按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
made like them。
The distinguishing feature of these spurs was their size。 They were enormous； and their rowels extended a good twelve inches from Merton's heels after he had donned them。
〃They may bother you a little at first；〃 said Baird； 〃but you'll get used to them； and they're worth a little trouble because they'll stand out。〃
The first effort to walk in them proved bothersome indeed； for it was made over ground covered with a low…growing vine and the spurs caught in this。 Baird was very earnest in supervising this progress； and even demanded the presence of two cameras to record it。
〃Of course I'm not using this stuff；〃 he said； 〃but I want to make a careful study of it。 These are genuine hidalgo spurs。 Mighty few men in this line of parts could get away with them。 I bet Benson himself would have a lot of trouble。 Now； try it once more。〃
Merton tried once more； stumbling as the spurs caught in the undergrowth。 The cameras closely recorded his efforts； and Baird applauded them。 〃You're getting itkeep on。 That's better。 Now try to run a few stepsgo right toward that left…hand camera。〃
He ran the few steps； but fell headlong。 He picked himself up； an expression of chagrin on his face。
〃Never mind；〃 urged Baird。 〃Try it again。 We must get this right。〃 He tried again to run； was again thrown。 But he was determined to please the manager； and he earnestly continued his efforts。 Benson himself would see the picture and probably marvel that a new man should have mastered； apparently with ease； a pair of genuine hidalgos。
〃Maybe we better try smoother ground；〃 Baird at last suggested after repeated falls had shown that the undergrowth was difficult。 So the cameras were moved on to the front of a ranche house now in use for the drama； and the spur lessons continued。 But on smooth ground it appeared that the spurs were still troublesome。 After the first mishap here Merton discovered the cause。 The long shanks were curved inward so that in walking their ends clashed。 He pointed this out to Baird； who was amazed at the discovery。
〃Well； well； that's so！ They're bound to interfere。 I never knew that about hidalgo spurs before。〃
〃We might straighten them；〃 suggested the actor。
〃No； no；〃 Baird insisted； 〃I wouldn't dare try that。 They cost too much money； and it might break 'em。 I tell you what you do； stand up and try this： just toe in a little when you walkthat'll bring the points apart。 Therethat's it； that's fine。〃
The cameras were again recording so that Baird could later make his study of the difficulties to be mastered by the wearer of genuine hidalgos。 By toeing in Merton now succeeded in walking without disaster； though he could not feel that he was taking the free stride of men out there in the open spaces。
〃Now try running。〃 directed Baird； and he tried running； but again the spurs caught and he was thrown full in the eyes of the grinding camera。 He had forgotten to toe in。 But he would not give up。 His face was set in Buck Benson grimness。 Each time he picked himself up and earnestly resumed the effort。 The rowels were now catching in the long hair of his chaps。
He worked on； directed and cheered by the patient Baird； while the two camera men； with curiously strained faces； recorded his failures。 Baird had given strict orders that other members of the company should remain at a distance during the spur lessons； but now he seemed to believe that a few other people might encourage the learner。 Merton was directed to run to his old mother who； bucket at her side and mop in hand； knelt on the ground at a little distance。 He was also directed to run toward the Montague girl； now in frontier attire of fringed buckskin。 He made earnest efforts to keep his feet during these essays； but the spurs still proved treacherous。
〃Just pick yourself up and go on；〃 ordered Baird； and had the cameras secure close shots of Merton picking himself up and going carefully on； toeing in now； to embrace his weeping old mother and the breathless girl who had awaited him with open arms。
He was tired that night； but the actual contusions he had suffered in his falls where forgotten in the fear that he might fail to master the hidalgos。 Baird himself seemed confident that his pupil would yet excite the jealousy of Buck Benson in this hazardous detail of the screen art。 He seemed； indeed； to be curiously satisfied with his afternoon's work。 He said that he would study the film carefully and try to discover just how the spurs could be mastered。
〃You'll show 'em yet how to take a joke；〃 he declared when the puzzling implements were at last doffed。 The young actor felt repaid for his earnest efforts。 No one could put on a pair of genuine hidalgos for the first time and expect to handle them correctly。
There were many days in the hills。 Until this time the simple drama had been fairly coherent in Merton Gill's mind。 So consecutively were the scenes shot that the story had not been hard to follow。 But now came rather a jumble of scenes； not only at times bewildering in themselves； but apparently unrelated。
First it appeared that the Montague girl； as Miss Rebecca Hoffmeyer； had tired of being a mere New York society butterfly； had come out into the big open spaces to do something real； something worth while。 The ruin of her father； still unexplained； had seemed to call out unsuspected reserves in the girl。 She was stern and businesslike in such scenes as Merton was permitted to observe。 And she had not only brought her ruined father out to the open spaces but the dissipated brother； who was still seen to play at dice whenever opportunity offered。 He played with the jolly cowboys and invariably won。
Off in the hills there were many scenes which Merton did not overlook。 〃I want you to have just your own part in mind；〃 Baird told him。 And； although he was puzzled later； he knew that Baird was somehow making it right in the drama when he became again the successful actor of that first scene； which he had almost forgotten。 He was no longer the Buck Benson of the open spaces； but the foremost idol of the shadowed stage； and in Harold Parmalee's best manner he informed the aspiring Montague girl that he could not accept her as leading lady in his next picture because she lacked experience。 The wager of a kiss was laughingly made as she promised that within ten days she would convince him of her talent。
Later she herself； in an effective scene； became the grimfaced Buck Benson and held the actor up at the point of her two guns。 Then； when she had convinced him that she was Benson； she appeared after an interval as her own father； the fiery beard； the derby hat with its dents； the chaps； the bicycle； and golf bag。 In this scene she seemed to demand the actor's intentions toward the daughter； and again overwhelmed him with confusion； as Parmalee had been overwhelmed when she revealed her true self under the baffling disguise。 The wager of a kiss was prettily paid。 This much of the drama he knew。 And there was an affecting final scene on a hillside。
The actor； arrayed in chaps； spurs； and boots below the waist was； above this； in faultless evening dress。 〃You see； it's a masquerade party at the ranche；〃 Baird e