"Is that you, Mr. Orman?" Obroski's voice quavered noticeably.
"Yes, it's me. What you doin' in the girls' tent? Didn't I give orders
that none of you guys was to go into that tent?"
"I was just lookin' for Rhonda. I wanted to ask her something."
"You're a liar. Rhonda wasn't there. I just saw her go in. You been in
there with Naomi. I've got a good mind to bust your jaw."
"Honestly, Mr. Orman, I was just in there a minute. When I found Rhonda
wasn't there I came right out."
"You came right out after Rhonda went in, you dirty, sneakin' skunk;
and now you listen to me. You lay off Naomi. She's my girl. If I ever
find you monkeyin' around her again I'll kill you. Do you get that?"
"Yes, sir."
Rhonda looked at Naomi and winked. "Papa cross; papa spank," she said.
"My God! he'll kill me," shuddered Naomi.
The flap of the tent was thrust violently aside, and Orman burst into
the tent. Rhonda wheeled and faced him.
"What do you mean by coming into our tent?" she demanded. "Get out of
here!"
Orman's jaw dropped. He was not accustomed to being talked to like
that, and it took him off his feet. He was as surprised as might be
a pit bull slapped in the face by a rabbit. He stood swaying at the
entrance for a moment, staring at Rhonda as though he had discovered a
new species of animal.
"I just wanted to speak to Naomi," he said. "I didn't know you were
here."
"You can speak to Naomi in the morning. And you did know that I was
here; I heard you tell Stanley."
At the mention of Obroski's name Orman's anger welled up again. "That's
what I'm goin' to talk to her about." He took a step in the direction
of Naomi's cot. "Now look here, you dirty little tramp," he yelled,
"you can't make a monkey of me. If I ever catch you playin' around with
that Polack again I'll beat you into a pulp."
Naomi shrank back, whimpering. "Don't touch me! I didn't do anything.
You got it all wrong, Tom. He didn't come here to see me; he came to
see Rhonda. Don't let him get me, Rhonda; for God's sake, don't let him
get me."
Orman hesitated and looked at Rhonda. "Is that on the level?" he asked.
"Sure," she replied; "he came to see me. I asked him to come."
"Then why didn't he stay after you came in?" Orman thought he had her
there.
"I saw you coming, and I told him to beat it."
"Well, you got to cut it out," snapped Orman. "There's to be no more
men in this tent--do your visiting outside."
"That suits me," said Rhonda. "Good-night."
As Orman departed, the Madison sank back on her cot trembling. "Phew!"
she whispered after she thought the man was out of hearing; "that was
a close shave." She did not thank Rhonda. Her selfish egotism accepted
any service as her rightful due.
"Listen," said the other girl. "I'm hired to double for you in
pictures, not in your love affairs. After this, watch your step."
Orman saw a light in the tent occupied by West and one of the other
cameramen. He walked over to it and went in. West was undressing.
"Hello, Tom!" he said. "What brings you around? Anything wrong?"
"There ain't now, but there was. I just run that dirty Polack out of
the girls' tent. He was over there with Rhonda."