rough without a scratch； allus brought me through。〃 There was a sob in the speaker's voice； but he manfully recovered a clear tone of pathos。 〃And now； old pal； they're a…takin' ye from meyes； we got to part； you an' me。 I'm never goin' to set eyes on ye agin。 But we got to be brave； old pal； we got to keep a stiff upper lipno cryin' now； no bustin' down。〃
The speaker unclasped his arms and stood with head bowed； his face working curiously； striving to hold back the sobs。
For Merton Gill was once more Clifford Armytage； popular idol of the screen； in his great role of Buck Benson bidding the accustomed farewell to his four…footed pal that had brought him safely through countless dangers。 How are we to know that in another couple of hundred feet of the reel Buck will escape the officers of the law who have him for that hold…up of the Wallahoola stageof which he was innocentleap from a second…story window of the sheriff's office onto the back of his old pal； and be carried safely over the border where the hellhounds can't touch him until his innocence is proved by Estelle St。 Clair； the New York society girl； whose culture demanded a gentleman but whose heart demanded a man。 How are we to know this？ We only know that Buck Benson always has to kiss his horse good…by at this spot in the drama。
Merton Gill is impressively Buck Benson。 His sobs are choking him。 And though Gashwiler's delivery horse is not a pinto； and could hardly get over the border ahead of a sheriff's posse； the scene is affecting。
〃Good…by； again； old pal； and God bless ye！〃 sobs Merton。
CHAPTER II
THAT NIGHTTHE APARTMENTS OF CLIFFORD ARMYTAGE
Merton Gill mealed at the Gashwiler home。 He ate his supper in moody silence； holding himself above the small gossip of the day that engaged Amos and his wife。 What to him meant the announcement that Amos expected a new line of white goods on the morrow； or Mrs。 Gashwiler's version of a regrettable incident occurring at that afternoon's meeting of the Entre Nous Five Hundred Club； in which the score had been juggled adversely to Mrs。 Gashwiler； resulting in the loss of the first prize； a handsome fern dish； and concerning which Mrs。 Gashwiler had thought it best to speak her mind？ What importance could he attach to the disclosure of Metta Judson； the Gashwiler hired girl； who chatted freely during her appearances with food； that Doc Cummins had said old Grandma Foutz couldn't last out another day； that the Peter Swansons were sending clear to Chicago for Tilda's trousseau； and that Jeff Murdock had arrested one of the Giddings boys； but she couldn't learn if it was Ferd or Gus； for being drunk as a fool and busting up a bazaar out at the Oak Grove schoolhouse； and the fighting was something terrible。
Scarcely did he listen to these petty recitals。 He ate in silence； and when he had finished the simple meal he begged to be excused。 He begged this in a lofty； detached； somewhat weary manner； as a man of the world； excessively bored at the dull chatter but still the fastidious gentleman； might have begged it； breaking into one of the many repetitions by his hostess of just what she had said to Mrs。 Judge Ellis。 He was again Clifford Armytage； enacting a polished society man among yokels。 He was so impressive； after rising； in his bow to Mrs。 Gashwiler that Amos regarded him with a kindling suspicion。
〃Say！〃 he called； as Merton in the hallway plucked his rakish plush hat from the mirrored rack。 〃You remember； now； no more o' that skylarkin' with them dummies！ Them things cost money。〃
Merton paused。 He wished to laugh sarcastically； a laugh of withering scorn。 He wished to reply in polished tones； 〃Skylarkin'！ You poor； dull clod； what do you know of my ambitions； my ideals？ You； with your petty life devoted to gaining a few paltry dollars！〃 But he did not say this； or even register the emotion that would justly accompany such a subtitle。 He merely rejoined； 〃All right； sir； I'm not going to touch them；〃 and went quickly out。 〃Darned old grouch！〃 he muttered as he went down the concrete walk to the Gashwiler front gate。
Here he turned to regard the two…story brick house and the square of lawn with a concrete deer on one side of the walk； balanced by a concrete deer on the other。 Before the gate was the cast…iron effigy of a small Negro in fantastic uniform； holding an iron ring aloft。 The Gashwiler carriage horse had been tethered to this in the days before the Gashwiler touring car had been acquired。
〃Dwelling of a country storekeeper！〃 muttered Merton。 〃That's all you are！〃
