Merton of the Movies

e scantest appreciation. Indeed, the day opened with a disagreement between the forward-looking clerk and his hide-bound reactionary. Gashwiler had reached the sto

the yard." Below this he was in the act of putting down, "Try our choice Honey-d

unded modern. Yet along came Gashwiler, as if see

the' stuff? Looks to me like just putting on a few airs. You keep to plain language and our patrons'll l

d way; but I can tell you that's the way city stores do it. I though

re always right. Don't forget to put on that canned salmon. I had that in stock for nearly a year now-an

out eggs and weigh butter that was brought in. He must do up sugar and grind coffee and measure dress goods and match silks; he must with the

g the shown dress goods, or at any task not requiring him to be genially talkative, he would be saying to Miss Augusta Bli

wore a soft hat with rakish brim, and affected low collars and flowing cravats, the artistic effect of these being heightened in his studio work by a purple velvet jacke

harp to-morrow, will you? I want to

highly technical phrases. He had

n the sort of work he could turn out. He always finished his art studies of Merton with great care, and took pains to have

o shoot Western stuff," re

well, and returned to

g out until after the wretched comedy had been run, but later agreed that they should see this, as Tessie keenly wished to know why people laughed at such things. The antics of the painfully cross-eyed man distressed them both, though the mental inferiors by whom they were surrounded laughed no

eucalyptus tree that grew hard by, while her maddened pursuers scattered in their search for the prize. Again she was captured, this time to be conveyed by aeroplane, a helpless prisoner and subject to the most fiendish insults by Black Steve, to the frozen North. But in the far Alaskan wilds she eluded the fiends and drove swiftly over the frozen wastes with their only dog team. Having left her pursuers far behind, she decided t

cruel wolves exposing all their fangs. Ralph had lost his rifle. He went now to put his arm through the ir

cruel, had come in their place. Back in the cabin Ralph and Hortense discovered that the wolves had gone. It had an ugly look. Why should the wolves go? Ralph opened the do

d her manly fiance had escaped this trap. Again had Beulah Baxter

a wonder girl. And she owes it all to hard, unceasing struggle and work and pains and being

of turquoise jewellery, and she's a bad woman through and through, and been divorced and everything by a man whose heart she broke, and she's become a mere adventuress with a secret vice-she takes perfume in her tea, like I saw that one did-and all her evil instincts are aroused at once by Hubert, who doesn't really care deeply for her, as she has only a surface appeal of mere sensuous beauty; but he sees that his wife is neglecting him and having an affair with an Italian count-I found such a good name for him, Count Ravioli-and staying out with him until all hours; so in a moment of weakness he gives himself to Corona Bartlett, and then sees that he must break up his home and get a divorce and marry Corona

u have a big gripping thing of love and hate like that? I don't believe I'd have him cross-eyed. I'd have him elderly and simple and dignified. And

ht. I believe you have the right instinct in t

be on the lot to-morrow. My camera man's

my! R

ocery counter for those hidden savings. To-night he would add to them the fifteen dollars lavished upon him by Gashwiler at the close of a week's toil. The money was in a

f wealth. Their exalted present owner tenderly smoothed out several that had become crumpled, secured them in a neat pile, adding the three recently acquired five-dol

ining bills should amount to two hundred and ten dollars. Slowly he counted, to finish with a look of blank, hesitating wonder. He made another count, hastily, but taking greater care. The wonder grew. Again he counted, slowly

r Lowell, although making professional rates to Merton, still believed the artist to be worth his hire-and he could remember taking some more out to send to

l; that much sooner would he be released from bondage; thirty-three dollars sooner could he look Gashwiler in the ey

ft the storeroom that reeked of kerosene and passed into the emporium to replace his treasure in its hiding place. The big room was dusky behind the drawn front curtai

he dusty floor, the gleaming counters, the curtains that shielded the shelves, with a new disdain. Sooner than he had thought he would bid them a last farewell. And

one of his pulpit suits. Perhaps he was not so old as he looked; perhaps he might remember that he, too, had once been young and fired with high ideals. It would be worth trying. And the things could be returned after a brief studio session with Lowell Hardy. He saw himself cast in such a part, the handsome young clergyman, exponent of a muscular Christianity. He comes to the toughest cattle town in all the great South

e the artist made a few studies of him he would have so

nfluence was not wholly withdrawn. From above the mantel he was sternly regarded by a tinted enlargement of his employer's face entitled Photographic Study by Lowell Hardy. Lowell never took photographs merely. He made photographic studies,

cared he that Gus Giddings had been fined ten dollars and costs by Squire Belcher for his low escapade, or that

a pair of spurs, a gay shirt, a gayer neckerchief, a broad-brimmed hat, a leather holster, and-most impressive of all-a pair of goatskin chaps dyed a violent maroon. All these he excitedly donned, the spurs last. Then he clambered

