merton of the movies-第40章

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d…so；　so…and…so；　so…and…so；　I　have　nothing　to　offer　but　the　love　of　an　honest　manshe's　falling　for　it；　see？　So　you　get　up　close　and　grab　hercave…man　stuff。　Do　a　good　hard　clenchshe's　yours　at　last；　she　just　naturally　sags　right　down　on　to　you。　You've　got　her。

〃Do　a　regular　Parmalee。　Take　your　time。　You're　going　to　kiss　her　and　kiss　her　right。　But　just　as　you　get　down　to　it　the　father　busts　in　and　says　what's　the　meaning　of　this；　so　you　fly　apart　and　the　father　says　you're　discharged；　because　his　daughter　is　the　affianced　wife　of　this　Count　Aspirin；　see？　Then　he　goes　back　to　the　safe　and　finds　all　the　money　has　been　taken；　because　the　son　has　sneaked　in　and　grabbed　out　the　bundle　and　hid　it　in　the　ice…box　on　his　way　out；　taking　only　a　few　bills　to　get　down　on　a　horse。　So　he　says　call　the　policebut　that's　enough　for　now。　Go　ahead　and　do　that　love　scene　for　me。〃

Slowly　the　scene　was　brought　to　Baird's　liking。　Slowly；　because　Merton　Gill　at　first　proved　to　be　diffident　at　the　crisis。　For　three　rehearsals　the　muscular　arm　of　Miss　Montague　had　most　of　the　clenching　to　do。　He　believed　he　was　being　rough　and　masterful；　but　Baird　wished　a　greater　show　of　violence。　They　had　also　to　time　this　scene　with　the　surreptitious　entrance　of　the　brother；　his　theft　of　the　money　which　he　stuffed　into　a　paper　sack　and　placed　in　the　ice…　box；　and　his　exit。

The　leading　man　having　at　last　proved　that　he　could　be　Harold　Parmalee　even　in　this　crisis；　the　scene　was　extended　to　the　entrance　of　the　indignant　father。　He　was　one　of　those　self…made　men　of　wealth；　Merton　thought；　a　short；　stout　gentleman　with　fiery　whiskers；　not　at　all　fashionably　dressed。　He　broke　upon　the　embrace　with　a　threatening　stick。　The　pair　separated；　the　young　lover　facing　him；　proud；　erect；　defiant；　the　girl　drooping　and　confused。

The　father　discharged　Merton　Gill　with　great　brutality；　then　went　to　the　safe　at　the　back　of　the　room；　returning　to　shout　the　news　that　he　had　been　robbed　by　the　man　who　would　have　robbed　him　of　his　daughter。　It　looked　black　for　Merton。　Puzzled　at　first；　he　now　saw　that　the　idolized　brother　of　the　girl　must　have　taken　the　money。　He　seemed　about　to　declare　this　when　his　nobler　nature　compelled　him　to　a　silence　that　must　be　taken　for　guilt。

The　erring　brother　returned；　accompanied　by　several　customers。　〃Bring　a　detective　to　arrest　this　man；〃　ordered　the　father。　One　of　the　customers　stepped　out　to　return　with　a　detective。　Again　Merton　was　slightly　disquieted　at　perceiving　that　the　detective　was　the　cross…eyed　man。　This　person　bustled　about　the　place；　tapping　the　cooked　meats　and　the　cheeses；　and　at　last　placed　his　hand　upon　the　shoulder　of　the　supposed　thief。　Merton；　at　Baird's　direction；　drew　back　and　threatened　him　with　a　blow。　The　detective　cringed　and　said：　〃I　will　go　out　and　call　a　policeman。〃

The　others　now　turned　their　backs　upon　the　guilty　man。　Even　the　girl　drew　away　after　one　long；　agonized　look　at　the　lover　to　whose　embrace　she　had　so　lately　submitted。　He　raised　his　arms　to　her　in　mute　appeal　as　she　moved　away；　then　dropped　them　at　his　side。

〃Give　her　all　you　got　in　a　look；〃　directed　Baird。　〃You're　saying：　'I　go　to　a　felon's　cell；　but　I　do　it　all　for　you。'　Dream　your　eyes　at　her。〃　Merton　Gill　obeyed。

The　action　progressed。　In　this　wait　for　the　policeman　the　old　mother　crept　forward。　She　explained　to　Merton　that　the　money　was　in　the　ice…box　where　the　real　thief　had　placed　it；　and　since　he　had　taken　the　crime　of　another　upon　his　shoulders　he　should　also　take　the　evidence；　lest　the　unfortunate　young　man　be　later　convicted　by　that；　she　also　urged　him　to　fly　by　the　rear　door　while　there　was　yet　time。　He　did　these　things；　pausing　for　a　last　embrace　of　the　weeping　old　lady；　even　as　the　hand　of　the　arriving　policeman　was　upon　the　door。

