merton of the movies-第41章

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　employees；　he　danced　in　little　rages　of　temper；　and　altogether　he　was　not　one　with　whom　the　watcher　would　have　cared　to　come　in　contact。　He　wondered；　indeed；　that　so　puissant　a　star　as　Beulah　Baxter　should　not　be　able　to　choose　her　own　director；　for　surely　the　presence　of　this　unlovely；　waspishly　tempered　being　could　be　nothing　but　an　irritant　in　the　daily　life　of　the　wonder…woman。　Perhaps　she　had　tolerated　him　merely　for　one　picture。　Perhaps　he　was　especially　good　in　shipwrecks。

If　Merton　Gill　were　in　this　company　he　would　surely　have　words　with　this　person；　director　or　no　director。　He　hastily　wrote　a　one…reel　scenario　in　which　the　man　so　far　forgot　himself　as　to　speak　sharply　to　the　star；　and　in　which　a　certain　young　actor；　a　new　member　of　the　company；　resented　the　ungentlemanly　words　by　pitching　the　offender　into　a　convenient　pool　and　earned　even　more　than　gratitude　from　the　starry…eyed　wonder…woman。

The　objectionable　man　continued　active；　profuse　of　gesture　and　loud　through　the　megaphone。　Once　more　the　storm。　The　boat　rocked　threateningly；　the　wind　roared　through　its　slack　rigging；　and　giant　billows　swept　the　frail　craft。　Light　as　from　a　half…clouded　moon　broke　through　the　mist　that　issued　from　a　steam　pipe。　There　was　another　lull；　and　the　Semitic　type　on　the　platform　became　increasingly　offensive。　Merton　saw　himself　saying；　〃Allow　me；　Miss　Baxter；　to　relieve　you　of　the　presence　of　this　bounder。〃　The　man　was　impossible。　Constantly　he　had　searched　the　scene　for　his　heroine。　She　would　probably　not　appear　until　they　were　ready　to　shoot；　and　this　seemed　not　to　be　at　once　if　the　rising　temper　of　the　director　could　be　thought　an　indication。

The　big　hose　again　drew　water　from　the　pool　to　the　tank；　whence；　at　a　sudden　release；　it　would　issue　in　billows。　The　big　lights　at　last　seemed　to　be　adjusted　to　the　director's　whim。　The　aeroplane　propeller　whirred　and　the　gale　was　found　acceptable。　The　men　at　the　rope　tugged　the　boat　into　grave　danger。　The　moon　lighted　the　mist　that　overhung　the　scene。

Then　at　last　Merton　started；　peering　eagerly　forward　across　the　length　of　the　pool。　At　the　far　end；　half　illumined　by　the　big　lights；　stood　the　familiar　figure　of　his　wonderwoman；　the　slim　little　girl　with　the　wistful　eyes。　Plainly　he　could　see　her　now　as　the　mist　lifted。　She　was　chatting　with　one　of　the　pirates　who　had　stepped　ashore　from　the　boat。　The　wonderful　golden　hair　shone　resplendent　under　the　glancing　rays　of　the　arcs。　A　cloak　was　about　her　shoulders；　but　at　a　word　of　command　from　the　director　she　threw　it　off　and　stepped　to　the　boat's　deck。　She　was　dressed　in　a　short　skirt；　her　trim　feet　and　ankles　lightly　shod　and　silken　clad。　The　sole　maritime　touch　in　her　garb　was　a　figured　kerchief　at　her　throat　similar　to　those　worn　by　the　piratical　crew。

〃All　ready；　Hortenseall　ready　Jose　and　Gaston；　get　your　places。〃

Miss　Baxter　acknowledged　the　command　with　that　characteristic　little　wave　of　a　hand　that　he　recalled　from　so　many　of　her　pictures；　a　half…humorous；　half…mocking　little　defiance。　She　used　it　often　when　escaping　her　pursuers；　as　if　to　say　that　she　would　see　them　in　the　next　installment。

The　star　and　the　two　men　were　now　in　the　cabin；　hidden　from　view。　Merton　Gill　was　no　seaman；　but　it　occurred　to　him　that　at　least　one　of　the　crew　would　be　at　the　wheel　in　this　emergency。　Probably　the　director　knew　no　better。　Indeed　the　boat；　so　far　as　could　be　discerned；　had　no　wheel。　Apparently　when　a　storm　came　up　all　hands　went　down　into　the　cabin　to　get　away　from　it。

The　storm　did　come　up　at　this　moment；　with　no　one　on　deck。　It　struck　with　the　full　force　of　a　tropic　hurricane。　The　boat　rocked；　the　wind　blew；　and　billows　swept　the　deck。　At　the　height　of　the　tempest　Beulah　Baxter　sprang　from　the　cabin　to　the　deck；　clutching　wildly　at　a　stanchion。　Buffeted　by　the　billows　she　groped　a　painful　way　along　the　side；　at　risk　of　being　swept　off　to　her　death。

She　was　followed　by　one　of　the　crew　who　held　a　murderous　knife　in　his　hand；　then　by　the　other　sailor　who　also　held　a　knife。　They；　too；　were　swept　by　the　billows；　but　seemed　grimly　determined　upon　the　death　of　the　heroine。　Then；　when　she　reached　midships　and　the　foremost　fiend　was　almost　upon　her；　the　mightiest　of　all　the　billows　descended　and　swept　her　off　into　the　cruel　waters。　Her　pursuers；　saving　themselves　only　by　great　effort；　held　to　the　rigging　and　stared　after　the　girl。　They　leaned　far　over　the　ship's　rocking　side　and　each　looked　from　under　a　spread　hand。

