a look…in。〃
〃Can't；〃 said the girl。 〃Soon as I get out o' this dump I got to eat on the lot and everything and be over to Baxter's layoutshe'll be doing tank stuff till all hoursshipwreck and murder and all like that。 Gosh； I hope it ain't cold。 I don't mind the water； but I certainly hate to get out and wait in wet clothes while Sig Rosenblatt is thinking about a retake。〃
〃Well〃Baird turned to go〃take care of yourselfdon't dive and forget to come up。 Come over when you're ready。〃
〃Sure！ S'long！〃 Here the girl； turning from Baird； noted Merton Gill beside her。 〃Well； well； as I live； the actin' kid once more！ Say； you're getting to be a regular studio hound； ain't you？〃
For the moment he had forgotten his troubles。 He was burning to ask her if Beulah Baxter would really work in a shipwreck scene that night at the place where he had watched the carpenters and the men on the sailboat； but as he tried to word this he saw that the girl was again scanning him with keen eyes。 He knew she would read the collar； the beard； perhaps even a look of mere hunger that he thought must now be showing。
〃Say； see here； Trouper； what's the shootin' all about； anyway？ You up against ityes。〃 There was again in her eye the look of warm concern； and she was no longer trying to be funny。 He might now have admitted a few little things about his screen career； but again the director interrupted。
〃Miss Montaguewhere are you？ Oh！ Well； remember you're behind the piano during that gun play just now； and you stay hid till after the boys get out。 We'll shoot this time； so get set。〃
She sped off； with a last backward glance of questioning。 He waited but a moment before leaving。 He was almost forgetting his hunger in the pretty certain knowledge that in a few hours he would actually behold his wonder…woman in at least one of her daring exploits。 Shipwreck！ Perhaps she would be all but drowned。 He hastened back to the pool that had now acquired this high significance。 The carpenters were still puttering about on the scaffold。 He saw that platforms for the cameras had been built out from its side。
He noted； too； and was puzzled by an aeroplane propeller that had been stationed close to one corner of the pool； just beyond the stern of the little sailing…craft。 Perhaps there would be an aeroplane wreck in addition to a shipwreck。 Now he had something besides food to think of。 And he wondered what the Montague girl could be doing in the company of a really serious artist like Beulah Baxter。 From her own story she was going to get wet； but from what he knew of her she would be some character not greatly missed from the cast if she should； as Baird had suggested； dive and forget to come up。 He supposed that Baird had meant this to be humorous； the humour typical of a man who could profane a great art with the atrocious Buckeye comedies； so called。
He put in the hours until nightfall in aimless wandering and idle gazing； and was early at the pool…side where his heroine would do her sensational acting。 It was now a scene of thrilling activity。 Immense lights； both from the scaffolding and from a tower back of the sailing…craft； flooded its deck and rigging from time to time as adjustments were made。 The rigging was slack and the deck was still littered； intentionally so； he now perceived。 The gallant little boat had been cruelly buffeted by a gale。 Two sailors in piratical dress could be seen to emerge at intervals from the cabin。
Suddenly the gale was on with terrific force； the sea rose in great waves； and the tiny ship rocked in a perilous manner。 Great billows of water swept its decks。 Merton Gill stared in amazement at these phenomena so dissonant with the quiet starlit night。 Then he traced them without difficulty to their various sources。 The gale issued from the swift revolutions of that aeroplane propeller he had noticed a while ago。 The flooding billows were spilled from the big tank at the top of the scaffold and the boat rocked in obedience to the tugging of a ropetugged from the shore by a crew of helpers that ran to the top of its mast。 Thus had the storm been produced。
A spidery； youngish man from one of the platforms built out from the scaffold； now became sharply vocal through a megaphone to assistants who were bending the elements to the need of this particular hazard of Hortense。 He called directions to the men who tugged the rope； to the men in control of the lights； and to another who seemed to create the billows。 Among other items he wished more action for the boat and more water for the billows。 〃See that your tank gets full… up this time；〃 he called； whereupon an engine under the scaffold； by means of a large rubber hose reaching into the pool； began to suck water into the tank above。
