ought out by the cowboys。 They shook hands warmly under megaphoned directions from a man back by the camera。 The rancher and his wife mingled with the group。 The girl was drawn aside by one of the cowboys。 He had a nobler presence than the others； he was handsome and his accoutrements seemed more expensive。 They looked into each other's eyes a long time； apparently pledging an eternal fidelity。 One gathered that there would have been an embrace but for the cowboy's watchful companions。 They must say good…by with a mere handshake； though this was a slow； trembling； long…drawn clasp while they steadily regarded each other； and a second camera was brought to record it at a distance of six feet。 Merton Gill thrilled with the knowledge that he was beholding his first close…up。 His long study of the photo…drama enabled him to divine that the rancher's daughter was going to Vassar College to be educated； but that； although returning a year later a poised woman of the world； she would still long for the handsome cowboy who would marry her and run the Bar…X ranch。 The scene was done。 The camera would next be turned upon a real train at some real station； while the girl； with a final look at her lover； entered a real car； which the camera would show moving off to Vassar College。 Thus conveying to millions of delighted spectators the impression that a real train had steamed out of the station； which was merely an imitation of one； on the Holden lot。 The watcher passed on。 He could hear the cheerful drone of a sawmill where logs were being cut。 He followed the sound and came to its source。 The saw was at the end of an oblong pool in which logs floated。 Workmen were poling these toward the saw。 On a raised platform at one side was a camera and a man who gave directions through a megaphone； a neighbouring platform held a second camera。 A beautiful young girl in a print dress and her thick hair in a braid came bringing Ms dinner in a tin pail to the handsomest of the actors。 He laid down his pike…pole and took both the girl's hands in his as he received the pail。 One of the other workmen； a hulking brute with an evil face； scowled darkly at this encounter and a moment later had insulted the beautiful young girl。 But the first actor felled him with a blow。 He came up from this； crouchingly； and the fight was on。 Merton was excited by this fight； even though he was in no doubt as to which actor would win it。 They fought hard； and for a time it appeared that the handsome actor must lose； for the bully who had insulted the girl was a man of great strength； but the science of the other told。 It was the first fight Merton had ever witnessed。 He thought these men must really be hating each other； so bitter were their expressions。 The battle grew fiercer。 It was splendid。 Then； at the shrill note of a whistle； the panting combatants fell apart。
〃Rotten！〃 said an annoyed voice through the megaphone。 〃Can't you boys give me a little action？ Jazz it； jazz it！ Think it's a love scene？ Go to it； nowplenty of jazzunderstand what I mean？〃 He turned to the camera man beside him。 〃Ed； you turn tenwe got to get some speed some way。 Jack〃to the other camera man〃you stay on twelve。 All ready！ Get some life into it； now； and Lafe〃this to the handsome actor〃don't keep trying to hold your front to the machine。 We'll get you all right。 Ready； now。 Camera！〃
Again the fight was on。 It went to a bitter finish in which the vanquished bully was sent with a powerful blow backward into the water； while the beautiful young girl ran to the victor and nestled in the protection of his strong arms。
Merton Gill passed on。 This was the real thing。 He would have a lot to tell Tessie Kearns in his next letter。 Beyond the sawmill he came to an immense wooden structure like a cradle on huge rockers supported by scaffolding。 From the ground he could make nothing of it； but a ladder led to the top。 An hour on the Holden lot had made him bold。 He mounted the ladder and stood on the deck of what he saw was a sea…going yacht。 Three important…looking men were surveying the deckhouse forward。 They glanced at the newcomer but with a cheering absence of curiosity or even of interest。 He sauntered past them with a polite but not…too…keen interest。 The yacht would be an expensive one。 The deck fittings were elaborate。 A glance into the captain's cabin revealed it to be fully furnished； with a chart and a sextant on the mahogany desk。
〃Where's the bedding for this stateroom？〃 asked one of the men。
〃I got a prop…rustler after it；〃 one of the others informed him。
They strolled aft and paused by an iron standard ingeniously swung from the deck。
〃That's Burke's idea；〃 said one of the men。 〃I hadn't thought about a steady support for the camera； of course if we stood it on deck it would rock when the ship rocked and we'd get no motion。 So Burke figures this out。 The camera is on here and swings by that weight so it's always straight and the rocking registers。 Pretty neat； what？〃
