第42章 PICTURES AND PLANS AND MYSTERIOUS FOOTSTEPS(4)

"It can't go on like this forever,"he told her impressively for the second time,before he was sure of her attention and her interest."Think of you,working extra under a three-day guarantee!Why,you're what's making the pictures!I had a letter from a friend of mine;he's with the Universal.He'd been down to see one of our pictures,--that first one you worked in.You remember how you came down off that bluff,and how you roped me and jerked me down off the bank just as I'd got a bead on Lee?Say!that picture was a RIOT!Gloomy says he never saw a picture get the hand that scene got.And he wanted to know who was doubling for Gay,up here.You see,he got next that it was a double;he knows darned well Gay never could put over that line of stuff.The photography was dandy,--Pete's right there when it comes to camera work,anyway,--and that run down the bluff,he said,had people standing on their hind legs even before the rope scene.You could tell it was a girl and no man doubling the part.Gloomy says everybody around the studio has begun to watch for our releases,and go just to see you ride and rope and shoot.And Gay gets all the press-notices!Say,it makes me sick!"He looked at Jean wistfully.

"The trouble is,you don't realize what a raw deal you're getting,"he said,with much discontent in his tone."As an extra,you're getting fine treatment and fine pay;I admit that.But the point is,you've no business being an extra.Where you belong is playing leads.You don't know what that means,but I do.

Burns is just using you to boost Muriel Gay,and I say it's the rawest deal I ever saw handed out in the picture game;and believe me,I've seen some raw deals!""Now,now,don't get peevish,Gil."Jean's drawl was soft,and her eyes were friendly and amused.So far had their friendship progressed."It's awfully dear of you to want to see me a real leading lady.Iappreciate it,and I won't take off that lock of hair I said I'd take when I shoot you in the foreground.Burns wants a real thrilling effect close up,and he's told me five times to remember and keep my face turned away from the camera,so they won't see it isn't Gay.If Iturn around,there will have to be a re-take,he says;and you won't like that,Gil,not after you've heard a bullet zip past your ear so close that it will fan your hair.

Are--aren't you afraid of me,Gil?"

"Afraid of you?"Gil's horse swung closer,and Gil's eyes threatened the opening of a tacitly forbidden subject.

"Because if you get nervous and move the least little bit--To make it look real,as Bobby described the scene to me,I've got to shoot the instant you stop to gather yourself for a spring at me.It's that lightning-draw business I have to do,Gil.I'm to stand three quarters to the camera,with my face turned away,watching you.You keep coming,and you stop just an instant when you're almost within reach of me.In that instant I have to grab my gun and shoot;and it has to look as if I got you,Gil.I've got to come pretty close,in order to bring the gun in line with you for the camera.Bobby wants to show off the quick draw that Lite Avery taught me.That's to be the `punch'in the scene.I showed him this morning what it is like,and Bobby is just tickled to death.You see,Idon't shoot the way they usually do in pictures--""I should say not!"Gil interrupted admiringly.

"You haven't seen that quick work,either.It'll look awfully real,Gil,and you mustn't dodge or duck,whatever you do.It will be just as if you really were a man I'm deadly afraid of,that has me cornered at last against that ledge.I'm going to do it as if I meant it.That will mean that when you stop and kind of measure the distance,meaning to grab me before I can do anything,I'll draw and shoot from the level of my belt;no higher,Gil,or it won't be the lightning-draw --as advertised.I won't have time to take a fine aim,you know.""Listen!"said Gil,leaning toward her with his eyes very earnest."I know all about that.I heard you and Burns talking about it.You go ahead and shoot,and put that scene over big.Don't you worry about me;I'm going to play up to you,if I can.Listen!Pete's just waiting for a chance to register your face on the film.Burns has planned his scenes to prevent that,but we're just lying low till the chance comes.It's got to be dramatic,and it's got to seem accidental.Get me?I shouldn't have told you,but I can't seem to trick you,Jean.You're the kind of a girl a fellow's got to play fair with.""Bobby has told me five times already to remember and keep my face away from the camera,"Jean pointed out the second time."Makes me feel as if I had lost my nose,or was cross-eyed or something.I do feel as if I'd lose my job,Gil.""No,you wouldn't;all he'd do would be to have a re-take of the whole scene,and maybe step around like a turkey in the snow,and swear to himself.Anyway,you can forget what I've said,if you'll feel more comfortable.It's up to Pete and me,and we'll put it over smooth,or we won't do it at all.Bobby won't realize it's happened till he hears from it afterwards.Neither will you."He turned his grease-painted face toward her hearteningly and smiled as endearingly as the sinister,painted lines would allow.

"Listen!"he repeated as a final encouragement,because he had sensed her preoccupation and had misread it for worry over the picture."You go ahead and shoot,and don't bother about me.Make it real.

Shoot as close as you like.If you pink me a little I won't care,--if you'll promise to be my nurse.I want a vacation,anyway."