merton of the movies- 第49部分

The　scoundrel　left　with　a　final　menacing　wave　of　his　gnarled　hand；　left　the　group　facing　ruin　unless　the　invention　could　be　perfected；　unless　Mother　could　sell　an　extraordinary　quantity　of　fruit　or　improved　grape　juice　to　the　city　folks；　or；　indeed；　unless　the　little　sister　could　do　something　wonderful。

She；　it　now　seemed；　was　confident　she　also　could　help。　She　stood　apart　from　them　and　prettily　promised　to　do　something　wonderful。　She　asked　them　to　remember　that　she　was　no　longer　a　mere　girl；　but　a　woman　with　a　woman's　determination。　They　both　patted　the　little　thing　encouragingly　on　the　back。

The　interiors　possible　on　the　Holden　lot　having　been　finished；　they　motored　each　day　to　a　remote　edge　of　the　city　where　outside　locations　had　been　found　for　the　humble　farmhouse　and　the　grand　hotel。　The　farmhouse　was　excellently　chosen；　Merton　thought；　being　the　neat；　unpretentious　abode　of　honest；　hard…working　people；　but　the　hotel；　some　distance　off；　was　not　so　grand；　he　thought；　as　Baird's　new　play　seemed　to　demand。　It　was　plainly　a　hotel；　a　wooden　structure　with　balconies；　but　it　seemed　hardly　to　afford　those　attractions　that　would　draw　wealthier　element　from　New　York。　He　forebore　to　warn　Baird　of　this；　however；　fearing　to　discourage　a　manager　who　was　honestly　striving　for　the　serious　in　photodrama。

His　first　exterior　scene　saw　him；　with　the　help　of　Mother　and　little　sister；　loading　the　one　poor　motor　car　which　the　family　possessed　with　Mother's　products。　These　were　then　driven　to　the　hotel。　The　Montague　girl　drove　the　car；　and　scenes　of　it　in　motion　were　shot　from　a　car　that　preceded　them。

They　arrived　before　the　hotel；　Merton　was　directed　to　take　from　the　car　an　iron　weight　attached　to　a　rope　and　running　to　a　connection　forward　on　the　hood。　He　was　to　throw　the　weight　to　the　ground；　plainly　with　the　notion　that　he　would　thus　prevent　the　car　from　running　away。　The　simple　device　was；　in　fact；　similar　to　that　used；　at　Gashwiler's　strict　orders；　on　the　delivery　wagon　back　in　Simsbury；　for　Gashwiler　had　believed　that　Dexter　would　run　away　if　untethered。　But　of　course　it　was　absurd；　Merton　saw；　to　anchor　a　motor　car　in　such　a　manner；　and　he　was　somewhat　taken　aback　when　Baird　directed　this　action。

〃It's　all　right；〃　Baird　assured　him。　〃You're　a　simple　country　boy；　and　don't　know　any　better；　so　do　it　plumb　serious。　You'll　be　smart　enough　before　the　show's　over。　Go　ahead；　get　out；　grab　the　weight；　throw　it　down；　and　don't　look　at　it　again；　as　if　you　did　this　every　time。　That's　it。　You're　not　being　funny；　just　a　simple　country　boy　like　Wayne　was　at　first。〃　He　performed　the　action；　still　with　some　slight　misgiving。　Followed　scenes　of　brother　and　sister　offering　Mother's　wares　to　the　city　folks　idling　on　the　porch　of　the　hotel。　Each　bearing　a　basket　they　were　caught　submitting　the　jellies　and　jams。　The　brother　was　laughed　at；　even　sneered　at；　by　the　supercilious　rich；　the　handsomely　gowned　women　and　the　dissipated　looking　men。　No　one　appeared　to　wish　his　jellies。

The　little　sister　had　better　luck。　The　women　turned　from　her；　but　the　men　gathered　about　her　and　quickly　bought　out　the　stock。　She　went　to　the　car　for　more　and　the　men　followed　her。　To　Merton；　who　watched　these　scenes；　the　dramatist's　intention　was　plain。　These　men　did　not　really　care　for　jellies　and　jams；　they　were　attracted　solely　by　the　wild…rose　beauty　of　the　little　country　girl。　And　they　were　plainly　the　sort　of　men　whose　attentions　could　mean　no　good　to　such　as　she。

