merton of the movies-第57节

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s　you'd　better　learn　some　other　way。　Just　for　one　thing；　long　before　this　you'd　probably　been　hopping　up　your　reindeers　and　driving　all　over　in　a　Chinese　sleigh。〃

He　tried　to　make　something　of　this；　but　found　the　words　meaningless。　They　merely　suggested　to　him　a　snowy　winter　scene　of　Santa　Claus　and　his　innocent　equipage。　But　he　would　intimate　that　he　understood。

〃Oh；　I　guess　not；〃　he　said　knowingly。　The　girl　appeared　not　to　have　heard　this　bit　of　pretense。

〃On　a　comedy　lot；〃　she　said；　again　becoming　the　oracle；　〃you　can　do　murder　if　you　wipe　up　the　blood。　Remember　that。〃

He　did　not　again　refer　to　the　beautiful　young　women　who　came　from　fine　old　Southern　homes。　The　Montague　girl　was　too　emphatic　about　them。

At　other　times　during　the　long　waits；　perhaps　while　they　ate　lunch　brought　from　the　cafeteria；　she　would　tell　him　of　herself。　His　old　troubling　visions　of　his　wonder…woman；　of　Beulah　Baxter　the　daring；　had　well…nigh　faded；　but　now　and　then　they　would　recur　as　if　from　long　habit；　and　he　would　question　the　girl　about　her　life　as　a　double。

〃Yeah；　I　could　see　that　Baxter　business　was　a　blow　to　you；　Kid。　You'd　kind　of　worshiped　her；　hadn't　you？〃

〃Well；　Iyes；　in　a　sort　of　way〃

〃Of　course　you　did；　it　was　very　nice　of　you〃　She　reached　over　to　pat　his　hand。　〃Mother　understands　just　how　you　felt；　watching　the　films　back　there　in　Gooseberry　〃He　had　quit　trying　to　correct　her　as　to　Gashwiler　and　Simsbury。　She　had　hit　upon　Gooseberry　as　a　working　composite　of　both　names；　and　he　had　wearily　come　to　accept　it〃and　I　know　just　how　you　felt〃Again　she　patted　his　hand〃that　night　when　you　found　me　doing　her　stuff。〃

〃It　did　kind　of　upset　me。〃

〃Sure　it　would！　But　you　ought　to　have　known　that　all　these　people　use　doubles　when　they　canmen　and　women　both。　It　not　only　saves　'em　work；　but　even　where　they　could　do　the　stuff　if　they　had　toand　that　ain't　so　oftenit　saves　'em　broken　bones；　and　holding　up　a　big　production　two　or　three　months。　Fine　business　that　would　be。　So　when　you　see　a　woman；　or　a　man　either；　doing　something　that　someone　else　could　do；　you　can　bet　someone　else　is　doing　it。　What　would　you　expect？　Would　you　expect　a　high…priced　star　to　go　out　and　break　his　leg？

〃And　at　that；　most　of　the　doubles　are　men；　even　for　the　women　stars；　like　Kitty　Carson　always　carries　one　who　used　to　be　a　circus　acrobat。　She　couldn't　hardly　do　one　of　the　things　you　see　her　doing；　but　when　old　Dan　gets　on　her　blonde　transformation　and　a　few　of　her　clothes；　he's　her　to　the　life　in　a　long　shot；　or　even　in　mediums；　if　he　keeps　his　map　covered。

〃Yeah；　most　of　the　doublers　have　to　be　men。　I'll　hand　that　to　myself。　I'm　about　the　only　girl　that's　been　doing　it；　and　that's　out　with　me　hereafter；　I　guess；　the　way　I　seem　to　be　making　good　with　Jeff。　Maybe　after　this　I　won't　have　to　do　stunts；　except　of　course　some　riding　stuff；　prob'ly；　or　a　row　of　flips　or　something　light。　Anything　heavy　comes　upme　for　a　double　of　my　own。〃　She　glanced　sidewise　at　her　listener。　〃Then　you　won't　like　me　any　more；　hey；　Kid；　after　you　find　out　I'm　using　a　double？〃

