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Merton of the Movies
by Harry Leon Wilson
To George Ade
CONTENTS
I。 DIRTY WORK AT THE BORDER
II。 THAT NIGHTTHE APARTMENTS OF CLIFFORD ARMYTAGE
III。 WESTERN STUFF
IV。 THE WATCHER AT THE GATE
V。 A BREACH IN THE CITY WALLS
VI。 UNDER THE GLASS TOPS
VII。 〃NOTHING TO…DAY； DEAR！〃
VIII。 CLIFFORD ARMYTAGE； THE OUTLAW
IX。 MORE WAYS THAN ONE
X。 OF SHATTERED ILLUSIONS
XI。 THE MONTAGUE GIRL INTERVENES
XII。 ALIAS HAROLD PARMALEE
XIII。 GENIUS COMES INTO ITS OWN
XIV。 OUT THERE WHERE MEN ARE MEN
XV。 A NEW TRAIL
XVI。 OF SARAH NEVADA MONTAGUE
XVII。 MISS MONTAGUE USES HER OWN FACE
XVIII。 〃FIVE REELS500 LAUGHS〃
XIX。 THE TRAGIC COMEDIAN
XX。 ONWARD AND UPWARD
CHAPTER I
DIRTY WORK AT THE BORDER
At the very beginning of the tale there comes a moment of puzzled hesitation。 One way of approach is set beside another for choice； and a third contrived for better choice。 Still the puzzle persists； all because the one precisely right way might seemshall we say intense； high keyed； clamorous？ Yet if one way is the only right way； why pause？ Courage！ Slightly dazed； though certain； let us be on； into the shrill thick of it。 So； then
Out there in the great open spaces where men are men； a clash of primitive hearts and the coming of young love into its own！ Well had it been for Estelle St。 Clair if she had not wandered from the Fordyce ranch。 A moment's delay in the arrival of Buck Benson； a second of fear in that brave heart； and hers would have been a fate worse than death。
Had she not been warned of Snake le Vasquez； the outlawhis base threat to win her by fair means or foul？ Had not Buck Benson himself； that strong； silent man of the open； begged her to beware of the half…breed？ Perhaps she had resented the hint of mastery in Benson's cool； quiet tones as he said； 〃Miss St。 Clair； ma'am； I beg you not to endanger your welfare by permitting the advances of this viper。 He bodes no good to such as you。〃
Perhapswho knows？Estelle St。 Clair had even thought to trifle with the feelings of Snake le Vasquez； then to scorn him for his presumption。 Although the beautiful New York society girl had remained unsullied in the midst of a city's profligacy； she still liked 〃to play with fire；〃 as she laughingly said； and at the quiet words of BensonTwo…Gun Benson his comrades of the border called himshe had drawn herself to her full height； facing him in all her blond young beauty； and pouted adorably as she replied； 〃Thank you！ But I can look out for myself。〃
Yet she had wandered on her pony farther than she meant to； and was not without trepidation at the sudden appearance of the picturesque halfbreed； his teeth flashing in an evil smile as he swept off his broad sombrero to her。 Above her suddenly beating heart she sought to chat gayly； while the quick eyes of the outlaw took in the details of the smart riding costume that revealed every line of her lithe young figure。 But suddenly she chilled under his hot glance that now spoke all too plainly。
〃I must return to my friends；〃 she faltered。 〃They will be anxious。〃 But the fellow laughed with a sinister leer。 〃Noah； no； the lovely senorita will come with me；〃 he replied； but there was the temper of steel in his words。 For Snake le Vasquez； on the border； where human life was lightly held； was known as the Slimy Viper。 Of all the evil men in that inferno； Snake was the foulest。 Steeped in vice； he feared neither God nor man； and respected no woman。 And now； Estelle St。 Clair； drawing…room pet； pampered darling of New York society； which she ruled with an iron hand from her father's Fifth Avenue mansion； regretted bitterly that she had not given heed to honest Buck Benson。 Her prayers； threats； entreaties； were in vain。 Despite her struggles； the blows her small fists rained upon the scoundrel's taunting face； she was borne across the border； on over the mesa； toward the lair of the outlaw。
〃Have you no mercy？〃 she cried again and again。 〃Can you not see that I loathe and despise you； foul fiend that you are？ Ah。 God in heaven； is there no help at hand？〃 The outlaw remained deaf to these words that should have melted a heart of stone。 At last over the burning plain was seen the ruined hovel to which the scoundrel was dragging his fair burden。 It was but the work of a moment to dismount and bear her half…fainting form within the den。 There he faced her； repellent with evil intentions。
〃Ha； senorita； you are a beautiful wildcat； yes？ But Snake le Vasquez will tame you！ Ha； ha！〃 laughed he carelessly。
