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〃It'sit's like that other time you found me〃 His bluster had gone。 He was not sure of his voice。 Even these few words had been hard。 He did not try more。
〃There； there； there！〃 she whispered。 〃It's all right； everything's all right。 Your mother's got you right here and she ain't ever going to let you gonever going to let you go。〃
She was patting his head in rhythm with her rocking as she snuggled and soothed him。 There was silence for another interval。 Then she began to croon a song above him as she rocked； though the lyric was plainly an improvisation。
〃Did he have his poor old mother going for a minute？ Yes； he did。 He had her going for a minute； for a minute。 Yes； he had her going good for a minute。
〃But oh； he won't ever fool her very long； very long； not very long； because he can't fool his dear old mother very long； very long； and he can bet on that； bet on that； so he can； bet a lot of money on that； that； that！〃 Her charge had grown still again； but she did not relax her tightened arms。
〃Say；〃 he said at last。
〃Well； honey。〃
〃You know those benches where we wait for the cars？〃
〃Do I know them？〃 The imperative inference was that she did。
〃I looked at the store yesterday。 The sign down there says 'Himebaugh's dignified system of deferred payments。'〃
〃Yes； yes； I know。〃
〃Well； I saw another good placeit says 'The house of lucky rings'… …you knowrings！〃
〃Sure； I know。 That's all right。〃
〃Well；〃 he threw off the arms and got to his feet。 She stood up then。
〃Well； all right！〃
They were both constrained now。 Both affected an ease that neither felt。 It seemed to be conceded without words that they must very lightly skirt the edges of Merton Gill's screen art。 They talked a long tune volubly of other things： of the girl's illness from which she now seemed most happily to have recovered； of whether she was afraid of himshe professed still to beof the new watch whose beauties were newly admired when it had been adjusted to its owner's wrist； of finances they talked； and even； quite simply； of accessible homes where two could live as cheaply as one。
It was not until be was about to go； when he stood at the door while the girl readjusted his cravat； smoothed his hair； and administered a final series of pats where they seemed most needed； that he broke ever so slightly through the reserve which both had felt congealing about a certain topic。
〃You know；〃 he said； 〃I happened to remember the title of a book this morning； a book I used to see back in the public library at home。 It wasn't one I ever read。 Maybe Tessie Kearns read it。 Anyway； she had a poem she likes a lot written by the same man。 She used to read me good parts of it。 But I never read the book because the title sounded kind of wild； like there couldn't be any such thing。 The poem had just a plain name； it was called 'Lucile；' but the book by the same man was called 'The Tragic Comedians。' You wouldn't think there could be a tragic comedian would you？well； look at me。〃
She looked at him； with that elusive； remote flickering back in her eyes； but she only said； 〃Be sure and come take me out to dinner。 To…night I can eat。 And don't forget your overcoat。 And listen don't you dare go into Himebaugh's till I can go with you。〃
One minute after he had gone the Montague girl was at the telephone。
〃Hello！ Mr。 Baird； please。 Is this Mr。 Baird？ Well； Jeff； everything's jake。 Yeah。 The poor thing was pretty wild when he got here。 First he began to bluff。 He'd got an earful from someone； probably over on the lot。 And he put it over on me for a minute； too。 But he didn't last good。 He was awful broke up when the end came。 Bless his heart。 But you bet I kissed the hurt place and made it well。 How about him now？ Jeff； I'm darned if I can tell except he's right again。 When he got here he was some heart…broke and some mad and some set up on account of things he hears about himself。 I guess he's that way still； except I mended the heart…break。 I can't quite make him outhe's like a book where you can't guess what's coming in the next chapter； so you keep on reading。 I can see we ain't ever going to talk much about itnot if we live together twenty years。 What's that？ Yeah。 Didn't I tell you he was always getting me； somehow？ Well； now I'm got。 Yeah。 We're gonna do an altar walk。 What？ Oh； right away。 Say； honest； Jeff； I'll never have an easy minute again while he's out of my sight。 Helpless！ You said it。 Thanks； Jeff。 I know that； old man。 Good…by！〃
CHAPTER XX
ONWARD AND UPWARD
