merton of the movies-第21节

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ase。〃

〃I'll　tell　her。　She'll　be　glad　there's　something　doing　once　more　on　the　perpendicular　stage。　Goo'…by。〃

She　stepped　aside　with　〃You're　next；　brother！〃　Merton　Gill　acknowledged　this　with　a　haughty　inclination　of　the　head。　He　must　not　encourage　this　hoyden。　He　glanced　expectantly　through　the　little　window。　His　friend　held　a　telephone　receiver　at　her　ear。　She　smiled　wearily。　〃All　right；　son。　You　got　evening　clothes；　haven't　you？　Of　course；　I　remember　now。　Stage　Four　at　8：30。　Goo'…by。〃

〃　I　want　to　thank　you　for　this　opportunity〃　he　began；　but　was　pushed　aside　by　an　athletic　young　woman　who　spoke　from　under　a　broad　hat。　〃Hullo；　dearie！　How　about　me　and　Ella？〃

〃Hullo；　Maizie。　All　right。　Stage　Four；　at　8：30；　in　your　swellest　evening　stuff。〃

At　the　door　the　Montague　girl　called　to　an　approaching　group　who　seemed　to　have　heard　by　wireless　or　occult　means　the　report　of　new　activity　in　the　casting　office。　〃Hurry；　you　troupers。　You　can　eat　to…morrow　night；　maybe！〃　They　hurried。　She　turned　to　Merton　Gill。　〃Seems　like　old　times；〃　she　observed。

〃Does　it？〃　he　replied　coldly。　Would　this　chit　never　understand　that　he　disapproved　of　her　trifling　ways？

He　went　on；　rejoicing　that　he　had　not　been　compelled　to　part；　even　temporarily；　with　a　first…class　full…dress　suit；　hitherto　worn　only　in　the　privacy　of　Lowell　Hardy's　studio。　It　would　have　been　awkward；　he　thought；　if　the　demand　for　it　had　been　much　longer　delayed。　He　would　surely　have　let　that　go　before　sacrificing　his　Buck　Benson　outfit。　He　had　traversed　the　eucalyptus　avenue　in　this　ecstasy；　and　was　on　a　busier　thoroughfare。　Before　a　motion…picture　theatre　he　paused　to　study　the　billing　of　Muriel　Mercer　in　Hearts　Aflame。　The　beauteous　girl；　in　an　alarming　gown；　was　at　the　mercy　of　a　fiend　in　evening　dress　whose　hellish　purpose　was　all　too　plainly　read　in　his　fevered　eyes。　The　girl　writhed　in　his　grasp。　Doubtless　he　was　demanding　her　hand　in　marriage。　It　was　a　tense　bit。　And　to…morrow　he　would　act　with　this　petted　idol　of　the　screen。　And　under　the　direction　of　that　Mr。　Henshaw　who　seemed　to　take　screen　art　with　proper　seriousness。　He　wondered　if　by　any　chance　Mr。　Henshaw　would　call　upon　him　to　do　a　quadruple　transition；　hate；　fear；　love；　despair。　He　practised　a　few　transitions　as　he　went　on　to　press　his　evening　clothes　in　the　Patterson　kitchen；　and　to　dream；　that　night；　that　he　rode　his　good　old　pal；　Pinto；　into　the　gilded　cabaret　to　carry　off　Muriel　Mercer；　Broadway's　pampered　society　pet；　to　the　clean　life　out　there　in　the　open　spaces　where　men　are　men。

At　eight　the　following　morning　he　was　made　up　in　a　large　dressing　room　by　a　grumbling　extra　who　said　that　it　was　a　dog's　life　plastering　grease　paint　over　the　maps　of　dubs。　He　was　presently　on　Stage　Four　in　the　prescribed　evening　regalia　for　gentlemen。　He　found　the　cabaret　set；　a　gilded　haunt　of　pleasure　with　small　tables　set　about　an　oblong　of　dancing　floor。　Back　of　these　on　three　sides　were　raised　platforms　with　other　tables；　and　above　these　discreet　boxes；　half　masked　by　drapery；　for　the　seclusion　of　more　retiring　merry…　makers。　The　scene　was　deserted　as　yet；　but　presently　he　was　joined　by　another　early　comer；　a　beautiful　young　woman　of　Spanish　type　with　a　thin　face　and　eager；　dark　eyes。　Her　gown　was　glistening　black　set　low　about　her　polished　shoulders；　and　she　carried　a　red　rose。　So　exotic　did　she　appear　he　was　surprised　when　she　addressed　him　in　the　purest　English。

