merton of the movies-第26章

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The　expert　Merton　Gill　at　once　detected　that　the　beautiful　young　woman　he　whispered　to　would　be　one　of　those　lightheaded　wives　who　care　more　for　fashionable　dress　than　for　the　good　name　of　their　husbands。　He　foresaw　that　the　creature　would　be　trapped　into　the　power　of　this　villain　by　her　love　of　finery；　though　he　was　sure　that　the　end　would　find　her　still　a　good　woman。　The　mannequins　finished　their　parade　and　the　throng　of　patrons　broke　up。　The　cameras　were　pushed　to　an　adjoining　room　where　the　French　proprietor　of　the　place　figured　at　a　desk。　The　dissolute　pleasure…seeker　came　back　to　question　him。　His　errant　fancy　had　been　caught　by　one　of　the　mannequinsthe　most　beautiful　of　them；　a　blonde　with　a　flowerlike　face　and　a　figure　whose　perfection　had　been　boldly　attested　by　the　gowns　she　had　worn。　The　unprincipled　proprietor　at　once　demanded　from　a　severe…faced　forewoman　that　this　girl　be　sent　for；　after　which　he　discreetly　withdrew。　The　waiting　scoundrel　sat　and　complacently　pinched　the　ends　of　his　small　dark　mustache。　It　could　be　seen　that　he　was　one　of　those　who　believe　that　money　will　buy　anything。

The　fair　girl　entered　and　was　leeringly　entreated　to　go　out　to　dinner　with　him。　It　appeared　that　she　never　went　out　to　dinner　with　any　one；　but　spent　her　evenings　with　her　mother　who　was　very；　very　ill。　Her　unworthy　admirer　persisted。　Then　the　telephone　on　the　manager's　desk　called　her。　Her　mother　was　getting　worse。　The　beautiful　face　was　now　suffused　with　agony；　but　this　did　not　deter　the　man　from　his　loathsome　advances。　There　was　another　telephone　call。　She　must　come　at　once　if　she　were　to　see　her　mother　alive。　The　man　seized　her。　They　struggled。　All　seemed　lost；　even　the　choice　gown　she　still　wore；　but　she　broke　away　to　be　told　over　the　telephone　that　her　mother　had　died。　Even　this　sad　news　made　no　impression　upon　the　wretch。　He　seemed　to　be　a　man　of　one　idea。　Again　he　seized　her；　and　the　maddened　girl　stabbed　him　with　a　pair　of　long　gleaming　shears　that　had　lain　on　the　manager's　desk。　He　fell　lifeless　at　her　feet；　while　the　girl　stared　in　horror　at　the　weapon　she　still　grasped。

Merton　Gill　would　not　have　lingered　for　this。　There　were　tedious　waits；　and　scenes　must　be　rehearsed　again　and　again。　Even　the　agony　of　the　girl　as　she　learned　of　her　mother's　passing　must　be　done　over　and　over　at　the　insistence　of　a　director　who　seemed　to　know　what　a　young　girl　should　feel　at　these　moments。　But　Merton　had　watched　from　his　place　back　of　the　lights　with　fresh　interest　from　the　moment　it　was　known　that　the　girl's　poor　old　mother　was　an　invalid；　for　he　had　at　first　believed　that　the　mother's　bedroom　would　be　near　by。　He　left　promptly　when　it　became　apparent　that　the　mother's　bedroom　would　not　be　seen　in　this　drama。　They　would　probably　show　the　doctor　at　the　other　telephone　urging　the　girl　to　hurry　home；　and　show　him　again　announcing　that　all　was　over；　but　the　expense　of　mother　and　her　deathbed　had　been　saved。　He　cared　little　for　the　ending　of　this　play。　Already　he　was　becoming　a　little　callous　to　the　plight　of　beautiful　young　girls　threatened　with　the　loss　of　that　which　they　held　most　dear。

Purposely　all　day　he　had　avoided　the　neighbourhood　of　his　humble　miner's　home。　He　thought　it　as　well　that　he　should　not　be　seen　much　around　there。　He　ate　again　at　four　o'clock；　heartily　and　rather　expensively；　and　loafed　about　the　stages　until　six。　Then　he　strolled　leisurely　down　the　village　street　and　out　the　lower　end　to　where　he　could　view　the　cabin。　Work　for　the　day　was　plainly　over。　The　director　and　his　assistant　lingered　before　the　open　door　in　consultation。　A　property　man　and　an　electrician　were　engaged　inside；　but　a　glance　as　he　passed　showed　that　the　blankets　were　still　in　the　bunks。　He　did　not　wait　to　see　more；　but　passed　on　with　all　evidences　of　disinterest　in　this　lowly　abode。