He　had　listened　attentively；　absorbed　in　her　talk；　and　seemed　startled　by　this　unforeseen　finish。　He　turned　anxious　eyes　on　her。　It　occurred　to　him　for　the　first　time　that　he　did　not　wish　the　Montague　girl　to　do　dangerous　things　any　more。　〃Say；〃　he　said　quickly；　amazed　at　his　own　discovery；　〃I　wish　you'd　quit　doing　all　thosestunts；　do　you　call　'em？〃

〃Why？〃　she　demanded。　There　were　those　puzzling　lights　back　in　her　eyes　as　he　met　them。　He　was　confused。

〃Well；　you　might　get　hurt。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃You　might　get　killed　sometime。　And　it　wouldn't　make　the　least　difference　to　me；　your　using　a　double。　I'd　like　you　just　the　same。〃

〃I　see；　it　wouldn't　be　the　way　it　was　with　Baxter　when　you　found　it　out。〃

〃No；　youyou're　different。　I　don't　want　you　to　get　killed；〃　he　added；　rather　blankly。　He　was　still　amazed　at　this　discovery。

〃All　right；　Kid。　I　won't；〃　she　replied　soothingly。

〃I'll　like　you　just　as　much；〃　he　again　assured　her；　〃no　matter　how　many　doubles　you　have。〃

〃Well；　you'll　be　having　doubles　yourself；　sooner　or　laterand　I'll　like　you；　too。〃　She　reached　over　to　his　hand；　but　this　time　she　held　it。　He　returned　her　strong　clasp。　He　had　not　liked　to　think　of　her　being　mangled　perhaps　by　a　fall　into　a　quarry　when　the　cable　gave　wayand　the　camera　men　would　probably　keep　on　turning！

〃I　always　been　funny　about　men；〃　she　presently　spoke　again；　still　gripping　his　hand。　〃Lord　knows　I've　seen　enough　of　all　kinds；　bad　and　good；　but　I　always　been　kind　of　afraid　even　of　the　good　ones。　Any　one　might　not　think　it；　but　I　guess　I'm　just　natural…born　shy。　Man…shy；　anyway。〃

He　glowed　with　a　confession　of　his　own。　〃You　know；　I'm　that　way；　too。　Girl…shy。　I　felt　awful　awkward　when　I　had　to　kiss　you　in　the　other　piece。　I　never　did；　really〃　He　floundered　a　moment；　but　was　presently　blurting　out　the　meagre　details　of　that　early　amour　with　Edwina　May　Pulver。　He　stopped　this　recital　in　a　sudden　panic　fear　that　the　girl　would　make　fun　of　him。　He　was　immensely　relieved　when　she　merely　renewed　the　strength　of　the　handclasp。

〃I　know。　That's　the　way　with　me。　Of　course　I　can　put　over　the　acting　stuff；　even　vamping；　but　I'm　afraid　of　men　off…stage。　Say；　would　you　believe　it；　I　ain't　ever　had　but　one　beau。　That　was　Bert　Stacy。　Poor　old　Bert！　He　was　lots　older　than　me；　about　thirty；　I　guess。　He　was　white　all　through。　You　always　kind　of　remind　me　of　him。　Sort　of　a　feckless　dub　he　was；　too；　kind　of　honest　and　awkwardyou　know。　He　was　the　one　got　me　doing　stunts。　He　wasn't　afraid　of　anything。　Didn't　know　it　was　even　in　the　dictionary。　That　old　scout　would　go　out　night　or　day　and　break　everything　but　his　contract。　I　was　twelve　when　I　first　knew　him　and　he　had　me　doing　twisters　in　no　time。　I　caught　on　to　the　other　stuff　pretty　good。　I　wasn't　afraid；　either；　I'll　say　that　for　myself。　First　I　was　afraid　to　show　him　I　was　afraid；　but　pretty　soon　I　wasn't　afraid　at　all。

〃We　pulled　off　a　lot　of　stuff　for　different　people。　And　of　course　I　got　to　be　a　big　girl　and　three　years　ago　when　I　was　eighteen　Bert　wanted　us　to　be　married　and　I　thought　I　might　as　well。　He　was　the　only　one　I　hadn't　been　afraid　of。　So　we　got　engaged。　I　was　still　kind　of　afraid　to　marry　any　one；　but　being　engaged　was　all　right。　I　know　we'd　got　along　together；　too；　but　then　he　got　his　with　a　motorcycle。