〃Say；　listen　here；　old　timer！　Let's　pick　a　good　table　right　on　the　edge　before　the　mob　scene　starts。　Lemme　see〃　She　glanced　up　and　down　the　rows　of　tables。　〃The　cam'ras'll　be　back　there；　so　we　can　set　a　little　closer；　but　not　too　close；　or　we'll　be　moved　over。　How　'bout　this　here？　Let's　try　it。〃　She　sat；　motioning　him　to　the　other　chair。　Even　so　early　in　his　picture　career　did　he　detect　that　in　facing　this　girl　his　back　would　be　to　the　camera。　He　hitched　his　chair　about。

〃That's　right；〃　said　the　girl；　〃I　wasn't　meaning　to　hog　it。　Say；　we　was　just　in　time；　wasn't　we？〃

Ladies　and　gentlemen　in　evening　dress　were　already　entering。　They　looked　inquiringly　about　and　chose　tables。　Those　next　to　the　dancing　space　were　quickly　filled。　Many　of　the　ladies　permitted　costly　wraps　of　fur　or　brocade　to　spill　across　the　backs　of　their　chairs。　Many　of　the　gentlemen　lighted　cigarettes　from　gleaming　metal　cases。　There　was　a　lively　interchange　of　talk。

〃We　better　light　up；　too；〃　said　the　dark　girl。　Merton　Gill　had　neglected　cigarettes　and　confessed　this　with　some　embarrassment。　The　girl　presented　an　open　case　of　gold　attached　to　a　chain　pendent　from　her　girdle。　They　both　smoked。　On　their　table　were　small　plates；　two　wine　glasses　half　filled　with　a　pale　liquid；　and　small　coffee…cups。　Spirals　of　smoke　ascended　over　a　finished　repast。　Of　course　if　the　part　called　for　cigarettes　you　must　smoke　whether　you　had　quit　or　not。

The　places　back　of　the　prized　first　row　were　now　filling　up　with　the　later　comers。　One　of　these；　a　masterful…looking　man　of　middle　age　he　would　surely　be　a　wealthy　club…man　accustomed　to　command　tables　regarded　the　filled　row　around　the　dancing　space　with　frank　irritation；　and　paused　significantly　at　Merton's　side。　He　seemed　about　to　voice　a　demand；　but　the　young　actor　glanced　slowly　up　at　him；　achieving　a　superb　transitionsurprise；　annoyance；　and；　as　the　invader　turned　quickly　away；　pitying　contempt。

〃Atta　boy！〃　said　his　companion；　who　was；　with　the　aid　of　a　tiny　gold…backed　mirror　suspended　with　the　cigarette　case；　heightening　the　crimson　of　her　full　lips。

Two　cameras　were　now　in　view；　and　men　were　sighting　through　them。　Merton　saw　Henshaw；　plump　but　worried　looking；　scan　the　scene　from　the　rear。　He　gave　hurried　direction　to　an　assistant　who　came　down　the　line　of　tables　with　a　running　glance　at　their　occupants。　He　made　changes。　A　couple　here　and　a　couple　there　would　be　moved　from　the　first　row　and　other　couples　would　come　to　take　their　places。　Under　the　eyes　of　this　assistant　the　Spanish　girl　had　become　coquettish。　With　veiled　glances；　with　flashing　smiles　from　the　red　lips；　with　a　small　gloved　hand　upon　Merton　Gill's　sleeve；　she　allured　him。　The　assistant　paused　before　them。　The　Spanish　girl　continued　to　allure。　Merton　Gill　stared　moodily　at　the　half…empty　wine　glass；　then　exhaled　smoke　as　he　glanced　up　at　his　companion　in　profound　ennui。　If　it　was　The　Blight　of　Broadway　probably　they　would　want　him　to　look　bored。

