Merton of the Movies

gate, the quick glimpse of the privileged ones who entered, the mingling, later, with the hopeful and the near-hopeless ones who waited. But now his feeling was that h

rsecuter of golden-haired innocence, or lured beautiful women from their h

nside the barrier, for a chat with the watchman; a chat, beginning with the gift of a cigar, which should have impressed his appearance upon that person. He should have remarked casually that he had had a hard day on Stage Number Four, and must now

er been beyond the walls of the forbidden city, nor would he know any reason w

n of it. Was he not fortified with the potent Eezo wafers, and a new menthol pencil, even with an additional remedy of tablets that the druggist had strongly recommended? It was, therefore, not with any ac

idn't come often. It might be weeks before she had another attack. No, of course she couldn't be cer

hope that would have dismayed the little woman-not hope, exactly, but something almost like it which he would only translate to himself as an e

He had learned a lot. And he wanted to ask her something, assuring himself that he was al

of a pencil, frowning into her vast knowledge of the people beyond the gate. "Now, let me think." But thi

from her life. She was calling an agency. She wanted people for a diplomatic reception in Washington. She must have a Bulgarian general, a Serbian diplomat, two French colonels, and a Belgian captain, all in uniform and all good types. She didn't want just anybody, but types tha

l of five. She lifted the child to the window. "Say good-morning to the beautiful lady, Toots. Good-morning, Countess. I'm sure you got something for T

se glimpses of the street beyond the gate. A certain haze had vanished, leaving all too apparent the circumstance that others were working beyond the gate while Merton Gill loitered outside, his talent, his training, ignored. His early air of careless confidence had cha

mself to notice that Jackson would have made a good motion-picture type-the long, narrow, severe face, the stiff uncomprising mane of gray hair; probably they would have cast him for a feuding mountai

s, and the stare was not reassuring. It seemed to say that there was no other money in all the world. Decidedly things must take a turn. Merton Gill had a qu

ed no relapse. He came to resent a certain inconsequence in the woman. She might have had those headaches

ll was much more cheerful. It bore the portrait of Benjamin Harrison, a smooth, cheerful face adorned with whiskers that radiated success. They were little short of smug with success. He

ses, vanity-boxes-the Victor people doing The Blight of Broadway with Muriel Mercer-Stage Number Four at 8:30 to-morrow morning. There seemed no limit to the people desired. Merton Gill joined the throng about the window. Engagements were rapidly made, both through the window and over the telephone t

fly. "All right, Flips; I was just going to telephone you. Henshaw wants you for some baby-vamp stuff in the cabaret scen

pes at the hour named. I'm glad enough to b

one or something, the gray georgette and

re's something doing once more on

t encourage this hoyden. He glanced expectantly through the little window. His friend held a telephone receiver at her ear. She

was pushed aside by an athletic young woman who spoke from

Stage Four, at 8:30, in y

occult means the report of new activity in the casting office. "Hurry, you troupers. You can eat to

d this chit never understand that

atre he paused to study the billing of Muriel Mercer in Hearts Aflame. The beauteous girl, in an alarming gown, was at the mercy of a fiend in evening dress whose hellish purpose was all too plainly read in his fevered eyes. The girl writhed in his grasp. Doubtless he was demanding her hand in marriage. It was a tense bit. And to-morrow he would act with this petted idol of the screen. And under the direction of that Mr. Henshaw who seemed to take screen a

of pleasure with small tables set about an oblong of dancing floor. Back of these on three sides were raised platforms with other tables, and above these discreet boxes, half masked by drapery, for the seclusion of more retiring merry-makers. The scene was deserted as yet, but presently he was

The cam'ras'll be back there, so we can set a little closer, but not too close, or we'll be moved over. How 'bout this here? Let's try it." She sat, motioning

I wasn't meaning to hog it. Say,

he dancing space were quickly filled. Many of the ladies permitted costly wraps of fur or brocade to spill across the backs

e of gold attached to a chain pendent from her girdle. They both smoked. On their table were small plates, two wine glasses half filled with a pale liquid, an

man accustomed to command tables-regarded the filled row around the dancing space with frank irritation, and paused significantly at Merton's side. He seemed about to vo

of a tiny gold-backed mirror suspended with the ciga

and a couple there would be moved from the first row and other couples would come to take their places. Under the eyes of this assistant the Spanish girl had become coquettish. With veiled glances, with flashing smiles from the red lips, with a small gloved hand upon Merton Gill's sleeve, s

ou are," said the ass

rl. "I knew you was a ty

me through a megaphone: "Everybody that's near the floor fox-trot." In a moment the spac

!" said the Span

imsbury, Illinois, where such things were frowned upon by pulpit and press? The girl resumed her seat, at first with annoyance, then brightened. "A

glanced up, doing a double transition, from dignified surprise to smiling chagrin. "Sprained ankle," he said, and fell into the bored look that had served him with th

tween dances-see what I mean? You're talking, but you're bored with it all. The hollowness of this night life is getting you; not all of you-most of you girls can

in six weeks, and they're tickled pink." He knew without turning that this was the Montague girl trying to be funny at the expense of Henshaw who was safely beyond hearing. He thought she would be a disturbing

e-up. Under the hum of the lights he was thinking that he had been a fool not to learn dancing, no matter how the Reverend Otto Carmichael denounced it as a survival from the barbaric Congo. He was also thinking that the Montague girl ought to be kept away from people who were trying to do really creative things, and he was bitterly regretting that he had no silver cigarette case