〃That was nothing to think of〃 said one of the other men； in apparent disparagement。 〃I thought of it myself the minute I saw it。〃 The other two grinned at this； though Merton Gill； standing by； saw nothing to laugh at。 He thought the speaker was pretty cheeky； for of course any one could think of this device after seeing it。 He paused for a final survey of his surroundings from this elevation。 He could see the real falseness of the sawmill he had just left； he could also look into the exposed rear of the railway station； and could observe beyond it the exposed skeleton of that New York street。 He was surrounded by mockeries。
He clambered down the ladder and sauntered back to the street of offices。 He was by this time confident that no one was going to ask him what right he had in there。 Now； too； he became conscious of hunger and at the same moment caught the sign 〃Cafeteria〃 over a neat building hitherto unnoticed。 People were entering this； many of them in costume。 He went idly toward the door； glanced up； looked at his watch； and became； to any one curious about him； a man who had that moment decided he might as well have a little food。 He opened the screen door of the cafeteria； half expecting it to prove one of those structures equipped only with a front。 But the cafeteria was practicable。 The floor was crowded with little square polished tables at which many people were eating。 A railing along the side of the room made a passage to the back where food was served from a counter to the proffered tray。 He fell into line。 No one had asked him how he dared try to eat with real actors and actresses and apparently no one was going to。 Toward the end of the passage was a table holding trays and napkins the latter wrapped about an equipment of cutlery。 He took his tray and received at the counter the foods he designated。 He went through this ordeal with difficulty because it was not easy to keep from staring about at other patrons。 Constantly he was detecting some remembered face。 But at last； with his laden tray he reached a vacant table near the centre of the room and took his seat。 He absently arranged the food before him。 He could stare at leisure now。 All about him were the strongly marked faces of the film people； heavy with makeup； interspersed with hungry civilians； who might be producers； directors； camera men； or mere artisans； for the democracy of the cafeteria seemed ideal。
At the table ahead of his he recognized the man who had been annoyed one day by the silly question of the Montague girl。 They had said he was a very important director。 He still looked important and intensely serious。 He was a short； very plump man； with pale cheeks under dark brows； and troubled looking gray hair。 He was very seriously explaining something to the man who sat with him and whom he addressed as Governor； a merry…looking person with a stubby gray mustache and little hair； who seemed not too attentive to the director。
〃You see； Governor； it's this way： the party is lost on the desert understand what I meanand Kempton Ward and the girl stumble into this deserted tomb just at nightfall。 Now here's where the big kick comes〃
Merton Gill ceased to listen for there now halted at his table； bearing a laden tray； none other than the Montague girl； she of the slangy talk and the regrettably free manner。 She put down her tray and seated herself before it。 She had not asked permission of the table's other occupant； indeed she had not even glanced at him； for cafeteria etiquette is not rigorous。 He saw that she was heavily made up and in the costume of a gypsy； he thought； a short vivid skirt； a gay waist； heavy gold hoops in her ears； and dark hair massed about her small head。 He remembered that this would not be her own hair。 She fell at once to her food。 The men at the next table glanced at her； the director without cordiality； but the other man smiled upon her cheerfully。
〃Hello； Flips！ How's the girl？〃
〃Everything's jake with me； Governor。 How's things over at your shop？〃
〃So； so。 I see you're working。〃
〃Only for two days。 I'm just atmosphere in this piece。 I got some real stuff coming along pretty soon for Baxter。 Got to climb down ten stories of a hotel elevator cable； and ride a brake…beam and be pushed off a cliff and thrown to the lions； and a few other little things。〃
〃That's good； Flips。 Come in and see me some time。 Have a little chat。 Ma working？〃
〃Yeahgot a character bit with Charlotte King in Her Other Husband。〃 〃Glad to hear it。 How's Pa Montague？〃
〃Pa's in bed。 They've signed him for Camillia of the Cumberlands； providing he raises a brush； and just now it ain't long enough for whiskers and too long for anything else； so he's putterin' around with his new still。〃
〃Well； drop over sometime； Flips； I'm keeping you in mind。〃
〃Thanks； Governor。 Say〃 Merton glanced up in time to see her wink broadly at the man； and look toward his companion who still seriously made notes on the back of an envelope。 The man's face melted to a grin which he quickly erased。 The girl began again：
〃Mr。 Henshawcould you give me just a moment； Mr。 Henshaw？〃 The serious director looked up in quite frank annoyance。
〃Yes； yes； what is it； Miss Montague？〃
〃Well； listen； Mr。 Henshaw； I got a great idea fo