merton of the movies-第34部分

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tolerable　even　as　a　director。　It　was　unthinkable；　more　horrible；　somehow；　than　her　employment　of　a　double。　In　time　he　might　have　forgiven　thatbut　this！

〃Sure；　that's　her　honest…to…God　husband。　And　he's　the　best　one　out　of　three　that　I　know　she's　had。　Sig's　a　good　scout　even　if　he　don't　look　like　Buffalo　Bill。　In　fact；　he's　all　right　in　spite　of　his　rough　ways。　He'd　go　farther　for　you　than　most　of　the　men　on　this　lot。　If　I　wanted　a　favour　I'd　go　to　Sig　before　a　lot　of　Christians　I　happen　to　know。　And　he's　a　bully　director　if　he　is　noisy。　Baxter's　crazy　about　him；　too。　Don't　make　any　mistake　there。〃

〃I　won't；〃　he　answered；　not　knowing　what　he　said。

She　shot　him　a　new　look。　〃Say；　Kid；　as　long　as　we're　talking；　you　seem　kind　of　up　against　it。　Where's　your　overcoat　a　night　like　this；　and　when　did　you　last〃

〃Miss　Montague！　Miss　Montague！〃　The　director　was　calling。

〃Excuse　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　got　to　go　entertain　the　white　folks　again。〃　She　tucked　up　the　folds　of　her　blanket　and　sped　around　the　pool　to　disappear　in　the　mazes　of　the　scaffolding。　He　remained　a　moment　staring　dully　into　the　now　quiet　water。　Then　he　walked　swiftly　away。

Beulah　Baxter；　his　wonder…woman；　had　deceived　her　public　in　Peoria；　Illinois；　by　word　of　mouth。　She　employed　a　double　at　critical　junctures。　〃She'd　be　a　fool　not　to；〃　the　Montague　girl　had　said。　And　in　private　life；　having　been　unhappily　wed　twice　before；　she　was　Mrs。　Sigmund　Rosenblatt。　And　crazy　about　her　husband！

A　little　while　ago　he　had　felt　glad　he　was　not　to　die　of　starvation　before　seeing　his　wonder…woman。　Reeling　under　the　first　shock　of　his　discoveries　he　was　now　sorry。　Beulah　Baxter　was　no　longer　his　wonder…woman。　She　was　Mr。　Rosenblatt's。　He　would　have　preferred　death；　he　thought；　before　this　heart…withering　revelation。




CHAPTER　XI

THE　MONTAGUE　GIRL　INTERVENES


He　came　to　life　the　next　morning；　shivering　under　his　blankets。　It　must　be　cold　outside。　He　glanced　at　his　watch　and　reached　for　another　blanket；　throwing　it　over　himself　and　tucking　it　in　at　the　foot。　Then　he　lay　down　again　to　screen　a　tense　bit　of　action　that　had　occurred　late　the　night　before。　He　had　plunged　through　the　streets　for　an　hour；　after　leaving　the　pool；　striving　to　recover　from　the　twin　shocks　he　had　suffered。　Then；　returning　to　his　hotel；　he　became　aware　that　The　Hazards　of　Hortense　were　still　on。　He　could　hear　the　roar　of　the　aeroplane　propeller　and　see　the　lights　over　the　low　buildings　that　lined　his　street。

Miserably　he　was　drawn　back　to　the　spot　where　the　most　important　of　all　his　visions　had　been　rent　to　tatters。　He　went　to　the　end　of　the　pool　where　he　had　stood　before。　Mr。　Rosenblatt…hardly　could　he　bring　his　mind　to　utter　the　hideous　syllables…was　still　dissatisfied　with　the　sea's　might。　He　wanted　bigger　billows　and　meant　to　have　them　if　the　company　stayed　on　the　set　all　night。　He　was　saying　as　much　with　peevish　inflections。　Merton　stood　warming　himself　over　the　fire　that　still　glowed　in　the　brazier。

To　him　from　somewhere　beyond　the　scaffold　came　now　the　Montague　girl　and　Jimmie。　The　girl　was　in　her　blanket；　and　Jimmie　bore　a　pitcher；　two　tin　cups；　and　a　package　of　sandwiches。　They　came　to　the　fire　and　Jimmie　poured　coffee　for　the　girl。　He　produced　sugar　from　a　pocket。