This was intended to be scornful。 Merton meant that on the screen it would be recognized as this and nothing more。 It could not be taken for the mansion of a rich banker； or the country home of a Wall Street magnate。 He felt that he had been keen in his dispraise； especially as old Gashwiler would never get the sting of it。 Clod！
Three blocks brought him to the heart of the town； still throbbing faintly。 He stood； irresolute； before the Giddings House。 Chairs in front of this hostelry were now vacant of loafers； and a clatter of dishes came through the open windows of the dining room； where supper was on。 Farther down the street Selby Brothers； Cigars and Confectionery； would be open； lights shone from the windows of the Fashion Pool Parlour across the way； the City Drug Store could still be entered； and the post office would stay open until after the mail from No。 4 was distributed。 With these exceptions the shops along this mart of trade were tightly closed； including the Gashwiler Emporium； at the blind front of which Merton now glanced with the utmost distaste。
Such citizens as were yet abroad would be over at the depot to watch No。 4 go through。 Merton debated joining these sight…seers。 Simsbury was too small to be noticed by many trains。 It sprawled along the track as if it had been an afterthought of the railroad。 Trains like No。 4 were apt to dash relentlessly by it without slackening speed； the mail bag being flung to the depot platform。 But sometimes there would be a passenger for Simsbury； and the proud train would slow down and halt reluctantly； with a grinding of brakes； while the passenger alighted。 Then a good view of the train could be had； a line of beautiful sleepers terminating in an observation car； its rear platform guarded by a brass…topped railing behind which the privileged lolled at ease； and up ahead a wonderful dining car； where dinner was being served； flitting white…clad waiters； the glitter of silver and crystal and damask； and favoured beings feasting at their lordly ease； perhaps denying even a careless glance at the pitiful hamlet outside； or at most looking out impatient at the halt； or merely staring with incurious eyes while awaiting their choice foods。
Not one of these enviable persons ever betrayed any interest in Simsbury or its little group of citizens who daily gathered on the platform to do them honour。 Merton Gill used to fancy that these people might shrewdly detect him to be out of place theremight perhaps take him to be an alien city man awaiting a similar proud train going the other way； standing； as he would； aloof from the obvious villagers； and having a manner； a carriage； an attire； such as further set him apart。 Still； he could never be sure about this。 Perhaps no one ever did single him out as a being patently of the greater world。 Perhaps they considered that he was rightly of Simsbury and would continue to be a part of it all the days of his life； or perhaps they wouldn't notice him at all。 They had been passing Simsburys all day； and all Simsburys and all their peoples must look very much alike to them。 Very wella day would come。 There would be at Simsbury a momentous stop of No。 4 and another passenger would be in that dining car； disjoined forever from Simsbury； and he with them would stare out the polished windows at the gaping throng； and he would continue to stare with incurious eyes at still other Simsburys along the right of way； while the proud train bore him off to triumphs never dreamed of by natural… born villagers。
He decided now not to tantalize himself with a glance at this splendid means of escape from all that was sordid。 He was still not a little depressed by the late unpleasantness with Gashwiler； who had thought him a crazy fool； with his revolver； his fiercely muttered words； and his holding aloft of a valuable dummy as if to threaten it with destruction。 Well； some day the old grouch would eat his words； some day he would be relating to amazed listeners that he had known Merton Gill intimately at the very beginning of his astounding career。 That was bound to come。 But to…night Merton had no heart for the swift spectacle of No。 4。 Nor even； should it halt； did he feel up to watching those indifferent； incurious passengers who little recked that a future screen idol in natty plush hat and belted coat amusedly surveyed them。 To…night he must be alonebut a day would come。 Resistless Time would strike his hour！
Still he must wait for the mail before beginning his nightly study。 Certain of his magazines would come to…night。 He sauntered down the deserted street； pausing before the establishment of Selby Brothers。 From the door of this e