Part 29 (1/2)
”How would you like to be a actor?” says Alex.
”Nothin' doin'!” says Delancey. ”I got a steady job and I'm too fond of eatin'.”
”Don't be a fool!” says Alex. ”That stuff about actors not eatin'
regular is a thing of the past. These days a actor makes more money than a banker. Did you ever appear on the stage anywheres in your life?”
”I did not!” snarls Delancey. ”And I can lick the guy which claims I did!”
”Fine!” says Alex, lookin' at me. ”Now of course you've seen movin'
pictures, hey?”
”Sure!” says Delancey. ”What d'ye think I am--ig'rant?”
”Not at all,” says Alex. ”Do you think if you had a chance and was well paid for it, you could do the things them heroes does in the movies?”
Delancey Calhoun, nee Tim O'Toole, throws out his chest from here to South Dakota.
”Do I _think_ so?” he says. ”Why, say, pal--that stuff would be soft for me! I ain't no second Mary Pickford or the like and Chaplin might grab off more laughs to the reel than me, but when it come to this here cowboy and full dress stuff--Oh, lady!!!”
”You're hired!” hollers Alex, slappin' him on the back. ”Startin'
right now your salary is a hundred a week. Drive that truck back to where it belongs and throw up your job.”
”A hundred a week, hey?” says Delancey, rollin' his eyes. ”Oh, lady!!
In a month I'll have Carnegie gnas.h.i.+n' his teeth!” He breaks off and swings around on Alex. ”Look here!” he says, ”I been drivin' this truck for two years. I got a good steady job from eight in the mornin'
till ten at night, and I get twenty berries a week for it. I don't know nothin' about this nut job of yours, but if I don't get my hundred every week--well, they's gonna be a funeral with you bein' featured in it, get that?”
”That's all right,” says Alex. ”I'll deposit your first six months'
salary in the bank for you--how's that?”
”What could be sweeter?” says Delancey. ”They's just one other thing.”
”Speak up!” says Alex.
”As long as I'm gonna be a movie actor,” says Delancey, ”do I get a dress suit to wear?”
”Sure!” says Alex. ”Why?”
”Well,” grins Delancey, ”I never had one of them open faced suits on in me life and in fact I was savin' up to get one now. I'm simply nutty to put on one of them layouts and knock the innocent onlookers silly.
If you hit a tough week, I might take ninety-five bucks and let the rest go over a few days, but I gotta have the dress suit and that goes!”
”It's yours,” says Alex, diggin' me in the ribs.
”All right,” says Delancey, ”I'll go down now and make the boss faint by quittin'. I'll meet you anywheres you says to-morrow.”
”You will not,” says Alex. ”I'll ride right down on that truck with you now!”
About two weeks later, Alex comes up to the flat and tells me to put on my hat and cane. He says he's gonna take me over to the studio and show me Delancey Calhoun's first picture.