merton of the movies-第29节

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This　would　be　the　story。　Probably　the　sheik　would　now　arrange　with　the　old　gentleman　in　the　sun…hat　to　guide　the　party　over　the　desert；　and　would　betray　them　in　order　to　get　the　beautiful　girl　into　his　power。　Of　course　there　would　be　a　kick　for　the　audience　when　the　young　fellow　proved　to　be　a　gentleman　in　the　deserted　tomb　for　a　whole　nightany　moving…picture　audience　would　expect　him　under　these　propitious　circumstances　to　be　quite　otherwise；　if　the　girl　were　as　beautiful　as　this　one。　But　there　would　surely　be　a　greater　kick　when　the　sheik　found　them　in　the　tomb　and　bore　the　girl　off　on　his　camel；　after　a　fight　in　which　the　gentleman　was　momentarily　worsted。　But　the　girl　would　be　rescued　in　time。　And　probably　the　piece　would　be　called　Desert　Passion。

He　wished　he　could　know　the　ending　of　the　story。　Indeed　he　sincerely　wished　he　could　work　in　it　to　the　end；　not　alone　because　he　was　curious　about　the　fate　of　the　young　girl　in　the　bad　sheik's　power。　Undoubtedly　the　sheik　would　not　prove　to　be　a　gentleman；　but　Merton　would　like　to　work　to　the　end　of　the　story　because　he　had　no　place　to　sleep　and　but　little　assurance　of　wholesome　food。　Yet　this；　it　appeared；　was　not　to　be。　Already　word　had　run　among　the　extra　people。　Those　hired　to…day　were　to　be　used　for　to…day　only。　Tomorrow　the　desert　drama　would　unfold　without　them。

Still；　he　had　a　day's　pay　coming。　This　time；　though；　it　would　be　but　five　dollarshis　dress　suit　had　not　been　needed。　And　five　dollars　would　appease　Mrs。　Patterson　for　another　week。　Yet　what　would　be　the　good　of　sleeping　if　he　had　nothing　to　eat？　He　was　hungry　now。　Thin　soup；　ever　so　plenteously　spiced　with　catsup；　was　inadequate　provender　for　a　working　artist。　He　knew；　even　as　he　sat　there　cross…　legged；　an　apparently　self…supporting　and　care…free　Bedouin；　that　this　ensuing　five　dollars　would　never　be　seen　by　Mrs。　Patterson。

There　were　a　few　more　shots　of　the　cafe's　interior　during　which　one　of　the　inmates　carefully　permitted　his　halfconsumed　cigarette　to　go　out。　After　that　a　few　more　shots　of　the　lively　street　which；　it　was　now　learned；　was　a　street　in　Cairo。　Earnest　efforts　were　made　by　the　throngs　in　these　scenes　to　give　the　murderous　camel　plenty　of　head　room。　Some　close…ups　were　taken　of　the　European　tourists　while　they　bargained　with　a　native　merchant　for　hammered　brassware　and　rare　shawls。

The　bad　sheik　was　caught　near　the　group　bending　an　evil　glare　upon　the　beauteous　English　girl；　and　once　the　camera　turned　while　she　faced　him　with　a　little　shiver　of　apprehension。　Later　the　sheik　was　caught　bargaining　for　a　camel　train　with　the　innocent…looking　old　gentleman　in　the　sun…hat。　Undoubtedly　the　sheik　was　about　to　lead　them　into　the　desert　for　no　good　purpose。　A　dreadful　fate　seemed　in　store　for　the　girl；　but　she　must　be　left　to　face　it　without　the　support　of　Merton　Gill。

The　lately　hired　extras　were　now　dismissed。　They　trooped　back　to　the　dressing　room　to　doff　their　flowing　robes　and　remove　the　Bedouin　make…up。　Merton　Gill　went　from　the　dressing　room　to　the　little　window　through　which　he　had　received　his　robe　and　his　slip　was　returned　to　him　signed　by　the　assistant　director。　It　had　now　become　a　paper　of　value；　even　to　Mrs。　Patterson；　but　she　was　never　to　know　this；　for　its　owner　went　down　the　street　to　another　window　and　relinquished　it　for　a　five…dollar　bill。

The　bill　was　adorned　with　a　portrait　of　Benjamin　Harrison　smugly　radiating　prosperity　from　every　hair　in　his　beard。　He　was　clearly　one　who　had　never　gone　hungry　nor　betrayed　the　confidence　of　a　society　woman　counting　upon　her　room　rent　strictly　in　advance。　The　portrait　of　this　successful　man　was　borne　swiftly　to　the　cafeteria　where　its　present　owner　lavishly　heaped　a　tray　with　excellent　food　and　hastened　with　it　to　a　table。　He　ate　with　but　slight　regard　for　his　surroundings。　Beulah　Baxter　herself　might　have　occupied　a　neighbouring　table　without　coming　to　his　notice　at　once。　He　was　very　hungry。　The　catsup…laden　soup　had　proved　to　be　little　more　than　an　appetizer。

In　his　first　ardour　he　forgot　his　plight。　It　was　not　until　later　in　the　meal　that　the　accusing　face　of　Mrs。　Patterson　came　between　him　and　the　last　of　his　stew　which　he　secured　with　blotters　of　bread。　Even　then　he　ignored　the　woman。　He　had　other　things　to　think　of。　He　had　to　think　of　where　he　should　sleep　that　night。　But　for　once　he　had　eaten　enough；　his　optimism　was　again　enthroned。

Sleeping；　after　all；　was　not　like　eating。　There　were　more　ways　to　manage　it。　The　law　of　sleep　would　in　time　enforce　itself；　while　eating　did　nothing　of　the　sort。　You　might　sleep　for　nothing；　but　someone　had　to　be　paid　if　you　ate。　He　cheerfully　paid　eighty　cents　for　his　repast。　The　catsup　as　an　appetizer　had　been　ruinous。

