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attentions； she appeared to be just the least bit bold。 It seemed almost as if she wished to attract their notice。 He hesitated to admit it； for he profoundly esteemed the girl； but there were even moments when； in technical language； she actually seemed to 〃vamp〃 these creatures who thronged about her to profess for her jams and jellies an interest he was sure they did not feel。
He wondered if Baird had made it plain to her that she was a very innocent little country girl who should be unpleasantly affected by these advances。 The scene he watched shot where the little sister climbed back into the motor car； leered at by the four New York club…men； he thought especially distasteful。 Surely the skirt of her print dress was already short enough。 She needed not to lift it under this evil regard as she put her foot up to the step。
It was on the porch of the hotel； too； that he was to have his first scene with the New York society girl whose hand he won。 She proved to be the daughter of the old gentleman who liked the improved grape juice。 As Baird had intimated； she was a large girl； not only tall and stoutly built； but somewhat heavy of face。 Baird's heart must have been touched indeed when he consented to employ her； but Merton remembered her bedridden father and mother； the little crippled brother； the little sister who was also in poor health； and resolved to make their scenes together as easy for her as he could。
At their first encounter she appeared in a mannish coat and riding breeches； though she looked every inch a woman in this attire。
〃She sees you； and it's a case of love at first sight on her part；〃 explained Baird。 〃And you love her； too； only you're a bashful country boy and can't show it the way she can。 Try out a little first scene now。〃
Merton stood； his basket on his arm； as the girl approached him。 〃Look down；〃 called Baird； and Merton lowered his gaze under the ardent regard of the social butterfly。 She tossed away her cigarette and came nearer。 Then she mischievously pinched his cheek as the New York men had pinched his little sister's。 Having done this； she placed her hand beneath his chin and raised his face to hers。
〃Now look up at her；〃 called Baird。 〃But she frightens you。 Remember your country raising。 You never saw a society girl before。 That's itlook frightened while she's admiring you in that bold way。 Now turn a little and look down again。 Pinch his cheek once more； Lulu。 Now； Merton； look up and smile； but kind of scaredyou're still afraid of herand offer her a bottle of Ma's preserves。 Step back a little as you do it； because you're kind of afraid of what she might do next。 That's fine。 Good work； both of you。〃
He was glad for the girl's sake that Baird had approved the work of both。 He had been afraid she was overdoing the New York society manner in the boldness of her advances to him； but of course Baird would know。
His conscience hurt him a little when the Montague girl added her praise to Baird's for his own work。 〃Kid； you certainly stepped neat and looked nice in that love scene；〃 she warmly told him。 He would have liked to praise her own work； but could not bring himself to。 Perhaps she would grow more shrinking and modest as the drama progressed。
A part of the play now developed as he had foreseen it would； in that the city men at the hotel pursued the little sister to her own door…step with attentions that she should have found unwelcome。 But even now she behaved in a way he could not approve。 She seemed determined to meet the city men halfway。 〃I'm to be the sunlight arc of this hovel；〃 she announced when the city men came； one at a time； to shower gifts upon the little wild rose。
Later it became apparent that she must in the end pay dearly for her too…ready acceptance of these favours。 One after another the four city men； whose very appearance would have been sufficient warning to most girls； endeavoured to lure her up to the great city where they promised to make a lady of her。 It was a situation notoriously involving danger to the simple country girl； yet not even her mother frowned upon it。
The mother； indeed； frankly urged the child to let all of these kind gentlemen make a lady of her。 The brother should have warned her in this extremity； but the brother was not permitted any share in these scenes。 Only Merton Gill； in his proper person； seemed to feel the little girl was all too cordially inviting trouble。
He became confused； ultimately； by reason of the scenes not being taken consecutively。 It appeared that the little sister actually left her humble home at the insistence of one of the villains； yet she did not； apparently； creep back months later broken in body and soul。 As nearly as he could gather； she was back the next day。 And it almost seemed as if later； at brief intervals； she allowed herself to start for the great city with each of the other three scoundrels who were bent upon her destruction。 But always she appeared to return safely and to bring large sums of money with which to delight the old mother。
It was puzzling to Merton。 He decided at lasthe did not like to ask the Montague girlthat Baird had tried the same scene four times； and would choose the best of these for his drama。
Brother and sister made further trips to the hotel with their offerings； only the sister now took jams and jellies exclusively； which she sold to the male guests； while the brother took only the improved grape juice which the rich old New Yorker bought and generously paid for。
There were other scenes at the hotel between the country boy and the heavy…faced New York society girl； in which the latter was an ardent wooer。 Once she was made to snatch a kiss from him as he stood by her； his basket on his arm。 He struggled in her embrace； then turned to flee。
She was shown looking after him； laughing； carelessly slapping one leg with her riding crop。
〃You're still timid；〃 Baird told him。 〃You can hardly believe you have won her love。〃
In some following scenes at the little farmhouse it became impossible for him longer to doubt this； for the girl frankly told her love as she lingered with him at the gate。
〃She's one of these new women；〃 said Baird。 〃She's living her own life。 You listenit's wonderful that this great love should have come to you。 Let us see the great joy dawning in your eyes。〃
He endeavoured to show this。 The New York girl became more ardent。 She put an arm about him； drew him to her。 Slowly； almost in the manner of Harold Parmalee； as it seemed to him； she bent down and imprinted a long kiss upon his lips。 He had been somewhat difficult to rehearse in this scene； but Baird made it all plain。 He was still the bashful country boy； though now he would be awakened by love。
The girl drew him from the gate to her waiting automobile。 Here she overcame a last reluctance and induced him to enter。 She followed and drove rapidly off。
It was only now that Baird let him into the very heart of the drama。
〃You see；〃 he told Merton； 〃you've watched these city folks； you've wanted city life and fine clothes for yourself； so； in a moment of weakness； you've gone up to town with this girl to have a look at the place； and it sort of took hold of you。 In fact； you hit up quite a pace for awhile； but at last you go stale on it〃 〃The blight of Broadway；〃 suggested Merton； wondering if there could be a cabaret scene。
〃Exactly；〃 said Baird。 〃And you get to thinking of the poor old mother and little sister back here at home； working away to pay off the mortgage； and you decide to come back。 You get back on a stormy night； lots of snow and wind； you're pretty weak。 We'll show you sort of fainting as you reach the door。 You have no overcoat nor hat； and your city suit is practically ruined。 You got a great chance for some good acting here； especially after you get inside to face the folks。 It'll be the strongest thing you've done； so far。〃
It was indeed an opportunity for strong acting。 He could see that。 He stayed late with Baird and his staff one night and a scene of the prodigal's return to the door of the little home was shot in a blinding snow…storm。 Baird warmly congratulated the mechanics who contrived the storm； and was enthusiastic over the acting of the hero。 Through the wintry blast he staggered； half falling； to reach the door where he collapsed。 The light caught the agony on his pale face。 He lay a moment； half…fainting； then reached up a feeble hand to the knob of the door。
It was one of the annoyances incident to screen art that he could not go in at that moment to finish his great scene。 But this must be done back on the lot； and the scene could not be secured until the next day。
Once more he became the pitiful victim of a great city； crawling back to the home shelter on a wintry night。 It was Christmas eve； he now learned。 He pushed open the door of the little home and staggered in to face his old mother and the little sister。 They sprang forward at his entrance； the sister ran to support him to the homely old sofa。 He was weak； emaciated； his face an agony of repentance； as he mutely pled forgiveness for his flight。
His old mother had risen； had seemed about to embrace him fondly when he knelt at her feet； but then had d