merton of the movies-第33章
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erson came between him and the last of his stew which he secured with blotters of bread。 Even then he ignored the woman。 He had other things to think of。 He had to think of where he should sleep that night。 But for once he had eaten enough； his optimism was again enthroned。
Sleeping； after all； was not like eating。 There were more ways to manage it。 The law of sleep would in time enforce itself； while eating did nothing of the sort。 You might sleep for nothing； but someone had to be paid if you ate。 He cheerfully paid eighty cents for his repast。 The catsup as an appetizer had been ruinous。
It was late in the afternoon when he left the cafeteria and the cheerful activities of the lot were drawing to a close。 Extra people from the various stages were hurrying to the big dressing room； whence they would presently stream； slips in hand； toward the cashier's window。 Belated principals came in from their work to resume their choice street garments and be driven off in choice motor cars。
Merton Gill in deep thought traversed the street between the big stages and the dressing rooms。 Still in deep thought he retraced his steps； and at the front office turned off to the right on a road that led to the deserted street of the Western town。 His head bowed in thought he went down this silent thoroughfare； his footsteps echoing along the way lined by the closed shops。 The Happy Days Saloon and JoeBuy or Sell； the pool…room and the restaurant； alike slept for want of custom。 He felt again the eeriness of this desertion； and hurried on past the silent places。
Emerging from the lower end of this street he came upon a log cabin where activity still survived。 He joined the group before its door。 Inside two cameras were recording some drama of the rude frontier。 Over glowing coals in the stone fireplace a beautiful young girl prepared food in a long…handled frying pan。 At a table in the room's centre two bearded miners seemed to be appraising a buckskin pouch of nuggets； pouring them from hand to hand。 A candle stuck in a bottle flickered beside them。 They were honest； kindly faced miners； roughly dressed and heavily bearded； but it could be seen that they had hearts of gold。 The beautiful young girl； who wore a simple dress of blue calico； and whose hair hung about her fair face in curls of a radiant buff； now served them food and poured steaming coffee from a large pot。
The miners seemed loth to eat； being excited by the gold nuggets。 They must have struck it rich that day； Merton Gill divined； and now with wealth untold they would be planning to send the girl East to school。 They both patted her affectionately； keeping from her the great surprise they had in store。
The girl was arch with them； and prettily kissed each upon his bald head。 Merton at once saw that she would be the daughter of neither； she would be their ward。 And perhaps they weren't planning to send her to school。 Perhaps they were going to send her to fashionable relatives in the East； where she would unwittingly become the rival of her beautiful but cold…hearted cousin for the hand of a rich young stock…broker； and be ill…treated and long for the old miners who would get word of it and buy some fine clothes from JoeBuy or Sell； and go East to the consternation of the rich relatives and see that their little mountain flower was treated right。
As he identified this photo…play he studied the interior of the cabin； the rough table at which the three now ate； the makeshift chairs； the rifle over the fireplace； the picks and shovels； the shelf along the wall with its crude dishes； the calico curtain screening off what would be the dressing room of the little mountain flower。 It was a home…like room； for all its roughness。 Along one wall were two bunks； one above the other； well supplied with blankets。
The director； after a final shot of one of the miners being scalded by his coffee which he drank from a saucer； had said； 〃All right； boys！ We'll have the fight first thing in the morning。〃
Merton Gill passed on。 He didn't quite know what the fight would be about。 Surely the two miners wouldn't fight。 Perhaps another miner of loose character would come along and try to jump their claim； or attempt some dirty work with the little girl。 Something like that。 He carried with him the picture of the homey little ulterior； the fireplace with its cooking utensils； the two bunks with their ample stock of blanketsthe crude door closed with a wooden bar and a leather latch…string； which hung trustfully outside。
In other circumstanceschiefly those in which Merton Gill had now been the prominent figure in the film world he meant one day to becomehe would on this night have undoubtedly won public attention for his mysterious disappearance。 The modest room in the Patterson home； to which for three months he had unfailingly come after the first picture show； on this night went untenanted。 The guardian at the Holden gate would have testified that he had not passed out that way； and the way through the offices had been closed at five； subsequent to which hour several witnesses could have sworn to seeing him still on the lot。
In the ensuing search even the tank at the lower end of the lot might have been draggedwithout result。
Being little known to the public； however； and in the Patterson home it being supposed that you could never tell about motion…picture actors； his disappearance for the night caused absolutely no slightest ripple。 Public attention as regarded the young man remained at a mirror…like calm； unflawed by even the mildest curiosity。 He had been seen； perhaps； though certainly not noted with any interest； to be one of the group watching a night scene in front of one of the Fifth Avenue mansions。
Lights shone from the draped windows of this mansion and from its portals issued none other than Muriel Mercer； who； as Vera Vanderpool； freed at last from the blight of Broadway； was leaving her palatial home to cast her lot finally with the ardent young tenement worker with the high forehead。 She descended the brown… stone steps； paused once to look back upon the old home where she had been taught to love pleasure above the worth…while things of life； then came on to the waiting limousine； being greeted here by the young man with the earnest forehead who had won her to the better way。
The missing youth might later have been observed； but probably was not； walking briskly in the chill night toward the gate that led to the outer world。 But he wheeled abruptly before reaching this gate； and walked again briskly； this time debouching from the main thoroughfare into the black silence of the Western village。 Here his pace slackened； and halfway down the street he paused irresolutely。 He was under the wooden porch of the Fashion RestaurantGive our Tamales a Trial。 He lingered here but a moment； however； then lurked on down the still thoroughfare； keeping well within the shadow of the low buildings。 Just beyond the street was the log cabin of the big…hearted miners。 A moment later he could not have been observed even by the keenest eye。
Nothing marked his disappearance； at least nothing that would have been noted by the casual minded。 He had simply gone。 He was now no more than the long…vanished cowboys and sheriffs and gamblers and petty tradesmen who had once peopled this street of silence and desolation。
A night watchman came walking presently； flashing an electric torch from side to side。 He noticed nothing。 He was； indeed； a rather imaginative man； and he hoped he would not notice anything。 He did not like coming down this ghostly street； which his weak mind would persist in peopling with phantom crowds from long…played picture dramas。 It gave him the creeps； as he had more than once confessed。 He hurried on； flashing his torch along the blind fronts of the shops in a perfunctory manner。 He was especially nervous when he came to corners。 And he was glad when he issued from the little street into the wider one that was well lighted。
How could he have been expected to notice a very trifling incongruous detail as he passed the log cabin？ Indeed many a keener… eyed and entirely valorous night watchman might have neglected to observe that the leathern latch…stri