It　was　late　in　the　afternoon　when　he　left　the　cafeteria　and　the　cheerful　activities　of　the　lot　were　drawing　to　a　close。　Extra　people　from　the　various　stages　were　hurrying　to　the　big　dressing　room；　whence　they　would　presently　stream；　slips　in　hand；　toward　the　cashier's　window。　Belated　principals　came　in　from　their　work　to　resume　their　choice　street　garments　and　be　driven　off　in　choice　motor　cars。

Merton　Gill　in　deep　thought　traversed　the　street　between　the　big　stages　and　the　dressing　rooms。　Still　in　deep　thought　he　retraced　his　steps；　and　at　the　front　office　turned　off　to　the　right　on　a　road　that　led　to　the　deserted　street　of　the　Western　town。　His　head　bowed　in　thought　he　went　down　this　silent　thoroughfare；　his　footsteps　echoing　along　the　way　lined　by　the　closed　shops。　The　Happy　Days　Saloon　and　JoeBuy　or　Sell；　the　pool…room　and　the　restaurant；　alike　slept　for　want　of　custom。　He　felt　again　the　eeriness　of　this　desertion；　and　hurried　on　past　the　silent　places。

Emerging　from　the　lower　end　of　this　street　he　came　upon　a　log　cabin　where　activity　still　survived。　He　joined　the　group　before　its　door。　Inside　two　cameras　were　recording　some　drama　of　the　rude　frontier。　Over　glowing　coals　in　the　stone　fireplace　a　beautiful　young　girl　prepared　food　in　a　long…handled　frying　pan。　At　a　table　in　the　room's　centre　two　bearded　miners　seemed　to　be　appraising　a　buckskin　pouch　of　nuggets；　pouring　them　from　hand　to　hand。　A　candle　stuck　in　a　bottle　flickered　beside　them。　They　were　honest；　kindly　faced　miners；　roughly　dressed　and　heavily　bearded；　but　it　could　be　seen　that　they　had　hearts　of　gold。　The　beautiful　young　girl；　who　wore　a　simple　dress　of　blue　calico；　and　whose　hair　hung　about　her　fair　face　in　curls　of　a　radiant　buff；　now　served　them　food　and　poured　steaming　coffee　from　a　large　pot。

The　miners　seemed　loth　to　eat；　being　excited　by　the　gold　nuggets。　They　must　have　struck　it　rich　that　day；　Merton　Gill　divined；　and　now　with　wealth　untold　they　would　be　planning　to　send　the　girl　East　to　school。　They　both　patted　her　affectionately；　keeping　from　her　the　great　surprise　they　had　in　store。

The　girl　was　arch　with　them；　and　prettily　kissed　each　upon　his　bald　head。　Merton　at　once　saw　that　she　would　be　the　daughter　of　neither；　she　would　be　their　ward。　And　perhaps　they　weren't　planning　to　send　her　to　school。　Perhaps　they　were　going　to　send　her　to　fashionable　relatives　in　the　East；　where　she　would　unwittingly　become　the　rival　of　her　beautiful　but　cold…hearted　cousin　for　the　hand　of　a　rich　young　stock…broker；　and　be　ill…treated　and　long　for　the　old　miners　who　would　get　word　of　it　and　buy　some　fine　clothes　from　JoeBuy　or　Sell；　and　go　East　to　the　consternation　of　the　rich　relatives　and　see　that　their　little　mountain　flower　was　treated　right。

As　he　identified　this　photo…play　he　studied　the　interior　of　the　cabin；　the　rough　table　at　which　the　three　now　ate；　the　makeshift　chairs；　the　rifle　over　the　fireplace；　the　picks　and　shovels；　the　shelf　along　the　wall　with　its　crude　dishes；　the　calico　curtain　screening　off　what　would　be　the　dressing　room　of　the　little　mountain　flower。　It　was　a　home…like　room；　for　all　its　roughness。　Along　one　wall　were　two　bunks；　one　above　the　other；　well　supplied　with　blankets。

The　director；　after　a　final　shot　of　one　of　the　miners　being　scalded　by　his　coffee　which　he　drank　from　a　saucer；　had　said；　〃All　right；　boys！　We'll　have　the　fight　first　thing　in　the　morning。〃

Merton　Gill　passed　on。　He　didn't　quite　know　what　the　fight　would　be　about。　Surely　the　two　miners　wouldn't　fight。　Perhaps　another　miner　of　loose　character　would　come　along　and　try　to　jump　their　claim；　or　attempt　some　dirty　work　with　the　little　girl。　Something　like　that。　He　carried　with　him　the　picture　of　the　homey　little　ulterior；　the　fireplace　with　its　cooking　utensils；　the　two　bunks　with　their　ample　stock　of　blanketsthe　crude　door　closed　with　a　wooden　bar　and　a　leather　latch…string；　which　hung　trustfully　outside。

In　other　circumstanceschiefly　those　in　which　Merton　Gill　had　now　been　the　prominent　figure　in　the　film　world　he　meant　one　day　to　becomehe　would　on　this　night　have　undoubtedly　won　public　attention　for　his　mysterious　disappearance。　The　modest　room　in　the　Patterson　home；　to　which　for　three　months　he　had　unfailingly　come　after　the　first　picture　show；　on　this　night　went　untenanted。　The　guardian　at　the　Holden　gate　would　have　testified　that　he　had　not　passed　out　that　way；　and　the　way　through　the　offices　had　been　closed　at　five；　subsequent　to　which　hour　several　witnesses　could　have　sworn　to　seeing　him　still　on　the　lot