〃Help　yourself；　James；〃　said　the　girl；　and　Jimmie　poured　coffee　for　himself。　They　ate　sandwiches　as　they　drank。　Merton　drew　a　little　back　from　the　fire。　The　scent　of　the　hot　coffee　threatened　to　make　him　forget　he　was　not　only　a　successful　screen　actor　but　a　gentleman。

〃Did　you　have　to　do　it　again？〃　he　asked。

〃I　had　to　do　it　twice　again；〃　said　the　girl　from　over　her　tin　cup。　〃They're　developing　the　strips　now；　then　they'll　run　them　in　the　projection　room；　and　they　won't　suit　Sig　one　little　bit；　and　I'll　have　to　do　it　some　more。　I'll　be　swimming　here　till　daylight　doth　appear。〃

She　now　shot　that　familiar　glance　of　appraisal　at　Merton。　〃Have　a　sandwich　and　some　coffee；　Kid…give　him　your　cup；　Jimmie。〃

It　was　Merton　Gill's　great　moment；　a　heart…gripping　climax　to　a　two…　days'　drama　that　had　at　no　time　lacked　tension。　Superbly　he　arose　to　it。　Consecrated　to　his　art；　Clifford　Armytage　gave　the　public　something　better　and　finer。　He　drew　himself　up　and　spoke　lightly；　clearly；　with　careless　ease：

〃No；　thanks…I　couldn't　eat　a　mouthful。〃　The　smile　with　which　he　accompanied　the　simple　words　might　be　enigmatic；　it　might　hint　of　secret　sorrows；　but　it　was　plain　enough　that　these　could　not　ever　so　distantly　relate　to　a　need　for　food。

Having　achieved　this　sensational　triumph；　with　all　the　quietness　of　method　that　should　distinguish　the　true　artist；　he　became　seized　with　stage　fright　amounting　almost　to　panic。　He　was　moved　to　snatch　the　sandwich　that　Jimmie　now　proffered；　the　cup　that　he　had　refilled　with　coffee。　Yet　there　was　but　a　moment　of　confusion。　Again　he　wielded　an　iron　restraint。　But　he　must　leave　the　stage。　He　could　not　tarry　there　after　his　big　scene；　especially　under　that　piercing　glance　of　the　girl。　Somehow　there　was　incredulity　in　it。

〃Well；　I　guess　I'll　have　to　be　going；〃　he　remarked　jauntily；　and　turned　for　his　exit。

〃Say；　Kid。〃　The　girl　halted　him　a　dozen　feet　away。

〃Say；　listen　here。　This　is　on　the　level。　I　want　to　have　a　talk　with　you　to…morrow。　You'll　be　on　the　lot；　won't　you？〃

He　seemed　to　debate　this　momentarily；　then　replied；　〃Oh；　yes。　I'll　be　around　here　somewhere。〃　〃Well；　remember；　now。　If　I　don't　run　into　you；　you　come　down　to　that　set　where　I　was　working　to…day。　See？　I　got　something　to　say　to　you。〃

〃All　right。　I'll　probably　see　you　sometime　during　the　day。〃

He　had　gone　on　to　his　hotel。　But　he　had　no　intention　of　seeing　the　Montague　girl　on　the　morrow；　nor　of　being　seen　by　her。　He　would　keep　out　of　that　girl's　way　whatever　else　he　did。　She　would　ask　him　if　everything　was　jake；　and　where　was　his　overcoat；　and　a　lot　of　silly　questions　about　matters　that　should　not　concern　her。

He　was　in　two　minds　about　the　girl　now。　Beneath　an　unreasonable　but　very　genuine　resentment　that　she　should　have　doubled　for　Beulah　Baxter…as　if　she　had　basely　cheated　him　of　his　most　cherished　ideal…　there　ran　an　undercurrent　of　reluctant　but　very　profound　admiration　for　her　prowess。　She　had　done　some　thrilling　things　and　seemed　to　make　nothing　of　it。　Through　this　admiration　there　ran　also　a　thread　of　hostility　because　he；　himself；　would　undoubtedly　be　afraid　to　attempt　her　lightest　exploit。　Not　even　the　trifling　feat　he　had　just　witnessed；　for　he　had　never　learned　to　swim。　But　he　clearly　knew；　despite　this　confusion；　that　he　was　through　with　the　girl。　He　must　take　more　pains　to　avoid　her。　If　met　by　chance；　she　must　be　snubbed…　up…staged；　as　she　would　put　it。

