merton of the movies-第2章

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ke　he　stood　there；　holding　aloft　the　now　still　form　of　Snake　le　Vasquez。

The　voice　from　the　doorway　betrayed　deep　amazement　and　the　profoundest　irritation：

〃Merton　Gill；　what　in　the　sacred　name　of　Time　are　you　meanin'　to　do　with　that　dummy？　For　the　good　land's　sake！　Have　you　gone　plumb　crazy；　or　what？　Put　that　thing　down！〃

The　newcomer　was　a　portly　man　of　middle　age　dressed　in　ill…fitting　black。　His　gray　hair　grew　low　upon　his　brow　and　he　wore　a　parted　beard。

The　conqueror　of　Snake　le　Vasquez　was　still　frozen；　though　he　had　instantly　ceased　to　be　Buck　Benson；　the　strong；　silent；　two…gun　man　of　the　open　spaces。　The　irritated　voice　came　again：

〃Put　that　dummy　down；　you　idiot！　What　you　think　you're　doin'；　anyway？　And　say；　what　you　got　that　other　one　in　here　for；　when　it　ought　to　be　out　front　of　the　store　showin'　that　new　line　of　gingham　house　frocks？　Put　that　down　and　handle　it　careful！　Mebbe　you　think　I　got　them　things　down　from　Chicago　just　for　you　to　play　horse　with。　Not　so！　Not　so　at　all！　They're　to　help　show　off　goods；　and　that's　what　I　want　'em　doin'　right　now。　And　for　Time's　sake；　what's　that　revolver　lyin'　on　the　floor　for？　Is　it　loaded？　Say；　are　you　really　out　of　your　senses；　or　ain't　you？　What's　got　into　you　lately？　Will　you　tell　me　that？　Skyhootin'　around　in　here；　leavin'　the　front　of　the　store　unpertected　for　an　hour　or　two；　like　your　time　was　your　own。　And　don't　tell　me　you　only　been　foolin'　in　here　for　three　minutes；　either；　because　when　I　come　back　from　lunch　just　now　there　was　Mis'　Leffingwell　up　at　the　notions　counter　wanting　some　hooks　and　eyes；　and　she　tells　me　she's　waited　there　a　good　thutty　minutes　if　she's　waited　one。　Nice　goin's　on；　I　must　say；　for　a　boy　drawin'　down　the　money　you　be！　Now　you　git　busy！　Take　that　one　with　the　gingham　frock　out　and　stand　her　in　front　where　she　belongs；　and　then　put　one　them　new　raincoats　on　the　other　and　stand　him　out　where　he　belongs；　and　then　look　after　a　few　customers。　I　declare；　sometimes　I　git　clean　out　of　patience　with　you！　Now；　for　gosh's　sake；　stir　your　stumps！〃

〃Oh；　all　rightyes；　sir；〃　replied　Merton　Gill；　though　but　half　respectfully。　The　〃Oh；　all　right〃　had　been　tainted　with　a　trace　of　sullenness。　He　was　tired　of　this　continual　nagging　and　fussing　over　small　matters；　some　day　he　would　tell　the　old　grouch　so。

And　now；　gone　the　vivid　tale　of　the　great　out…of…doors；　the　wide　plains　of　the　West；　the　clash　of　primitive…hearted　men　for　a　good　woman's　love。　Gone；　perhaps；　the　greatest　heart　picture　of　a　generation；　the　picture　at　which　you　laugh　with　a　lump　in　your　throat　and　smile　with　a　tear　in　your　eye；　the　story　of　plausible　punches；　a　big；　vital　theme　masterfully　handledthrills；　action；　beauty；　excitementcarried　to　a　sensational　finish　by　the　genius　of　that　sterling　star　of　the　shadowed　world；　Clifford　Armytageonce　known　as　Merton　Gill　in　the　little　hamlet　of　Simsbury；　Illinois；　where　for　a　time；　ere　yet　he　was　called　to　screen　triumphs；　he　served　as　a　humble　clerk　in　the　so…called　emporium　of　Amos　G。　GashwilerEverything　For　The　Home。　Our　Prices　Always　Right。

Merton　Gillso　for　a　little　time　he　must　still　be　knownmoodily　seized　the　late　Estelle　St。　Clair　under　his　arm　and　〃withdrew　from　the　dingy　back　storeroom。　Down　between　the　counters　of　the　emporium　he　went　with　his　fair　burden　and　left　her　outside　its　portals；　staring　from　her　very　definitely　lashed　eyes　across　the　slumbering　street　at　the　Simsbury　post　office。　She　was　tastefully　arrayed　in　one　of　those　new　checked　gingham　house　frocks　so　heatedly　mentioned　a　moment　since　by　her　lawful　owner；　and　across　her　chest　Merton　Gill　now　imposed；　with　no　tenderness　of　manner；　the　appealing　legend；　〃Our　Latest　for　Milady；　only　6。98。〃　He　returned　for　Snake　le　Vasquez。　That　outlaw's　face；　even　out　of　the　picture；　was　evil。　He　had　been　picked　for　the　part　because　of　this　faceplump；　pinkly　tinted　cheeks；　lustrous；　curling　hair　of　some　repellent　composition；　eyes　with　a　hard　glitter；　each　lash　distinct　in　blue…black　lines；　and　a　small；　tip…curled　black　mustache　that　lent　the　whole　an　offensive　smirk。　Garbed　now　in　a　raincoat；　he；　too；　was　posed　before　the　emporium　front；　labelled　〃Rainproof　or　You　Get　Back　Your　Money。〃　So　frankly　evil　was　his　mien　that　Merton　Gill；　pausing　to　regard　him；　suffered　a　brief　relapse　into　artistry。

