merton of the movies-第36章

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erest　fragment　of　time。

He　resolved　to　be　on　the　lookout　that　day　for　a　barber…shop　set。　He　believed　they　were　not　common　in　the　photodrama；　still　one　might　be　found。

He　limited　himself　to　the　lightest　of　breakfasts。　He　had　timidly　refrained　from　counting　his　silver　but　he　knew　he　must　be　frugal。　He　rejoiced　at　this　economy　until　late　afternoon　when；　because　of　it；　he　simply　had　to　eat　a　heavier　dinner　than　he　had　expected　to　need。　There　was　something　so　implacable　about　this　demand　for　food。　If　you　skimped　in　the　morning　you　must　make　amends　at　the　next　meal。　He　passed　the　time　as　on　the　previous　day；　a　somewhat　blase　actor　resting　between　pictures；　and　condescending　to　beguile　the　tedium　by　overlooking　the　efforts　of　his　professional　brethren。　He　could　find　no　set　that　included　a　barber　shop；　although　they　were　beds　on　every　hand。　He　hoped　for　another　night　in　the　cabin；　but　if　that　were　not　to　be；　there　was　a　bed　easy　of　access　on　Stage　Three。　When　he　had　observed　it；　a　ghastly　old　father　was　coughing　out　his　life　under　its　blankets；　nursed　only　by　his　daughter；　a　beautiful　young　creature　who　sewed　by　his　bedside；　and　who　would　doubtless　be　thrown　upon　the　world　in　the　very　next　reel；　thoughMerton　was　glad　to　noteprobably　not　until　the　next　day。

Yet　there　was　no　need　for　this　couch　of　the　tubercular　father；　for　action　in　the　little　cabin　was　still　on。　After　making　the　unhappy　discovery　in　the　cafeteria　that　his　appetite　could　not　be　hoodwinked　by　the　clumsy　subterfuge　of　calling　coffee　and　rolls　a　breakfast　some　six　hours　previously；　he　went　boldly　down　to　stand　before　his　home。　Both　miners　were　at　work　inside。　The　room　had　been　placed　in　order　again；　though　the　little　mountain　flower　was　gone。　A　letter；　he　gathered；　had　been　received　from　her；　and　one　of　the　miners　was　about　to　leave　on　a　long　journey。

Merton　could　not　be　sure；　but　he　supposed　that　the　letter　from　the　little　girl　told　that　she　was　unhappy　in　her　new　surroundings；　perhaps　being　ill…treated　by　the　supercilious　Eastern　relatives。　The　miner　who　was　to　remain　helped　the　other　to　pack　his　belongings　in　a　quaint　old　carpet　sack；　and　together　they　undid　a　bundle　which　proved　to　contain　a　splendid　new　suit。　Not　only　this；　but　now　came　a　scene　of　eloquent　appeal　to　the　watcher　outside　the　door。　The　miner　who　was　to　remain　expressed　stern　disapproval　of　the　departing　miner's　beard。　It　would　never　do；　he　was　seen　to　intimate；　and　when　the　other　miner　portrayed　helplessness　a　new　package　was　unwrapped　and　a　safety　razor　revealed　to　his　shocked　gaze。

At　this　sight　Merton　Gill　felt　himself　growing　too　emotional　for　a　mere　careless　bystander；　and　withdrew　to　a　distance　where　he　could　regain　better　control　of　himself。　When　he　left　the　miner　to　be　shorn　was　betraying　comic　dismay　while　the　other　pantomimed　the　correct　use　of　the　implement　his　thoughtfulness　had　provided。　When　he　returned　after　halfan…hour's　rather　nervous　walk　up　another　street；　the　departing　miner　was　clean　shaven　and　one　might　note　the　new　razor　glittering　on　the　low　bench　beside　the　battered　tin　basin。

They　worked　late　in　his　home　that　night；　trifling　scenes　were　taken　and　retaken。　The　departing　miner　had　to　dress　in　his　splendid　but　ill…fitting　new　garments　and　to　bid　an　affectionate　farewell　to　his　partner；　then　had　to　dress　in　his　old　clothes　again　for　some　bit　that　had　been　forgotten；　only　to　don　the　new　suit　for　close…ups。　At　another　time　Merton　Gill　might　have　resented　this　tediously　drawn…　out　affair　which　was　keeping　him　from　his　rest；　for　he　had　come　to　look　upon　this　structure　as　one　having　rights　in　it　after　a　certain　hour；　but　a　sight　of　the　razor　which　had　not　been　touched　allayed　any　possible　feeling　of　irritation。

It　was　nine…thirty　before　the　big　lights　jarred　finally　off　and　the　director　said；　〃That's　all；　boys。〃　Then　he　turned　to　call；　〃Jimmie！　Hey；　Jimmie！　Where's　that　prop…rustler　gone　to　now？〃

〃Here；　Mr。　Burke；　yes；　sir。〃

〃We've　finished　the　shack　stuff。　Let's　see〃　He　looked　at　the　watch　on　his　wrist〃That'll　be　all　for　tonight。　Strike　this　first　thing　tomorrow　morning。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Jimmie。　The　door　was　closed　and　the　men　walked　away。　Merton　trailed　them　a　bit；　not　remaining　too　pointedly　near　the　cabin。　He　circled　around　through　Fifth　Avenue　to　regain　the　place。

