merton of the movies-第15部分

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ought　out　by　the　cowboys。　They　shook　hands　warmly　under　megaphoned　directions　from　a　man　back　by　the　camera。　The　rancher　and　his　wife　mingled　with　the　group。　The　girl　was　drawn　aside　by　one　of　the　cowboys。　He　had　a　nobler　presence　than　the　others；　he　was　handsome　and　his　accoutrements　seemed　more　expensive。　They　looked　into　each　other's　eyes　a　long　time；　apparently　pledging　an　eternal　fidelity。　One　gathered　that　there　would　have　been　an　embrace　but　for　the　cowboy's　watchful　companions。　They　must　say　good…by　with　a　mere　handshake；　though　this　was　a　slow；　trembling；　long…drawn　clasp　while　they　steadily　regarded　each　other；　and　a　second　camera　was　brought　to　record　it　at　a　distance　of　six　feet。　Merton　Gill　thrilled　with　the　knowledge　that　he　was　beholding　his　first　close…up。　His　long　study　of　the　photo…drama　enabled　him　to　divine　that　the　rancher's　daughter　was　going　to　Vassar　College　to　be　educated；　but　that；　although　returning　a　year　later　a　poised　woman　of　the　world；　she　would　still　long　for　the　handsome　cowboy　who　would　marry　her　and　run　the　Bar…X　ranch。　The　scene　was　done。　The　camera　would　next　be　turned　upon　a　real　train　at　some　real　station；　while　the　girl；　with　a　final　look　at　her　lover；　entered　a　real　car；　which　the　camera　would　show　moving　off　to　Vassar　College。　Thus　conveying　to　millions　of　delighted　spectators　the　impression　that　a　real　train　had　steamed　out　of　the　station；　which　was　merely　an　imitation　of　one；　on　the　Holden　lot。　The　watcher　passed　on。　He　could　hear　the　cheerful　drone　of　a　sawmill　where　logs　were　being　cut。　He　followed　the　sound　and　came　to　its　source。　The　saw　was　at　the　end　of　an　oblong　pool　in　which　logs　floated。　Workmen　were　poling　these　toward　the　saw。　On　a　raised　platform　at　one　side　was　a　camera　and　a　man　who　gave　directions　through　a　megaphone；　a　neighbouring　platform　held　a　second　camera。　A　beautiful　young　girl　in　a　print　dress　and　her　thick　hair　in　a　braid　came　bringing　Ms　dinner　in　a　tin　pail　to　the　handsomest　of　the　actors。　He　laid　down　his　pike…pole　and　took　both　the　girl's　hands　in　his　as　he　received　the　pail。　One　of　the　other　workmen；　a　hulking　brute　with　an　evil　face；　scowled　darkly　at　this　encounter　and　a　moment　later　had　insulted　the　beautiful　young　girl。　But　the　first　actor　felled　him　with　a　blow。　He　came　up　from　this；　crouchingly；　and　the　fight　was　on。　Merton　was　excited　by　this　fight；　even　though　he　was　in　no　doubt　as　to　which　actor　would　win　it。　They　fought　hard；　and　for　a　time　it　appeared　that　the　handsome　actor　must　lose；　for　the　bully　who　had　insulted　the　girl　was　a　man　of　great　strength；　but　the　science　of　the　other　told。　It　was　the　first　fight　Merton　had　ever　witnessed。　He　thought　these　men　must　really　be　hating　each　other；　so　bitter　were　their　expressions。　The　battle　grew　fiercer。　It　was　splendid。　Then；　at　the　shrill　note　of　a　whistle；　the　panting　combatants　fell　apart。

〃Rotten！〃　said　an　annoyed　voice　through　the　megaphone。　〃Can't　you　boys　give　me　a　little　action？　Jazz　it；　jazz　it！　Think　it's　a　love　scene？　Go　to　it；　nowplenty　of　jazzunderstand　what　I　mean？〃　He　turned　to　the　camera　man　beside　him。　〃Ed；　you　turn　tenwe　got　to　get　some　speed　some　way。　Jack〃to　the　other　camera　man〃you　stay　on　twelve。　All　ready！　Get　some　life　into　it；　now；　and　Lafe〃this　to　the　handsome　actor〃don't　keep　trying　to　hold　your　front　to　the　machine。　We'll　get　you　all　right。　Ready；　now。　Camera！〃

