merton of the movies-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


of　merit。〃

〃I　should　think　it　wouldn't！〃　said　Merton　warmly。

He　knew　Passion's　Perils。　A　company　might　have　no　immediate　need　for　it；　but　its　rejection　could　not　possibly　imply　a　lack　of　merit；　because　the　merit　was　there。　No　one　could　dispute　that。

They　walked　on　to　the　Bijou　Palace。　Its　front　was　dark；　for　only　twice　a　week；　on　Tuesdays　and　Saturdays；　could　Simsbury　muster　a　picture　audience；　but　they　could　read　the　bills　for　the　following　night。　The　entrance　was　flanked　on　either　side　by　billboards；　and　they　stopped　before　the　first。　Merton　Gill's　heart　quickened　its　beats；　for　there　was　billed　none　other　than　Beulah　Baxter　in　the　ninth　installment　of　her　tremendous　serial；　The　Hazards　of　Hortense。

It　was　going　to　be　good！　It　almost　seemed　that　this　time　the　scoundrels　would　surely　get　Hortense。　She　was　speeding　across　a　vast　open　quarry　in　a　bucket　attached　to　a　cable；　and　one　of　the　scoundrels　with　an　ax　was　viciously　hacking　at　the　cable's　farther　anchorage。　It　would　be　a　miracle　if　he　did　not　succeed　in　his　hellish　design　to　dash　Hortense　to　the　cruel　rocks　below。　Merton；　of　course；　had　not　a　moment's　doubt　that　the　miracle　would　intervene；　he　had　seen　other　serials。　So　he　made　no　comment　upon　the　gravity　of　the　situation；　but　went　at　once　to　the　heart　of　his　ecstasy。

〃The　most　beautiful　woman　on　the　screen；〃　he　murmured。

〃Well；　I　don't　know。〃

Miss　Kearns　appeared　about　to　advance　the　claims　of　rival　beauties；　but　desisted　when　she　saw　that　Merton　was　firm。

〃None　of　the　rest　can　touch　her；〃　he　maintained。　〃And　look　at　her　nerve！　Would　your　others　have　as　much　nerve　as　that？〃

〃Maybe　she　has　someone　to　double　in　those　places；〃　suggested　the　screen…wise　Tessie　Kearns。

〃Not　Beulah　Baxter。　Didn't　I　see　her　personal　appearance　that　time　I　went　to　Peoria　last　spring　on　purpose　to　see　it？　Didn't　she　talk　about　the　risks　she　look　and　how　the　directors　were　always　begging　her　to　use　a　double　and　how　her　artistic　convictions　wouldn't　let　her　do　any　such　thing？　You　can　bet　the　little　girl　is　right　there　in　every　scene！〃

They　passed　to　the　other　billboard。　This　would　be　the　comedy。　A　painfully　cross…eyed　man　in　misfitting　clothes　was　doing　something　supposed　to　be　funnypushing　a　lawn　mower　over　the　carpet　of　a　palatial　home。

〃How　disgusting！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Kearns。

〃Ain't　it？〃　said　Merton。　〃How　they　can　have　one　of　those　terrible　things　on　the　same　bill　with　Miss　BaxterI　can't　understand　it。〃

〃Those　censors　ought　to　suppress　this　sort　of　buffoonery　instead　of　scenes　of　dignified　passion　like　they　did　in　Scarlet　Sin；〃　declared　Tessie。　〃Did　you　read　about　that？〃

〃They　sure　ought；〃　agreed　Merton。　〃These　comedies　make　me　tired。　I　never　see　one　if　I　can　help　it。〃

Walking　on；　they　discussed　the　wretched　public　taste　and　the　wretched　actors　that　pandered　to　it。　The　slap…stick　comedy；　they　held；　degraded　a　fine　and　beautiful　art。　Merton　was　especially　severe。　He　always　felt　uncomfortable　at　one　of　these　regrettable　exhibitions　when　people　about　him　who　knew　no　better　laughed　heartily。　He　had　never　seen　anything　to　laugh　at；　and　said　as　much。

They　crossed　the　street　and　paused　at　the　door　of　Miss　Kearns'　shop；　behind　which　were　her　living　rooms。　She　would　to…night　go　over　Passion's　Perils　once　more　and　send　it　to　another　company。

〃I　wonder；〃　she　said　to　Merton；　〃if　they　keep　sending　it　back　because　the　sets　are　too　expensive。　Of　course　there's　the　one　where　the　dissipated　English　nobleman；　Count　Blessingham；　lures　Valerie　into　Westminster　Abbey　for　his　own　evil　purposes　on　the　night　of　the　old　earl's　murderthat's　expensivebut　they　get　a　chance　to　use　it　again　when　Valerie　is　led　to　the　altar　by　young　Lord　Stonecliff；　the　rightful　heir。　And　of　course　Stonecliff　Manor；　where　Valerie　is　first　seen　as　governess；　would　be　expensive；　but　they　use　that　in　a　lot　of　scenes；　too。　Still；　maybe　I　might　change　the　locations　around　to　something　they've　got　built。〃

