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the hotel； would swell the little fund that must be saved to pay the mortgage。 Also； in the present piece； the country boy was to become a great inventor； and this was different。 Merton felt that this was a good touch； it gave him dignity。
He appeared ready for work on the morning designated。 He was now able to make up himself； and he dressed in the country…boy costume that had been provided。 It was perhaps not so attractive a costume as Edgar Wayne had worn； consisting of loose…fitting overalls that came well above his waist and were fastened by straps that went over the shoulders； but； as Baird remarked； the contrast would be greater when he dressed in rich city clothes at the last。 His hair； too； was no longer the slicked…back hair of Parmalee； but tousled in country disorder。
For much of the action of the new piece they would require an outside location； but there were some interiors to be shot on the lot。 He forgot the ill…fitting overalls when shown his attic laboratory where； as an ambitious young inventor； sustained by the unfaltering trust of mother and sister； he would perfect certain mechanical devices that would bring him fame； fortune； and the love of a pure New York society girl。 It was a humble little room containing a work…bench that held his tools and a table littered with drawings over which he bent until late hours of the night。
At this table； simple； unaffected； deeply earnest； he was shown as the dreaming young inventor； perplexed at moments； then； with brightening eyes； making some needful change in the drawings。 He felt in these scenes that he was revealing a world of personality。 And he must struggle to give a sincere interpretation in later scenes that would require more action。 He would show Baird that he had not watched Edgar Wayne without profit。
Another interior was of the neat living room of the humble home。 Here were scenes of happy family life with the little sister and the fond old mother。 The Montague girl was a charming picture in her simple print dress and sunbonnet beneath which hung her braid of golden hair。 The mother was a sweet old dear； dressed as Baird had promised。 She early confided to Merton that she was glad her part was not to be a mopping part。 In that case she would have had to wear knee…pads； whereas now she was merely； she said； to be a tired business woman。
Still another interior was of her kitchen where she busily carried on her fruit…canning activities。 Pots boiled on the stove and glass jars were filled with her product。 One of the pots； Merton noticed； the largest； had a tightly closed top from which a slender tube of copper went across one corner of the little room to where it coiled in a bucket filled with water； whence it discharged its contents into bottles。
This； it seemed； was his mother's improved grape juice； a cooling drink to tempt the jaded palates of the city folks up at the big hotel。
The laboratory of the young inventor was abundantly filmed while the earnest country boy dreamed hopefully above his drawings or tinkered at metal devices on the work…bench。 The kitchen in which his mother toiled was repeatedly shot； including close…ups of the old mother's ingenious contrivancesespecially of the closed boiler with its coil of copper tubingby which she was helping to save the humble home。
And a scene in the neat living room with its old…fashioned furniture made it all too clear that every effort would be required to save the little home。 The cruel money…lender； a lawyer with mean…looking whiskers； confronted the three shrinking inmates to warn them that he must have his money by a certain day or out they would go into the streets。 The old mother wept at this； and the earnest boy took her in his arms。 The little sister； terrified by the man's rough words； also flew to this shelter； and thus he defied the intruder； calm； fearless； dignified。 The money would be paid and the intruder would now please remember that； until the day named； this little home was their very own。
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 scen