Left　on　the　porch；　he　was　now　directed　to　approach　a　distinguished　looking　old　gentleman；　probably　a　banker　and　a　power　in　Wall　Street；　who　read　his　morning　papers。　Timidly　he　stood　before　this　person；　thrusting　forward　his　basket。　The　old　gentleman　glanced　up　in　annoyance　and　brutally　rebuffed　the　country　boy　with　an　angry　flourish　of　the　paper　he　read。

〃You're　hurt　by　this　treatment；〃　called　Baird；　〃and　almost　discouraged。　You　look　back　over　your　shoulder　to　where　sister　is　doing　a　good　business　with　her　stuff；　and　you　see　the　old　mother　back　in　her　kitchen；　working　her　fingers　to　the　bonewe'll　have　a　flash　of　that；　see？and　you　try　again。　Take　out　that　bottle　in　the　corner　of　the　basket；　uncork　it；　and　try　again。　The　old　man　looks　up…he's　smelled　something。　You　hold　the　bottle　toward　him　and　you're　saying　so…and…so；　so…and…so；　so…and…so；　'Oh；　Mister；　if　you　knew　how　hard　my　poor　old　mother　works　to　make　this　stuff！　Won't　you　please　take　a　little　taste　of　her　improved　grape　juice　and　see　if　you　don't　want　to　buy　a　few　shillings'　worth'so…and…so；　so…and…so；　so…and…　sosee　what　I　mean？　That's　it；　look　pleading。　Think　how　the　little　home　depends　on　it。〃

The　old　gentleman；　first　so　rude；　consented　to　taste　the　improved　grape　juice。　He　put　the　bottle　to　his　lips　and　tilted　it。　A　camera　was　brought　up　to　record　closely　the　look　of　pleased　astonishment　that　enlivened　his　face。　He　arose　to　his　feet；　tilted　the　bottle　again；　this　time　drinking　abundantly。　He　smacked　his　lips　with　relish；　glanced　furtively　at　the　group　of　women　in　the　background；　caught　the　country　boy　by　a　sleeve　and　drew　him　farther　along　the　porch。

〃He's　telling　you　what　fine　stuff　this　grape　juice　is；〃　explained　Baird；　〃saying　that　your　mother　must　be　a　wonderful　old　lady；　and　he'll　drop　over　to　meet　her；　and　in　the　meantime　he　wants　you　to　bring　him　all　this　grape　juice　she　has。　He'll　take　it；　she　can　name　her　own　price。　He　hands　you　a　ten　dollar　bill　for　the　bottle　he　has　and　for　another　in　the　basketthat's　it；　give　it　to　him。　The　rest　of　the　bottles　are　jams　or　something。　You　want　him　to　take　them；　but　he　pushes　them　back。　He's　saying　he　wants　the　improved　grape　juice　or　nothing。　He　shows　a　big　wad　of　bills　to　show　he　can　pay　for　it。　You　look　glad　nowthe　little　home　may　be　saved　after　all。〃

The　scene　was　shot。　Merton　felt　that　he　carried　it　acceptably。　He　had　shown　the　diffident　pleading　of　the　country　boy　that　his　mother's　product　should　be　at　least　tasted；　his　frank　rejoicing　when　the　old　gentleman　approved　of　it。　He　was　not　so　well　satisfied　with　the　work　of　the　Montague　girl　as　his　innocent　little　sister。　In　her　sale　of　Mother's　jellies　to　the　city　men；　in　her　acceptance　of　their　attentions；　she　appeared　to　be　just　the　least　bit　bold。　It　seemed　almost　as　if　she　wished　to　attract　their　notice。　He　hesitated　to　admit　it；　for　he　profoundly　esteemed　the　girl；　but　there　were　even　moments　when；　in　technical　language；　she　actually　seemed　to　〃vamp〃　these　creatures　who　thronged　about　her　to　profess　for　her　jams　and　jellies　an　interest　he　was　sure　they　did　not　feel。

He　wondered　if　Baird　had　made　it　plain　to　her　that　she　was　a　very　innocent　little　country　girl　who　should　be　unpleasantly　affected　by　these　advances。　The　scene　he　watched　shot　where　the　little　sister　climbed　back　into　the　motor　car；　leered　at　by　the　four　New　York　club…men；　he　thought　especially　distasteful。　Surely　the　skirt　of　her　print　dress　was　already　short　enough。　She　needed　not　to　lift　it　under　this　evil　regard　as　she　put　her　foot　up　to　the　step。