At the first showing of the Buckeye company's new five…reel comedy Five Reels…500 Laughsentitled Brewing Trouble； two important members of its cast occupied balcony seats and one of them throughout the piece brazenly applauded the screen art of her husband。 〃I don't care who sees me；〃 she would reply ever and again to his whispered protests。
The new piece proved to be a rather broadly stressed burlesque of the type of picture drama that has done so much to endear the personality of Edgar Wayne to his public。 It was accorded a hearty reception。 There was nothing to which it might be compared save the company's previous Hearts on Fire； and it seemed to be felt that the present offering had surpassed even that masterpiece of satire。
The Gills； above referred to； watched the unwinding celluloid with vastly different emotions。 Mrs。 Gill was hearty in her enjoyment； as has been indicated。 Her husband； superficially； was not displeased。 But beneath that surface of calm approvalbeneath even the look of bored indifference he now and then managedthere still ran a complication of emotions； not the least of which was honest bewilderment。 People laughed； so it must be funny。 And it was good to be known as an artist of worth； even if the effects of your art were unintended。
It was no shock to him to learn now that the mechanical appliance in his screen…mother's kitchen was a still； and that the grape juice the honest country boy purveyed to the rich New Yorker had been improved in rank defiance of a constitutional amendment。 And even during the filming of the piece he had suspected that the little sister； so engagingly played by the present Mrs。 Gill； was being too bold。 With slight surprise； therefore； as the drama unfolded； he saw that she had in the most brazen manner invited the attentions of the city villains。
She had； in truth； been only too eager to be lured to the great city with all its pitfalls； and had bidden the old home farewell in her simple country way while each of the villains in turn had awaited her in his motor…car。 What Merton had not been privileged to watch were the later developments of this villainy。 For just beyond the little hamlet at a lonely spot in the road each of the motor…cars had been stopped by a cross…eyed gentleman looking much like the clerk in the hotel； save that he was profusely bewhiskered and bore side…arms in a menacing fashion。
Declaring that no scoundrel could take his little daughter from him； he deprived the villains of their valuables； so that for a time at least they should not bring other unsuspecting girls to grief。 As a further precaution he compelled them to abandon their motor…cars； in which he drove off with the rescued daughter。 He was later seen to sell the cars at a wayside garage； and； after dividing their spoils with his daughter； to hail a suburban trolley upon which they both returned to the home nest； where the little girl would again languish at the gate； a prey to any designing city man who might pass。
She seemed so defenceless in her wild…rose beauty； her longing for pretty clothes and city ways； and yet so capably pro by this opportune father who appeared to foresee the moment of her flights。
He learned without a tremor that among the triumphs of his inventive genius had been a machine for making tendollar bills； at which the New York capitalist had exclaimed that the state right for Iowa alone would bring one hundred thousand dollars。 Even more remunerative； it would seem； had been his other patentthe folding boomerang。 The manager of the largest boomerang factory in Australia stood ready to purchase this device for ten million dollars。 And there was a final view of the little home after prosperity had come to its inmates so long threatened with ruin。 A sign over the door read 〃Ye Olde Fashioned Gifte Shoppe；〃 and under it； flaunted to the wayside； was the severely simple trade…device of a high boot。
These things he now knew were to be expected among the deft infamies of a Buckeye comedy。 But the present piece held in store for him a complication that； despite his already rich experience of Buckeye methods； caused him distressing periods of heat and cold while he watched its incredible unfolding。 Early in the piece； indeed； he had begun to suspect in the luring of his little sister a grotesque parallel to the bold advances made him by the New York society girl。 He at once feared some such interpretation when he saw himself coy and embarrassed before her down…right attack； and he was certain this was intended when he beheld himself embraced by this reckless young woman who behaved in the manner of male screen idols during the last dozen feet of the last reel。 But how could he