merton of the movies-第43章

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The　actor；　arrayed　in　chaps；　spurs；　and　boots　below　the　waist　was；　above　this；　in　faultless　evening　dress。　〃You　see；　it's　a　masquerade　party　at　the　ranche；〃　Baird　explained；　〃and　you've　thought　up　this　costume　to　sort　of　puzzle　the　little　lady。〃

The　girl　herself　was　in　the　short；　fringed　buckskin　skirt；　with　knife　and　revolvers　in　her　belt。　Off　in　the　hills　day　after　day　she　had　worn　this　costume　in　those　active　scenes　he　had　not　witnessed。　Now　she　was　merely　coy。　He　followed　her　out　on　the　hillside　with　only　a　little　trouble　from　the　spursindeed　he　fell　but　once　as　he　approached　herand　the　little　drama　of　the　lovers；　at　last　united；　was　touchingly　shown。

In　the　background；　as　they　stood　entwined；　the　poor　demented　old　mother　was　seen。　With　mop　and　bucket　she　was　cleansing　the　side　of　a　cliff；　but　there　was　a　happier　look　on　the　worn　old　face。

〃Glance　around　and　see　her；〃　railed　Baird。　〃Then　explain　to　the　girl　that　you　will　always　protect　your　mother；　no　matter　what　happens。　That's　it。　Now　the　clenchkiss　herslow！　That's　it。　Cut！〃

Merton's　part　in　the　drama　was　ended。　He　knew　that　the　company　worked　in　the　hills　another　week　and　there　were　more　close…ups　to　take　in　the　dance…hall；　but　he　was　not　needed　in　these。　Baird　congratulated　him　warmly。

〃Fine　work；　my　boy！　You've　done　your　first　picture；　and　with　Miss　Montague　as　your　leading　lady　I　feel　that　you're　going　to　land　ace…　high　with　your　public。　Now　all　you　got　to　do　for　a　couple　of　weeks　is　to　take　it　easy　while　we　finish　up　some　rough　ends　of　this　piece。　Then　we'll　be　ready　to　start　on　the　new　one。　It's　pretty　well　doped　out；　and　there's　a　big　part　in　it　for　youbig　things　to　be　done　in　a　big　way；　see　what　I　mean。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　I　suited　you；〃　Merton　replied。　〃I　tried　to　give　the　best　that　was　in　me　to　a　sincere　interpretation　of　that　fine　part。　And　it　was　a　great　surprise　to　me。　I　never　thought　I'd　be　working　for　you；　Mr。　Baird；　and　of　course　I　wouldn't　have　been　if　you　had　kept　on　doing　those　comedies。　I　never　would　have　wanted　to　work　in　one　of　them。〃　〃Of　course　not；〃　agreed　Baird　cordially。　〃I　realized　that　you　were　a　serious　artist；　and　you　came　in　the　nick　of　time；　just　when　I　was　wanting　to　be　serious　myself；　to　get　away　from　that　slap…stick　stuff　into　something　better　and　finer。　You　came　when　I　needed　you。　And；　look　here；　Merton；　I　signed　you　on　at　forty　a　week〃

〃Yes；　sir：　I　was　glad　to　get　it。〃

〃Well；　I'm　going　to　give　you　more。　From　the　beginning　of　the　new　picture　you're　on　the　payroll　at　seventy…five　a　week。　No；　no；　not　a　word〃　as　Merton　would　have　thanked　him。　〃You're　earning　the　money。　And　for　the　picture　after　thatwell；　if　you　keep　on　giving　the　best　that's　in　you；　it　will　be　a　whole　lot　more。　Now　take　a　good　rest　till　we're　ready　for　you。〃

At　last　he　had　won。　Suffering　and　sacrifice　had　told。　And　Baird　had　spoken　of　the　Montague　girl　as　his　leading　ladyquite　as　if　he　were　a　star。　And　seventy…five　dollars　a　week！　A　sum　Gashwiler　had　made　him　work　five　weeks　for。　Now　he　had　something　big　to　write　to　his　old　friend；　Tessie　Kearns。　She　might　spread　the　news　in　Simsbury；　he　thought。　He　contrived　a　close…up　of　Gashwiler　hearing　it；　of　Mrs。　Gashwiler　hearing　it；　of　Metta　Judson　hearing　it。

They　would　all　be　incredulous　until　a　certain　picture　was　shown　at　the　Bijou　Palace；　a　gripping　drama　of　mother…love；　of　a　clean…limbed　young　American　type　wrongfully　accused　of　a　crime　and　taking　the　burden　of　it　upon　his　own　shoulders　for　the　sake　of　the　girl　he　had　come　to　love；　of　the　tense　play　of　elemental　forces　in　the　great　West；　the　regeneration　of　a　shallow　society　girl　when　brought　to　adversity　by　the　ruin　of　her　old　father；　of　the　lovers　reunited　in　that　West　they　both　loved。

