merton of the movies-第21章

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nives　at　once　were　being　hurled　by　five　enthusiasts；　while　a　harried…looking　director　watched　and　criticised。

〃You're　a　clumsy　bunch；〃　he　announced　at　last。　〃It's　a　simple　thing　to　do；　isn't　it？〃　The　knife…throwers　redoubled；　their　efforts；　but　they　did　not　find　it　a　simple　thing　to　do。

〃Let　me　try　it；　Mr。　Burke。〃　It　was　the　Montague　girl　still　in　her　gipsy　costume。　She　had　been　standing　quietly　in　the　shadow　observing　the　ineffective　practice。

〃Hello；　Flips！　Sure；　you　can　try　it。　Show　these　boys　something　good；　now。　Here；　Al；　give　Miss　Montague　that　stickeree　of　yours。〃　Al　seemed　glad　to　relinquish　the　weapon。　Miss　Montague　hefted　it；　and　looked　doubtful。

〃It　ain't　balanced　right；〃　she　declared。　〃Haven't　you　got　one　with　a　heavier　handle？〃

〃Fair　enough；〃　said　the　director。　〃Hey；　Pickles；　let　her　try　that　one　you　got。〃　Pickles；　too；　was　not　unwilling　to　oblige。

〃That's　better；〃　said　the　girl。　〃It's　balanced　right。〃　Taking　the　blade　by　its　point　between　thumb　and　forefinger　she　sent　it　with　a　quick　flick　of　the　wrist　into　the　wall　a　dozen　feet　away。　It　hung　there　quivering。

〃There！　That's　what　we　want。　It's　got　to　be　quivering　when　Jack　shoots　at　Ramon　who　threw　it　at　him　as　he　leaps　through　the　window。　Try　it　again；　Flips。〃　The　girl　obliged　and　bowed　impressively　to　the　applause。

〃Now　come　here　and　try　it　through　the　doorway。〃　He　led　her　around　the　set。　〃Now　stand　here　and　see　can　you　put　it　into　the　wall　just　to　the　right　of　the　window。　Good！　Some　little　knife…thrower；　I'll　say。　Now　try　it　once　with　Jack　coming　through。　Get　set；　Jack。〃

Jack　made　his　way　to　the　window　through　which　he　was　to　leap。　He　paused　there　to　look　in　with　some　concern。　〃Say；　Mr。　Burke；　will　you　please　make　sure　she　understands？　She　isn't　to　let　go　of　that　thing　until　I'm　in　and　crouched　down　ready　to　shootunderstand　what　I　mean？　I　don't　want　to　get　nicked　nor　nothing。〃

〃All　right；　all　right！　She　understands。〃

Jack　leaped　through　the　window　to　a　crouch；　weapon　in　hand。　The　knife　quivered　in　the　wall　above　him　as　he　shot。

〃Fine　and　dandy。　Some　class；　I'll　say。　All　right；　Jack。　Get　back。　We'll　gun　this　little　scene　right　here　and　now。　All　ready；　Jack；　all　ready　Miss　Montaguecamera！one；　two；　threecome　in；　Jack。〃　Again　the　knife　quivered　in　the　wall　above　his　head　even　while　he　crouched　to　shoot　at　the　treacherous　Mexican　who　had　thrown　it。

〃Good　work；　Flips。　Thanks　a　whole　lot。　We'll　do　as　much　for　you　some　time。〃

〃You're　entirely　welcome；　Mr。　Burke。　No　trouble　to　oblige。　How　you　coming？〃

〃Coming　good。　This　thing's　going　to　be　a　knockout。　I　bet　it'll　gross　a　million。　Nearly　done；　too；　except　for　some　chase　stuff　up　in　the　hills。　I'll　do　that　next　week。　What　you　doing？〃

〃Oh；　everything's　jake　with　me。　I'm　over　on　Number　FourToys　of　Destinyputting　a　little　pep　into　the　mob　stuff。　Laid　out　for　two　hours；　waiting　for　somethingI　don't　know　what。〃

Merton　Gill　passed　on。　He　confessed　now　to　a　reluctant　admiration　for　the　Montague　girl。　She　could　surely　throw　a　knife。　He　must　practise　that　himself　sometime。　He　might　have　stayed　to　see　more　of　this　drama　but　he　was　afraid　the　girl　would　break　out　into　more　of　her　nonsense。　He　was　aware　that　she　swept　him　with　her　eyes　as　he　turned　away　but　he　evaded　her　glance。　She　was　not　a　person；　he　thought；　that　one　ought　to　encourage。

He　emerged　from　the　great　building　and　crossed　an　alley　to　another　of　like　size。　Down　toward　its　middle　was　the　usual　wall　of　canvas　with　half…a…dozen　men　about　the　opening　at　one　corner。　A　curious　whirring　noise　came　from　within。　He　became　an　inconspicuous　unit　of　the　group　and　gazed　in。　The　lights　were　on；　revealing　a　long　table　elaborately　set　as　for　a　banquet；　but　the　guests　who　stood　about　gave　him　instant　uneasiness。　They　were　in　the　grossest　caricatures　of　evening　dress；　both　men　and　women；　and　they　were　not　beautiful。　The　gowns　of　the　women　were　grotesque　and　the　men　were　lawless　appearing；　either　as　to　hair　or　beards　or　both。　He　divined　the　dreadful　thing　he　was　stumbling　upon　even　before　he　noted　the　sign　in　large　letters　on　the　back　of　a　folding　chair：　〃Jeff　Baird's　Buckeye　Comedies。〃　These　were　the　buffoons　who　with　their　coarse　pantomime；　their　heavy　horse…play；　did　so　much　to　debase　a　great　art。　There；　even　at　his　side；　was　the　arch　offender；　none　other　than　Jeff　Baird　himself；　the　man　whose　regrettable　sense　of　so…called　humour　led　him　to　make　these　low　appeals　to　the　witless。　And　even　as　he　looked　the　cross…eyed　man　entered　the　scene。　Garbed　in　the　weirdly　misfitting　clothes　of　a　waiter；　holding　aloft　a　loaded　tray　of　dishes；　he　entered　on　roller　skates；　to　halt　before　Baird　with　his　uplifted　tray　at　a　precarious　balance。

