merton of the movies-第12章

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Sometimes　the　woman　beyond　it　would　be　engrossed　with　the　telephone　and　would　merely　look　at　him　to　shake　her　head。　At　others；　the　telephone　being　still；　she　would　engage　him　in　friendly　talk。　She　seemed　to　like　him　as　an　occasional　caller；　but　she　remained　smilingly　skeptical　about　his　immediate　success　in　the　pictures。　Again　and　again　she　urged　him　not　to　forget　the　address　of　Giggenholder　or　Gooshswamp　or　whoever　it　might　be　that　was　holding　a　good　job　for　him。　He　never　failed　to　remind　her　that　the　name　was　Gashwiler；　and　that　he　could　not　possibly　forget　the　address　because　he　had　lived　at　Simsbury　a　long　time。　This　always　seemed　to　brighten　the　woman's　day。　It　puzzled　him　to　note　that　for　some　reason　his　earnest　assurance　pleased　her。

As　the　days　of　waiting　passed　he　began　to　distinguish　individuals　among　the　people　who　went　through　the　little　outer　room　or　sat　patiently　around　its　walls　on　the　hard　bench；　waiting　like　himself　for　more　companies　to　start　shooting。　Among　the　important…looking　men　that　passed　through　would　be　actors　that　were　now　reaping　the　reward　of　their　struggle　and　sacrifice；　actors　whom　he　thrilled　to　recognize　as　old　screen　friends。　These　would　saunter　in　with　an　air　of　fine　leisure；　and　their　manner　of　careless　but　elegant　dress　would　be　keenly　noted　by　Merton。　Then　there　were　directors。　These　were　often　less　scrupulously　attired　and　seemed　always　to　be　solving　knotty　problems。　They　passed　hurriedly　on；　brows　drawn　in　perplexity。　They　were　very　busy　persons。　Those　on　the　bench　regarded　them　with　deep　respect　and　stiffened　to　attention　as　they　passed；　but　they　were　never　observed　by　these　great　ones。

The　waiting　ones　were　of　all　ages；　mostly　women；　with　but　a　sprinkling　of　men。　Many　of　the　women　were　young　or　youngish；　and　of　rare　beauty；　so　Merton　Gill　thought。　Others　were　elderly　or　old；　and　a　few　would　be　accompanied　by　children；　often　so　young　that　they　must　be　held　on　laps。　They；　too；　waited　with　round　eyes　and　in　perfect　decorum　for　a　chance　to　act。　Sometimes　the　little　window　would　be　pushed　open　and　a　woman　beckoned　from　the　bench。　Some　of　them　greeted　the　casting　director　as　an　old　friend　and　were　still　gay　when　told　that　there　was　nothing　to…day。　Others　seemed　to　dread　being　told　this；　and　would　wait　on　without　daring　an　inquiry。　Sometimes　there　would　be　a　little　flurry　of　actual　business。　Four　society　women　would　be　needed　for　a　bridge　table　at　8：30　the　next　morning　on　Stage　Number　Five。　The　casting　director　seemed　to　know　the　wardrobe　of　each　of　the　waiters；　and　would　select　the　four　quickly。　The　gowns　must　be　smartit　was　at　the　country　house　of　a　rich　New　Yorkerand　jewels　and　furs　were　not　to　be　forgotten。　There　might　be　two　days'　work。　The　four　fortunate　ladies　would　depart　with　cheerful　smiles。　The　remaining　waiters　settled　on　the　bench；　hoping　against　hope　for　another　call。

Among　the　waiting…room　hopefuls　Merton　had　come　to　know　by　sight　the　Montague　family。　This　consisted　of　a　handsome　elderly　gentleman　of　most　impressive　manner；　his　wife；　a　portly　woman　of　middle　age；　also　possessing　an　impressive　manner；　and　a　daughter。　Mr。　Montague　always　removed　his　hat　in　the　waiting　room；　uncovering　an　abundant　cluster　of　iron…gray　curls　above　a　noble　brow。　About　him　there　seemed　ever　to　linger　a　faint　spicy　aroma　of　strong　drink；　and　he　would　talk　freely　to　those　sharing　the　bench　with　him。　His　voice　was　full　and　rich　in　tone；　and　his　speech；　deliberate　and　precise；　more　than　hinted　that　he　had　once　been　an　ornament　of　the　speaking　stage。　His　wife；　also；　was　friendly　of　manner；　and　spoke　in　a　deep　contralto　somewhat　roughened　by　wear　but　still　notable。

