merton of the movies-第42章
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me the stuff you done for her out on location； like jumpin' into the locomotive engine from your auto and catchin' the brake beams when the train's movin'； and goin' across that quarry on the cable； and ridin' down that lumber flume sixty miles per hour and ridin' some them outlaw buckjumpershe'd ought to seen some that stuff； hey； Miss Montague？〃
〃That's right； Jimmie； you tell him all about me。 I hate to talk of myself。〃 Very wonderfully Merton Gill divined that this was said with a humorous intention。 Jimmy was less sensitive to values。 He began to obey。
〃Well； I dunnothere's that motorcycle stuff。 Purty good； I'll say。 I wouldn't try that； no； sir； not for a cool million dollars。 And that chase stuff on the roofs down town where you jumped across that court that wasn't any too darned narrow； an' say； I wisht I could skin up a tree the way you can。 An' there was that time〃
〃All right； all right； Jimmie。 I can tell him the rest sometime。 I don't really hate to talk about myselfthat's on the level。 And say； listen here； Jimmie； you're my favourite sweetheart； ain't you？〃
〃Yes； ma'am；〃 assented Jimmie； warmly。 〃All right。 Beat it up and get me about two quarts of that hot coffee and about four ham sandwiches； two for you and two for me。 That's a good kid。〃
〃Sure！〃 exclaimed Jimmie； and was off。
Merton Gill had been dazed by these revelations； by the swift and utter destruction of his loftiest ideal。 He hardly cared to know； now； if Beulah Baxter were married。 It was the Montague girl who had most thrilled him for two years。 Yet； almost as if from habit； he heard himself asking； 〃Isdo you happen to know if Beulah Baxter is married？〃
〃Baxter married？ Sure！ I should think you'd know it from the way that Sig Rosenblatt bawls everybody out。〃
〃Who is he？〃
〃Who is he？ Why； he's her husband； of coursehe's Mr。 Beulah Baxter。〃
〃That little director up on the platform that yells so？〃 This unspeakable person to be actually the husband of the wonder…woman； the man he had supposed she must find intolerable even as a director。 It was unthinkable； more horrible； somehow； than her employment of a double。 In time he might have forgiven thatbut this！
〃Sure； that's her honest…to…God husband。 And he's the best one out of three that I know she's had。 Sig's a good scout even if he don't look like Buffalo Bill。 In fact； he's all right in spite of his rough ways。 He'd go farther for you than most of the men on this lot。 If I wanted a favour I'd go to Sig before a lot of Christians I happen to know。 And he's a bully director if he is noisy。 Baxter's crazy about him； too。 Don't make any mistake there。〃
〃I won't；〃 he answered； not knowing what he said。
She shot him a new look。 〃Say； Kid； as long as we're talking； you seem kind of up against it。 Where's your overcoat a night like this； and when did you last〃
〃Miss Montague！ Miss Montague！〃 The director was calling。
〃Excuse me；〃 she said。 〃I got to go entertain the white folks again。〃 She tucked up the folds of her blanket and sped around the pool to disappear in the mazes of the scaffolding。 He remained a moment staring dully into the now quiet water。 Then he walked swiftly away。
Beulah Baxter； his wonder…woman； had deceived her public in Peoria； Illinois； by word of mouth。 She employed a double at critical junctures。 〃She'd be a fool not to；〃 the Montague girl had said。 And in private life； having been unhappily wed twice before； she was Mrs。 Sigmund Rosenblatt。 And crazy about her husband！
A little while ago he had felt glad he was not to die of starvation before seeing his wonder…woman。 Reeling under the first shock of his discoveries he was now sorry。 Beulah Baxter was no longer his wonder…woman。 She was Mr。 Rosenblatt's。 He would have preferred death； he thought； before this heart…withering revelation。
CHAPTER XI
THE MONTAGUE GIRL INTERVENES
He came to life the next morning； shivering under his blankets。 It must be cold outside。 He glanced at his watch and reached for another blanket； throwing it over himself and tucking it in at the foot。 Then he lay down again to screen a tense bit of action that had occurred late the night before。 He had plunged through the streets for an hour； after leaving the pool； striving to recover from the twin shocks he had suffered。 Then； returning to his hotel； he became aware that The Hazards of Hortense were still on。 He could hear the roar of the aeroplane propeller and see the lights over the low buildings that lined his street。
Miserably he was drawn back to the spot where the most important of all his visions had been rent to tatters。 He went to the end of the pool where he had stood before。 Mr。 Rosenblatt…hardly could he bring his mind to utter the hideous syllables…was still dissatisfied with the sea's might。 He wanted bigger billows and meant to have them if the company stayed on the set all night。 He was saying as much with peevish inflections。 Merton stood warming himself over the fire that still glowed in the brazier。
To him from somewhere beyond the scaffold came now the Montague girl and Jimmie。 The girl was in her blanket； and Jimmie bore a pitcher； two tin cups； and a package of sandwiches。 They came to the fire and Jimmie poured coffee for the girl。 He produced sugar from a pocket。
〃Help yourself； James；〃 said the girl； and Jimmie poured coffee for himself。 They ate sandwiches as they drank。 Merton drew a little back from the fire。 The scent of the hot coffee threatened to make him forget he was not only a successful screen actor but a gentleman。
〃Did you have to do it again？〃 he asked。
〃I had to do it twice again；〃 said the girl from over her tin cup。 〃They're developing the strips now； then they'll run them in the projection room； and they won't suit Sig one little bit； and I'll have to do it some more。 I'll be swimming here till daylight doth appear。〃
She now shot that familiar glance of appraisal at Merton。 〃Have a sandwich and some coffee； Kid…give him your cup； Jimmie。〃
It was Merton Gill's great moment； a heart…gripping climax to a two… days' drama that had at no time lacked tension。 Superbly he arose to it。 Consecrated to his art； Clifford Armytage gave the public something better and finer。 He drew himself up and spoke lightly； clearly； with careless ease：
〃No； thanks…I couldn't eat a mouthful。〃 The smile with which he accompanied the simple words might be enigmatic； it might hint of secret sorrows； but it was plain enough that these could not ever so distantly relate to a need for food。
Having achieved this sensational triumph； with all the quietness of method that should distinguish the true artist； he became seized with stage fright amounting almost to panic。 He was moved to snatch the sandwich that Jimmie now proffered； the cup that he had refilled with coffee。 Yet there was but a moment of confusion。 Again he wielded an iron restraint。 But he must leave the stage。 He could not tarry there after his big scene； especially under that piercing glance of the girl。 Somehow there was incredulity in it。
〃Well； I guess I'll have to be going；〃 he remarked jauntily； and turned for his exit。
〃Say； Kid。〃 The girl halted him a dozen feet away。
〃Say； listen here。 This is on the level。 I want to have a talk with you to…morrow。 You'll be on the lot； won't you？〃
He seemed to debate this momentarily； then replied； 〃Oh； yes。 I'll be around here somewhere。〃 〃Well； remember； now。 If I don't run into you； you come down to that set where I was working to…day。 See？ I got something to say to you。〃
〃All right。 I'll probably see you sometime during the day。〃
He had gone on to his hotel。 But he had no intention of seeing the Montague girl on the morrow； nor of being seen by her。 He would keep out of that girl's way whatever else he did。 She would ask him if everything was jake； and where was his overcoat； and a lot of silly questions about matters that should not concern her。
He was in two minds about the girl now。 Beneath an unreasonable but very genuine resentment that she should have doubled for Beulah Baxter…as if she had basely cheated him of his most cherished ideal… there ran an undercurrent of reluctant but very profound admiration for her prowess。 She ha