〃All　for　to…day；　except　some　close…ups；〃　announced　Baird　when　this　scene　had　been　shot。　There　was　a　breaking　up　of　the　group；　a　relaxation　of　that　dramatic　tension　which　the　heart…values　of　the　piece　had　imposed。　Only　once；　while　Merton　was　doing　some　of　his　best　acting；　had　there　been　a　kind　of　wheezy　tittering　from　certain　members　of　the　cast　and　the　group　about　the　cameras。

Baird　had　quickly　suppressed　this。　〃If　there's　any　kidding　in　this　piece　it's　all　in　my　part；〃　he　announced　in　cold；　clear　tones；　and　there　had　been　no　further　signs　of　levity。　Merton　was　pleased　by　this　manner　of　Baird's。　It　showed　that　he　was　finely　in　earnest　in　the　effort　for　the　worth…while　things。　And　Baird　now　congratulated　him；　seconded　by　the　Montague　girl。　He　had；　they　told　him；　been　all　that　could　be　expected。

〃I　wasn't　sure　of　myself；〃　he　told　them；　〃in　one　scene；　and　I　wanted　to　ask　you　about　it；　Mr。　Baird。　It's　where　I　take　that　money　from　the　ice…box　and　go　out　with　it。　I　couldn't　make　myself　feel　right。　Wouldn't　it　look　to　other　people　as　if　I　was　actually　stealing　it　myself？　Why　couldn't　I　put　it　back　in　the　safe？〃

Baird　listened　respectfully；　considering。　〃I　think　not；〃　he　announced　at　length。　〃You'd　hardly　have　time　for　that；　and　you　have　a　better　plan。　It'll　be　brought　out　in　the　subtitles；　of　course。　You　are　going　to　leave　it　at　the　residence　of　Mr。　Hoffmeyer；　where　it　will　be　safe。　You　see；　if　you　put　it　back　where　it　was；　his　son　might　steal　it　again。　We　thought　that　out　very　carefully。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Merton。　〃I　wish　I　had　been　told　that。　I　feel　that　I　could　have　done　that　bit　a　lot　better。　I　felt　kind　of　guilty。〃

〃You　did　it　perfectly；〃　Baird　assured　him。

〃Kid；　you're　a　wonder；〃　declared　the　Montague　girl。　〃I'm　that　tickled　with　you　I　could　give　you　a　good　hug；〃　and　with　that　curious　approach　to　hysteria　she　had　shown　while　looking　at　his　stills；　she　for　a　moment　frantically　clasped　him　to　her。　He　was　somewhat　embarrassed　by　this　excess；　but　pardoned　it　in　the　reflection　that　he　had　indeed　given　the　best　that　was　in　him。　〃Bring　all　your　Western　stuff　to　the　dressing　room　tomorrow；〃　said　Baird。

Western　stuffthe　real　thing　at　last！　He　was　slightly　amazed　later　to　observe　the　old　mother　outside　the　set。　She　was　not　only　smoking　a　cigarette　with　every　sign　of　relish；　but　she　was　singing　as　she　did　a　little　dance　step。　Still　she　had　been　under　a　strain　all　day；　weeping；　too；　almost　continuously。　He　remembered　this；　and　did　not　judge　her　harshly　as　she　smoked；　danced；　and　lightly　sang；

Her　mother's　name　was　Cleo；　Her　father's　name　was　Pat；　They　called　her　Cleopatra；　And　let　it　go　at　that。




CHAPTER　XIV

OUT　THERE　WHERE　MEN　ARE　MEN


From　the　dressing　room　the　following　morning；　arrayed　in　the　Buck　Benson　outfit；　unworn　since　that　eventful　day　on　the　Gashwiler　lot；　Merton　accompanied　Baird　to　a　new　set　where　he　would　work　that　day。　Baird　was　profuse　in　his　admiration　of　the　cowboy　embellishments；　the　maroon　chaps；　the　new　boots；　the　hat；　the　checked　shirt　and　gay　neckerchief。

〃I'm　mighty　glad　to　see　you　so　sincere　in　your　work；〃　he　assured　Merton。　〃A　lot　of　these　hams　I　hire　get　to　kidding　on　the　set　and　spoil　the　atmosphere；　but　don't　let　it　bother　you。　One　earnest　leading　man；　if　he'll　just　stay　earnest；　will　carry　the　piece。　Remember　thatyou　got　a　serious　part。〃

〃I'll　certainly　remember；〃　Merton　earnestly　assured　him。

〃Here　we　are；　this　is　where　we　begin　the　Western　stuff；〃　said　Baird。　Merton　recognized　the　place。　It　was　the　High　Gear　Dance　Hall　where　the　Montague　girl　had　worked。　The　name　over　the　door　was　now　〃The　Come　All　Ye；〃　and　there　was　a　hitching　rack　in　front　to　which　were　tethered　half…adozen　saddled　horses。

