书城外语珍珠谜案
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第59章 PICTURE NUMBER NINETEEN(2)

"Positive,"returned Maud."He doesn't really need that ?lm,but it would be good policy—excellent policy—for you to produce it.""Alfred !"called the manager."Bring me the stock book."He ran his ?nger down the pages."January—eh—eh—""January twenty—sixth,"she said.

"Here it is:'Special of Annual Meeting,C.F.M.Co.—280feet.—No.19,'Get number nineteen out of the vault,Alfred."While the young man was gone he relapsed into thought.Maud waited patiently.

"You see,"resumed the manager abruptly,"I ammaking more money for the Continental than I get paid for.

That is because I know how.It is not good business to cut down the profits;therefore I should be paid a bigger salary.Miss Stanton,you're a friend of young Jones,who controls this company.Yon might talk to him about me.""I will,"she said.

"You might say I know every trick of the trade.Tell Jones how all the other ?lm makers are crazy to get me.But say how I refuse more money because I believe our directors will wake up to my value and raise my salary.That sounds pretty good,eh ?""It sounds remarkable.""And it's no dream.Ah,here comes Alfred."The clerk laid upon the table a round box coated with paraffin to exclude the air.A tag was attached to the box,describing its contents.

"Number nineteen.Quite right.Take it to the printing room and tell McDonald to make me a copy as quickly as possible.Tell him to let me know when it's dry and ready to run."As the clerk disappeared Maud said:

"I needn't wait,I suppose?"

"No.Werner wants you at the rehearsal of 'The Love of a Princess.'Before you go home to—night I'll call you in to see the run of number nineteen.Then you may take the ?lm to Jones—with my compliments."At five o'clock,when she was dressing to go home,Maud was summoned to the little "dark room"where all ?lms are exhibited,trimmed and tested before being sent out.She took Aunt Jane and Flo with her and they found Goldstein already waiting and the operator standing by his machine.

The scene was short and not very exciting,althoughof interest in the present crisis.It showed the interior of the hall where the stock—holders'meeting was held,and began with the assembling of the members.Two or three pompousa individuals then seated themselves facing the others,and the proceedings began.A slim boy on a back bench arose and said something.Panic was at once written on the faces of the former officers.They gesticulatedb;their lips moved rapidly.The boy,easily recognized as A.Jones,advanced and displayed a lot of papers,which were carefully examined.He then took the president's chair,the former of?cers ?ed in disgust and the throng of stockholders wildly applauded.Then the light went out,the machine stopped,and Goldstein opened the door to let in light and air.

"It was the same kid,all right,"he remarked."I had never seen this ?lm run before,but it shows how Jones called the turn on the old of?cers in great shape.I wonder where he got all the money?"Maud secured his promise to send an operator to town,to exhibit the film before the judge,whenever he might be required.Then she went to her hotel fully satis?ed that she had done all in her power to assist A.Jones of Sangoa.