Henshaw. "Now get this bunch dow

ll be cut to a flash, but I bet we stand out, at th

Yes, one must suffer for one's art. Here I got to be a baby-vamp whe

nk. You at the end stand up and hold your glass aloft. The girl next to you there, stand up by him and raise your face to his-turn sideways more. That's it. Put your hand up to his shoulder. You're slightly lit, you know, and you're inviting him to kiss you over his glass. You others, you're drinking gay enough, but see if you can get over that it's only half-hearted. You at the other end there-you're staring at your wine gl

didn't smoke so much, except, of course, in the close-ups. His throat was dry and rough, his

or, warning his people to be gay but not too gay. Th

bunch. And not quite so solemn, people; don't overdo it. You think you're having a

ene last month over to the Bigart, and right in the mi'st of the fight I get a glass of somethin' all over my gown that practically rooned it. I guess I rather do this refined cabaret

box held by a maid. Standing with her was another young woman, not nearly so beautiful, and three men. Henshaw was instructing these. Presently he called through his megaphone: "You people

hingly. The five were seated at a table next the dancing space at the far end. They chatted gayly as the older man ordered importantly from the head-waiter. Muriel Mercer tapped one of the younger men with her plumed fan and they danced. Three other selected couples danced at the same time, though taking care not to come between the star and the grinding camera. The older man leered at the star and nervously ligh

her beautiful eyes. Henshaw was now speaking in low tones to the group, and presently Vera Vanderpool did a transition. The mad light of pleasure died from her eyes and the smile froze on her beautifu

ment-house stuff they shot last w

man from the great wind-swept spaces out West, and goes out there to live a clean open life with

f his faults. But just now she got a shock at remembering the horrible sights she has seen; she can't get it out of her mind. And pretty soon she'll see this other gentleman that she nearly fell in love with, the one who hangs around these tenements doing good-he'll be over at one of them tables and she'll leave her party and go over to his table and say, 'Take me from this heartless Broadway to your tenements where I can relieve their suffering,' so she goes out and gets in a taxi with him, leaving the old guy with not a thing to do but pay the check. Of course he's mad, and he follows her down to the tenements where she's relieving the poor-just in a plain black dress-and she finds out he's the real father of this little friend of mine's child, and tells him to go back to Broadway while she has chosen the better part and must live her life with these real people. But he sends her a note that's supposed to be from a poor woman dying of something, to come and bring her some medic

pon one shoulder. Through the megaphone came instructions to applaud the couple, and Broadway applauded-all but Merton Gill, who stared moodily into his coffee cup or lifted bored eyes to the scene of revelry. He was not bored, but his various emotions combined to produce this effect very plausibly. He was dismayed at this sudden revelation of art in the dance so near him. Imogene Pulver had once done an art dance back in Simsbury, at the cantata of Esther in the vestry of

ook at them steadily, not when they were close, as they often were. Also, he loathed the cigarette he was smoking. The tolerant scorn

nute with Miss Montague, as if you'd got tired of him-see what I mean? Miss Montague-Miss Montague." The Spanish girl arose, seeming not wholly pleased at this bit of directing. The

Henshaw. "That's all-baby-vamp him. He'll

eered archly at him through beaded lashes, one eye almost hidden by its thatch of curls. Merton Gill sunk low in his chair, cynicall

Montague girl, with her hand still on his arm,

on, now, give me the fishy eye again. How'd you ace yourself into this first row, anyway? Did you have to fight for it? Say, your friend'll be mad at me put

the picture. He merely favoured her with a glanc

le. Do like I said,

lusioned man to the face of the leering Montague girl, turned aside from her with every sign o

ff. "Just stick there a bit, Miss Montague. We'll

ed, so flagrant a manner. The blight of Broadway became more apparent than ever upon his face.

l things that she wouldn't call him "Kid." He meditated putting a little of Broadway's blight upon her by saying in a d

be. Or some hick in the cuttin' room may kill 'em dead. Come on, give me the fish-eye again. That's it. Say, I'm glad I didn't have to smoke cigarettes in t

say this, even though only to one whose attentions he meant

at the limit?

y of my own. That Span

ittle Eva, and between acts I had to put on pants and come out and do a smoking song, all about a kid learning to smoke his first cigar and not doin' well with it, see? But they had to cut it out. Gosh, what us artists suffer at times! Pa had me try it a couple of years later when I was doin' Louise th

d him from under the overhanging curl. As often as he thought it desirable he put the bored glance upon her, though mostly he stared in dejection at the coffee cup or the empty wine glass. He was sorry that she had had that trouble with the cigar, but one who as Little Eva or poor persecuted Loui

foul glare of a middle-aged roue inflamed with wine. And there was a shot of Muriel perceiving at last the blight of Broadway and going to a table at which sat a pale, noble-looking young man with a high forehead, who presently led her out into the night to the real life of the worthy poor. Later the deserted admirer became again a

easure-seekers threw off the blight and stormed the assistant director for slips of paper which he was now issuing. Merton Gill received one, labelled "Talent check." There was fine print upon it which he took no pains to read, beyond gathering its general effect that the Victor Film-art Company had the full right to use any photographs of him that its agents mi

dame in that outside cafeteria any more. She always pinches off a quarter or may be four bits.