He　ascertained　that　night　that　the　fight　must　have　been　had。　The　table　was　overturned；　one　of　the　chairs　wrecked；　and　there　were　other　signs　of　disorder。　Probably　it　had　been　an　excellent　fight；　probably　these　primitive　men　of　the　woods　had　battled　desperately。　But　he　gave　little　consideration　to　the　combat；　and　again　slept　warmly　under　the　blankets。　Perhaps　they　would　fight　again　to…morrow；　or　perhaps　there　would　be　less　violent　bits　of　the　drama　that　would　secure　him　another　night　of　calm　repose。

The　following　morning　found　him　slightly　disturbed　by　two　unforeseen　needs　arising　from　his　novel　situation。　He　looked　carefully　at　his　collar；　wondering　how　many　days　he　would　be　able　to　keep　it　looking　like　a　fresh　collar；　and　he　regretted　that　he　had　not　brought　his　safety…razor　to　this　new　home。　Still　the　collar　was　in　excellent　shape　as　yet；　and　a　scrutiny　of　his　face　in　the　cracked　mirror　hanging　on　the　log　wall　determined　that　he　could　go　at　least　another　day　without　shaving。　His　beard　was　of　a　light　growth；　gentle　in　texture；　and　he　was　yet　far　from　the　plight　of　Mr。　Montague。　Eventually；　to　be　sure；　he　would　have　to　go　to　the　barber　shop　on　the　lot　and　pay　money　to　be　shaved；　which　seemed　a　pity；　because　an　actor　could　live　indefinitely　unshaven　but　could　live　without　food　for　the　merest　fragment　of　time。

He　resolved　to　be　on　the　lookout　that　day　for　a　barber…shop　set。　He　believed　they　were　not　common　in　the　photodrama；　still　one　might　be　found。

He　limited　himself　to　the　lightest　of　breakfasts。　He　had　timidly　refrained　from　counting　his　silver　but　he　knew　he　must　be　frugal。　He　rejoiced　at　this　economy　until　late　afternoon　when；　because　of　it；　he　simply　had　to　eat　a　heavier　dinner　than　he　had　expected　to　need。　There　was　something　so　implacable　about　this　demand　for　food。　If　you　skimped　in　the　morning　you　must　make　amends　at　the　next　meal。　He　passed　the　time　as　on　the　previous　day；　a　somewhat　blase　actor　resting　between　pictures；　and　condescending　to　beguile　the　tedium　by　overlooking　the　efforts　of　his　professional　brethren。　He　could　find　no　set　that　included　a　barber　shop；　although　they　were　beds　on　every　hand。　He　hoped　for　another　night　in　the　cabin；　but　if　that　were　not　to　be；　there　was　a　bed　easy　of　access　on　Stage　Three。　When　he　had　observed　it；　a　ghastly　old　father　was　coughing　out　his　life　under　its　blankets；　nursed　only　by　his　daughter；　a　beautiful　young　creature　who　sewed　by　his　bedside；　and　who　would　doubtless　be　thrown　upon　the　world　in　the　very　next　reel；　thoughMerton　was　glad　to　noteprobably　not　until　the　next　day。

Yet　there　was　no　need　for　this　couch　of　the　tubercular　father；　for　action　in　the　little　cabin　was　still　on。　After　making　the　unhappy　discovery　in　the　cafeteria　that　his　appetite　could　not　be　hoodwinked　by　the　clumsy　subterfuge　of　calling　coffee　and　rolls　a　breakfast　some　six　hours　previously；　he　went　boldly　down　to　stand　before　his　home。　Both　miners　were　at　work　inside。　The　room　had　been　placed　in　order　again；　though　the　little　mountain　flower　was　gone。　A　letter；　he　gathered；　had　been　received　from　her；　and　one　of　the　miners　was　about　to　leave　on　a　long　journey。

Merton　could　not　be　sure；　but　he　supposed　that　the　letter　from　the　little　girl　told　that　she　was　unhappy　in　her　new　surroundings；　perhaps　being　ill…treated　by　the　supercilious　Eastern　relatives。　The　miner　who　was　to　remain　helped　the　other　to　pack　his　belongings　in　a　quaint　old　carpet　sack；　and　together　they　undid　a　bundle　which　proved　to　contain　a　splendid　new　suit。　Not　only　this；　but　now　came　a　scene　of　eloquent　appeal　to　the　watcher　outside　the　door。　The　miner　who　was　to　remain　expressed　stern　disapproval　of　the　departing　miner's　beard。　It　would　never　do；　he　was　seen　to　intimate；　and　when　the　other　miner　portrayed　helplessness　a　new　package　was　unwrapped　and　a　safety　razor　revealed　to　his　shocked　gaze。