〃You　fiend！〃　he　muttered；　and　contemptuously　smote　the　cynical　face　with　an　open　hand。

Snake　le　Vasquez　remained　indifferent　to　the　affront；　smirking　insufferably　across　the　slumbering　street　at　the　wooden　Indian　proffering　cigars　before　the　establishment　of　Selby　Brothers；　Confectionery　and　Tobaccos。

Within　the　emporium　the　proprietor　now　purveyed　hooks　and　eyes　to　an　impatient　Mrs。　Leffingwell。　Merton　Gill；　behind　the　opposite　counter；　waited　upon　a　little　girl　sent　for　two　and　a　quarter　yards　of　stuff　to　match　the　sample　crumpled　in　her　damp　hand。　Over　the　suave　amenities　of　this　merchandising　Amos　Gashwiler　glared　suspiciously　across　the　store　at　his　employee。　Their　relations　were　still　strained。　Merton　also　glared　at　Amos；　but　discreetly；　at　moments　when　the　other's　back　was　turned　or　when　he　was　blandly　wishing　to　know　of　Mrs。　Leffingwell　if　there　would　be　something　else　to…day。　Other　customers　entered。　Trade　was　on。

Both　Merton　and　Amos　wore　airs　of　cheerful　briskness　that　deceived　the　public。　No　one　could　have　thought　that　Amos　was　fearing　his　undoubtedly　crazed　clerk　might　become　uncontrollable　at　any　moment；　or　that　the　clerk　was　mentally　parting　from　Amos　forever　in　a　scene　of　tense　dramatic　value　in　which　his　few　dignified　but　scathing　words　would　burn　themselves　unforgettably　into　the　old　man's　brain。　Merton；　to　himself；　had　often　told　Amos　these　things。　Some　day　he'd　say　them　right　out；　leaving　his　victim　not　only　in　the　utmost　confusion　but　in　black　despair　of　ever　finding　another　clerk　one　half　as　efficient　as　Merton　Gill。

The　afternoon　wore　to　closing　time　in　a　flurry　of　trade；　during　which；　as　Merton　continued　to　behave　sanely；　the　apprehension　of　his　employer　in　a　measure　subsided。　The　last　customer　had　departed　from　the　emporium。　The　dummies　were　brought　inside。　The　dust　curtains　were　hung　along　the　shelves　of　dry　goods。　There　remained　for　Merton　only　the　task　of　delivering　a　few　groceries。　He　gathered　these　and　took　them　out　to　the　wagon　in　front。　Then　he　changed　from　his　store　coat　to　his　street　coat　and　donned　a　rakish　plush　hat。

Amos　was　also　changing　from　his　store　coat　to　his　street　coat　and　donning　his　frayed　straw　hat。

〃See　if　you　can't　keep　from　actin'　crazy　while　you　make　them　deliveries；〃　said　Amos；　not　uncordially；　as　he　lighted　a　choice　cigar　from　the　box　which　he　kept　hidden　under　a　counter。

Merton　wished　to　reply：　〃See　here；　Mr。　Gashwiler；　I've　stood　this　abuse　long　enough！　The　time　has　come　to　say　a　few　words　to　you〃　But　aloud　he　merely　responded；　〃Yes；　sir！〃

The　circumstance　that　he　also　had　a　cigar　from　the　same　box；　hidden　not　so　well　as　Amos　thought；　may　have　subdued　his　resentment。　He　would　light　the　cigar　after　the　first　turn　in　the　road　had　carried　him　beyond　the　eagle　eye　of　its　owner。

The　delivery　wagon　outside　was　drawn　by　an　elderly　horse　devoid　of　ambition　or　ideals。　His　head　was　sunk　in　dejection。　He　was　gray　at　the　temples；　and　slouched　in　the　shafts　in　a　loafing　attitude；　one　forefoot　negligently　crossed　in　front　of　the　other。　He　aroused　himself　reluctantly　and　with　apparent　difficulty　when　Merton　Gill　seized　the　reins　and　called　in　commanding　tones；　〃Get　on　there；　you　old　skate！〃　The　equipage　moved　off　under　the　gaze　of　Amos；　who　was　locking　the　doors　of　his　establishment。

Turning　the　first　corner　into　a　dusty　side　street；　Merton　dropped　the　reins　and　lighted　the　filched　cigar。　Other　Gashwiler　property　was　sacred　to　him。　From　all　the　emporium's　choice　stock　he　would　have　abstracted　not　so　much　as　a　pin；　but　the　Gashwiler　cigars；　said　to　be　〃The　World's　Best　10c　Smoke；〃　with　the　picture　of　a　dissipated　clubman　in　evening　dress　on　the　box　cover；　were　different；　in　that　they　were　pointedly　hidden　from　Merton。　He　cared　little　for　cigars；　but　this　was　a　challenge；　the　old　boy　couldn't　get　away　with　anything　like　that。　If　he　didn't　want　his　cigars　touched　let　him　leave　the　box　out　in　the　open　like　a　man。　Merto