Inside；　the　scene　was　set　as　he　remembered　it。　Tables　for　drinking　were　about　the　floor；　and　there　was　a　roulette　wheel　at　one　side。　A　red…shirted　bartender；　his　hair　plastered　low　over　his　brow；　leaned　negligently　on　the　bar。　Scattered　around　the　room　were　dance…hall　girls　in　short　skirts；　and　a　number　of　cowboys。

〃First；　I'll　wise　you　up　a　little　bit；〃　said　Baird。　〃You've　come　out　here　to　work　on　a　ranche　in　the　great　open　spaces；　and　these　cowboys　all　love　you　and　come　to　town　with　you　every　time；　and　they'll　stand　by　you　when　the　detective　from　New　York　gets　here。　Nowlet's　seeI　guess　first　we'll　get　your　entrance。　You　come　in　the　front　door　at　the　head　of　them。　You've　ridden　in　from　the　ranche。　We　get　the　horseback　stuff　later。　You　all　come　in　yelling　and　so　on；　and　the　boys　scatter；　some　to　the　bar　and　some　to　the　wheel；　and　some　sit　down　to　the　tables　to　have　their　drinks　and　some　dance　with　the　girls。　You　distribute　money　to　them　from　a　paper　sack。　Here's　the　sack。〃　From　a　waiting　property　boy　he　took　a　paper　sack。　〃Put　this　in　your　pocket　and　take　it　out　whenever　you　need　money。

〃It's　the　same　sack；　see；　that　the　kid　put　the　stolen　money　in；　and　you　saved　it　after　returning　the　money。　It's　just　a　kind　of　an　idea　of　mine；〃　he　vaguely　added；　as　Merton　looked　puzzled　at　this。

〃All　right；　sir。〃　He　took　the　sack；　observing　it　to　contain　a　rude　imitation　of　bills；　and　stuffed　it　into　his　pocket。

〃Then；　after　the　boys　scatter　around；　you　go　stand　at　the　end　of　the　bar。　You　don't　join　in　their　sports　and　pastimes；　see？　You're　serious；　you　have　things　on　your　mind。　Just　sort　of　look　around　the　place　as　if　you　were　holding　yourself　above　such　things；　even　if　you　do　like　to　give　the　boys　a　good　time。　Now　we'll　try　the　entrance。〃

Cameras　were　put　into　place；　and　Merton　Gill　led　through　the　front　door　his　band　of　rollicking　good　fellows。　He　paused　inside　to　give　them　bills　from　the　paper　sack。　They　scattered　to　their　dissipations。　Their　leader　austerely　posed　at　one　end　of　the　bar　and　regarded　the　scene　with　disapproving　eyes。　Wine；　women；　and　the　dance　were　not　for　him。　He　produced　again　the　disillusioned　look　that　had　won　Henshaw。

〃Fine；〃　said　Baird。　〃Gun　it；　boys。〃

The　scene　was　shot；　and　Baird　spoke　again：　〃Hold　it；　everybody；　go　on　with　your　music；　and　you　boys　keep　up　the　dance　until　Mother's　entrance；　then　you　quit　and　back　off。〃

Merton　was　puzzled　by　this　speech；　but　continued　his　superior　look；　breaking　it　with　a　very　genuine　shock　of　surprise　when　his　old　mother　tottered　in　at　the　front　door。　She　was　still　the　disconsolate　creature　of　the　day　before；　bedraggled；　sad…eyed；　feeble；　very　aged；　and　still　she　carried　her　bucket　and　the　bundle　of　rags　with　which　she　had　mopped。　Baird　came　forward　again。

〃Oh；　I　forgot　to　tell　you。　Of　course　you　had　your　old　mother　follow　you　out　here　to　the　great　open　spaces；　but　the　poor　old　thing　has　cracked　under　the　strain　of　her　hard　life；　see　what　I　mean？　All　her　dear　ones　have　been　leaving　the　old　nest　and　going　out　over　the　hills　one　by　one…you　were　the　last　to　go…and　now　she　isn't　quite　right；　see？

〃You　have　a　good　home　on　the　ranche　for　her；　but　she　won't　stay　put。　She　follows　you　around；　and　the　only　thing　that　keeps　her　quiet　is　mopping；　so　you　humour　her；　you　let　her　mop。　It's　the　only　way。　But　of　course　it　makes　you　sad。　You　look　at　her　now；　then　go　up　and　hug　her　the　way　you　did　yesterday；　you　try　to　get　her　to　give　up　mopping；　but　she　won't；　so　you　let　her　go　on。　Try　it。〃

Merton　went　forward　to　embrace　his　old　mother。　Here　was　tragedy　indeed；　a　bit　of　biting　pathos　from　a　humble　life。　He　gave　the　best　that　was　in　him　as　he　enfolded　the　feeble　old　woman　and　strained　her　to　his　breast；　murmuring　to　her　that　she　must　give　it　up…give　it　up。

The　old　lady　wept；　but　was　stubborn。　She　tore　h