CHAPTER VIII
LUCY'S AMBITIONS
Learning that Lucy Dalles was from Mendocino County was startling, butsurprise over this took second place in Hiram Hooker's thoughts. Hewas stricken with consternation to think that all the time he had beenbefore the jeweler's window, trying to nerve himself up to enter therestaurant, she had known he was there.
"After your friend left the restaurant," she was saying, "I thought I'dgo out and tell you about me being from Mendocino. Just as I left thedoor the hook-and-ladder came by. Then I stood by you watching thefire, you know, till the Samax people drove up. Then I forgoteverything but getting the picture for the fire scene in 'The CrowningDefeat.' I asked you to see Mr. Kenoke for me, and you did--and it wasdandy of you, too. Now I'll tell you about my scenarios; then I wantto talk about nothing but Mendocino County.
"Well, I write scenarios for moving-picture production," she went on."That's one reason why I wanted the cashier's job--so I could have theuse of the boss' old typewriter. I've been paying a publicstenographer fifty cents a thousand words to copy my work, and it cutsinto the profits when you get so little for a scenario.
"I've been writing them a year now. I've sold ten. That's not verymany, is it?--when you know; that I have written over fifty. I've soldmost of mine to this Samax Company, through the mail; and one day Iwent to their Western studio, here in the city, and told them who I wasand got acquainted with Mr. Kenoke. He's their best producer, I think.
"As it happened, I am now working on a play that calls for a big firescene. I was worried about it, because they send so many of myscenarios back with the comment that they are too difficult to produce.It's a dandy plot, and I hated to give it up just because it wouldrequire a burning building. They would hardly buy a building and burnit down just to please me, you know.
"But when they hear of a fire they get right to it, if they can, andtake rescue scenes, and so forth, then have their contract writers workup a scenario in which the scenes can be used. But that's hack work.Mine is different, you see. My scenario called for a fire, andcouldn't be produced without it. Quite different from having a firecall for a scenario.
"Well, now you know. I couldn't explain then, you see. There wasn'ttime, and, besides, I was too excited. I doubted if you would haveunderstood, either--you just from the country.
"Now don't think I'm making fun of you. But it's the truth, isn't it?And it was certainly great of you to go the way you did, not having theleast idea of what you were up against."
"It wasn't much," Hiram said in his unassuming way.
"Yes, it was," the girl said with a lack of the enthusiasm which hadmarked her former grateful utterances. Her eyes were far away, and itwas apparent that another matter held precedence in her mind. "Youjust got into Frisco last night, your partner said."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I could see that when you came in the restaurant. Your new suit looksfairly nice." She scanned him frankly.
Hiram squirmed. "Tweet said I looked whittled out in it," he saidtruthfully.
"You don't any such thing! You don't mind my being so personal, doyou? I've taken quite an interest in you since Mr. Tweet talked aboutyou--especially as you are from Mendocino. You looked so forlorn andscared last night when you came in the restaurant. I could see thatyou didn't know what to order or how to order it, and that you werehalf starved. I remembered my first day in the city. Honestly, I wasscared blue! But tell me--what part of the country are you from?"
"I'm from Bear Valley," Hiram told her.
"Bear Valley! Why, our old place is just on the other side of therange. I've been in Bear Valley lots of times. Our place is in TempleValley."
"I know Temple Valley," Hiram put in quickly.
"Of course you do! Why did you come down here?"
"I was gettin' tired of the backwoods--been there all my life," saidHiram lamely.
Lucy's eyes grew dreamy. "I thought the same," she said pensively atlast. "I was born there in Temple Valley. I was content, too, till Iwas about twenty; then I got to mixing with the summer boarders thatcame to the Mills place for the trout season. They'd have something onevery night, and I got acquainted and was always invited. I got towanting to go to the city, and I hated Temple Valley.
"Then my folks died. I didn't get along the best in the world withEmma--that's by [Transcribers' note: my?] brother's wife. So I pulledout the day after my twentieth birthday and came to Frisco--and I'vebeen here ever since. But there was another reason why I left."
She sighed and leaned back.
"You've heard of Mrs. Cummings, the writer, haven't you? She was upat Mills' place one summer, and I got acquainted with her. I told herI'd always had the writing bug, and she encouraged me. I had noeducation but what I'd got in the Temple district school, but I'd reada lot.
"So I wanted to write, and finally I left and came to Frisco, and I hadan awful time. Finally I got a job in a cheap restaurant and had towait table, and when I got the cashier's job last night I got out ofthe rut for the first time in three years. I quit two or three times,thinking I could make a living writing scenarios, but I always had togo back to the beaneries.
"I'm going to hold down the restaurant job till things come my way.I've given up the idea that I'm a genius. My clothes cost a lot.Things will break for me some day. Maybe I'll get in the pictures. Iwant to go to Los Angeles and try, when I can save a little jack. Ileft the woods to win out, and I'm going to do it by fair means orfoul. I'm ambitious. I'm determined to be rich some day."
Hiram drank in her chatter for two hours more, and when they returnedto her rooming house he paid the driver of the car thirteen dollars andfifty cents, and now had only fifteen-fifty to his name. He washorrified at the prospects, but blissfully conscious that he had givenLucy Dalles an afternoon of pleasure.
"I want to show you my room," she said, as the car departed. "Come in.Don't make any noise going upstairs."
She led the way in, and he followed her softly. She opened a door onthe second floor and stood back for him to look.
"I furnished my own room," she said proudly. "It's all mine, and paidfor--pretty nearly."
Hiram stood aghast in the doorway. Never, except in the show windows,had his eye rested on such splendor.
There was a rug on the floor, soft and thick, which Lucy told him was agenuine Smyrna. There was a leopard skin, with stuffed head and red,gaping jaws. There were two handsome overstuffed leather chairs, andthe bedroom set was Circassian walnut, so Lucy said.
She closed the door and hurried him below.
"You see, I've realized part of my ambition," she said, sinking intothe squeaky rocker. "I'm not so clever or so cultured and all that,but I came from the backwoods to be somebody and have something, andI'll make good one way or another. What you saw is just a beginner. Imight have bought a typewriter instead, but--well, I just didn't."'
"They're mighty nice," commented Hiram, as she paused.
"Yes, they made a fool out of me when I hit Frisco," she continuedabsently, "but my day's coming. I'm getting a toehold, as your Mr.Tweet says. I've rubbed off some of the Mendocino moss." She glanceda little vainly at her slim, well-garbed figure. "I'm after the moneynow--and I'll get it!
"But tell me about your partner," she continued. "Who is he, anyway?"
"I can't tell you."
"M'm-m!" She pursed her lips and frowned thoughtfully. "And he justwants you to go out with him, hit or miss?"
"That seems to be it, ma'am. And I don't think I'll go--now."
"Now? What do you mean, now?"
A wave of red ran over Hiram's face, and he began stammering.
The hint of a smile flickered across Lucy's lips as she hurried onwithout his answer. Hiram was a big man, ruggedly handsome. Itpleased Lucy's vanity to have him gawk at her as he did.
"I think I can find out something about this gentleman," she said. "Hecame in the restaurant a few days ago, and I not
iced two business men Iknow quite well talking about him. I'll find out something about thisTweet for you, and let you know. You don't want to let anybody playyou for a sucker."
"Oh, I can take care of myself when it comes to that."
"_Yes_, you can!" She laughed. "You'll lose some of that confidencebefore you've been here many days. Now don't be offended. Shall I getthis dope on him, if I can?"
"I'd thank you kindly, ma'am."
"Well, I will, then. Now let's forget it and talk about Mendocino. Goon--you talk so little."