And　somehowthis　was　still　a　puzzlethe　very　effective　weaving　in　and　out　of　the　drama　of　the　world's　most　popular　screen　idol；　played　so　expertly　by　Clifford　Armytage　who　looked　enough　like　him　to　be　his　twin　brother。

Fresh　from　joyous　moments　in　the　projection　room；　the　Montague　girl　gazed　at　Baird　across　the　latter's　desk；　Baird　spoke。

〃Sis；　he's　a　wonder。〃

〃Jeff；　you're　a　wonder。　How'd　you　ever　keep　him　from　getting　wise？〃

Baird　shrugged。　〃Easy！　We　caught　him　fresh。〃

〃How'd　you　ever　win　him　to　do　all　those　falls　on　the　trick　spurs；　and　get　the　close…ups　of　them？　Didn't　he　know　you　were　shooting？〃

〃Oh！〃　Baird　shrugged　again。　〃A　little　talk　made　that　all　jake。　But　what　bothers　mehow's　he　going　to　act　when　he's　seen　the　picture？〃

The　girl　became　grave。　〃I'm　scared　stiff　every　time　I　think　of　it。　Maybe　he'll　murder　you；　Jeff。〃

〃Maybe　he'll　murder　both　of　us。　You　got　him　into　it。〃

She　did　not　smile；　but　considered　gravely；　absently。

〃There's　something　else　might　happen；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃That　boy's　got　at　least　a　couple　of　sides　to　him。　I'd　rather　he'd　be　crazy　mad　than　be　what　I'm　thinking　of　now；　and　that's　that　all　this　stuff　might　just　fairly　break　his　heart。　Think　of　itto　see　his　fine　honest　acting　turned　into　good　old　Buckeye　slap…stick！　Can't　you　get　that？　How'd　you　like　to　think　you　were　playing　Romeo；　and　act　your　heart　out　at　it；　and　then　find　out　they'd　slipped　in　a　cross…eyed　Juliet　in　a　comedy　make…up　on　you？　Well；　you　can　laugh；　but　maybe　it　won't　be　funny　to　him。　Honest；　Jeff；　that　kid　gets　me　under　the　ribs　kind　of。　I　hope　he　takes　it　standing　up；　and　goes　good　and　crazy　mad。〃

〃I'll　know　what　to　say　to　him　if　he　does　that。　If　he　takes　it　the　other　way；　lying　down；　I'll　be　too　ashamed　ever　to　look　him　in　the　eye　again。　Say；　it'll　be　like　going　up　to　a　friendly　baby　and　soaking　it　with　a　potato　masher　or　something。〃

〃Don't　worry　about　it；　Kid。　Anyway；　it　won't　be　your　fault　so　much　as　mine。　And　you　think　there's　only　two　ways　for　him　to　take　it；　mad　or　heart　broken？　Well；　let　me　tell　you　something　about　that　ladhe　might　fool　you　both　ways。　I　don't　know　just　how；　but　I　tell　you　he's　an　actor；　a　born　one。　What　he　did　is　going　to　get　over　big。　And　I　never　yet　saw　a　born　actor　that　would　take　applause　lying　down；　even　if　it　does　come　for　what　he　didn't　know　he　was　doing。　Maybe　he'll　be　madthat's　natural　enough。　But　maybe　he'll　fool　us　both。　So　cheerio；　old　Pippin！　and　let's　fly　into　the　new　piece。　I'll　play　safe　by　shooting　the　most　of　that　before　the　other　one　is　released。　And　he'll　still　be　playing　straight　in　a　serious　heart　drama。　Fancy　that；　Armand！〃




CHAPTER　XV

A　NEW　TRAIL


One　genial　morning　a　few　days　later　the　sun　shone　in　across　the　desk　of　Baird　while　he　talked　to　Merton　Gill　of　the　new　piece。　It　was　a　sun　of　fairest　promise。　Mr。　Gill's　late　work　was　again　lavishly　commended；　and　confidence　was　expressed　that　he　would　surpass　himself　in　the　drama　shortly　to　be　produced。

Mr。　Baird　spoke　in　enthusiastic　terms　of　this；　declaring　that　if　it　did　not　prove　to　be　a　knock…outa　clean…up　picturethen　he；　Jeff　Baird；　could　safely　be　called　a　Chinaman。　And　during　the　time　that　would　elapse　before　shooting　on　the　new　piece　could　begin　he　specified　a　certain　study　in　which　he　wished　his　actor　to　engage。

〃You've　watched　the　Edgar　Wayne　pictures；　haven't　you？〃

〃Yes；　I've　seen　a　number　of　them。〃

〃Like　his　work？that　honest　country…boy…loving…hismother…and…　little…sister　stuff；　wearing　overalls　and　tousled　hair　in　the　first　part；　and　coming　out　in　city　clothes　and　eight　dollar　neckties　at　the　last；　with　his　hair　slicked　back　same　as　a　seal？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　like　it。　He's　fine。　He　has　a　great　appeal。〃

