merton of the movies-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s　a　hand　on　her。　Get　that？　Then　later　along　comes　this　Ben　Ali　Ahab〃

The　Montague　girl　glanced　again　at　the　face　of　the　strange　young　man　whose　eyes　had　held　a　new　expression　for　her；　but　she　and　Mr。　Henshaw　and　the　so…called　governor　and　all　those　other　diners　who　rattled　thick　crockery　and　talked　unendingly　had　ceased　to　exist　for　Merton　Gill。　A　dozen　tables　down　the　room　and　nearer　the　door　sat　none　other　than　Beulah　Baxter。　Alone　at　her　table；　she　gazed　raptly　aloft；　meditating　perhaps　some　daring　new　feat。　Merton　Gill　stared；　entranced；　frozen。　The　Montague　girl　perfectly　understood　this　look　and　traced　it　to　its　object。　Then　she　surveyed　Merton　Gill　again　with　something　faintly　like　pity　in　her　shrewd　eyes。　He　was　still　staring；　still　rapt。

Beulah　Baxter　ceased　to　look　aloft。　She　daintily　reached　for　a　wooden　toothpick　from　the　bowl　before　her　and　arose　to　pay　her　check　at　the　near…by　counter。　Merton　Gill　arose　at　the　same　moment　and　stumbled　a　blind　way　through　the　intervening　tables。　When　he　reached　the　counter　Miss　Baxter　was　passing　through　the　door。　He　was　about　to　follow　her　when　a　cool　but　cynical　voice　from　the　counter　said；　〃Hey；　Billain't　you　fergittin'　somepin'。〃

He　looked　for　the　check　for　his　meal；　it　should　have　been　in　one　hand　or　the　other。　But　it　was　in　neither。　He　must　have　left　it　back　on　his　tray。　Now　he　must　return　for　it。　He　went　as　quickly　as　he　could。　The　Montague　girl　was　holding　it　up　as　he　approached。　〃Here's　the　little　joker；　Kid；〃　she　said　kindly。

〃Thanks！〃　said　Merton。　He　said　it　haughtily；　not　meaning　to　be　haughty；　but　he　was　embarrassed　and　also　fearful　that　Beulah　Baxter　would　be　lost。　〃Exit　limping；〃　murmured　the　girl　as　he　turned　away。　He　hurried　again　to　the　door；　paid　the　check　and　was　outside。　Miss　Baxter　was　not　to　be　seen。　His　forgetfulness　about　the　check　had　lost　her　to　him。　He　had　meant　to　follow；　to　find　the　place　where　she　was　working；　and　look　and　look　and　look！　Now　he　had　lost　her。　But　she　might　be　on　one　of　those　stages　within　the　big　barns。　Perhaps　the　day　was　not　yet　lost。　He　crossed　the　street；　forgetting　to　saunter；　and　ventured　within　the　cavernous　gloom　beyond　an　open　door。　He　stood　for　a　moment；　his　vision　dulled　by　the　dusk。　Presently　he　saw　that　he　faced　a　wall　of　canvas　backing。　Beyond　this　were　low　voices　and　the　sound　of　people　moving。　He　went　forward　to　a　break　in　the　canvas　wall　and　at　the　same　moment　there　was　a　metallic　jar　and　light　flooded　the　enclosure。　From　somewhere　outside　came　music；　principally　the　low；　leisurely　moan　of　a　'cello。　A　beautiful　woman　in　evening　dress　was　with　suppressed　emotion　kneeling　at　the　bedside　of　a　sleeping　child。　At　the　doorway　stood　a　dark；　handsome　gentleman　in　evening　dress；　regarding　her　with　a　cynical　smile。　The　woman　seemed　to　bid　the　child　farewell；　and　arose　with　hands　to　her　breast　and　quivering　lips。　The　still…smiling　gentleman　awaited　her。　When　she　came　to　him；　glancing　backward　to　the　sleeping　child；　he　threw　about　her　an　elaborate　fur　cloak　and　drew　her　to　him；　his　cynical　smile　changing　to　one　of　deceitful　tenderness。　The　woman　still　glanced　back　at　the　child；　but　permitted　herself　to　be　drawn　through　the　doorway　by　the　insistent　gentleman。　From　a　door　the　other　side　of　the　bed　came　a　kind…faced　nurse。　She　looked　first　at　the　little　one　then　advanced　to　stare　after　the　departing　couple。　She　raised　her　hands　tragically　and　her　face　became　set　in　a　mask　of　sorrow　and　despair。　She　clasped　the　hands　desperately。

Merton　Gill　saw　his　nurse　to　be　the　Montague　mother。　〃All　right；〃　said　an　authoritative　voice。　Mrs。　Montague　relaxed　her　features　and　withdrew；　while　an　unkempt　youth　came　to　stand　in　front　of　the　still…grinding　camera　and　held　before　it　a　placard　on　which　were　numbers。　The　camera　stopped；　the　youth　with　the　placard　vanished。　〃Save　it；〃　called　another　voice；　and　with　another　metallic　jar　the　flood　of　light　was　turned　off。　The　'cello　ceased　its　moan　in　the　middle　of　a　bar。