p like that for? My stars, you look like

a cowboy outfit for when I play regular Buck Benson parts, and everything's got to

t a fine look at yourself in the ta

s employer's lady. He looked long and earnestly. The effect was quite all he had hoped. He lowered the front of the broad-brimmed hat th

er from the holster and held it forward from

up your

teely-eyed, grim of face, relentless in all his bearing, the most desperate adversary would have quailed

man's boudoir and clattered down the back stairs to the kitchen. He was thinking: "I certainly got to get me another

e your rig?" inqui

to have a rattlesnake-skin band on my hat, and the things look too new yet. And say, Metta,

tainly goin' to be a

only on Mondays. He re-coiled it caref

, one foot crossed nonchalantly before the other. A slight tremor, a nervous flickering of his skin, was all that ensued wh

w just stand that way, holding the noos

s House livery stable. He had never saddled a horse before, but he had not studied in vain. He seized Dexter by a wisp of his surviving mane and simultaneously planted a hearty kick in the beast's side, with a command, "Get around there, you old skate!" Dexter sighed miserably and got around as ordered. He was both pained and astonished. He knew that this was Sunday. Ne

ntending to harm him. He curved his swanlike neck and snapped savagely at the shoulder

do to him would be done despite all his resistance. Still his alarm had

his arms about the long, thin neck of Dexter, who tossed his head and knocked off the cowboy hat. "Never mind that-it's out," said Merton. "Can't use it in this scene." He laid his cheek to the cheek of his pet. "

e was puzzled-to be kicked in the ribs at one moment, the next to be fondled. But Lowell Hardy was enthusiastic. He said he would have some corking studi

suggested the artist. "I'l

e shouldn't try to go too far in one lesson. "You see, the old boy's pretty tired from his week's work. Maybe I better n

of cigarette was too completely identified with Buck Benson to be left out. Lolling against the side of Dexter

was enough now to be looking keenly out from under his hat while he poured tobacco into the creased paper against the b

" he urged. "I want to

kate's tired out from a hard week, and

or a minute, will it? And you'll want one on him to

ifford Armytage and handed them back with the remark, "But you seem to play only society parts, Mr. Armytage. All very interesting, and

s to the man, whose face would instantly re

ills, certainly, should be one of Clifford Armytag

t; just a

kick took that nonsense out of him. With extreme care Merton stood upon the edge of the trough and thrust a leg blindly over the saddle. With some determined clambering he was at last seated. Hi

e here, away from that wel

d the rider. "I can feel him tremble al

came into the piece with lines that the

shwiler," called Metta loudly

What a long way it seemed to the ground! He had never dreamed that h

y vain efforts persuaded Dexter to stumble away from

't let him buc

ess, except for a recurrent trembli

. You're looking off over the Western hill

e rider. "Seems to me he do

er the pommel, and seemed about to roll another cigarette while another art study was made. He continued to lounge there while the artist packed his camera. W

parting artist. "Leave that to me. I dare say I'll

. Indeed he was beginning to like it. If you just had a little nerve you needn't be afraid of anything. Very carefully he

wner far ahead of the sheriff's posse, and was now securing a moment's much-needed rest. Merton undid the riata and for half an hou

that draw down pretty good. From the hip with straight wrist and forearm Buck was ready to shoot in no time at all. Throughout that villain-infested terrain along the border h

ess than remounting his old pal and riding, in the cool of early evening, up and down the alley upon which the barnyard gave. He coiled the

en now and sunup to-morrow. I reckon we got to put a right smart of distance betw

erhaps it would be better not to ride him any more to-day. Perhaps it would be better not to ride him again until next Sunday. After all, wasn't Dexter practica

l that confirmed Merton in his rash resolve. Metta Judson, a

n't get on him a

not words to be flung l

ut it, don't you?"

murmured Metta, counterfei

ridle reins under his weak chin and cajoled him again to the watering trough. Metta Judson was about to be overwhelmed with confusion. From the edge of the trough he again clambered into the saddle, the new boots groping a way to the stirrups. The