〃Good！　That's　the　kind　of　a　part　you're　going　to　get　in　this　new　piece。　Lots　of　managers　in　my　place　would　say　'No…he's　a　capable　young　chap　and　has　plenty　of　talent；　but　he　lacks　the　experience　to　play　an　Edgar　Wayne　part。'　That's　what　a　lot　of　these　Wisenheimers　would　say。　But　menot　so。　I　believe　you　can　get　away　with　this　part；　and　I'm　going　to　give　you　your　chance。〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you；　Mr。　Baird；　and　I'll　try　to　give　you　the　very　best　that　is　in　me〃

〃I'm　sure　of　that；　my　boy；　you　needn't　tell　me。　But　nowwhat　I　want　you　to　do　while　you　got　this　lay…off　between　pieces；　chase　out　and　watch　all　the　Edgar　Wayne　pictures　you　can　find。　There　was　one　up　on　the　Boulevard　last　week　I'd　like　you　to　watch　half…a…dozen　times。　It　may　be　at　another　house　down　this　way；　or　it　may　be　out　in　one　of　the　suburbs。　I'll　have　someone　outside　call　up　and　find　where　it　is　to…day　and　they'll　let　you　know。　It's　called　Happy　Homestead　or　something　snappy　like　that；　and　it　kind　of　suggests　a　layout　for　this　new　piece　of　mine；　see　what　I　mean？　It'll　suggest　things　to　you。

〃Edgar　and　his　mother　and　little　sister　live　on　this　farm　and　Edgar　mixes　in　with　a　swell　dame　down　at　the　summer　hotel；　and　a　villain　tries　to　get　his　old　mother's　farm　and　another　villain　takes　his　little　sister　off　up　to　the　wicked　city；　and　Edgar　has　more　trouble　than　would　patch　Hell　a　mile；　see？　But　it　all　comes　right　in　the　end；　and　the　city　girl　falls　for　him　when　she　sees　him　in　his　stepping…out　clothes。

〃It's　a　pretty　little　thing；　but　to　my　way　of　thinking　it　lacks　strength；　not　enough　punch　to　it。　So　we're　sort　of　building　up　on　that　general　idea；　only　we'll　put　in　the　pep　that　this　piece　lacked。　If　I　don't　miss　my　guess；　you'll　be　able　to　show　Wayne　a　few　things　about　serious　actingespecially　after　you've　studied　his　methods　a　little　bit　in　this　piece。〃

〃Well；　if　you　think　I　can　do　it；〃　began　Merton；　then　broke　off　in　answer　to　a　sudden　thought。　〃Will　my　mother　be　the　same　actress　that　played　it　before；　the　one　that　mopped　all　the　time？〃

〃Yes；　the　same　actress；　but　a　different　sort　of　mother。　Sheshe's　more　enterprising；　she's　a　sort　of　chemist；　in　a　way；　puts　up　preserves　and　jellies　for　the　hotel。　She　never　touches　a　mop　in　the　whole　piece　and　dresses　neat　from　start　to　finish。〃

〃And　does　the　cross…eyed　man　play　in　it？　Sometimes；　in　scenes　with　him；　I'd　get　the　idea　I　wasn't　really　doing　my　best。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know。〃　Baird　waved　a　sympathetic　hand。　〃Poor　old　Jack。　He's　trying　hard　to　do　something　worth　while；　but　he's　played　in　those　cheap　comedy　things　so　long　it's　sort　of　hard　for　him　to　get　out　of　it　and　play　serious　stuff；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。〃

〃I　know　what　you　mean；〃　said　Merton。

〃And　he's　been　with　me　so　long　I　kind　of　hate　to　discharge　him。　You　see；　on　account　of　those　eyes　of　his；　it　would　be　hard　for　him　to　get　a　job　as　a　serious　actor；　so　I　did　think　I'd　give　him　another　part　in　this　piece　if　you　didn't　object；　just　to　sort　of　work　him　into　the　worth…while　things。　He's　so　eager　for　the　chance。　It　was　quite　pathetic　how　grateful　he　looked　when　I　told　him　I'd　try　him　once　more　in　one　of　the　better　and　finer　things。　And　a　promise　is　a　promise。〃

〃Still；　Merton；　you're　the　man　I　must　suit　in　this　cast；　if　you　say　the　word　I'll　tell　Jack　he　must　go；　though　I　know　what　a　blow　it　will　be　to　him〃

〃Oh；　no；　Mr。　Baird；〃　Merton　interrupted　fervently；　〃I　wouldn't　think　of　such　a　thing。　Let　the　poor　fellow　have　a　chance　to　learn　something　better　than　the　buffoonery　he's　been　doing。　I'll　do　everything　I　can　to　help　him。　I　think　it　is　very　pathetic；　his　wanting　to　do　the　better　things；　it's　fine　of　him。　And　maybe　some　day　he　could　save　up　enough　to　have　a　good　surgeon　fix　his　eyes　right。　It　might　be　done；　you　know。〃

〃Now　that's　nice　of　you；　my　boy。　It's　kind　and　generous。　Not　every　actor　of　your　talent　would