With a swift movement the beautiful girl sought to withdraw the small silver…mounted revolver without which she never left the ranch。 But Snake le Vasquez； with a muttered oath； was too quick for her。 He seized the toy and contemptuously hurled it across his vile den。
〃Have a care； my proud beauty！〃 he snarled； and the next moment she was writhing in his grasp。
Little availed her puny strength。 Helpless as an infant was the fair New York society girl as Snake le Vasquez； foulest of the viper breed； began to force his attention upon her。 The creature's hot kisses seared her defenseless cheek。 〃Listen！〃 he hissed。 〃You are mine； mine at last。 Here you shall remain a prisoner until you have consented to be my wife。〃 All seemed； indeed； lost。
〃Am I too late； Miss St。 Clair？〃
Snake le Vasquez started at the quiet； grim voice。
〃Sapristi！〃 he snarled。 〃You！〃
〃Me！〃 replied Buck Benson； for it was； indeed； no other。
〃Thank God； at last！〃 murmured Estelle St。 Clair； freeing herself from the foul arms that had enfolded her slim young beauty and staggering back from him who would so basely have forced her into a distasteful marriage。 In an instant she had recovered the St。 Clair poise； had become every inch the New York society leader； as she replied； 〃Not too late； Mr。 Benson！ Just in time； rather。 Ha； ha！ Thisthis gentleman has become annoying。 You are just in time to mete out the punishment he so justly deserves； for which I shall pray that heaven reward you。〃
She pointed an accusing finger at the craven wretch who had shrunk from her and now cowered at the far side of the wretched den。 At that moment she was strangely thrilled。 What was his power； this strong； silent man of the open with his deep reverence for pure American womanhood？ True； her culture demanded a gentleman； but her heart demanded a man。 Her eyes softened and fell before his cool； keen gaze； and a blush mantled her fair cheek。 Could he but have known it； she stood then in meek surrender before this soft…voiced master。 A tremor swept the honest rugged face of Buck Benson as heart thus called to heart。 But his keen eyes flitted to Snake le Vasquez。
〃Now； curse you； viper that you are； you shall fight me； by heaven！ in American fashion； man to man； for； foul though you be； I hesitate to put a bullet through your craven heart。〃
The beautiful girl shivered with new apprehension； the eyes of Snake le Vasquez glittered with new hope。 He faced his steely eyed opponent for an instant only； then with a snarl like that of an angry beast sprang upon him。 Benson met the cowardly attack with the flash of a powerful fist； and the outlaw fell to the floor with a hoarse cry of rage and pain。 But he was quickly upon his feet again； muttering curses； and again he attacked his grim…faced antagonist。 Quick blows rained upon his defenseless face； for the strong； silent man was now fairly aroused。 He fought like a demon； perhaps divining that here strong men battled for a good woman's love。 The outlaw was proving to be no match for his opponent。 Arising from the ground where a mighty blow had sent him； he made a lightning…like effort to recover the knife which Benson had taken from him。
〃Have a care！〃 cried the girl in quick alarm。 〃That fiend in human form would murder you！〃
But Buck Benson's cool eye had seen the treachery in ample time。 With a muttered 〃Curse you； fiend that you are！〃 he seized the form of the outlaw in a powerful grasp； raised him high aloft as if he had been but a child； and was about to dash him to the ground when a new voice from the doorway froze him to immobility。 Statute…like he stood there； holding aloft the now still form of Snake le Vasquez。
The voice from the doorway betrayed deep amazement and the profoundest irritation：
〃Merton Gill； what in the sacred name of Time are you meanin' to do with that dummy？ For the good land's sake！ Have you gone plumb crazy； or what？ Put that thing down！〃
The newcomer was a portly man of middle age dressed in ill…fitting black。 His gray hair grew low upon his brow and he wore a parted beard。
The conqueror of Snake le Vasquez was still frozen； though he had instantly ceased to be Buck Benson； the strong； silent； two…gun man of the open spaces。 The irritated voice came again：
〃Put that dummy down； you idiot！ What you think you're doin'； anyway？ And say； what you got that other one in here for； when it ought to be out front of the store showin' that new line of gingham house frocks？ Put that down and handle it careful！ Mebbe you think I got them things down from Chicago just for you to play horse with。 Not so！ Not so at all！ They'r