The　watcher　recalled　some　of　the　girl's　chat。　Her　mother　had　a　character　bit　in　Her　Other　Husband。　This　would　be　it；　one　of　those　moving　tragedies　not　unfamiliar　to　the　screen　enthusiast。　The　beautiful　but　misguided　wife　had　been　saying　good…by　to　her　little　one　and　was　leaving　her　beautiful　home　at　the　solicitation　of　the　false　friend　in　evening　dressforgetting　all　in　one　mad　moment。　The　watcher　was　a　tried　expert；　and　like　the　trained　faunal　naturalist　could　determine　a　species　from　the　shrewd　examination　of　one　bone　of　a　photoplay。　He　knew　that　the　wife　had　been　ignored　by　a　husband　who　permitted　his　vast　business　interests　to　engross　his　whole　attention；　leaving　the　wife　to　seek　solace　in　questionable　quarters。　He　knew　that　the　shocked　but　faithful　nurse　would　presently　discover　the　little　one　to　be　suffering　from　a　dangerous　fever；　that　a　hastily　summoned　physician　would　shake　his　head　and　declare　in　legible　words；　〃Naught　but　a　mother's　love　can　win　that　tiny　soul　back　from　the　brink　of　Eternity。〃　The　father　would　overhear　this；　and　would　see　it　all　then：　how　his　selfish　absorption　in　Wall　Street　had　driven　his　wife　to　another。　He　would　pursue　her；　would　find　her　ere　yet　it　was　too　late。　He　would　discover　that　her　better　nature　had　already　prevailed　and　that　she　had　started　back　without　being　sent　for。　They　would　kneel　side　by　side；　hand　in　hand；　at　the　bedside　of　the　little　one；　who　would　recover　and　smile　and　prattle；　and　together　they　would　face　an　untroubled　future。

This　was　all　thrilling　to　Merton　Gill；　but　Beulah　Baxter　was　not　here；　her　plays　being　clean　and　wholesome　things　of　the　great　outdoors。　Far　down　the　great　enclosure　was　another　wall　of　canvas　backing；　a　flood　of　light　above　it　and　animated　voices　from　within。　He　stood　again　to　watch。　But　this　drama　seemed　to　have　been　suspended。　The　room　exposed　was　a　bedroom　with　an　open　window　facing　an　open　door；　the　actors　and　the　mechanical　staff　as　well　were　busily　hurling　knives　at　various　walls。　They　were　earnest　and　absorbed　in　this　curious　pursuit。　Sometimes　they　made　the　knife　penetrate　the　wall；　oftener　it　merely　struck　and　clattered　to　the　floor。　Five　knives　at　once　were　being　hurled　by　five　enthusiasts；　while　a　harried…looking　director　watched　and　criticised。

〃You're　a　clumsy　bunch；〃　he　announced　at　last。　〃It's　a　simple　thing　to　do；　isn't　it？〃　The　knife…throwers　redoubled；　their　efforts；　but　they　did　not　find　it　a　simple　thing　to　do。

〃Let　me　try　it；　Mr。　Burke。〃　It　was　the　Montague　girl　still　in　her　gipsy　costume。　She　had　been　standing　quietly　in　the　shadow　observing　the　ineffective　practice。

〃Hello；　Flips！　Sure；　you　can　try　it。　Show　these　boys　something　good；　now。　Here；　Al；　give　Miss　Montague　that　stickeree　of　yours。〃　Al　seemed　glad　to　relinquish　the　weapon。　Miss　Montague　hefted　it；　and　looked　doubtful。

〃It　ain't　balanced　right；〃　she　declared。　〃Haven't　you　got　one　with　a　heavier　handle？〃

〃Fair　enough；〃　said　the　director。　〃Hey；　Pickles；　let　her　try　that　one　you　got。〃　Pickles；　too；　was　not　unwilling　to　oblige。

〃That's　better；〃　said　the　girl。　〃It's　balanced　right。〃　Taking　the　blade　by　its　point　between　thumb　and　forefinger　she　sent　it　with　a　quick　flick　of　the　wrist　into　the　wall　a　dozen　feet　away。　It　hung　there　quivering。

〃There！　That's　what　we　want。　It's　got　to　be　quivering　when　Jack　shoots　at　Ramon　who　threw　it　at　him　as　he　leaps　through　the　window。　Try　it　again；　Flips。〃　The　girl　obliged　and　bowed　impressively　to　the　applause。

〃Now　come　here　and　try　it　through　the　doorway。〃　He　led　her　around　the　set。　〃Now　stand　here　and　see　can　you　put　it　into　the　wall　just　to　the　right　of　the　window。　Good！　Some　little　knife…thrower；　I'll　say。　Now　try　it　once　with　Jack　coming　through。　Get　set；　Jack。〃

