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