　his　face　was　serious。　〃I　suppose　you're　wondering　why　I　sent　you　that　telegram？〃
　Nevada　nodded。　〃That's　why　I'm　here。〃
　〃I　appreciate　your　ing；〃　Pierce　said。　〃When　this　deal　came　up；　you　were　the　first　one　I　thought　about。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　Nevada　said　dryly。　〃What's　the　hitch？〃
　Dan's　eyes　grew　round　and　large　and　pretended　hurt。　〃Nevada；　baby；〃　he　protested。　〃Is　that　the　way　to　talk　to　an　old　friend？　I　used　to　be　your　agent。　Who　got　you　your　first　job　in　pictures？〃
　Nevada　smiled。　〃Who　sold　my　show　down　the　river　when　he　found　he　could　get　more　money　for　the　Buffalo　Bill　show？〃
　Pierce　dismissed　it　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃That　was　a　long　time　ago；　Nevada。　I'm　surprised　you　even　brought　it　up。〃
　〃Only　to　keep　the　record　straight；　Dan；〃　Nevada　said。　〃Now；　what's　on　your　mind？〃
　〃You　know　how　pictures　are　being　sold　nowadays？〃　Pierce　asked；　then　went　on　without　waiting　for　Nevada　to　answer。　〃We　sell　a　whole　year　in　advance。　So　many　A　pictures；　so　many　B's；　so　many　action…adventures；　so　many　mystery…horrors　and　so　many　Westerns。　Maybe　ten　per　cent　of　the　program　is　filmed　when　the　sale's　made；　the　rest　as　we　go　along。　That's　what　I　meant　by　rat　race。　We're　lucky　if　we　can　keep　ahead　of　our　contracts。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　accumulate　a　backlog　for　release？〃　Nevada　asked。　〃That　ought　to　solve　your　problem。〃
　Dan　smiled。　〃It　would　but　we　haven't　the　cash　reserve。　We're　always　waiting　for　the　buck　to　e　in　from　the　current　release　so　we　can　produce　the　next　one。　It's　a　vicious　cycle。〃
　〃I　still　haven't　heard　your　proposition；〃　Nevada　said。
　〃I'm　going　to　lay　it　right　on　the　line。　I　feel　I　can　speak　frankly　to　you。〃
　Nevada　nodded。
　〃Jonas　has　us　on　a　short　budget；〃　Dan　said。　〃I'm　not　plaining；　maybe　Jonas　is　right。　At　least；　we　didn't　lose　any　money　last　year　and　it's　the　first　time　in　almost　five　years　we　broke　even。　Now；　this　year；　the　sales　department　thinks　they　can　sell　fourteen　Westerns。〃
　〃Sounds　fine；〃　Nevada　said。
　〃We　haven't　got　the　money　to　make　them。　But　the　bank　will　lend　us　the　money　if　you'll　star　in　them。〃
　〃You　know？〃　Nevada　asked。
　Fierce　nodded。　〃I　spoke　to　Moroni　myself。　He　thought　it　was　a　great　idea。〃
　〃How　much　will　they　advance　you？〃　Nevada　asked。
　〃Forty　thousand　a　picture。〃
　Nevada　laughed。　〃For　the　entire　negative　cost？〃
　Dan　nodded。
　Nevada　got　to　his　feet。　〃Thanks；　pal。〃
　〃Hold　on　a　minute；　Nevada；〃　Dan　said。　〃Wait　until　I　finish。　You　didn't　think　I'd　get　you　up　here　unless　I　thought　you　could　make　a　buck；　did　you？〃
　Nevada　sank　back　into　his　seat　silently。
　〃I　know　how　you　feel　about　quickies；〃　Dan　said。　〃But　believe　me；　these　will　be　different。　We　still　have　the　sets　we　used　for　The　Renegade；　out　on　the　back　lot。　Dress　them　up　a　little　and　they'll　be　good　as　new。　I'll　use　my　top　production　staff。　You　can　have　your　choice　of　any　director　and　cameraman　on　the　lot。　That　goes　for　writers　and　producers；　too。　I　think　too　much　of　you；　baby；　to　louse　you　up。〃
　〃That's　fine；〃　Nevada　said。　〃But　what　am　I　supposed　to　work　for？　Spit　and　tobacco？〃
　〃I　think　I've　got　a　good　deal　for　you。　I　had　our　accountants　look　into　it　and　figure　out　a　way　you　can　keep　some　money　instead　of　paying　it　all　out　in　these　damn　taxes　Roosevelt　is　slapping　on　us。〃
　Nevada　stared　at　him。　〃This　better　be　good。〃
　〃We'll　salary　you　ten　grand　a　picture；〃　Dan　said。　〃That　breaks　down　to　five　grand　a　week；　because　each　picture　will　only　take　two　weeks　to　shoot。　You　defer　your　salary　until　first　profits　and　we'll　give　you　the　picture　outright　after　seven　years。　You'll　own　the　entire　thing　…　negative　and　prints　…　lock；　stock　and　barrel。　Then；　if　you　want；　we'll　buy　it　back　from　you。　That'll　give　you　a　capital　gain。〃
　Nevada's　face　was　impassive。　〃You　sound　just　like　Bernie　Norman；〃　he　said。　〃It　must　be　the　office。〃
　Pierce　smiled。　〃The　difference　is　that　Norman　was　out　to　screw　you。　I'm　not。　I　just　want　to　keep　this　factory　running。〃
　〃What　would　we　use　for　stories？〃
　〃I　didn't　want　to　look　into　that　until　after　I'd　talked　to　you；〃　Dan　said　quickly。　〃You　know　I　always　had　a　high　regard　for　your　story　sense。〃
　Nevada　smiled。　He　knew　from　Pierce's　answer　that　he　hadn't　even　thought　about　stories　yet。　〃The　important