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Then at last Merton started； peering eagerly forward across the length of the pool。 At the far end； half illumined by the big lights； stood the familiar figure of his wonderwoman； the slim little girl with the wistful eyes。 Plainly he could see her now as the mist lifted。 She was chatting with one of the pirates who had stepped ashore from the boat。 The wonderful golden hair shone resplendent under the glancing rays of the arcs。 A cloak was about her shoulders； but at a word of command from the director she threw it off and stepped to the boat's deck。 She was dressed in a short skirt； her trim feet and ankles lightly shod and silken clad。 The sole maritime touch in her garb was a figured kerchief at her throat similar to those worn by the piratical crew。
〃All ready； Hortenseall ready Jose and Gaston； get your places。〃
Miss Baxter acknowledged the command with that characteristic little wave of a hand that he recalled from so many of her pictures； a half…humorous； half…mocking little defiance。 She used it often when escaping her pursuers； as if to say that she would see them in the next installment。
The star and the two men were now in the cabin； hidden from view。 Merton Gill was no seaman； but it occurred to him that at least one of the crew would be at the wheel in this emergency。 Probably the director knew no better。 Indeed the boat； so far as could be discerned； had no wheel。 Apparently when a storm came up all hands went down into the cabin to get away from it。
The storm did come up at this moment； with no one on deck。 It struck with the full force of a tropic hurricane。 The boat rocked； the wind blew； and billows swept the deck。 At the height of the tempest Beulah Baxter sprang from the cabin to the deck； clutching wildly at a stanchion。 Buffeted by the billows she groped a painful way along the side； at risk of being swept off to her death。
She was followed by one of the crew who held a murderous knife in his hand； then by the other sailor who also held a knife。 They； too； were swept by the billows； but seemed grimly determined upon the death of the heroine。 Then； when she reached midships and the foremost fiend was almost upon her； the mightiest of all the billows descended and swept her off into the cruel waters。 Her pursuers； saving themselves only by great effort； held to the rigging and stared after the girl。 They leaned far over the ship's rocking side and each looked from under a spread hand。
For a distressing interval the heroine battled with the waves； but her frail strength availed her little。 She raised a despairing face for an instant to the camera and its agony was illumined。 Then the dread waters closed above her。 The director's whistle blew； the waves were stilled； the tumult ceased。 The head of Beulah Baxter appeared halfway down the tank。 She was swimming toward the end where Merton stood。
He had been thrilled beyond words at this actual sight of his heroine in action； but now it seemed that a new emotion might overcome him。 He felt faint。 Beulah Baxter would issue from the pool there at his feet。 He might speak to her； might even help her to climb out。 At least no one else had appeared to do this。 Seemingly no one now cared where Miss Baxter swam to or whether she were offered any assistance in landing。 She swam with an admirable crawl stroke； reached the wall； and put up a hand to it。 He stepped forward； but she was out before he reached her side。 His awe had delayed him。 He drew back then； for the star； after vigorously shaking herself； went to a tall brazier in which glowed a charcoal fire。
Here he now noticed for the first time the prop…boy Jimmie； he who had almost certainly defaulted with an excellent razor。 Jimmie threw a blanket about the star's shoulders as she hovered above the glowing coals。 Merton had waited for her voice。 He might still venture to speak to herto tell her of his long and profound admiration for her art。 Her voice came as she shivered over the fire：
〃Murder！ That water's cold。 Rosenblatt swore he'd have it warmed but I'm here to say it wouldn't boil an egg in four minutes。〃
He could not at first identify this voice with the remembered tones of Beulah Baxter。 But of course she was now hoarse with the cold。 Under the circumstances he could hardly expect his heroine's own musical clearness。 Then as the girl spoke again something stirred among his more recent memories。 The voice was still hoarse； but he placed it now。 He approached the brazier。 It was undoubtedly the Montague girl。 She recognized him； even as she squeezed water from the hair of wondrous gold。
〃Hello； again； Kid。 You're everywhere； ain't you？ Say； wha'd you think of that Rosenblatt man？ Swore he'd put the steam into that water and take off the chill。 And he never。〃 She threw aside the blanket and squeezed water from her garments； then began to slap her legs； arms； and chest。
〃Well； I'm getting a gentle glow； anyhow。 Wha'd you think of the scene？〃
〃It was goodvery well done； indeed。〃 He hoped it didn't sound patronizing； though that was how he felt。 He believed now that Miss Baxter would have done it much better。 He ventured a question。 〃But how about Miss Baxterwhen does she do something？ Is she going to be swept off the boat； too？〃
〃Baxter？ Into that water？ Quit your kidding！〃
〃But isn't she here at allwon't she do anything here？〃
〃Listen here； Kid； why should she loaf around on the set when she's paying me good money to double for her？〃
〃Youdouble for Beulah Baxter？〃 It was some more of the girl's nonsense； and a blasphemy for which he could not easily forgive her。
〃Why not？ Ain't I a good stunt actress？ I'll tell the lot she hasn't found any one yet that can get away with her stuff better than what I do。〃
〃But sheI heard her say herself she never allowed any one to double for hershe wouldn't do such a thing。〃
Here sounded a scornful laugh from Jimmie； the propboy。 〃Bunk！〃 said he at the laugh's end。 〃How long you been doublin' for her； Miss Montague？ Two years； ain't it？I know it was before I come here； and I been on the lot a year and a half。 Say； he ought to see some the stuff you done for her out on location； like jumpin' into the locomotive engine from your auto and catchin' the brake beams when the train's movin'； and goin' across that quarry on the cable； and ridin' down that lumber flume sixty miles per hour and ridin' some them outlaw buckjumpershe'd ought to seen some that stuff； hey； Miss Montague？〃
〃That's right； Jimmie； you tell him all about me。 I hate to talk of myself。〃 Very wonderfully Merton Gill divined that this was said with a humorous intention。 Jimmy was less sensitive to values。 He began to obey。
〃Well； I dunnothere's that motorcycle stuff。 Purty good； I'll say。 I wouldn't try that； no； sir； not for a cool million dollars。 And that chase stuff on the roofs down town where you jumped across that court that wasn't any too darned narrow； an' say； I wisht I could skin up a tree the way you can。 An' there was that time〃
〃All right； all right； Jimmie。 I can tell him the rest sometime。 I don't really hate to talk about myselfthat's on the level。 And say； listen here； Jimmie； you're my favourite sweetheart； ain't you？〃
〃Yes； ma