The　daughter　Merton　did　not　like。　She　was　not　unattractive　in　appearance；　though　her　features　were　far　off　the　screen…heroine　model；　her　nose　being　too　short；　her　mouth　too　large；　her　cheekbones　too　prominent；　and　her　chin　too　square。　Indeed；　she　resembled　too　closely　her　father；　who；　as　a　man；　could　carry　such　things　more　becomingly。　She　was　a　slangy　chit；　much　too　free　and　easy　in　her　ways；　Merton　considered；　and　revealing　a　self…confidence　that　amounted　almost　to　impudence。　Further；　her　cheeks　were　brown；　her　brief　nose　freckled；　and　she　did　not　take　the　pains　with　her　face　that　most　of　the　beautiful　young　women　who　waited　there　had　so　obviously　taken。　She　was　a　harum…scarum　baggage　with　no　proper　respect　for　any　one；　he　decided；　especially　after　the　day　she　had　so　rudely　accosted　one　of　the　passing　directors。　He　was　a　more　than　usually　absorbed　director；　and　with　drawn　brows　would　have　gone　unseeing　through　the　waiting　room　when　the　girl　hailed　him。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Henshaw；　one　moment　please！〃

He　glanced　up　in　some　annoyance；　pausing　with　his　hand　to　the　door　that　led　on　to　his　proper　realm。

〃Oh；　it's　you；　Miss　Montague！　Well；　what　is　it？　I'm　very；　very　busy。〃

〃Well；　it's　something　I　wanted　to　ask　you。〃　She　quickly　crossed　the　room　to　stand　by　him；　tenderly　flecking　a　bit　of　dust　from　his　coat　sleeve　as　she　began；　〃Say；　listen；　Mr。　Henshaw：　Do　you　think　beauty　is　a　curse　to　a　poor　girl？〃

Mr。　Henshaw　scowled　down　into　the　eyes　so　confidingly　lifted　to　his。

〃That's　something　you　won't　ever　have　to　worry　about；〃　he　snapped；　and　was　gone；　his　brows　again　drawn　in　perplexity　over　his　work。

〃You're　not　angry　with　poor　little　me；　are　you；　Mr。　Henshaw？〃

The　girl　called　this　after　him　and　listened；　but　no　reply　came　from　back　of　the　partition。

Mrs。　Montague；　from　the　bench；　rebuked　her　daughter。

〃Say；　what　do　you　think　that　kidding　stuff　will　get　you？　Don't　you　want　to　work　for　him　any　more？〃

The　girl　turned　pleading　eyes　upon　her　mother。

〃I　think　he　might　have　answered　a　simple　question；〃　said　she。

This　was　all　distasteful　to　Merton　Gill。　The　girl　might；　indeed；　have　deserved　an　answer　to　her　simple　question；　but　why　need　she　ask　it　of　so　busy　a　man？　He　felt　that　Mr。　Henshaw's　rebuke　was　well　merited；　for　her　own　beauty　was　surely　not　excessive。

Her　father；　from　the　bench；　likewise　admonished　her。

〃You　are　sadly　prone　to　a　spirit　of　banter；〃　he　declared；　〃though　I　admit　that　the　so…called　art　of　the　motion　picture　is　not　to　be　regarded　too　seriously。　It　was　not　like　that　in　my　day。　Then　an　actor　had　to　be　an　artist；　there　was　no　position　for　the　little　he…　doll　whippersnapper　who　draws　the　big　money　to…day　and　is　ignorant　of　even　the　rudiments　of　the　actor's　profession。〃

He　allowed　his　glance　to　rest　perceptibly　upon　Merton　Gill；　who　felt　uncomfortable。

〃We　were　with　Looey　James　five　years；〃　confided　Mrs。　Montague　to　her　neighbours。　〃A　hall　show；　of　coursehadn't　heard　of　movies　then　doing　Virginius　and　Julius　Csesar　and　such　classics；　and　then　starting　out　with　The　Two　Orphans　for　a　short　season。　We　were　a　knock…out；　I'll　say　that。　I'll　never　forget　the　night　we　opened　the　new　opera　house　at　Akron。　They　had　to　put　the　orchestra　under　the　stage。〃

〃And　the　so…called　art　of　the　moving　picture　robs　us　of　our　little　meed　of　applause；〃　broke　in　her　husband。　〃I　shall　never　forget　a　remark　of　the　late　Lawrence　Barrett　to　me　after　a　performance　of　Richelieu　in　which　he　had　fairly　outdone　himself。　'Montague；　my　lad；'　said　he　'we　may　work　for　the　money；　but　we　play　for　the　applause。'　But　now　our　finest　bits　must　go　in　silence；　or　perhaps　be　interrupted　by　a　so…called　director　who　arrogates　to　himself　the　right　to　instill　into　us　the　rudiments　of　a　profession　in　which　we　had　grounded　ourselves　ere　yet　he　was　out　of　leading　strings。　Too　often；　naturally；　the　results　are　discouraging。〃

The　unabashed　girl　was　meantime　having　sprightly　talk　with　the　casting　director；　whom　she　had　hailed　through　the　window　as　Countess。　Merton；　somewhat　startled；　wondered　if　the　little　woman　could　indeed　be　of　the　nobility。