〃I　wouldn't　change　a　line；〃　said　Merton。　〃Don't　give　in　to　'em。　Make　'em　take　it　as　it　is。　They　might　ruin　your　picture　with　cheap　stuff。〃

〃Well；〃　the　authoress　debated；　〃maybe　I'll　leave　it。　I'd　especially　hate　to　give　up　Westminster　Abbey。　Of　course　the　scene　where　she　is　struggling　with　Count　Blessingham　might　easily　be　made　offensive　it's　a　strong　scenebut　it　all　comes　right。　You　remember　she　wrenches　herself　loose　from　his　grasp　and　rushes　to　throw　herself　before　the　altar；　which　suddenly　lights　up；　and　the　scoundrel　is　afraid　to　pursue　her　there；　because　he　had　a　thorough　religious　training　when　a　boy　at　Oxford；　and　he　feels　it　would　be　sacrilegious　to　seize　her　again　while　the　light　from　the　altar　shines　upon　her　that　way；　and　so　she's　saved　for　the　time　being。　It　seems　kind　of　a　shame　not　to　use　Westminster　Abbey　for　a　really　big　scene　like　that；　don't　you　think？〃

〃I　should　say　so！〃　agreed　Merton　warmly。　〃They　build　plenty　of　sets　as　big　as　that。　Keep　it　in！〃

〃Well；　I'll　take　your　advice。　And　I　shan't　give　up　trying　with　my　other　ones。　And　I'm　writing　to　another　set　of　peoplesee　here。〃　She　took　from　her　handbag　a　clipped　advertisement　which　she　read　to　Merton　in　the　fading　light；　holding　it　close　to　her　keen　little　eyes。　〃Listen！　'Five　thousand　photoplay　ideas　needed。　Working　girl　paid　ten　thousand　dollars　for　ideas　she　had　thought　worthless。　Yours　may　be　worth　more。　Experience　unnecessary。　Information　free。　Producers'　League　562；　Piqua；　Ohio。'　Doesn't　that　sound　encouraging？　And　it　isn't　as　if　I　didn't　have　some　experience。　I've　been　writing　scenarios　for　two　years　now。〃

〃We　both　got　to　be　patient；〃　he　pointed　out。　〃We　can't　succeed　all　at　once；　just　remember　that。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　patient；　and　I'm　determined；　and　I　know　you　are；　too；　Merton。　But　the　way　my　things　keep　coming　backwell；　I　guess　we'd　both　get　discouraged　if　it　wasn't　for　our　sense　of　humour。〃

〃I　bet　we　would；〃　agreed　Merton。　〃And　good…night！〃

He　went　on　to　the　Gashwiler　Emporium　and　let　himself　into　the　dark　store。　At　the　moment　he　was　bewailing　that　the　next　installment　of　The　Hazards　of　Hortense　would　be　shown　on　a　Saturday　night；　for　on　those　nights　the　store　kept　open　until　nine　and　he　could　see　it　but　once。　On　a　Tuesday　night　he　would　have　watched　it　twice；　in　spite　of　the　so…called　comedy　unjustly　sharing　the　bill　with　it。

Lighting　a　match；　he　made　his　way　through　the　silent　store；　through　the　stock　room　that　had　so　lately　been　the　foul　lair　of　Snake　le　Vasquez；　and　into　his　own　personal　domain；　a　square　partitioned　off　from　the　stockroom　in　which　were　his　cot；　the　table　at　which　he　studied　the　art　of　screen　acting；　and　his　other　little　belongings。　He　often　called　this　his　den。　He　lighted　a　lamp　on　the　table　and　drew　the　chair　up　to　it。

On　the　boards　of　the　partition　in　front　of　him　were　pasted　many　presentments　of　his　favourite　screen　actress；　Beulah　Baxter；　as　she　underwent　the　nerve…racking　Hazards　of　Hortense。　The　intrepid　girl　was　seen　leaping　from　the　seat　of　her　high…powered　car　to　the　cab　of　a　passing　locomotive；　her　chagrined　pursuers　in　the　distant　background。　She　sprang　from　a　high　cliff　into　the　chill　waters　of　a　storm…tossed　sea。　Bound　to　the　back　of　a　spirited　horse；　she　was　raced　down　the　steep　slope　of　a　rocky　ravine　in　the　Far　West。　Alone　in　a　foul　den　of　the　underworld　she　held　at　bay　a　dozen　villainous　Asiatics。　Down　the　fire　escape　of　a　great　New　York　hotel　she　made　a　perilous　way。　From　the　shrouds　of　a　tossing　ship　she　was　about　to　plunge　to　a　watery　release　from　the　persecutor　who　was　almost　upon　her。　Upon　the　roof　of　the　Fifth　Avenue　mansion　of　her　scoundrelly　guardian　in　the　great　city　of　New　York　she　was　gaining　the　friendly　projection　of　a　cornice　from　which　she　could　leap　and　again　escape　deatheven　a　fate　worse　than　death；　for　the　girl　was　pursued　from　all　sorts　of　base　motives。　This　time；　friendless　and　alone　in　profligate　New　York；　she　would　leap　from　the　cornice　to　the　branches　of　the　great　eucalyptus　tree　that　grew　hard　by。　Unnerving　performances　like　these　were　a　constant　inspiration　to　Merton　Gill。　He　knew　that　he　was　not　yet　fit　to　act　in　such　scenesto　appear　opportunely　in　the　last　reel　of　each　installment　and　save　Hortense　for　the　next　one。　But　he　was　confident　a　day　would　come。