〃Kind　of　funny。　He'd　do　anything　on　that　machine。　He'd　jump　clean　over　an　auto　and　he'd　leap　a　thirty…foot　ditch　and　he　was　all　set　to　pull　a　new　one　for　Jeff　Baird　when　it　happened。　Jeff　was　going　to　have　him　ride　his　motorcycle　through　a　plate…glass　window。　The　set　was　built　and　everything　ready　and　then　the　merry　old　sun　don't　shine　for　three　days。　Every　morning　Bert　would　go　over　to　the　lot　and　wait　around　in　the　fog。　And　this　third　day；　when　it　got　too　late　in　the　afternoon　to　shoot　even　if　the　sun　did　show；　he　says　to　me；　'c'mon；　hop　up　and　let's　take　a　ride　down　to　the　beach。'　So　I　hop　to　the　back　seat　and　off　we　start　and　on　a　ninety…foot　paved　boulevard　what　does　Bert　do　but　get　caught　in　a　jam？　It　was　an　ice　wagon　that　finally　bumped　us　over。　I　was　shook　up　and　scraped　here　and　there。　But　Bert　was　finished。　That's　the　funny　part。　He'd　got　it　on　this　boulevard；　but　back　on　the　lot　he'd　have　rode　through　that　plate…　glass　window　probably　without　a　scratch。　And　just　because　the　sun　didn't　shine　that　day；　I　wasn't　engaged　any　more。　Bert　was　kind　of　like　some　old　sea…captain　that　comes　back　to　shore　after　risking　his　life　on　the　ocean　in　all　kinds　of　storms；　and　falls　into　a　duck…pond　and　gets　drowned。〃

She　sat　a　long　time　staring　out　over　the　landscape；　still　holding　his　hand。　Inside　the　fence　before　the　farmhouse　three　of　the　New　York　villains　were　again　engaged　in　athletic　sports；　but　she　seemed　oblivious　of　these。　At　last　she　turned　to　him　again　with　an　illumining　smile。

〃But　I　was　dead　in　love　once　before　that；　and　that's　how　I　know　just　how　you　feel　about　Baxter。　He　was　the　preacher　where　we　used　to　go　to　church。　He　was　a　good　one。　Pa　copied　a　lot　of　his　stuff　that　he　uses　to　this　day　if　he　happens　to　get　a　preacher　part。　He　was　the　loveliest　thing。　Not　so　young；　but　dark；　with　wonderful　eyes　and　black　hair；　and　his　voice　would　go　all　through　you。　I　had　an　awful　case　on　him。　I　was　twelve；　and　all　week　I　used　to　think　how　I'd　see　him　the　next　Sunday。　Say；　when　I'd　get　there　and　he'd　be　working　doing　pulpit　stuffhe'd　have　me　in　kind　of　a　trance。

〃Sometimes　after　the　pulpit　scene　he'd　come　down　right　into　the　audience　and　shake　hands　with　people。　I'd　almost　keel　over　if　he'd　notice　me。　I'd　be　afraid　if　he　would　and　afraid　if　he　wouldn't。　If　he　said　'And　how　is　the　little　lady　this　morning？'　I　wouldn't　have　a　speck　of　voice　to　answer　him。　I'd　just　tremble　all　over。　I　used　to　dream　I'd　get　a　job　workin'　for　him　as　extra；　blacking　his　shoes　or　fetching　his　breakfast　and　things。

〃It　was　the　real　thing；　all　right。　I　used　to　try　to　pray　the　way　he　didasking　the　Lord　to　let　me　do　a　character　bit　or　something　with　him。　He　had　me　going　all　right。　You　must　'a'　been　that　way　about　Baxter。　Sure　you　were。　When　you　found　she　was　married　and　used　a　double　and　everything；　it　was　like　I'd　found　this　preacher　shooting　hop　or　using　a　double　in　his　pulpit　stuff。