Jack　made　his　way　to　the　window　through　which　he　was　to　leap。　He　paused　there　to　look　in　with　some　concern。　〃Say；　Mr。　Burke；　will　you　please　make　sure　she　understands？　She　isn't　to　let　go　of　that　thing　until　I'm　in　and　crouched　down　ready　to　shootunderstand　what　I　mean？　I　don't　want　to　get　nicked　nor　nothing。〃

〃All　right；　all　right！　She　understands。〃

Jack　leaped　through　the　window　to　a　crouch；　weapon　in　hand。　The　knife　quivered　in　the　wall　above　him　as　he　shot。

〃Fine　and　dandy。　Some　class；　I'll　say。　All　right；　Jack。　Get　back。　We'll　gun　this　little　scene　right　here　and　now。　All　ready；　Jack；　all　ready　Miss　Montaguecamera！one；　two；　threecome　in；　Jack。〃　Again　the　knife　quivered　in　the　wall　above　his　head　even　while　he　crouched　to　shoot　at　the　treacherous　Mexican　who　had　thrown　it。

〃Good　work；　Flips。　Thanks　a　whole　lot。　We'll　do　as　much　for　you　some　time。〃

〃You're　entirely　welcome；　Mr。　Burke。　No　trouble　to　oblige。　How　you　coming？〃

〃Coming　good。　This　thing's　going　to　be　a　knockout。　I　bet　it'll　gross　a　million。　Nearly　done；　too；　except　for　some　chase　stuff　up　in　the　hills。　I'll　do　that　next　week。　What　you　doing？〃

〃Oh；　everything's　jake　with　me。　I'm　over　on　Number　FourToys　of　Destinyputting　a　little　pep　into　the　mob　stuff。　Laid　out　for　two　hours；　waiting　for　somethingI　don't　know　what。〃

Merton　Gill　passed　on。　He　confessed　now　to　a　reluctant　admiration　for　the　Montague　girl。　She　could　surely　throw　a　knife。　He　must　practise　that　himself　sometime。　He　might　have　stayed　to　see　more　of　this　drama　but　he　was　afraid　the　girl　would　break　out　into　more　of　her　nonsense。　He　was　aware　that　she　swept　him　with　her　eyes　as　he　turned　away　but　he　evaded　her　glance。　She　was　not　a　person；　he　thought；　that　one　ought　to　encourage。

He　emerged　from　the　great　building　and　crossed　an　alley　to　another　of　like　size。　Down　toward　its　middle　was　the　usual　wall　of　canvas　with　half…a…dozen　men　about　the　opening　at　one　corner。　A　curious　whirring　noise　came　from　within。　He　became　an　inconspicuous　unit　of　the　group　and　gazed　in。　The　lights　were　on；　revealing　a　long　table　elaborately　set　as　for　a　banquet；　but　the　guests　who　stood　about　gave　him　instant　uneasiness。　They　were　in　the　grossest　caricatures　of　evening　dress；　both　men　and　women；　and　they　were　not　beautiful。　The　gowns　of　the　women　were　grotesque　and　the　men　were　lawless　appearing；　either　as　to　hair　or　beards　or　both。　He　divined　the　dreadful　thing　he　was　stumbling　upon　even　before　he　noted　the　sign　in　large　letters　on　the　back　of　a　folding　chair：　〃Jeff　Baird's　Buckeye　Comedies。〃　These　were　the　buffoons　who　with　their　coarse　pantomime；　their　heavy　horse…play；　did　so　much　to　debase　a　great　art。　There；　even　at　his　side；　was　the　arch　offender；　none　other　than　Jeff　Baird　himself；　the　man　whose　regrettable　sense　of　so…called　humour　led　him　to　make　these　low　appeals　to　the　witless。　And　even　as　he　looked　the　cross…eyed　man　entered　the　scene。　Garbed　in　the　weirdly　misfitting　clothes　of　a　waiter；　holding　aloft　a　loaded　tray　of　dishes；　he　entered　on　roller　skates；　to　halt　before　Baird　with　his　uplifted　tray　at　a　precarious　balance。

〃All　right；　that's　better；〃　said　Baird。　〃And；　Gertie；　listen：　don't　throw　the　chair　in　front　of　him。　That's　out。　Now　we'll　have　the　entrance　again。　You　other　boys　on　the　rollers；　there〃　Three　other　basely　comic　waiters　on　roller　skates　came　to　attention。

〃Follow　him　in　and　pile　up　on　him　when　he　makes　the　grand　spillsee　what　I　mean？　Get　your　trays　loaded　now　and　get　off。　Now　you　other　people；　take　your　seats。　No；　no；　Annie；　you're　at　the　head；　I　told　you。　Tom；　you're　at　the　foot　and　start　the　rough…ho