lusioned. He had only the vaguest notion of her meaning,

t thought I'd tell you." She

y in hand. Instead of joining the line Merton decided upon luncheon. It was two o'clock, and though waiters with trays had been abundant in the gilded cabaret, the best screen art had not seemed to demand a serving of act

ntre of the room. He had chosen a table and was about to sit, when he detected Henshaw farther down the room, and promptly took the one next him. It was probable that Henshaw would recall him and praise the work he had done. But the director merely rolled unseeing eyes ove

e best continuities Belmore has done. Not a line of smut in it, b

him to say: "And, by the way, here is a young actor that was of great help to me this morning." But neither man even glanced up. Seemingly this young actor could

with you. I tell you if we can do Robinson Crusoe, and do it right, a regular five-thousand-foot program feature, the thing ought to gross a million. A good, clean, censor-pr

r the space of two inhalations from his cigarette, imbuing Merton Gill with gratitude t

ame as in the book. And Crusoe rescues the two. And when he cuts the girl's bonds he finds she can't be Friday's real sister, because she's white-see what I mean? Well, we work it out later that she's the daughter of an English Earl that was wrecked near the cannibal island, and they rescued her, and Friday's mother brought her up as her own child. She'

e girl is saved from the savages? And Crusoe in the book wears a long beard

lads, never been wrecked on an island before and complains all the time about the lack of conveniences. I can see a lot of good gags for him, having to milk the goats, and getting scared of the other animals, and no place to press his master's clothes-things like that, you know. Well, the young fellow explores the island and finds another party that's been wrecked on the other side, and it's the girl and the man th

s, you got a story there, but it won

fellow being shaved every day by the valet, and he can invite the other party over to dine with him and receive them in evening dress and everything. Can't you see it? If that story wouldn't gross big then I don't know

h dope as you've got, and

od by the counter

id Henshaw as they went out. Neither had observed the rising young screen actor, Clifford Armytage, though he

cheerfully prosperous face of Benjamin Harrison and half that amount in silver coin. Then, although loath to do

riumph, how the director had seemed to single him out from a hundred or s

aving jobs oftener. And don't forget, you're called

e could not possibly forget. Once more in the Patterson kitchen

ng the sides of the room and at its centre were tables equipped for strange games of chance which only his picture knowledge enabled him to recognize. He might tarry at these tables, he thought, but he must remember to look bored in the near presence

irl, gazing about the vast room now

tenement-house scenes where Vera Vanderp

s a lot of money and is going to leave her string of pearls, but he says it's a mere trifle and let him pay her gambling losses, so in a weak mom

that Eat like a Cancer at the Heart of New York." He lighted a cigarette and leaned nonchalantly against a pillar to smile a tired littl

el, I'll tell the world," the girl continued. "Say, this puts it all over the Grand Central station, don't it? Must be right smack at the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue. Well, start the litt

ssive pillar, trying to appear blase under the chatter of the Spanish girl. The groups were arranged to the liking of Henshaw, though only after

lders, and give us your side view. I want to use this man alone. Here." He led Merton to a round table on which were a deck of cards

table, and called to a black waiter: "Here, Geo

slump down in your chair, like you saw t

repulsion, pushed the wine glass farther away. He saw the hollowness of it all. The spirit of wine sang in his glass but

," said Henshaw and we

w. "Crowd closer around that left-hand faro table. You're playing for big stakes." The gaming became mor

Henshaw secured flashes of various groups, chiefly of losers who were see

Mont

girl paused in the act of sprinkl

his chips and you've los

sed to other players the ch

ders. You shrug, too, but turn your back on him, facing the camera, and take s

ed bills from one of the salmon-pink stockings and flourished them at her escort who achieved a transition from gloom t

aw was saying. The subject leaned forward in his chair, gazing with cynical eyes at the fevered throng. Wine, wom

good. Now get that bunc

ruit. Thereafter he smoked only when he was in the picture. He felt that he was becoming screen wise. And Henshaw had remembered him. The

ed her lose steadily, and saw her string of pearls saved by the elderly scoundrel who had long watched the beautiful girl as only the Wolf of Wall Street

e the hard-riding, straight-shooting, two-fisted wonder-man, and not have to smoke so many cigarettes-only one now and then, which he would roll

ulette and stuff was for the up-and-down stage and not on the level. I'd certainly have lost everything but my make-up. So long, Kid!" She danced off to join a group of other women who were

eative screen art. He meant to be animated at this meeting, to show the director that he could be something more than an actor who had probed the shams o

ng him his first chance. She accepted his thanks smilingly, and asked

forget Gashwiler's address, that he had been coming to this studio too often to forget its location. But someone en