Carmella Commands
placidly. “She used to be the tag end of nothing with the boys. We wouldn’t look at her, she was so dumb.”
Carmella was silent. Apparently she had lost interest, and made no answer when Dixon spoke. At last she said:
“Mr. Dixon, I know why Peggy Dorr loves so awfully swell.”
“Shoot!” said he. “I’ll keep the secret.”
“It’s because when you and the other boys knew her you didn’t love her. And she kept thinking about it, and wondering why not, and how she could make you love her. And she thought it out. That’s why she’s such a wonderful actress now. She thought it out.”
“Maybe that’s an idea. Maybe I could collect royalties from her now, for helping to make her a big actress.”
“Why?” asked Carmella, sceptically.
“For just what you said. For not loving her on sight, so she’d have to think it out.”
“Mr. Dixon,” said Carmella sternly, “I think you’re simply horrid.”
“Well, gosh, kid! How was I to know she was going to grow into one of the grandest little eyeartists in Hollywood? All she was then was a wobblykneed kid that always looked like she was going to be sick tomorrow.”
“Would she know you now?” asked Carmella abruptly.
[206]
