ase。〃
〃I'll tell her。 She'll be glad there's something doing once more on the perpendicular stage。 Goo'…by。〃
She stepped aside with 〃You're next； brother！〃 Merton Gill acknowledged this with a haughty inclination of the head。 He must not encourage this hoyden。 He glanced expectantly through the little window。 His friend held a telephone receiver at her ear。 She smiled wearily。 〃All right； son。 You got evening clothes； haven't you？ Of course； I remember now。 Stage Four at 8：30。 Goo'…by。〃
〃 I want to thank you for this opportunity〃 he began； but was pushed aside by an athletic young woman who spoke from under a broad hat。 〃Hullo； dearie！ How about me and Ella？〃
〃Hullo； Maizie。 All right。 Stage Four； at 8：30； in your swellest evening stuff。〃
At the door the Montague girl called to an approaching group who seemed to have heard by wireless or occult means the report of new activity in the casting office。 〃Hurry； you troupers。 You can eat to…morrow night； maybe！〃 They hurried。 She turned to Merton Gill。 〃Seems like old times；〃 she observed。
〃Does it？〃 he replied coldly。 Would this chit never understand that he disapproved of her trifling ways？
He went on； rejoicing that he had not been compelled to part； even temporarily； with a first…class full…dress suit； hitherto worn only in the privacy of Lowell Hardy's studio。 It would have been awkward； he thought； if the demand for it had been much longer delayed。 He would surely have let that go before sacrificing his Buck Benson outfit。 He had traversed the eucalyptus avenue in this ecstasy； and was on a busier thoroughfare。 Before a motion…picture theatre 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 art with proper seriousness。 He wondered if by any chance Mr。 Henshaw would call upon him to do a quadruple transition； hate； fear； love； despair。 He practised a few transitions as he went on to press his evening clothes in the Patterson kitchen； and to dream； that night； that he rode his good old pal； Pinto； into the gilded cabaret to carry off Muriel Mercer； Broadway's pampered society pet； to the clean life out there in the open spaces where men are men。
At eight the following morning he was made up in a large dressing room by a grumbling extra who said that it was a dog's life plastering grease paint over the maps of dubs。 He was presently on Stage Four in the prescribed evening regalia for gentlemen。 He found the cabaret set； a gilded haunt 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 joined by another early comer； a beautiful young woman of Spanish type with a thin face and eager； dark eyes。 Her gown was glistening black set low about her polished shoulders； and she carried a red rose。 So exotic did she appear he was surprised when she addressed him in the purest English。
〃Say； listen here； old timer！ Let's pick a good table right on the edge before the mob scene starts。 Lemme see〃 She glanced up and down the rows of tables。 〃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 him to the other chair。 Even so early in his picture career did he detect that in facing this girl his back would be to the camera。 He hitched his chair about。
〃That's right；〃 said the girl； 〃I wasn't meaning to hog it。 Say； we was just in time； wasn't we？〃
Ladies and gentlemen in evening dress were already entering。 They looked inquiringly about and chose tables。 Those next to the dancing space were quickly filled。 Many of the ladies permitted costly wraps of fur or brocade to spill across the backs of their chairs。 Many of the gentlemen lighted cigarettes from gleaming metal cases。 There was a lively interchange of talk。
〃We better light up； too；〃 said the dark girl。 Merton Gill had neglected cigarettes and confessed this with some embarrassment。 The girl presented an open case 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； and small coffee…cups。 Spirals of smoke ascended over a finished repast。 Of course if the part called for cigarettes you must smoke whether you had quit or not。
The places back of the prized first row were now filling up with the later comers。 One of these； a masterful…looking man of middle age he would surely be a wealthy club…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 voice a demand； but the young actor glanced slowly up at him； achieving a superb transitionsurprise； annoyance； and； as the invader turned quickly away； pitying contempt。
〃Atta boy！〃 said his companion； who was； with the aid of a tiny gold…backed mirror suspended with the cigarette case； heightening the crimson of her full lips。
Two cameras were now in view； and men were sighting through them。 Merton saw Henshaw； plump but worried looking； scan the scene from the rear。 He gave hurried direction to an assistant who came down the line of tables with a running glance at their occupants。 He made changes。 A couple here 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； she allured him。 The assistant paused before them。 The Spanish girl continued to allure。 Merton Gill stared moodily at the half…empty wine glass； then exhaled smoke as he glanced up at his companion in profound ennui。 If it was The Blight of Broadway probably they would want him to look bored。
〃You two stay where you are；〃 said the assistant； and passed on。
〃Good work；〃 said the girl。 〃I knew you was a type the minute I made you。〃
Red…coated musicians entered an orchestra loft far down the set。 The voice of Henshaw came through a megaphone： 〃Everybody that's near the floor fox…trot。〃 In a moment the space was thronged with dancers。 Another voice called 〃Kick it！〃 and a glare of light came on。
〃You an' me both！〃 said the Spanish girl； rising。
Merton Gill remained seated。 〃Can't；〃 he said。 〃Sprained ankle。〃 How was he to tell her that there had been no chance to learn this dance back in Simsbury； Illinois； where such things were frowned upon by pulpit and press？ The girl resumed her seat； at first with annoyance； then brightened。 〃All right at that；〃 she said。 〃I bet we get more footage this way。〃 She again became coquettish； luring with her wiles one who remained sunk in ennui。
A whistle blew； a voice called 〃Save it！〃 and the lights jarred off。 Henshaw came trippingly down the line。 〃You people didn't dance。 What's the matter？〃 Merton Gill 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 the assistant。 He exhaled smoke and raised his tired eyes to the still luring Spanish girl。 Weariness of the world and women was in his look。 Henshaw scanned him closely。
〃All right； stay therekeep just that wayit's what I want。〃 He continued down the line； which had become hushed。 〃Now； people。 I want some flashes along here； between dancessee 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 youmost of you girls can keep on smilingbut The Blight of Broadway shows on many。 You're beginning to wonder if this is all life has to offersee what I mean？〃 He continued down the line。
From the table back of Merton Gill came a voice in speech to the retreating back of Henshaw： 〃All right； old top； but it'll take a good lens to catch any blight on this bunchmost of 'em haven't worked a lick 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 element in the scene； but in this he was wrong； for he bent upon the wine glass a look more than ever fraught with jaded world…weariness。 The babble of Broadway was resumed as Henshaw went back to the cameras。
Presently a camera was pushed forward。 Merton Gill hardly dared look up； but he knew it was halted at no great distance from him。 〃Now； here's rather a good little bit；〃 Henshaw was saying。 〃You； there； the girl in black； go ontease him the way you were； and he's to give you that same look。 Got that cigarette going？ All ready。 Lights！ Camera！〃