Again　the　fight　was　on。　It　went　to　a　bitter　finish　in　which　the　vanquished　bully　was　sent　with　a　powerful　blow　backward　into　the　water；　while　the　beautiful　young　girl　ran　to　the　victor　and　nestled　in　the　protection　of　his　strong　arms。

Merton　Gill　passed　on。　This　was　the　real　thing。　He　would　have　a　lot　to　tell　Tessie　Kearns　in　his　next　letter。　Beyond　the　sawmill　he　came　to　an　immense　wooden　structure　like　a　cradle　on　huge　rockers　supported　by　scaffolding。　From　the　ground　he　could　make　nothing　of　it；　but　a　ladder　led　to　the　top。　An　hour　on　the　Holden　lot　had　made　him　bold。　He　mounted　the　ladder　and　stood　on　the　deck　of　what　he　saw　was　a　sea…going　yacht。　Three　important…looking　men　were　surveying　the　deckhouse　forward。　They　glanced　at　the　newcomer　but　with　a　cheering　absence　of　curiosity　or　even　of　interest。　He　sauntered　past　them　with　a　polite　but　not…too…keen　interest。　The　yacht　would　be　an　expensive　one。　The　deck　fittings　were　elaborate。　A　glance　into　the　captain's　cabin　revealed　it　to　be　fully　furnished；　with　a　chart　and　a　sextant　on　the　mahogany　desk。

〃Where's　the　bedding　for　this　stateroom？〃　asked　one　of　the　men。

〃I　got　a　prop…rustler　after　it；〃　one　of　the　others　informed　him。

They　strolled　aft　and　paused　by　an　iron　standard　ingeniously　swung　from　the　deck。

〃That's　Burke's　idea；〃　said　one　of　the　men。　〃I　hadn't　thought　about　a　steady　support　for　the　camera；　of　course　if　we　stood　it　on　deck　it　would　rock　when　the　ship　rocked　and　we'd　get　no　motion。　So　Burke　figures　this　out。　The　camera　is　on　here　and　swings　by　that　weight　so　it's　always　straight　and　the　rocking　registers。　Pretty　neat；　what？〃

〃That　was　nothing　to　think　of〃　said　one　of　the　other　men；　in　apparent　disparagement。　〃I　thought　of　it　myself　the　minute　I　saw　it。〃　The　other　two　grinned　at　this；　though　Merton　Gill；　standing　by；　saw　nothing　to　laugh　at。　He　thought　the　speaker　was　pretty　cheeky；　for　of　course　any　one　could　think　of　this　device　after　seeing　it。　He　paused　for　a　final　survey　of　his　surroundings　from　this　elevation。　He　could　see　the　real　falseness　of　the　sawmill　he　had　just　left；　he　could　also　look　into　the　exposed　rear　of　the　railway　station；　and　could　observe　beyond　it　the　exposed　skeleton　of　that　New　York　street。　He　was　surrounded　by　mockeries。

He　clambered　down　the　ladder　and　sauntered　back　to　the　street　of　offices。　He　was　by　this　time　confident　that　no　one　was　going　to　ask　him　what　right　he　had　in　there。　Now；　too；　he　became　conscious　of　hunger　and　at　the　same　moment　caught　the　sign　〃Cafeteria〃　over　a　neat　building　hitherto　unnoticed。　People　were　entering　this；　many　of　them　in　costume。　He　went　idly　toward　the　door；　glanced　up；　looked　at　his　watch；　and　became；　to　any　one　curious　about　him；　a　man　who　had　that　moment　decided　he　might　as　well　have　a　little　food。　He　opened　the　screen　door　of　the　cafeteria；　half　expecting　it　to　prove　one　of　those　structures　equipped　only　with　a　front。　But　the　cafeteria　was　practicable。　The　floor　was　crowded　with　little　square　polished　tables　at　which　many　people　were　eating。　A　railing　along　the　side　of　the　room　made　a　passage　to　the　back　where　food　was　served　from　a　counter　to　the　proffered　tray。　He　fell　into　line。　No　one　had　asked　him　how　he　dared　try　to　eat　with　real　actors　and　actresses　and　apparently　no　one　was　going　to。　Toward　the　end　of　the　passage　was　a　table　holding　trays　and　napkins　the　latter　wrapped　about　an　equipment　of　cutlery。　He　took　his　tray　and　received　at　the　counter　the　foods　he　designated。　He　went　through　this　ordeal　with　difficulty　because　it　was　not　easy　to　keep　from　staring　about　at　other　patrons。　Constantly　he　was　detecting　some　remembered　face。　But　at　last；　with　his　laden　tray　he　reached　a　vacant　table　near　the　centre　of　the　room　and　took　his　seat。　He　absently　arranged　the　food　before　him。　He　could　stare　at　leisure　now。　All　about　him　were　the　strongly　marked　faces　of　the　film　people；　heavy　with　makeup；　interspersed　with　hungry　civilians；　who　might　be　producers；　directors；　camera　men；　or　mere　artisans；　for　the　democracy　of　the　cafeteria　seemed　ideal。

