merton of the movies-第14部分

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aise　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　of　the　speaking　stage　an　artificial　beard　was　considered　above　reproach。　Nowadays　one　must　descend　to　mere　physical　means　if　one　is　to　be　thought　worthy。〃




CHAPTER　V

A　BREACH　IN　THE　CITY　WALLS


During　these　weeks　of　waiting　outside　the　gate　the　little　woman　beyond　the　window　had　continued　to　be　friendly　but　not　encouraging　to　the　aspirant　for　screen　honours　late　of　Simsbury；　Illinois。　For　three　weeks　had　he　waited　faithfully；　always　within　call；　struggling　and　sacrificing　to　give　the　public　something　better　and　finer；　and　not　once　had　he　so　much　as　crossed　the　line　that　led　to　his　goal。

Then　on　a　Monday　morning　he　found　the　waiting…room　empty　and　his　friend　beyond　the　window　suffering　the　pangs　of　headache。　〃It　gets　me　something　fierce　right　through　here；〃　she　confided　to　him；　placing　her　finger…tips　to　her　temples。

〃Ever　use　Eezo　Pain　Wafers？〃　he　demanded　in　quick　sympathy。　She　looked　at　him　hopefully。

〃Never　heard　of　'em。〃

〃Let　me　get　you　some。〃

〃You　dear　thing；　fly　to　it！〃

He　was　gone　while　she　reached　for　her　purse；　hurrying　along　the　eucalyptus…lined　street　of　choice　home　sites　to　the　nearest　drug　store。　He　was　fearing　someone　else　might　bring　the　little　woman　another　remedy；　even　that　her　headache　might　go　before　he　returned　with　his。　But　he　found　her　still　suffering。

〃Here　they　are。〃　He　was　breathless。　〃You　take　a　couple　now　and　a　couple　more　in　half　an　hour　if　the　ache　hasn't　stopped。〃　〃Bless　your　heart！　Come　around　inside。〃　He　was　through　the　door　and　in　the　dimly　lit　little　office　behind　that　secretive　partition。　〃And　here's　something　else；〃　he　continued。　〃It's　a　menthol　pencil　and　you　take　this　cap　offsee？and　rub　your　forehead　with　it。　It'll　be　a　help。〃　She　swallowed　two　of　the　magic　wafers　with　the　aid　of　water　from　the　cooler；　and　applied　the　menthol。

〃You're　a　dear；〃　she　said；　patting　his　sleeve。　〃I　feel　better　already。　Sometimes　these　things　come　on　me　and　stay　all　day。〃　She　was　still　applying　the　menthol　to　throbbing　temples。　〃Say；　don't　you　get　tired　hanging　around　outside　there？　How'd　you　like　to　go　in　and　look　around　the　lot？　Would　you　like　that？〃

Would　he！　〃Thanks！〃　He　managed　it　without　choking；　〃If　I　wouldn't　be　in　the　way。〃

〃You　won't。　Go　onamuse　yourself。〃　The　telephone　rang。　Still　applying　the　menthol　she　held　the　receiver　to　her　ear。　〃No；　nothing　to…day；　dear。　Say；　Marie；　did　you　ever　take　Eezo　Pain　Wafers　for　a　headache？　Keep　'em　in　mindthey're　great。　Yes；　I'll　let　you　know　if　anything　breaks。　Goo'…by；　dear。〃

Merton　Gill　hurried　through　a　narrow　corridor　past　offices　where　typewriters　clicked　and　burst　from　gloom　into　the　dazzling　light　of　the　Holden　lot。　He　paused　on　the　steps　to　reassure　himself　that　the　great　adventure　was　genuine。　There　was　the　full　stretch　of　greensward　of　which　only　an　edge　had　shown　as　he　looked　through　the　gate。　There　were　the　vast　yellow…brick；　glass…topped　structures　of　which　he　had　seen　but　the　ends。　And　there　was　the　street　up　which　he　had　looked　for　so　many　weeks；　flanked　by　rows　of　offices　and　dressing　rooms；　and　lively　with　the　passing　of　many　people。　He　drew　a　long　breath　and　became　calculating。　He　must　see　everything　and　see　it　methodically。　He　even　went　now　along　the　asphalt　walk　to　the　corner　of　the　office　building　from　which　he　had　issued　for　the　privilege　of　looking　back　at　the　gate　through　which　he　had　so　often　yearningly　stared　from　across　the　street。

Now　he　was　securely　inside　looking　out。　The　watchman　sat　at　the　gate；　bent　low　over　his　paper。　There　was；　it　seemed；　more　than　one　way　to　get　by　him。　People　might　have　headaches　almost　any　time。　He　wondered　if　his　friend　the　casting　director　were　subject　to　them。　He　must　carry　a　box　of　the　Eezo　wafers。

He　strolled　down　the　street　between　the　rows　of　offices　and　the　immense　covered　stages。　Actors　in　costume　entered　two　of　these　and　through　their　open　doors　he　could　see　into　their　shadowy　interiors。　He　would　venture　there　later。　Just　now　he　wished　to　see　the　outside　of　things。　He　contrived　a　pace　not　too　swift　but　business…like　enough　to　convey　the　impression　that　he　was　rightfully　walking　this　forbidden　street。　He　seemed　to　be　going　some　place　where　it　was　of　the　utmost　importance　that　he　should　be；　and　yet　to　have　started　so　early　that　there　was　no　need　for　haste。