Under　his　blankets　now；　after　many　appealing　close…ups　of　the　sandwich　which　Jimmie　had　held　out　to　him；　he　felt　almost　sorry　that　he　had　not　taken　the　girl's　food。　All　his　being；　save　that　part　consecrated　to　his　art；　had　cried　out　for　it。　Art；　had　triumphed；　and　now　he　was　near　to　regretting　that　it　had　not　been　beaten　down。　No　good　thinking　about　it；　though。

He　reached　again　for　his　watch。　It　was　seven…thirty　and　time　to　be　abroad。　Once　more　he　folded　his　blankets　and　placed　them　on　the　pile；　keeping　an　alert　glance；　the　while；　for　another　possible　bit　of　the　delicious　bread。　He　found　nothing　of　this　sort。　The　Crystal　Palace　Hotel　was　bare　of　provender。　Achieving　a　discreet　retirement　from　the　hostelry　he　stood　irresolute　in　the　street。　This　morning　there　was　no　genial　sun　to　warm　him。　A　high　fog　overcast　the　sky；　and　the　air　was　chill。　At　intervals　he　shivered　violently。　For　no　reason；　except　that　he　had　there　last　beheld　actual　food；　he　went　back　to　the　pool。

Evidently　Mr。　Rosenblatt　had　finally　been　appeased。　The　place　was　deserted　and　lay　bare　and　ugly　in　the　dull　light。　The　gallant　ship　of　the　night　before　was　seen　to　be　a　poor；　flimsy　make…shift。　No　wonder　Mr。　Rosenblatt　had　wished　billows　to　engulf　it　and　mist　to　shroud　it。　He　sat　on　a　beam　lying　at　the　ship　end　of　the　pool　and　stared　moodily　at　the　pitiful　make…believe。

He　rounded　his　shoulders　and　pulled　up　the　collar　of　his　coat。　He　knew　he　should　be　walking；　but　doubted　his　strength。　The　little　walk　to　the　pool　had　made　him　strangely　breathless。　He　wondered　how　long　people　were　in　starving　to　death。　He　had　read　of　fasters　who　went　for　weeks　without　food；　but　he　knew　he　was　not　of　this　class。　He　lacked　talent　for　it。　Doubtless　another　day　would　finish　him。　He　had　no　heart　now　for　visions　of　the　Gashwiler　table。　He　descended　tragically　to　recalling　that　last　meal　at　the　drug　store…the　bowl　of　soup　with　its　gracious　burden　of　rich；　nourishing　catsup。

He　began　to　alter　the　scenario　of　his　own　life。　Suppose　he　had　worked　two　more　weeks　for　Gashwiler。　That　would　have　given　him　thirty　dollars。　Suppose　he　had　worked　a　month。　He　could　have　existed　a　long　time　on　sixty　dollars。　Suppose　he　had　even　stuck　it　out　for　one　week　more…fifteen　dollars　at　this　moment！　He　began　to　see　a　breakfast；　the　sort　of　meal　to　be　ordered　by　a　hungry　man　with　fifteen　dollars　to　squander。

The　shivering　seized　him　again　and　he　heard　his　teeth　rattle。　He　must　move　from　this　spot；　forever　now　to　be　associated　with　black　disillusion。　He　arose　from　his　seat　and　was　dismayed　to　hear　a　hail　from　the　Montague　girl。　Was　he　never　to　be　free　from　her？　She　was　poised　at　a　little　distance；　one　hand　raised　to　him；　no　longer　the　drenched　victim　of　a　capricious　Rosenblatt；　but　the　beaming；　joyous　figure　of　one　who　had　triumphed　over　wind　and　wave。　He　went　almost　sullenly　to　her　while　she　waited。　No　good　trying　to　escape　her　for　a　minute　or　so。

〃Hello；　old　Trouper！　You're　just　in　time　to　help　me　hunt　for　something。〃　She　was　in　the　familiar　street　suit　now；　a　skirt　and　jacket　of　some　rough　brown　goods　and　a　cloth　hat　that　kept　close　to　her　small　head　above　hair　that　seemed　of　no　known　shade　whatever；　though　it　was　lighter　than　dark。　She　flashed　a　smile　at　him　from　her　broad　mouth　as　he　came　up；　though　her　knowing　gray　eyes　did　not　join　in　this　smile。　He　knew　instantly　that　she　was　taking　him　in。

This　girl　was　wise　beyond　her　years；　he　thought；　but　one　even　far　less　knowing　could　hardly　have　been　in　two　minds　about　his　present　abject　condition。　The　pushed…up　collar　of　his　coat　did　not　entirely　hide　the　once…white