On　the　same　wall　he　faced　also　a　series　of　photographs　of　himself。　These　were　stills　to　be　one　day　shown　to　a　director　who　would　thereupon　perceive　his　screen　merits。　There　was　Merton　in　the　natty　belted　coat；　with　his　hair　slicked　back　in　the　approved　mode　and　a　smile　upon　his　face；　a　happy；　careless　college　youth。　There　was　Merton　in　tennis　flannels；　his　hair　nicely　disarranged；　jauntily　holding　a　borrowed　racquet。　Here　he　was　in　a　trench　coat　and　the　cap　of　a　lieutenant；　grim　of　face；　the　jaw　set；　holding　a　revolver　upon　someone　unpictured；　there　in　a　wide…collared　sport　shirt　lolling　negligently　upon　a　bench　after　a　hard　game　of　polo　or　something。　Again　he　appeared　in　evening　dress；　two　straightened　fingers　resting　against　his　left　temple。　Underneath　this　was　written　in　a　running；　angular；　distinguished　hand；　〃Very　truly　yours；　Clifford　Armytage。〃　This；　and　prints　of　it　similarly　inscribed；　would　one　day　go　to　unknown　admirers　who　besought　him　for　likenesses　of　himself。

But　Merton　lost　no　time　in　scanning　these　pictorial　triumphs。　He　was　turning　the　pages　of　the　magazines　he　had　brought；　his　first　hasty　search　being　for　new　photographs　of　his　heroine。　He　was　quickly　rewarded。　Silver　Screenings　proffered　some　fresh　views　of　Beulah　Baxter；　not　in　dangerous　moments；　but　revealing　certain　quieter　aspects　of　her　wondrous　life。　In　her　kitchen；　apron　clad；　she　stirred　something。　In　her　lofty　music　room　she　was　seated　at　her　piano。　In　her　charming　library　she　was　shown　〃Among　Her　Books。〃　More　charmingly　she　was　portrayed　with　her　beautiful　arms　about　the　shoulders　of　her　dear　old　mother。　And　these　accompanied　an　interview　with　the　actress。

The　writer；　one　Esther　Schwarz；　professed　the　liveliest　trepidation　at　first　meeting　the　screen　idol；　but　was　swiftly　reassured　by　the　unaffected　cordiality　of　her　reception。　She　found　that　success　had　not　spoiled　Miss　Baxter。　A　sincere　artist；　she　yet　absolutely　lacked　the　usual　temperament　and　mannerisms。　She　seemed　more　determined　than　ever　to　give　the　public　something　better　and　finer。　Her　splendid　dignity；　reserve；　humanness；　high　ideals；　and　patient　study　of　her　art　had　but　mellowed；　not　hardened；　a　gracious　personality。　Merton　Gill　received　these　assurances　without　surprise。　He　knew　Beulah　Baxter　would　prove　to　be　these　delightful　things。　He　read　on　for　the　more　exciting　bits。

〃I'm　so　interested　in　my　work；〃　prettily　observed　Miss　Baxter　to　the　interviewer；　〃suppose　we　talk　only　of　that。　Leave　out　all　the　rest　my　Beverly　Hills　home；　my　cars；　my　jewels；　my　Paris　gowns；　my　dogs；　my　servants；　my　recreations。　It　is　work　alone　that　counts；　don't　you　think？　We　must　learn　that　success；　all　that　is　beautiful　and　fine；　requires　work；　infinite　work　and　struggle。　The　beautiful　comes　only　through　suffering　and　sacrifice。　And　of　course　dramatic　work　broadens　a　girl's　viewpoint；　helps　her　to　get　the　real；　the　worthwhile　things　out　of　life；　enriching　her　nature　with　the　emotional　experience　of　her　roles。　It　is　through　such　pressure　that　we　grow；　and　we　must　grow；　must　we　not？　One　must　strive　for　the　ideal；　for　the