hat's all。 That's different from conceit。 You can believe a whole lot in yourself； and still be as modest as a newhatched chicken。 That's what he reminds me of； too。〃
The following morning Baird halted him outside the set on which he would work that day。 Again he had been made up by the Montague girl； with especial attention to the eyebrows so that they might show the Parmalee lift。
〃I just want to give you the general dope of the piece before you go on；〃 said Baird； in the shelter of high canvas backing。 〃You're the only son of a widowed mother and both you and she are toiling to pay off the mortgage on the little home。 You're the cashier of this business establishment； and in love with the proprietor's daughter； only she's a society girl and kind of looks down on you at first。 Then； there's her brother； the proprietor's only son。 He's the clerk in this place。 He doesn't want to work； but his father has made him learn the business； see？ He's kind of a no…good； dissipated； wears flashy clothes and plays the races and shoots craps and drinks。 You try to reform him because he's idolized by his sister that you're in love with。
〃But you can't do a thing with him。 He keeps on and gets in with a rough crowd； and finally he steals a lot of money out of the safe； and just when they are about to discover that he's the thief you see it would break his sister's heart so you take the crime on your own shoulders。 After that； just before you're going to be arrested； you make a getawaybecause； after all； you're not guiltyand you go out West to start all over again〃
〃Out there in the big open spaces？〃 suggested Merton； who had listened attentively。
〃Exactly；〃 assented Baird； with one of those nervous spasms that would now and again twitch his lips and chin。 〃Out there in the big open spaces where men are menthat's the idea。 And you build up a little gray home in the West for yourself and your poor old mother who never lost faith in you。 There'll be a lot of good Western stuff in thisBuck Benson stuff； you know； that you can do so welland the girl will get out there some way and tell you that her brother finally confessed his crime； and everything'll be Jake； see what I mean？〃
〃Yes； sir； it sounds fine； Mr。 Baird。 And I certainly will give the best that is in me to this part。〃 He had an impulse to tell the manager； too； how gratified he was that one who had been content with the low humour of the Buckeye comedies should at last have been won over to the better form of photodrama。 But Baird was leading him on to the set； there was no time for this congratulatory episode。
Indeed the impulse was swept from his mind in the novelty of the set now exposed； and in the thought that his personality was to dominate it。 The scene of the little drama's unfolding was a delicatessen shop。 Counters and shelves were arrayed with cooked foods； salads； cheeses； the latter under glass or wire protectors。 At the back was a cashier's desk； an open safe beside it。 He took his place there at Baird's direction and began to write in a ledger。
〃Now your old mother's coming to mop up the place；〃 called Baird。 〃Come on； Mother！ You look up and see her； and rush over to her。 She puts down her bucket and mop； and takes you in her arms。 She's weeping； you try to comfort her； you want her to give up mopping； and tell her you can make enough to support two； but she won't listen because there's the mortgage on the little flat to be paid off。 So you go back to the desk； stopping to give her a sad look as she gets down on the floor。 Now； try it。〃
A very old； bent； feeble woman with a pail of water and cloths tottered on。 Her dress was ragged； her white hair hung about her sad old face in disorderly strands。 She set down her bucket and raised her torn apron to her eyes。
〃Look up and see her；〃 called Baird。 〃A glad light comes into her eyes。 Rush forwardsay 'Mother' distinctly； so it'll show。 Now the clench。 You're crying on his shoulder； Mother； and he's looking down at you first； then off； about at me。 He's near crying himself。 Now he's telling you to give up mopping places； and you're telling him every little helps。
〃All right； break。 Get to mopping； Mother； but keep on crying。 He stops for a long look at you。 He seems to be saying that some day he will take you out of such work。 Now he's back at his desk。 All right。 But we'll do it once more。 And a little more pathos； Merton； when you take the old lady in your arms。 You can broaden it。 You don't actually break down； but you nearly do。〃
The scene was rehearsed again； to Baird's satisfaction； and the cameras ground。 Merton Gill gave the best that was in him。 His glad look at first beholding the old lady； the yearning of his eyes when his arms opened to enfold her； the tenderness of his embrace as he murmured soothing words； the lingering touch of his hand as he left her； the manly determination of the last look in which he showed a fresh resolve to release her from this toil； all were eloquent of the deepest filial devotion and earnestness of purpose。
