merton of the movies-第37节

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eemed　grimly　determined　upon　the　death　of　the　heroine。　Then；　when　she　reached　midships　and　the　foremost　fiend　was　almost　upon　her；　the　mightiest　of　all　the　billows　descended　and　swept　her　off　into　the　cruel　waters。　Her　pursuers；　saving　themselves　only　by　great　effort；　held　to　the　rigging　and　stared　after　the　girl。　They　leaned　far　over　the　ship's　rocking　side　and　each　looked　from　under　a　spread　hand。

For　a　distressing　interval　the　heroine　battled　with　the　waves；　but　her　frail　strength　availed　her　little。　She　raised　a　despairing　face　for　an　instant　to　the　camera　and　its　agony　was　illumined。　Then　the　dread　waters　closed　above　her。　The　director's　whistle　blew；　the　waves　were　stilled；　the　tumult　ceased。　The　head　of　Beulah　Baxter　appeared　halfway　down　the　tank。　She　was　swimming　toward　the　end　where　Merton　stood。

He　had　been　thrilled　beyond　words　at　this　actual　sight　of　his　heroine　in　action；　but　now　it　seemed　that　a　new　emotion　might　overcome　him。　He　felt　faint。　Beulah　Baxter　would　issue　from　the　pool　there　at　his　feet。　He　might　speak　to　her；　might　even　help　her　to　climb　out。　At　least　no　one　else　had　appeared　to　do　this。　Seemingly　no　one　now　cared　where　Miss　Baxter　swam　to　or　whether　she　were　offered　any　assistance　in　landing。　She　swam　with　an　admirable　crawl　stroke；　reached　the　wall；　and　put　up　a　hand　to　it。　He　stepped　forward；　but　she　was　out　before　he　reached　her　side。　His　awe　had　delayed　him。　He　drew　back　then；　for　the　star；　after　vigorously　shaking　herself；　went　to　a　tall　brazier　in　which　glowed　a　charcoal　fire。

Here　he　now　noticed　for　the　first　time　the　prop…boy　Jimmie；　he　who　had　almost　certainly　defaulted　with　an　excellent　razor。　Jimmie　threw　a　blanket　about　the　star's　shoulders　as　she　hovered　above　the　glowing　coals。　Merton　had　waited　for　her　voice。　He　might　still　venture　to　speak　to　herto　tell　her　of　his　long　and　profound　admiration　for　her　art。　Her　voice　came　as　she　shivered　over　the　fire：

〃Murder！　That　water's　cold。　Rosenblatt　swore　he'd　have　it　warmed　but　I'm　here　to　say　it　wouldn't　boil　an　egg　in　four　minutes。〃

He　could　not　at　first　identify　this　voice　with　the　remembered　tones　of　Beulah　Baxter。　But　of　course　she　was　now　hoarse　with　the　cold。　Under　the　circumstances　he　could　hardly　expect　his　heroine's　own　musical　clearness。　Then　as　the　girl　spoke　again　something　stirred　among　his　more　recent　memories。　The　voice　was　still　hoarse；　but　he　placed　it　now。　He　approached　the　brazier。　It　was　undoubtedly　the　Montague　girl。　She　recognized　him；　even　as　she　squeezed　water　from　the　hair　of　wondrous　gold。

〃Hello；　again；　Kid。　You're　everywhere；　ain't　you？　Say；　wha'd　you　think　of　that　Rosenblatt　man？　Swore　he'd　put　the　steam　into　that　water　and　take　off　the　chill。　And　he　never。〃　She　threw　aside　the　blanket　and　squeezed　water　from　her　garments；　then　began　to　slap　her　legs；　arms；　and　chest。

〃Well；　I'm　getting　a　gentle　glow；　anyhow。　Wha'd　you　think　of　the　scene？〃

〃It　was　goodvery　well　done；　indeed。〃　He　hoped　it　didn't　sound　patronizing；　though　that　was　how　he　felt。　He　believed　now　that　Miss　Baxter　would　have　done　it　much　better。　He　ventured　a　question。　〃But　how　about　Miss　Baxterwhen　does　she　do　something？　Is　she　going　to　be　swept　off　the　boat；　too？〃