It　was　on　the　porch　of　the　hotel；　too；　that　he　was　to　have　his　first　scene　with　the　New　York　society　girl　whose　hand　he　won。　She　proved　to　be　the　daughter　of　the　old　gentleman　who　liked　the　improved　grape　juice。　As　Baird　had　intimated；　she　was　a　large　girl；　not　only　tall　and　stoutly　built；　but　somewhat　heavy　of　face。　Baird's　heart　must　have　been　touched　indeed　when　he　consented　to　employ　her；　but　Merton　remembered　her　bedridden　father　and　mother；　the　little　crippled　brother；　the　little　sister　who　was　also　in　poor　health；　and　resolved　to　make　their　scenes　together　as　easy　for　her　as　he　could。

At　their　first　encounter　she　appeared　in　a　mannish　coat　and　riding　breeches；　though　she　looked　every　inch　a　woman　in　this　attire。

〃She　sees　you；　and　it's　a　case　of　love　at　first　sight　on　her　part；〃　explained　Baird。　〃And　you　love　her；　too；　only　you're　a　bashful　country　boy　and　can't　show　it　the　way　she　can。　Try　out　a　little　first　scene　now。〃

Merton　stood；　his　basket　on　his　arm；　as　the　girl　approached　him。　〃Look　down；〃　called　Baird；　and　Merton　lowered　his　gaze　under　the　ardent　regard　of　the　social　butterfly。　She　tossed　away　her　cigarette　and　came　nearer。　Then　she　mischievously　pinched　his　cheek　as　the　New　York　men　had　pinched　his　little　sister's。　Having　done　this；　she　placed　her　hand　beneath　his　chin　and　raised　his　face　to　hers。

〃Now　look　up　at　her；〃　called　Baird。　〃But　she　frightens　you。　Remember　your　country　raising。　You　never　saw　a　society　girl　before。　That's　itlook　frightened　while　she's　admiring　you　in　that　bold　way。　Now　turn　a　little　and　look　down　again。　Pinch　his　cheek　once　more；　Lulu。　Now；　Merton；　look　up　and　smile；　but　kind　of　scaredyou're　still　afraid　of　herand　offer　her　a　bottle　of　Ma's　preserves。　Step　back　a　little　as　you　do　it；　because　you're　kind　of　afraid　of　what　she　might　do　next。　That's　fine。　Good　work；　both　of　you。〃

He　was　glad　for　the　girl's　sake　that　Baird　had　approved　the　work　of　both。　He　had　been　afraid　she　was　overdoing　the　New　York　society　manner　in　the　boldness　of　her　advances　to　him；　but　of　course　Baird　would　know。

His　conscience　hurt　him　a　little　when　the　Montague　girl　added　her　praise　to　Baird's　for　his　own　work。　〃Kid；　you　certainly　stepped　neat　and　looked　nice　in　that　love　scene；〃　she　warmly　told　him。　He　would　have　liked　to　praise　her　own　work；　but　could　not　bring　himself　to。　Perhaps　she　would　grow　more　shrinking　and　modest　as　the　drama　progressed。

A　part　of　the　play　now　developed　as　he　had　foreseen　it　would；　in　that　the　city　men　at　the　hotel　pursued　the　little　sister　to　her　own　door…step　with　attentions　that　she　should　have　found　unwelcome。　But　even　now　she　behaved　in　a　way　he　could　not　approve。　She　seemed　determined　to　meet　the　city　men　halfway。　〃I'm　to　be　the　sunlight　arc　of　this　hovel；〃　she　announced　when　the　city　men　came；　one　at　a　time；　to　shower　gifts　upon　the　little　wild　rose。

Later　it　became　apparent　that　she　must　in　the　end　pay　dearly　for　her　too…ready　acceptance　of　these　favours。　One　after　another　the　four　city　men；　whose　very　appearance　would　have　been　sufficient　warning　to　most　girls；　endeavoured　to　lure　her　up　to　the　great　city　where　they　promised　to　make　a　lady　of　her。　It　was　a　situation　notoriously　involving　danger　to　the　simple　country　girl；　yet　not　even　her　mother　frowned　u