Back at his desk he was genuinely pitying the old lady。 Very lately； it was evident； she had been compelled to play in a cabaret scene； for she smelled strongly of cigarettes； and he could not suppose that she； her eyes brimming with anguished mother love； could have relished these。 He was glad when it presently developed that his own was not to be a smoking part。
〃Now the dissipated brother's coming on；〃 explained Baird。 〃He'll breeze in； hang up his hat； offer you a cigarette； which you refuse； and show you some money that he won on the third race yesterday。 You follow him a little way from the desk； telling him he shouldn't smoke cigarettes； and that money he gets by gambling will never do him any good。 He laughs at you； but you don't mind。 On your way back to the desk you stop by your mother； and she gets up and embraces you again。
〃Take your time about itshe's your mother； remember。〃
The brother entered。 He was indeed dissipated appearing； loudly dressed； and already smoking a cigarette as he swaggered the length of the shop to offer Merton one。 Merton refused in a kindly but firm manner。 The flashy brother now pulled a roll of bills from his pocket and pointed to his winning horse in a racing extra。 The line in large type was there for the close…up〃Pianola Romps Home in Third Race。〃
Followed the scene in which Merton sought to show this youth that cigarettes and gambling would harm him。 The youth remained obdurate。 He seized a duster and； with ribald action； began to dust off the rows of cooked food on the counters。 Again the son stopped to embrace his mother； who again wept as she enfolded him。 The scene was shot。
Step by step； under the patient coaching of Baird； the simple drama unfolded。 It was hot beneath the lights； delays were frequent and the rehearsals tedious； yet Merton Gill continued to give the best that was in him。 As the day wore on； the dissipated son went from bad to worse。 He would leave the shop to place money on a horse race； and he would seek to induce the customers he waited on to play at dice with him。 A few of them consented； and one； a coloured man who had come to purchase pigs'…feet； won at this game all the bills which the youth had shown to Merton on entering。
There were moments during this scene when Merton wondered if Baird were not relapsing into Buckeye comedy depths； but he saw the inevitable trend of the drama and the justification for this bit of gambling。 For the son； now penniless； became desperate。 He appealed to Merton for a loan； urging it on the ground that he had a sure thing thirtyto…one shot at Latonia。 At least these were the words of Baird； as he directed Merton to deny the request and to again try to save the youth from his inevitable downfall。 Whereupon the youth had sneered at Merton and left the place in deep anger。
There followed the scene with the boy's sister； only daughter of the rich delicatessen merchant； who Merton was pleased to discover would be played by the Montague girl。 She entered in a splendid evening gown； almost too splendid； Merton thought； for street wear in daylight； though it was partially concealed by a rich opera cloak。 The brother being out； Merton came forward to wait upon her。
〃It's like this；〃 Baird explained。 〃She's just a simple New York society girl； kind of shallow and heartless； because she has never been aroused nor anything； see？ You're the first one that's really touched her heart； but she hesitates because her father expects her to marry a count and she's come to get the food for a swell banquet they're giving for him。 She says where's her brother； and if anything happened to him it would break her heart。 Then she orders what she wants and you do it up for her； looking at her all the time as if you thought she was the one girl in the world。
〃She kind of falls for you a little bit； still she is afraid of what her father would say。 Then you get bolder； see？ You come from behind the counter and begin to make love； talking as you come outso…and… so； so…and…so； so…and…soMiss Hoffmeyer； I have loved you since the day I first set eyes on youso…and…so； so…and…so； so…and…so； I have nothing to offer but the love of an honest manshe's falling for it； see？ So you get up close and grab hercave…man stuff。 Do a good hard clenchshe's yours at last； she just naturally sags right down on to you。 You've got her。
〃Do a regular Parmalee。 Take your time。 You're going to kiss her and kiss her right。 But just as you get down to it the father busts in and says what's the meaning of this； so you fly apart and the father says you're discharged； because his daughter is the affianced wife of this Count Aspirin； see？ Then he goes back to the safe and finds all the money has been taken； because the son has sneaked in and grabbed out the bundle and hid it in the ice…box on his way out； taking only a few bills to get down on a horse。 So he says call the policebut that's enough for now。 Go ahead and do that love scene for me。〃
Slowly the scene was brought to Baird's liking。 Slowly； because Merton Gill at first proved to be diffident at the crisis。 For three rehearsals the muscular arm of Miss Montague had most of the clenching to do。 He believed he was being rough and