He　sounded　the　far　end　of　that　long　street　visible　from　outside　the　gate；　discovering　its　excitements　to　wane　gently　into　mere　blacksmith　and　carpenter　shops。　He　retraced　his　steps；　this　time　ignoring　the　long　row　of　offices　for　the　opposite　line　of　stages。　From　one　dark　interior　came　the　slow；　dulled　strains　of　an　orchestra　and　from　another　shots　rang　out。　He　met　or　passed　strangely　attired　people；　bandits；　priests；　choir　boys；　gentlemen　in　evening　dress　with　blue…black　eyebrows　and　careful　hair。　And　he　observed　many　beautiful　young　women；　variously　attired；　hurrying　to　or　from　the　stages。　One　lovely　thing　was　in　bridal　dress　of　dazzling　white；　a　veil　of　lace　floating　from　her　blonde　head；　her　long　train　held　up　by　a　coloured　maid。　She　chatted　amiably；　as　she　crossed　the　street；　with　an　evil…looking　Mexican　in　a　silver…corded　hata　veritable　Snake　de　Vasquez。

But　the　stages　could　wait。　He　must　see　more　streets。　Again　reaching　the　office　that　had　been　his　secret　gateway　to　these　delights；　he　turned　to　the　right；　still　with　the　air　of　having　business　at　a　certain　spot　to　which　there　was　really　no　need　for　him　to　hurry。　There　were　fewer　people　this　way；　and　presently；　as　if　by　magic　carpet；　he　had　left　all　that　sunlight　and　glitter　and　cheerful　noise　and　stood　alone　in　the　shadowy；　narrow　street　of　a　frontier　town。　There　was　no　bustle　here；　only　an　intense　stillness。　The　street　was　deserted；　the　shop　doors　closed。　There　was　a　ghostlike；　chilling　effect　that　left　him　uneasy。　He　called　upon　himself　to　remember　that　he　was　not　actually　in　a　remote　and　desolate　frontier　town　from　which　the　inhabitants　had　fled；　that　back　of　him　but　a　few　steps　was　abounding　life；　that　outside　was　the　prosaic　world　passing　and　repassing　a　gate　hard　to　enter。　He　whistled　the　fragment　of　a　tune　and　went　farther　along　this　street　of　uncanny　silence　and　vacancy；　noting；　as　he　went；　the　signs　on　the　shop　windows。　There　was　the　Busy　Bee　Restaurant；　Jim's　Place；　the　Hotel　Renown；　the　Last　Dollar　Dance　Hall；　Hank's　Pool　Room。　Upon　one　window　was　painted　the　terse　announcement；　〃JoeBuy　or　Sell。〃　The　Happy　Days　Bar　adjoined　the　General　Store。

He　moved　rapidly　through　this　street。　It　was　no　place　to　linger。　At　the　lower　end　it　gave　insanely　upon　a　row　of　three…story　brownstone　houses　which　any　picture　patron　would　recognize　as　being　wholly　of　New　York。　There　were　the　imposing　steps；　the　double…doored　entrances；　the　broad　windows；　the　massive　lines　of　the　whole。　And　beyond　this　he　came　to　a　many…coloured　little　street　out　of　Bagdad；　overhung　with　gay　balconies；　vivacious　with　spindled　towers　and　minarets；　and　small　reticent　windows；　out　of　which　veiled　ladies　would　glance。　And　all　was　still　with　the　stillness　of　utter　desertion。

Then　he　explored　farther　and　felt　curiously　disappointed　at　finding　that　these　structures　were　to　real　houses　what　a　dicky　is　to　a　sincere；　genuine　shirt。　They　were　pretentiously　false。

One　had　but　to　step　behind　them　to　discover　them　as　poor　shells。

Their　backs　were　jutting　beams　carried　but　little　beyond　the　fronts　and　their　stout…appearing　walls　were　revealed　to　be　fragile　contrivances　of　button…lath　and　thin　plaster。　The　ghost　quality　departed　from　them　with　this　discovery。

He　left　these　cities　of　silence　and　came　upon　an　open　space　and　people。　They　were　grouped　before　a　railway　station；　a　small　red　structure　beside　a　line　of　railway　track。　At　one　end　in　black　letters；　on　a　narrow　white　board；　was　the　name　Boomerville。

The　people　were　plainly　Western：　a　dozen　cowboys；　a　sprinkling　of　bluff　ranchers　and　their　families。　An　absorbed　young　man　in　cap　and　khaki　and　puttees　came　from　a　distant　group　surrounding　a　camera　and　readjusted　the　line　of　these　people。　He　placed　them　to　his　liking。　A　wagon　drawn　by　two　horses　was　driven　up　and　a　rancher　helped　a　woman　and　girl　to　alight。　The　girl　was　at　once　sought　out　by　the　cowboys。　They　shook　hands　warmly　under　megaphoned　directions　from　a　man　back　by　the