Softly　he　let　himself　in　and　groped　through　the　dark　until　his　hand　closed　upon　the　abandoned　razor。　Satisfying　himself　that　fresh　blades　had　accompanied　it；　he　made　ready　for　bed。　He　knew　it　was　to　be　his　last　night　in　this　shelter。　The　director　had　told　Jimmie　to　strike　it　first　thing　in　the　morning。　The　cabin　would　still　be　there；　but　it　would　contain　no　homely　furniture；　no　chairs；　no　table；　no　wash…basin；　no　safety…razor　and；　most　vital　of　lacksit　would　be　devoid　of　blankets。

Yet　this　knowledge　did　not　dismay　him。　He　slept　peacefully　after　praying　that　something　good　would　happen　to　him。　He　put　it　that　way　very　simply。　He　had　placed　himself；　it　seemed；　where　things　could　only　happen　to　him。　He　was；　he　felt；　beyond　bringing　them　about。



CHAPTER　IX

MORE　WAYS　THAN　ONE


Early　he　was　up　to　bathe　and　shave。　He　shaved　close　to　make　it　last　longer；　until　his　tender　face　reddened　under　the　scraping。　Probably　he　would　not　find　another　cabin　in　which　a　miner　would　part　with　his　beard　for　an　Eastern　trip。　Probably　he　would　have　to　go　to　the　barber　the　next　time。　He　also　succeeded；　with　soap　and　water；　in　removing　a　stain　from　his　collar。　It　was　still　a　decent　collar；　not　immaculate；　perhaps；　but　entirely　possible。

This　day　he　took　eggs　with　his　breakfast；　intending　to　wheedle　his　appetite　with　a　lighter　second　meal　than　it　had　demanded　the　day　before。　He　must　see　if　this　would　not　average　better　on　the　day's　overhead。

After　breakfast　he　was　irresistibly　drawn　to　view　the　moving　picture　of　his　old　home　being　dismantled。　He　knew　now　that　he　might　stand　brazenly　there　without　possible　criticism。　He　found　Jimmy　and　a　companion　property…boy　already　busy。　Much　of　the　furniture　was　outside　to　be　carted　away。　Jimmy；　as　Merton　lolled　idly　in　the　doorway；　emptied　the　blackened　coffee　pot　into　the　ashes　of　the　fireplace　and　then　proceeded　to　spoon　into　the　same　refuse　heap　half　a　kettle　of　beans　upon　which　the　honest　miners　had　once　feasted。　The　watcher　deplored　that　he　had　not　done　more　than　taste　the　beans　when　he　had　taken　his　final　survey　of　the　place　this　morning。　They　had　been　good　beans；　but　to　do　more　than　taste　them　would　have　been　stealing。　Now　he　saw　them　thrown　away　and　regretted　that　he　could　not　have　known　what　their　fate　was　to　be。　There　had　been　enough　of　them　to　save　him　a　day's　expenses。

He　stood　aside　as　the　two　boys　brought　out　the　cooking　utensils；　the　rifle；　the　miners'　tools；　to　stow　them　in　a　waiting　handcart。　When　they　had　loaded　this　vehicle　they　trundled　it　on　up　the　narrow　street　of　the　Western　town。　Yet　they　went　only　a　little　way；　halting　before　one　of　the　street's　largest　buildings。　A　sign　above　its　wooden　porch　flaunted　the　name　Crystal　Palace　Hotel。　They　unlocked　its　front　door　and　took　the　things　from　the　cart　inside。

From　the　street　the　watcher　could　see　them　stowing　these　away。　The　room　appeared　to　contain　a　miscellaneous　collection　of　articles　needed　in　the　ruder　sort　of　photodrama。　Emptying　their　cart；　they　returned　with　it　to　the　cabin　for　another　load。　Merton　Gill　stepped　to　the　doorway　and　peered　in　from　apparently　idle　curiosity。　He　could　see　a　row　of　saddles　on　wooden　supports；　there　were　kitchen　stoves；　lamps；　painted　chairs；　and　heavy　earthenware　dishes　on　shelves。　His　eyes　wandered　over　these　articles　until　they　came　to　rest　upon　a　pile　of　blankets　at　one　side　of　the　room。　They　were　neatly　folded；　and　they　were　many。

Down　before　the　cabin　he　could　see　the　handcart　being　reloaded　by　Jimmie　and　his　helper。　Otherwise　the　street　was　empty。　The　young　man　at　the　doorway　stepped　lightly　in　and　regarded　the　windows　on　either　side　of　the　door。　He　sauntered　to　the　street　and　appeared　to　be　wondering　what　he　would　examine　next　in　this　curious　world。　He　passed　Jimmie　and　the　other　boy　returning　with　the　last　load　from　the　cabin。　He　noted　at　the　top　of　the　load　the　mattress　on　which　he　had　lain　for　three　nights　and　the　blankets　that　had　warmed　him。　Bu