〃Baxter？　Into　that　water？　Quit　your　kidding！〃

〃But　isn't　she　here　at　allwon't　she　do　anything　here？〃

〃Listen　here；　Kid；　why　should　she　loaf　around　on　the　set　when　she's　paying　me　good　money　to　double　for　her？〃

〃Youdouble　for　Beulah　Baxter？〃　It　was　some　more　of　the　girl's　nonsense；　and　a　blasphemy　for　which　he　could　not　easily　forgive　her。

〃Why　not？　Ain't　I　a　good　stunt　actress？　I'll　tell　the　lot　she　hasn't　found　any　one　yet　that　can　get　away　with　her　stuff　better　than　what　I　do。〃

〃But　sheI　heard　her　say　herself　she　never　allowed　any　one　to　double　for　hershe　wouldn't　do　such　a　thing。〃

Here　sounded　a　scornful　laugh　from　Jimmie；　the　propboy。　〃Bunk！〃　said　he　at　the　laugh's　end。　〃How　long　you　been　doublin'　for　her；　Miss　Montague？　Two　years；　ain't　it？I　know　it　was　before　I　come　here；　and　I　been　on　the　lot　a　year　and　a　half。　Say；　he　ought　to　see　some　the　stuff　you　done　for　her　out　on　location；　like　jumpin'　into　the　locomotive　engine　from　your　auto　and　catchin'　the　brake　beams　when　the　train's　movin'；　and　goin'　across　that　quarry　on　the　cable；　and　ridin'　down　that　lumber　flume　sixty　miles　per　hour　and　ridin'　some　them　outlaw　buckjumpershe'd　ought　to　seen　some　that　stuff；　hey；　Miss　Montague？〃

〃That's　right；　Jimmie；　you　tell　him　all　about　me。　I　hate　to　talk　of　myself。〃　Very　wonderfully　Merton　Gill　divined　that　this　was　said　with　a　humorous　intention。　Jimmy　was　less　sensitive　to　values。　He　began　to　obey。

〃Well；　I　dunnothere's　that　motorcycle　stuff。　Purty　good；　I'll　say。　I　wouldn't　try　that；　no；　sir；　not　for　a　cool　million　dollars。　And　that　chase　stuff　on　the　roofs　down　town　where　you　jumped　across　that　court　that　wasn't　any　too　darned　narrow；　an'　say；　I　wisht　I　could　skin　up　a　tree　the　way　you　can。　An'　there　was　that　time〃

〃All　right；　all　right；　Jimmie。　I　can　tell　him　the　rest　sometime。　I　don't　really　hate　to　talk　about　myselfthat's　on　the　level。　And　say；　listen　here；　Jimmie；　you're　my　favourite　sweetheart；　ain't　you？〃

〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　assented　Jimmie；　warmly。　〃All　right。　Beat　it　up　and　get　me　about　two　quarts　of　that　hot　coffee　and　about　four　ham　sandwiches；　two　for　you　and　two　for　me。　That's　a　good　kid。〃

〃Sure！〃　exclaimed　Jimmie；　and　was　off。

Merton　Gill　had　been　dazed　by　these　revelations；　by　the　swift　and　utter　destruction　of　his　loftiest　ideal。　He　hardly　cared　to　know；　now；　if　Beulah　Baxter　were　married。　It　was　the　Montague　girl　who　had　most　thrilled　him　for　two　years。　Yet；　almost　as　if　from　habit；　he　heard　himself　asking；　〃Isdo　you　happen　to　know　if　Beulah　Baxter　is　married？〃

〃Baxter　married？　Sure！　I　should　think　you'd　know　it　from　the　way　that　Sig　Rosenblatt　bawls　everybody　out。〃

〃Who　is　he？〃

〃Who　is　he？　Why；　he's　her　husband；　of　coursehe's　Mr。　Beulah　Baxter。〃

〃That　little　director　up　on　the　platform　that　yells　so？〃　This　unspeakable　person　to　be　actually　the　husband　of　the　wonder…woman；　the　man　he　had　supposed　she　must　find　intolerable　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