〃You　two　stay　where　you　are；〃　said　the　assistant；　and　passed　on。

〃Good　work；〃　said　the　girl。　〃I　knew　you　was　a　type　the　minute　I　made　you。〃

Red…coated　musicians　entered　an　orchestra　loft　far　down　the　set。　The　voice　of　Henshaw　came　through　a　megaphone：　〃Everybody　that's　near　the　floor　fox…trot。〃　In　a　moment　the　space　was　thronged　with　dancers。　Another　voice　called　〃Kick　it！〃　and　a　glare　of　light　came　on。

〃You　an'　me　both！〃　said　the　Spanish　girl；　rising。

Merton　Gill　remained　seated。　〃Can't；〃　he　said。　〃Sprained　ankle。〃　How　was　he　to　tell　her　that　there　had　been　no　chance　to　learn　this　dance　back　in　Simsbury；　Illinois；　where　such　things　were　frowned　upon　by　pulpit　and　press？　The　girl　resumed　her　seat；　at　first　with　annoyance；　then　brightened。　〃All　right　at　that；〃　she　said。　〃I　bet　we　get　more　footage　this　way。〃　She　again　became　coquettish；　luring　with　her　wiles　one　who　remained　sunk　in　ennui。

A　whistle　blew；　a　voice　called　〃Save　it！〃　and　the　lights　jarred　off。　Henshaw　came　trippingly　down　the　line。　〃You　people　didn't　dance。　What's　the　matter？〃　Merton　Gill　glanced　up；　doing　a　double　transition；　from　dignified　surprise　to　smiling　chagrin。　〃Sprained　ankle；〃　he　said；　and　fell　into　the　bored　look　that　had　served　him　with　the　assistant。　He　exhaled　smoke　and　raised　his　tired　eyes　to　the　still　luring　Spanish　girl。　Weariness　of　the　world　and　women　was　in　his　look。　Henshaw　scanned　him　closely。

〃All　right；　stay　therekeep　just　that　wayit's　what　I　want。〃　He　continued　down　the　line；　which　had　become　hushed。　〃Now；　people。　I　want　some　flashes　along　here；　between　dancessee　what　I　mean？　You're　talking；　but　you're　bored　with　it　all。　The　hollowness　of　this　night　life　is　getting　you；　not　all　of　youmost　of　you　girls　can　keep　on　smilingbut　The　Blight　of　Broadway　shows　on　many。　You're　beginning　to　wonder　if　this　is　all　life　has　to　offersee　what　I　mean？〃　He　continued　down　the　line。

From　the　table　back　of　Merton　Gill　came　a　voice　in　speech　to　the　retreating　back　of　Henshaw：　〃All　right；　old　top；　but　it'll　take　a　good　lens　to　catch　any　blight　on　this　bunchmost　of　'em　haven't　worked　a　lick　in　six　weeks；　and　they're　tickled　pink。〃　He　knew　without　turning　that　this　was　the　Montague　girl　trying　to　be　funny　at　the　expense　of　Henshaw　who　was　safely　beyond　hearing。　He　thought　she　would　be　a　disturbing　element　in　the　scene；　but　in　this　he　was　wrong；　for　he　bent　upon　the　wine　glass　a　look　more　than　ever　fraught　with　jaded　world…weariness。　The　babble　of　Broadway　was　resumed　as　Henshaw　went　back　to　the　cameras。

Presently　a　camera　was　pushed　forward。　Merton　Gill　hardly　dared　look　up；　but　he　knew　it　was　halted　at　no　great　distance　from　him。　〃Now；　here's　rather　a　good　little　bit；〃　Henshaw　was　saying。　〃You；　there；　the　girl　in　black；　go　ontease　him　the　way　you　were；　and　he's　to　give　you　that　same　look。　Got　that　cigarette　going？　All　ready。　Lights！　Camera！〃