The speaker must be Miss Baxter's director； the enviable personage who saw her safely through her perils。 When one of the turning reflectors illumined him Merton saw his face of a keen Semitic type。 He seemed to possess not the most engaging personality； his manner was aggressive； he spoke rudely to his doubtless conscientious employees； he danced in little rages of temper； and altogether he was not one with whom the watcher would have cared to come in contact。 He wondered； indeed； that so puissant a star as Beulah Baxter should not be able to choose her own director； for surely the presence of this unlovely； waspishly tempered being could be nothing but an irritant in the daily life of the wonder…woman。 Perhaps she had tolerated him merely for one picture。 Perhaps he was especially good in shipwrecks。
If Merton Gill were in this company he would surely have words with this person； director or no director。 He hastily wrote a one…reel scenario in which the man so far forgot himself as to speak sharply to the star； and in which a certain young actor； a new member of the company； resented the ungentlemanly words by pitching the offender into a convenient pool and earned even more than gratitude from the starry…eyed wonder…woman。
The objectionable man continued active； profuse of gesture and loud through the megaphone。 Once more the storm。 The boat rocked threateningly； the wind roared through its slack rigging； and giant billows swept the frail craft。 Light as from a half…clouded moon broke through the mist that issued from a steam pipe。 There was another lull； and the Semitic type on the platform became increasingly offensive。 Merton saw himself saying； 〃Allow me； Miss Baxter； to relieve you of the presence of this bounder。〃 The man was impossible。 Constantly he had searched the scene for his heroine。 She would probably not appear until they were ready to shoot； and this seemed not to be at once if the rising temper of the director could be thought an indication。
The big hose again drew water from the pool to the tank； whence； at a sudden release； it would issue in billows。 The big lights at last seemed to be adjusted to the director's whim。 The aeroplane propeller whirred and the gale was found acceptable。 The men at the rope tugged the boat into grave danger。 The moon lighted the mist that overhung the scene。
Then at last Merton started； peering eagerly forward across the length of the pool。 At the far end； half illumined by the big lights； stood the familiar figure of his wonderwoman； the slim little girl with the wistful eyes。 Plainly he could see her now as the mist lifted。 She was chatting with one of the pirates who had stepped ashore from the boat。 The wonderful golden hair shone resplendent under the glancing rays of the arcs。 A cloak was about her shoulders； but at a word of command from the director she threw it off and stepped to the boat's deck。 She was dressed in a short skirt； her trim feet and ankles lightly shod and silken clad。 The sole maritime touch in her garb was a figured kerchief at her throat similar to those worn by the piratical crew。
〃All ready； Hortenseall ready Jose and Gaston； get your places。〃
Miss Baxter acknowledged the command with that characteristic little wave of a hand that he recalled from so many of her pictures； a half…humorous； half…mocking little defiance。 She used it often when escaping her pursuers； as if to say that she would see them in the next installment。
The star and the two men were now in the cabin； hidden from view。 Merton Gill was no seaman； but it occurred to him that at least one of the crew would be at the wheel in this emergency。 Probably the director knew no better。 Indeed the boat； so far as could be discerned； had no wheel。 Apparently when a storm came up all hands went down into the cabin to get away from it。
The storm did come up at this moment； with no one on deck。 It struck with the full force of a tropic hurricane。 The boat rocked； the wind blew； and billows swept the deck。 At the height of the tempest Beulah Baxter sprang from the cabin to the deck； clutching wildly at a stanchion。 Buffeted by the billows she groped a painful way along the side； at risk of being swept off to her death。
She was followed by one of the crew who held a murderous knife in his hand； then by the other sailor who also held a knife。 They； too； were swept by the billows； but seemed grimly determined upon the death of the heroine。 Then； when she reached midships and the forem