For　a　distressing　interval　the　heroine　battled　with　the　waves；　but　her　frail　strength　availed　her　little。　She　raised　a　despairing　face　for　an　instant　to　the　camera　and　its　agony　was　illumined。　Then　the　dread　waters　closed　above　her。　The　director's　whistle　blew；　the　waves　were　stilled；　the　tumult　ceased。　The　head　of　Beulah　Baxter　appeared　halfway　down　the　tank。　She　was　swimming　toward　the　end　where　Merton　stood。

He　had　been　thrilled　beyond　words　at　this　actual　sight　of　his　heroine　in　action；　but　now　it　seemed　that　a　new　emotion　might　overcome　him。　He　felt　faint。　Beulah　Baxter　would　issue　from　the　pool　there　at　his　feet。　He　might　speak　to　her；　might　even　help　her　to　climb　out。　At　least　no　one　else　had　appeared　to　do　this。　Seemingly　no　one　now　cared　where　Miss　Baxter　swam　to　or　whether　she　were　offered　any　assistance　in　landing。　She　swam　with　an　admirable　crawl　stroke；　reached　the　wall；　and　put　up　a　hand　to　it。　He　stepped　forward；　but　she　was　out　before　he　reached　her　side。　His　awe　had　delayed　him。　He　drew　back　then；　for　the　star；　after　vigorously　shaking　herself；　went　to　a　tall　brazier　in　which　glowed　a　charcoal　fire。

Here　he　now　noticed　for　the　first　time　the　prop…boy　Jimmie；　he　who　had　almost　certainly　defaulted　with　an　excellent　razor。　Jimmie　threw　a　blanket　about　the　star's　shoulders　as　she　hovered　above　the　glowing　coals。　Merton　had　waited　for　her　voice。　He　might　still　venture　to　speak　to　herto　tell　her　of　his　long　and　profound　admiration　for　her　art。　Her　voice　came　as　she　shivered　over　the　fire：

〃Murder！　That　water's　cold。　Rosenblatt　swore　he'd　have　it　warmed　but　I'm　here　to　say　it　wouldn't　boil　an　egg　in　four　minutes。〃

He　could　not　at　first　identify　this　voice　with　the　remembered　tones　of　Beulah　Baxter。　But　of　course　she　was　now　hoarse　with　the　cold。　Under　the　circumstances　he　could　hardly　expect　his　heroine's　own　musical　clearness。　Then　as　the　girl　spoke　again　something　stirred　among　his　more　recent　memories。　The　voice　was　still　hoarse；　but　he　placed　it　now。　He　approached　the　brazier。　It　was　undoubtedly　the　Montague　girl。　She　recognized　him；　even　as　she　squeezed　water　from　the　hair　of　wondrous　gold。

〃Hello；　again；　Kid。　You're　everywhere；　ain't　you？　Say；　wha'd　you　think　of　that　Rosenblatt　man？　Swore　he'd　put　the　steam　into　that　water　and　take　off　the　chill。　And　he　never。〃　She　threw　aside　the　blanket　and　squeezed　water　from　her　garments；　then　began　to　slap　her　legs；　arms；　and　chest。

〃Well；　I'm　getting　a　gentle　glow；　anyhow。　Wha'd　you　think　of　the　scene？〃

〃It　was　goodvery　well　done；　indeed。〃　He　hoped　it　didn't　sound　patronizing；　though　that　was　how　he　felt。　He　believed　now　that　Miss　Baxter　would　have　done　it　much　better。　He　ventured　a　question。　〃But　how　about　Miss　Baxterwhen　does　she　do　something？　Is　she　going　to　be　swept　off　the　boat；　too？〃

〃Baxter？　Into　that　water？　Quit　your　kidding！〃

〃But　isn't　she　here　at　allwon't　she　do　anything　here？〃

〃Listen　here；　Kid；　why　should　she　loaf　around　on　the　set　when　she's　paying　me　good　money　to　double　for　her？〃

〃Youdouble　for　Beulah　Baxter？〃　It　was　some　more　of　the　girl's　nonsense；　and　a　blasphemy　for　which　he　could　not　easily　forgive　her。

〃Why　not？　Ain't　I　a　good　stunt　actress？　I'll　tell　the　lot　she　hasn't　found　any　one　yet　that　can　get　away　with　her　stuff　better　than　what　I　do。〃

〃But　sheI　heard　her　say　herself　she　never　allowed　any　one　to　double　for　hershe　wouldn't　do　such　a　thing。〃

Here　sounded　a　scornful　laugh　from　Jimmie；　the　propboy。　〃Bunk！〃　said　he　at　the　laugh's　end。　〃How　long　you　been　doublin'　for　her；　Miss　Montague？　Two　years；　ain't　it？I　know　it　was　before　I　come　here；　and　I　been　on　the　lot　a　year　and　a　half。　Say；　he　ought　to　see　some　the　stuff　you　done　for　her　out　on　location；　like　jumpin'　into　the　locomotive　engine　from　your　aut