ideration to the combat； and again slept warmly under the blankets。 Perhaps they would fight again to…morrow； or perhaps there would be less violent bits of the drama that would secure him another night of calm repose。
The following morning found him slightly disturbed by two unforeseen needs arising from his novel situation。 He looked carefully at his collar； wondering how many days he would be able to keep it looking like a fresh collar； and he regretted that he had not brought his safety…razor to this new home。 Still the collar was in excellent shape as yet； and a scrutiny of his face in the cracked mirror hanging on the log wall determined that he could go at least another day without shaving。 His beard was of a light growth； gentle in texture； and he was yet far from the plight of Mr。 Montague。 Eventually； to be sure； he would have to go to the barber shop on the lot and pay money to be shaved； which seemed a pity； because an actor could live indefinitely unshaven but could live without food for the merest fragment of time。
He resolved to be on the lookout that day for a barber…shop set。 He believed they were not common in the photodrama； still one might be found。
He limited himself to the lightest of breakfasts。 He had timidly refrained from counting his silver but he knew he must be frugal。 He rejoiced at this economy until late afternoon when； because of it； he simply had to eat a heavier dinner than he had expected to need。 There was something so implacable about this demand for food。 If you skimped in the morning you must make amends at the next meal。 He passed the time as on the previous day； a somewhat blase actor resting between pictures； and condescending to beguile the tedium by overlooking the efforts of his professional brethren。 He could find no set that included a barber shop； although they were beds on every hand。 He hoped for another night in the cabin； but if that were not to be； there was a bed easy of access on Stage Three。 When he had observed it； a ghastly old father was coughing out his life under its blankets； nursed only by his daughter； a beautiful young creature who sewed by his bedside； and who would doubtless be thrown upon the world in the very next reel； thoughMerton was glad to noteprobably not until the next day。
Yet there was no need for this couch of the tubercular father； for action in the little cabin was still on。 After making the unhappy discovery in the cafeteria that his appetite could not be hoodwinked by the clumsy subterfuge of calling coffee and rolls a breakfast some six hours previously； he went boldly down to stand before his home。 Both miners were at work inside。 The room had been placed in order again； though the little mountain flower was gone。 A letter； he gathered； had been received from her； and one of the miners was about to leave on a long journey。
Merton could not be sure； but he supposed that the letter from the little girl told that she was unhappy in her new surroundings； perhaps being ill…treated by the supercilious Eastern relatives。 The miner who was to remain helped the other to pack his belongings in a quaint old carpet sack； and together they undid a bundle which proved to contain a splendid new suit。 Not only this； but now came a scene of eloquent appeal to the watcher outside the door。 The miner who was to remain expressed stern disapproval of the departing miner's beard。 It would never do； he was seen to intimate； and when the other miner portrayed helplessness a new package was unwrapped and a safety razor revealed to his shocked gaze。
At this sight Merton Gill felt himself growing too emotional for a mere careless bystander； and withdrew to a distance where he could regain better control of himself。 When he left the miner to be shorn was betraying comic dismay while the other pantomimed the correct use of the implement his thoughtfulness had provided。 When he returned after halfan…hour's rather nervous walk up another street； the departing miner was clean shaven and one might note the new razor glittering on the low bench beside the battered tin basin。
They worked late in his home that night； trifling scenes were taken and retaken。 The departing miner had to dress in his splendid but ill…fitting new garments and to bid an affectionate farewell to his partner； then had to dress in his old clothes again for some bit that had been forgotten； only to don the new suit for close…ups。 At another time Merton Gill might have resented this tediously drawn… out affair which was keeping him from his rest； for he had come to look upon this structure as one having rights in it after a certain hour； but a sight of the razor which had not been touched allayed any possible feeling of irritation。
It was nine…thirty before the big lights jarred finally off and the director said； 〃That's all； boys。〃 Then he turned to call； 〃Jimmie！ Hey； Jimmie！ Where's that prop…rustler gone to now？〃
〃Here； Mr。 Burke； yes； sir。〃
〃We've finished the shack stuff。 Let's see〃 He looked at the watch on his wrist〃That'll be all for tonight。 Strike this first thing tomorrow morning。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said Jimmie。 The door was closed and the men walked away。 Merton trailed them a bit； not remaining too pointedly near the cabin。 He circled around through Fifth Avenue to regain the place。
Softly he let himself in and groped through the dark until his hand closed upon the abandoned razor。 Satisfying himself that fresh blades had accompanied it； he made ready for bed。 He knew it was to be his last night in this shelter。 The director had told Jimmie to strike it first thing in the morning。 The cabin would still be there； but it would contain no homely furniture； no chairs； no table； no wash…basin； no safety…razor and； most vital of lacksit would be devoid of blankets。
Yet this knowledge did not dismay him。 He slept peacefully after praying that something good would happen to him。 He put it that way very simply。 He had placed himself； it seemed； where things could only happen to him。 He was； he felt； beyond bringing them about。
CHAPTER IX
MORE WAYS THAN ONE
Early he was up to bathe and shave。 He shaved close to make it last longer； until his tender face reddened under the scraping。 Probably he would not find another cabin in which a miner would part with his beard for an Eastern trip。 Probably he would have to go to the barber the next time。 He also succeeded； with soap and water； in removing a stain from his collar。 It was still a decent collar； not immaculate； perhaps； but entirely possible。
This day he took eggs with his breakfast； intending to wheedle his appetite with a lighter second meal than it had demanded the day before。 He must see if this would not average better on the day's overhead。
After breakfast he was irresistibly drawn to view the moving picture of his old home being dismantled。 He knew now that he might stand brazenly there without possible criticism。 He found Jimmy and a companion property…boy already busy。 Much of the furniture was outside to be carted away。 Jimmy； as Merton lolled idly in the doorway； emptied the blackened coffee pot into the ashes of the fireplace and then proceeded to spoon into the same refuse heap half a kettle of beans upon which the honest miners had once feasted。 The watcher deplored that he had not done more than taste the beans when he had taken his final survey of the place this morning。 They had been good beans； but to do more than taste them would have been stealing。 Now he saw them thrown away and regretted that he could not have known what their fate was to be。 There had been enough of them to save him a day's expenses。
He stood aside as the two boys brought out the cooking utensils； the rifle； the miners' tools； to stow them in a waiting handcart。 When they had loaded this vehicle they trundled it on up the narrow street of the Western town。 Yet they went only a little way； halting before one of the street's largest buildings。 A sign above its wooden porch flaunted the name Crystal Palace Hotel。 They unlocked its front door and took the things from the cart inside。
From the street the watcher could see them stowing these away。 The room appeared to contain a miscellaneous collection of articles needed in the ruder sort of photodrama。 Emptying their cart； they returned with it to the cabin for another load。 Merton Gill stepped to the doorway and peered in from apparently idle curiosity。 He could see a row of saddles on wooden supports； there were kitchen stoves； lamps； painted chairs； and heavy earthenware dishes on shelves。 His eyes wandered over these articles until they came to rest upon a pile of blankets at one side of the room。 They were neatly folded； and they were many。
Down before the cabin he could see the handcart being reloaded by Jimmie and his helper。 Otherwise the street was empty。 The young man at the doorway stepped lightly in and regarded the windows on either side of the door。 He sauntered to the street and appeared to be wondering what he would examine next in this curious world。 He passed Jimmie and the other boy returning with the last load from the cabin。 He noted at the top of the load the mattress on which he had lain for three nights and the blankets that had warmed him。 Bu