At　this　sight　Merton　Gill　felt　himself　growing　too　emotional　for　a　mere　careless　bystander；　and　withdrew　to　a　distance　where　he　could　regain　better　control　of　himself。　When　he　left　the　miner　to　be　shorn　was　betraying　comic　dismay　while　the　other　pantomimed　the　correct　use　of　the　implement　his　thoughtfulness　had　provided。　When　he　returned　after　halfan…hour's　rather　nervous　walk　up　another　street；　the　departing　miner　was　clean　shaven　and　one　might　note　the　new　razor　glittering　on　the　low　bench　beside　the　battered　tin　basin。

They　worked　late　in　his　home　that　night；　trifling　scenes　were　taken　and　retaken。　The　departing　miner　had　to　dress　in　his　splendid　but　ill…fitting　new　garments　and　to　bid　an　affectionate　farewell　to　his　partner；　then　had　to　dress　in　his　old　clothes　again　for　some　bit　that　had　been　forgotten；　only　to　don　the　new　suit　for　close…ups。　At　another　time　Merton　Gill　might　have　resented　this　tediously　drawn…　out　affair　which　was　keeping　him　from　his　rest；　for　he　had　come　to　look　upon　this　structure　as　one　having　rights　in　it　after　a　certain　hour；　but　a　sight　of　the　razor　which　had　not　been　touched　allayed　any　possible　feeling　of　irritation。

It　was　nine…thirty　before　the　big　lights　jarred　finally　off　and　the　director　said；　〃That's　all；　boys。〃　Then　he　turned　to　call；　〃Jimmie！　Hey；　Jimmie！　Where's　that　prop…rustler　gone　to　now？〃

〃Here；　Mr。　Burke；　yes；　sir。〃

〃We've　finished　the　shack　stuff。　Let's　see〃　He　looked　at　the　watch　on　his　wrist〃That'll　be　all　for　tonight。　Strike　this　first　thing　tomorrow　morning。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Jimmie。　The　door　was　closed　and　the　men　walked　away。　Merton　trailed　them　a　bit；　not　remaining　too　pointedly　near　the　cabin。　He　circled　around　through　Fifth　Avenue　to　regain　the　place。

Softly　he　let　himself　in　and　groped　through　the　dark　until　his　hand　closed　upon　the　abandoned　razor。　Satisfying　himself　that　fresh　blades　had　accompanied　it；　he　made　ready　for　bed。　He　knew　it　was　to　be　his　last　night　in　this　shelter。　The　director　had　told　Jimmie　to　strike　it　first　thing　in　the　morning。　The　cabin　would　still　be　there；　but　it　would　contain　no　homely　furniture；　no　chairs；　no　table；　no　wash…basin；　no　safety…razor　and；　most　vital　of　lacksit　would　be　devoid　of　blankets。

Yet　this　knowledge　did　not　dismay　him。　He　slept　peacefully　after　praying　that　something　good　would　happen　to　him。　He　put　it　that　way　very　simply。　He　had　placed　himself；　it　seemed；　where　things　could　only　happen　to　him。　He　was；　he　felt；　beyond　bringing　them　about。



CHAPTER　IX

MORE　WAYS　THAN　ONE


Early　he　was　up　to　bathe　and　shave。　He　shaved　close　to　make　it　last　longer；　until　his　tender　face　reddened　under　the　scraping。　Probably　he　would　not　find　another　cabin　in　which　a　miner　would　part　with　his　beard　for　an　Eastern　trip。　Probably　he　would　have　to　go　to　the　barber　the　next　time。　He　also　succeeded；　with　soap　and　water；　in　removing　a　stain　from　his　collar。　It　was　still　a　decent　collar；　not　immaculate；　perhaps；　but　entirely　possible。

This　day　he　took　eggs　with　his　breakfast；　intending　to　wheedle　his　appetite　with　a　lighter　second　meal　than　it　had　demanded　the　day　before。　He　must　see　if　this　would　not　average　better　on　the　day's　overhead。

After　breakfast　he　was　irresistibly　drawn　to　view　the　moving　picture　of　his　old　home　being　dismantled。　He　knew　now　that　he　might　stand　brazenly　there　without　possible　criticism。　He　found　Jimmy　and　a　companion　property…boy　already　busy。　Much　of　the　furniture　was　outside　to　be　carted　away。　Jimmy；　as　Merton　lolled　idly　in　the　doorway；　emptied　the　blackened　coffee　pot　into　the　ashes　of　the　fireplace　and　then　proceeded　to　spoon　in