〃All　right；　that's　better；〃　said　Baird。　〃And；　Gertie；　listen：　don't　throw　the　chair　in　front　of　him。　That's　out。　Now　we'll　have　the　entrance　again。　You　other　boys　on　the　rollers；　there〃　Three　other　basely　comic　waiters　on　roller　skates　came　to　attention。

〃Follow　him　in　and　pile　up　on　him　when　he　makes　the　grand　spillsee　what　I　mean？　Get　your　trays　loaded　now　and　get　off。　Now　you　other　people；　take　your　seats。　No；　no；　Annie；　you're　at　the　head；　I　told　you。　Tom；　you're　at　the　foot　and　start　the　rough…house　when　you　get　the　tray　in　the　neck。　Now；　all　set。〃

Merton　Gill　was　about　to　leave　this　distressing　scene　but　was　held　in　spite　of　himself　by　the　voice　of　a　newcomer。

〃Hello；　Jeff！　Atta　boy！〃

He　knew　without　turning　that　the　Montague　girl　was　again　at　his　elbow。　He　wondered　if　she　could　be　following　him。

〃Hello；　Flips！　How's　the　kid？〃　The　producer　had　turned　cordially　to　her。　〃Just　in　time　for　the　breakaway　stuff。　See　how　you　like　it。〃

〃What's　the　big　idea？〃

〃Swell　reception　at　the　Maison　de　Glue；　with　the　waiters　on　roller　skates　in　honour　of　rich　Uncle　Rollo　Glue。　The　head　waiter　starts　the　fight　by　doing　a　fall　with　his　tray。　Tom　gets　the　tray　in　the　neck　and　soaks　the　nearest　man　banquet　goes　flooey。　Then　we　go　into　the　chase　stuff。〃

〃Which　is　Uncle　Rollo？〃

〃That's　him　at　the　table；　with　the　herbaceous　border　under　his　chin。〃

〃Is　he　in　the　fight？〃

〃I　think　so。　I　was　going　to　rehearse　it　once　more　to　see　if　I　could　get　a　better　idea。　Near　as　I　can　see　now；　everybody　takes　a　crack　at　him。〃

〃Well；　maybe。〃　Montague　girl　seemed　to　be　considering。　〃Say；　how　about　this；　Jeff？　He's　awful　hungry；　see；　and　he's　begun　to　eat　the　celery　and　everything　he　can　reach；　and　when　the　mix…up　starts　he　just　eats　on　and　pays　no　attention　to　it。　Never　even　looks　up；　see　what　I　mean？　The　fight　spreads　the　whole　length　of　the　table；　right　around　Rollo　half…a…dozen　murders　are　going　on　and　he　just　eats　and　pays　no　attention。　And　he's　still　eating　when　they're　all　down　and　out；　and　don't　know　a　thing　till　Charlie　or　someone　crowns　him　with　the　punch…bowl。　How　about　it？　Ain't　there　a　laugh　in　that？〃　Baird　had　listened　respectfully　and　now　patted　the　girl　on　a　shoulder。

〃Good　work；　Kid！　That's　a　gag；　all　right。　The　little　bean's　sparking　on　all　six；　ain't　it？　Drop　around　again。　We　need　folks　like　you。　Now；　listen；　Rolloyou　there；　Rollo；　come　here　and　get　this。　Now；　listenwhen　the　fight　begins〃

Merton　Gill　turned　decisively　away。　Such　coarse　foolery　as　this　was　too　remote　from　Beulah　Baxter　who；　somewhere　on　that　lot；　was　doing　something　really；　as　her　interview　had　put　it；　distinctive　and　worth　while。

He　lingered　only　to　hear　the　last　of　Baird's　instructions　to　Rollo　and　the　absurd　guests；　finding　some　sinister　fascination　in　the　man's　talk。　Baird　then　turned　to　the　girl；　who　had　also　started　off。

〃Hang　around；　Flips。　Why　the　rush？〃

〃Got　to　beat　it　over　to　Number　Pour。〃

〃Got　anything　good　there？〃

〃Nothing　that　will　get　me　any　billing。　Been　waiting　two　hours　now　just　to　look　frenzied　in　a　mob。〃

〃Well；　say；　come　around　and　see　me　some　time。〃

〃All　right；　Jeff。　Of　course　I'm　pretty　busy。　When　I　ain't　working　I've　got　to　think　about　my　art。〃

〃No；　this　is　on　the　level。　Listen；　now；　sister；　I　got　another　two　reeler　to　pull　off　after　this　one；　then　I'm　goin'　to　do　something　new；　see？　Got　a　big　idea。　Probably　something　for　you　in　it。　Drop　in　t'　the　office　and　talk　it　over。　Come　in　some　time　next　week。　'F　I　ain't　there　I'll　be　on　the　lot　some　place。　Don't　forget；　now。〃

Merton　Gill；　s