At　the　table　ahead　of　his　he　recognized　the　man　who　had　been　annoyed　one　day　by　the　silly　question　of　the　Montague　girl。　They　had　said　he　was　a　very　important　director。　He　still　looked　important　and　intensely　serious。　He　was　a　short；　very　plump　man；　with　pale　cheeks　under　dark　brows；　and　troubled　looking　gray　hair。　He　was　very　seriously　explaining　something　to　the　man　who　sat　with　him　and　whom　he　addressed　as　Governor；　a　merry…looking　person　with　a　stubby　gray　mustache　and　little　hair；　who　seemed　not　too　attentive　to　the　director。

〃You　see；　Governor；　it's　this　way：　the　party　is　lost　on　the　desert　understand　what　I　meanand　Kempton　Ward　and　the　girl　stumble　into　this　deserted　tomb　just　at　nightfall。　Now　here's　where　the　big　kick　comes〃

Merton　Gill　ceased　to　listen　for　there　now　halted　at　his　table；　bearing　a　laden　tray；　none　other　than　the　Montague　girl；　she　of　the　slangy　talk　and　the　regrettably　free　manner。　She　put　down　her　tray　and　seated　herself　before　it。　She　had　not　asked　permission　of　the　table's　other　occupant；　indeed　she　had　not　even　glanced　at　him；　for　cafeteria　etiquette　is　not　rigorous。　He　saw　that　she　was　heavily　made　up　and　in　the　costume　of　a　gypsy；　he　thought；　a　short　vivid　skirt；　a　gay　waist；　heavy　gold　hoops　in　her　ears；　and　dark　hair　massed　about　her　small　head。　He　remembered　that　this　would　not　be　her　own　hair。　She　fell　at　once　to　her　food。　The　men　at　the　next　table　glanced　at　her；　the　director　without　cordiality；　but　the　other　man　smiled　upon　her　cheerfully。

〃Hello；　Flips！　How's　the　girl？〃

〃Everything's　jake　with　me；　Governor。　How's　things　over　at　your　shop？〃

〃So；　so。　I　see　you're　working。〃

〃Only　for　two　days。　I'm　just　atmosphere　in　this　piece。　I　got　some　real　stuff　coming　along　pretty　soon　for　Baxter。　Got　to　climb　down　ten　stories　of　a　hotel　elevator　cable；　and　ride　a　brake…beam　and　be　pushed　off　a　cliff　and　thrown　to　the　lions；　and　a　few　other　little　things。〃

〃That's　good；　Flips。　Come　in　and　see　me　some　time。　Have　a　little　chat。　Ma　working？〃

〃Yeahgot　a　character　bit　with　Charlotte　King　in　Her　Other　Husband。〃　〃Glad　to　hear　it。　How's　Pa　Montague？〃

〃Pa's　in　bed。　They've　signed　him　for　Camillia　of　the　Cumberlands；　providing　he　raises　a　brush；　and　just　now　it　ain't　long　enough　for　whiskers　and　too　long　for　anything　else；　so　he's　putterin'　around　with　his　new　still。〃

〃Well；　drop　over　sometime；　Flips；　I'm　keeping　you　in　mind。〃

〃Thanks；　Governor。　Say〃　Merton　glanced　up　in　time　to　see　her　wink　broadly　at　the　man；　and　look　toward　his　companion　who　still　seriously　made　notes　on　the　back　of　an　envelope。　The　man's　face　melted　to　a　grin　which　he　quickly　erased。　The　girl　began　again：

〃Mr。　Henshawcould　you　give　me　just　a　moment；　Mr。　Henshaw？〃　The　serious　director　looked　up　in　quite　frank　annoyance。

〃Yes；　yes；　what　is　it；　Miss　Montague？〃

〃Well；　listen；　Mr。　Henshaw；　I　got　a　great　idea　fo