merton of the movies-第32章
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When this was done Henshaw bustled into the group。 〃I want about a dozen or fifteen good types for the cafe；〃 he explained to his assistant。 Merton Gill instinctively stood forward； and was presently among those selected。 〃You'll do；〃 said Henshaw； nodding。 The director； of course； had not remembered that this was the actor he had distinguished in The Blight of Broadway； yet he had again chosen him for eminence。 It showed； Merton felt； that his conviction about the screen value of his face was not ill founded。
The selected types were now herded into a dark； narrow； low…ceiled room with a divan effect along its three walls。 A grizzled Arab made coffee over a glowing brazier。 Merton Gill sat cross…legged on the divan and became fearful that he would be asked to smoke the narghileh which the assistant director was now preparing。 To one who balked at mere cigarettes； it was an evil…appearing device。 His neighbour who had been puzzled at prayer…time now hitched up his flowing robe to withdraw a paper of cigarettes from the pocket of a quite occidental garment。
〃Go on； smoke cigarettes；〃 said the assistant director。
〃Have one？〃 said Merton's neighbour； and he took one。 It seemed you couldn't get away from cigarettes on the screen。 East and West were here one。 He lighted it； though smoking warily。 The noble sheik； of undoubtedly Asiatic origin； came to the doorway overlooking the assistant director's work on the narghileh。 A laden camel halted near him； sneered in an evil manner at the bystanders； and then； lifting an incredible length of upper lip； set his yellow teeth in the nearest shoulder。 It was the shoulder of the noble sheik； who instantly rent the air with a plaintive cry： 〃For the love of Mike！keep that man…eater off'n me； can't you？〃
His accent had not been that of the Arabian waste…land。 Merton Gill was disappointed。 So the fellow was only an actor； after all。 If he had felt sympathy at all； it would now have been for the camel。 The beast was jerked back with profane words and the sheik； rubbing his bitten shoulder； entered the cafe； sitting cross…legged at the end of the divan nearest the door。
〃All right； Bob。〃 The assistant director handed him the tube of the water pipe； and the sheik smoked with every sign of enjoyment。 Merton Gill resolved never to play the part of an Arab sheikat the mercy of man…eating camels and having to smoke something that looked murderous。
Under Henshaw's direction the grizzled proprietor now served tiny cups of coffee to the sheik and his lesser patrons。 Two of these played dominoes； and one or two reclined as in sleep。 Cameras were brought up。 The interior being to his satisfaction； Henshaw rehearsed the entrance of a little band of European tourists。 A beautiful girl in sports garb； a beautiful young man in khaki and puttees； a fine old British father with gray side whiskers shaded by a sun…hat with a flowing veil twined about it。 These people sat and were served coffee； staring in a tourist manner at their novel surroundings。 The Bedouins； under stern command； ignored them； conversing among themselves over their coffeeall but the sheik。
The sheik had been instantly struck by the fair young English girl。 His sinister eyes hung constantly upon her； shifting only when she regarded him； furtively returning when she ceased。 When they left the cafe； the sheik arose and placed himself partly in the girl's way。 She paused while his dark eyes caught and held hers。 A long moment went before she seemed able to free herself from the hypnotic tension he put upon her。 Then he bowed low； and the girl with a nervous laugh passed him。
It could be seen that the sheik meant her no good。 He stepped to the door and looked after the group。 There was evil purpose in his gaze。
Merton Gill recalled something of Henshaw's words the first day he had eaten at the cafeteria： 〃They find this deserted tomb just at nightfall； and he's alone there with the girl； and he could do anything； but the kick for the audience is that he's a gentleman and never lays a finger on her。〃
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