〃Hello；　Countess！　Say；　listen；　can　you　give　the　camera　a　little　peek　at　me　to…day；　or　at　pa　or　ma？　'No；　nothing　to…day；　dear。'〃　She　had　imitated　the　little　woman's　voice　in　her　accustomed　reply。　〃Well；　I　didn't　think　there　would　be。　I　just　thought　I'd　ask。　You　ain't　mad；　are　you？　I　could　have　gone　on　in　a　harem　tank　scene　over　at　the　Bigart　place；　but　they　wanted　me　to　dress　the　same　as　a　fish；　and　a　young　girl's　got　to　draw　the　line　somewhere。　Besides；　I　don't　like　that　Hugo　over　there　so　much。　He　hates　to　part　with　anything　like　money；　and　he'll　gyp　you　if　he　can。　Say；　I'll　bet　he　couldn't　play　an　honest　game　of　solitaire。　How'd　you　like　my　hair　this　way？　Like　it；　eh？　That's　good。　And　me　having　the　only　freckles　left　in　all　Hollywood。　Ain't　I　the　little　prairie　flower；　growing　wilder　every　hour？

〃Say；　on　the　level；　pa　needs　work。　These　days　when　he's　idle　he　mostly　sticks　home　and　tries　out　new　ways　to　make　prime　old　Kentucky　sour　mash　in　eight　hours。　If　he　don't　quit　he　is　going　to　find　himself　seeing　some　moving　pictures　that　no　one　else　can。　And　he's　all　worried　up　about　his　hair　going　off　on　top；　and　trying　new　hair　restorers。　You　know　his　latest？　Well；　he　goes　over　to　the　Selig　place　one　day　and　watches　horse　meat　fed　to　the　lions　and　says　to　himself　that　horses　have　plenty　of　hair；　and　it　must　be　the　fat　under　the　skin　that　makes　it　grow；　so　he　begs　for　a　hunk　of　horse　from　just　under　the　mane　and　he's　rubbing　that　on。　You　can't　tell　what　he'll　bring　home　next。　The　old　boy　still　believes　you　can　raise　hair　from　the　dead。　Do　you　want　some　new　stills　of　me？　I　got　a　new　one　yesterday　that　shows　my　other　expression。　Well；　so　long；　Countess。〃

The　creature　turned　to　her　parents。

〃Let's　be　on　our　way；　old　dears。　This　place　is　dead；　but　the　Countess　says　they'll　soon　be　shooting　some　tenement…house　stuff　up　at　the　Consolidated。　Maybe　there'll　be　something　in　it　for　someone。　We　might　as　well　have　a　look…in。〃

Merton　felt　relieved　when　the　Montague　family　went　out；　the　girl　in　the　lead。　He　approved　of　the　fine　old　father；　but　the　daughter　lacked　dignity　in　speech　and　manner。　You　couldn't　tell　what　she　might　say　next。

The　Montagues　were　often　there；　sometimes　in　full；　sometimes　represented　by　but　one　of　their　number。　Once　Mrs。　Montague　was　told　to　be　on　Stage　Six　the　next　morning　at　8：30　to　attend　a　swell　reception。

〃Wear　the　gray　georgette；　dearie；〃　said　the　casting　director；　〃and　your　big　pearls　and　the　lorgnon。〃

〃Not　forgetting　the　gold　cigarette　case　and　the　chinchilla　neck　piece；〃　said　Mrs。　Montague。　〃The　spare　parts　will　all　be　there；　Countess；　and　thanks　for　the　word。〃

The　elder　Montague　on　the　occasion　of　his　calls　often　found　time　to　regale　those　present　with　anecdotes　of　Lawrence　Barrett。

〃A　fine　artist　in　his　day；　sir；　none　finer　ever　appeared　in　a　hall　show。〃

And　always　about　his　once　superb　frock　coat　clung　the　scent　of　forbidden　beverages。　On　one　such　day　he　appeared　with　an　untidy　sprouting　of　beard；　accompanied　by　the　talkative　daughter。

〃Pa's　landed　a　part；〃　she　explained　through　the　little　window。　〃It's　one　of　those　we…uns　mountaineer　plays　with　revenooers　and　feuds；　one　of　those　plays　where　the　city　chap　don't　treat　our　Nell　rightyou　know。　And　they　won't　stand　for　the　crepe　hair；　so　pop　has　got　to　raise　a　brush　and　he's　mad。　But　it　ought　to　give　him　a　month　or　so；　and　after　that　he　may　be　able　to　peddle　the　brush　again；　you　can　never　tell　in　this　business；　can　you；　Countess？〃

〃It's　most　annoying；〃　the　old　gentleman　explained　to　the　bench　occupants。　〃In　the　true　art　o