Metta was now convinced that she had

before the folks g

't be back for a couple of hours yet, and all he meant to

be all I want." He jerked Dexter's head up, snapped the reins on his

there, o

remained as if posing conscientiou

u old skate!" agai

er stood unmoved. He seemed to be fearing that the worst was now coming, and that he might as well face it on

ordered Metta, and was not rebuked. But n

contemptuous of his mount. "Get th

from the delivery wagon she lightly scored the exposed ribs of Dexter, tormenting him with devilish cu

lly secure on the back of this spiritless anima

ld doubtless have had a responsible post with the Spanish Inquisition. Face set, absorbed in her evil work,

nd himself unable to face being tickled to death. If only they had chosen some other method for his execution he would have peri

fearsome pace; the sensations were like nothing he had ever dreamed of. And he was so high above the good firm ground! Dexter c

free himself from it. He increased his pace as he came to the gate, and managed a backward kick with both heels. This lost the rider h

d firmly clasped his legs about the waist of the animal. Again and again he tightened them, and now Dexter not only looked every inch a horse but very painfully to his rider felt like one, for the spurs wer

that moment. After that they had attended to Dexter with a thoroughness that had seared itself to this day across his memory. He now sincerely believed that he had overturned another hive of bees, and that not

three Ransom children whom Merton had not before noticed. These were Calvin Ransom, aged eight; Elsie Ransom, aged six; and little Woodrow Ransom, aged four. Their mother had lain down with a headache, having first ordered them to take the

hey perched in a row on the alley fence and had been excited

"Oh, Merton Gill's a cowboy, Merton Gill's a c

when the spurs had recalled to his memory that far-off dreadful day with the busy bees. They now balanced precariously on the alley fence, the better to trace Merton's flight through the dust cloud. "Merton's in a run

descriptive phrase was now inexact. Merton was no longer in a runaway.

e dirt. He's throwed Merton right off into the dirt.

d of dust. The friendly Ransom tots leaped from the fence to the alley, forgetting on her bed of pain the mother who supposed them to be engrossed with pict

t into the alley. The gallant animal swerved in time, leaving the car's driver and his wife aghast at their slight margin of safety. Dexter v

ted that. Underneath all the flurry of this adventure he was still the artist. He had been set afoot in the desert by a treacherous horse; he

gosh!" he

e their accustomed time. The car halted beside him

is mean?"

ot only was there a lady present, but he felt himself at a disad

gnized it at once." The woman seemed

demanded Gashwiler. He w

ech, though not in a way he would have chosen to be save

aw it first." "You did not; I saw it first. Merton, will you let me shoot it off, Merton? I found your pistol, didn't I,

rton, finding a voice. But they we

Did he hurt you, Merton?" "Merton, will you let me shoot it off just once-just once, and I'll never ask again?" "He didn't

bearded-so unreasoning are the inhibitions of the young-Gashwiler s

an accident,"

s this

rts could no lo

dled him up and was going to ride him around the block, when

unison. "What a bad story! You'll go t

t? How'd you like me to saddle you up and ride you round the block? I guess you'd like that pretty well, wouldn't you?" Gashwiler fancied himself in thi

," said the lady. "I co

tened to a minor inconsequence of th

back for the farm; we won't have any delivery horse to-morrow. Sue, yo

e other way,"

go up the road and you hurry out the way he went.

er descended

back by seven o'clock to-morrow

a'am, I

poken in a Buc

hat outlandish rig, anyhow? Must think you're one o' them Wild Wes

n pick out my own c

. Well, go see if you can pick out that

d with himself. He could p

y, followed at a respectful distance by the Ransom

t, didn't he, Merton? Mer-tun, didn't

the hand. But they kept far enough back of him to require that their voices should be raised. Incessan

laid down for their Sabbath recreation. At every moment the shrill cry reached his burning ears, "Mer-tun, didn't he throw you off?" The kiddies appeared to be

nding that out there he could better search for a valuable lost horse. The Ransom children were at first in two minds about following him, but they soon found it m

h, they would call ahead to Merton to confirm their simple tale. With rapt, shining faces,

st Church. Here, appearing to believe that he had again eluded pursuit, he stopped to graze on a carefully tended square of grass before the sacred edifice. He was at once shooed by two scandalized old ladies, but paid them no attention. They might perhaps even

city street. He was worse than Gus Giddings. But he saw this only with his artist's eye. In sordid fact he went up to Dexter, seized the trailing bridle reins and jerked savagely upon them. Back over the trail he led his

would he be given a part in Buck Benson's company. Across the alley came the voices of tired, happy children, in t

thesline back, and came her husband wishing to be told what outlandish notion Merton G

thirty dollars was added to the hoard which was now counted almost nightly. And the cruder wits of the village had made rather a joke of Mert

would do him good if he believed them, but probably he wouldn't believe them. He would also see that he had done his faithful employee grave injustices. And he would be left, in some humiliation, having found, as Merton Gill took himself fore

n for whom it had been composed. He confronted him, accordingly, at

inking I'd like to go West for a while-to California, if you could arrange to let me off, please."

ight on No. 4, Mr. Gashwiler, and I know you can get Spenc

in to see me, and you can get off to-

long I'll be gone. I may loca

ck you can have your same old job. You've been

u, Mr. Ga

who had, before this meal was eaten, looked out with compassion upon two Simsbury-like hamlets that the train ru

Western Stuff