CHAPTER XIII
MR. DEVERE'S SUCCESS
Amid laughter, now that it was seen that nothing serious hadhappened, the wreckage was cleared away, and the German actor, andhis partner in the rural love scene, were assisted to their feet.
"Are you hurt?" asked Mr. Pertell, anxiously, when quiet had in ameasure been restored.
"Only my feelings iss hurted!" replied Mr. Switzer, with an odd lookon his round, fat face. "It iss not seemly und proper dot ven afeller is telling a nice girl vot he dinks of her, dot he should beupset head ofer heels alretty yet; ain't it?"
"It certainly is," agreed Miss Dixon, a little spasm of pain flittingacross her face as she limped to one side.
"Oh, dear, I hope you're not hurt!" exclaimed Miss Pennington,hastening to her friend's side, and supporting her with an arm abouther waist.
"It's only my ankle; it's a bit sprained, I think. A good thing Ihaven't a dancing part," said Miss Dixon.
"Will you be able to go on, when we make the film over again?" askedthe manager anxiously. He did not make this inquiry because he washeartless, but the foremost thought with those who provide amusementfor the public--whether they be managers or actors--is that "the showmust go on." For that reason sickness, and even the death of lovedones, often does not stop the player from appearing on the stage.And, in a measure, this is no less so with those who help to make themoving pictures.
"Oh, I think I'll be able to go on after a bit," declared Miss Dixon,sinking into a chair that Pepper Sneed pushed forward for her.
"Go on! You'll never be able to go on inside of a week, little girl!"exclaimed the actor with the perpetual "grouch." He looked gloomilyat those about him. "This is the worst business in the world," hewent on. "Something is always happening. I know something will gowrong in that safe-blowing act I'm to do next. I----"
"Say, you go do that act, and then let us know if anything happens!"interrupted the manager. "They're waiting for you over there," and hemotioned to an office setting, in which a safe robbery, one of thescenes of another play, was to take place.
"All right!" sighed Pepper Sneed, as he moved off to take his part."But, mind what I'm telling you," he said to Miss Dixon. "You'll belaid up for a week."
"An' it all de fault of dot property man!" exclaimed Mr. Switzer. "Hemade dot fence like paper yet alretty! It vouldn't holt up a fly!"
"That was a good fence!" defended Pop Snooks. "The trouble was youleaned your ton weight on it."
"Ton veight! Huh! Vot you tink I am? A hipperperpotamusses? A tonveight--huh!" spluttered Mr. Switzer.
"Never mind now!" called the manager sharply, with a reassuringglance at Ruth and Alice, who were regarding this little flurry withanxious eyes. They glanced over toward their father. "Pop, make a newfence--a strong one--and we'll film that scene over again," went onMr. Pertell. "To your places, the rest of you. Mr. DeVere, I thinkthat will be all we will require of you to-day. But come into theoffice. I have a new play I'm thinking of filming, and I'd like youradvice on some of the scenes. Miss Dixon, shall I send for adoctor?"
"Oh, no, indeed, I'll be all right!" was her hasty answer.
"If you're not, don't be afraid to say so," spoke Mr. Pertell. "I canunderstudy you----"
"Oh, no, indeed!" she exclaimed, energetically. If there is one thingmore than another that an actor or actress fears, it is beingsupplanted in a role. Of course, all the important parts in a playare "understudied"; that is, some other actor or actress than theprincipal has learned the lines and "business" so, in case the latteris taken ill, the play can go on, after a fashion. But players arejealous of one another to a marked degree, and rather than permittheir understudy to succeed him, many a performer has gone on whenphysically unfit. Perhaps it was this that induced Miss Dixon toconceal the pain she was really suffering.
Mr. Pertell glanced sharply at her, and then his gaze roved to Ruthand Alice, who were standing with their father. A musing look was onthe face of the manager. Miss Dixon saw it, and arose.
"I am perfectly able to go on, Mr. Pertell," she said, quickly."There is no need of getting anyone in my place."
She walked across the room, with a slight limp, and the spasm of painthat showed on her face was quickly replaced by a smile. But it wasan obvious effort.
Miss Dixon staggered, and would have fallen had not Alice steppedforward quickly and caught her.
"You really ought to have a doctor," Alice said, anxiously. "Asprained ankle is sometimes quite serious."
"I don't need a doctor!" exclaimed the ingenue, sharply. "I shall beall right. It will take some little time to repair the fence, and bythen----"
"You must let me attend to you," broke in a motherly voice, and Mrs.Maguire, who, as Cora Ashleigh, had finished her part in a littledrama, came bustling over. "I'll put some hot compresses on yourankle, and that will take out the pain," went on the elderly actress."Come along."
And Miss Dixon was glad enough to go. Mrs. Maguire was really a sortof "mother" to the others of the company, and many a physical acheand pain, as well as some mental ones, yielded to her ministeringcare.
"Now, then, Pop, how are you coming on with that fence?" asked themanager a little later.
"Oh, I'll get her done some time to-day if you don't give me too muchelse to do," was the answer. "But I've had to quit work on thattrick auto you wanted--the one that turns into an airship."
"Pshaw! And I needed that, too. Well, go ahead. Do the best you can,and when you've finished I want a fake stone tower made for thatfairy picture we're going to do next week."
"All right," agreed Pop. "I'll do it."
Nothing seemed too hard for him. He responded to the most exactingand diverse commands as easily as to the smallest. He was aninvaluable property man.
"Oh, Mr. Ardite," continued the manager to the leading juvenile, "I'mgoing to change your part in that runaway drama. I'll want someexterior scenes. One on the Brooklyn Bridge and another at the GrandCentral Terminal. Get ready to go up there. Miss Fillmore will behere soon. She's in that with you. I'll send Charlie Blake up to filmit. Here's the "register" list--look it over," and he tossed a sheafof typewritten sheets to the young actor.
"I wish we could go see that taken," whispered Alice.
"You can, if you like," responded the manager, overhearing her.
"I--I'll be delighted to take you along," said Paul, coloring as heglanced at Alice.
Miss Dixon, who had come back from her room, after having her anklebathed, looked up quickly at these words. She glanced from Alice toPaul, and back again, and then said something in a low voice to MissPennington.
"May I go, Daddy?" asked Alice. "I'm so interested in these movingpictures."
"Oh, yes, I think so," he assented. "Perhaps Ruth----"
"No, I'll go home with you," Ruth answered. "I'm a bit tired to-day."
"I'd never tire of this!" exclaimed Alice, with enthusiasm.
"Come along then!" invited Paul. "Here's Miss Fillmore now," headded, as another member of the company entered.
There was a sudden cry of pain from the other side of the studio, anda moving picture camera ceased clicking.
"What's the matter now?" asked the manager, as he looked to where thesafe robbery scene was being filmed.
"Oh, I caught my hand in the safe door!" exclaimed Pepper Sneed."Nearly took my finger off! I just knew something would happen to meto-day!"
"Great Scott! Another scene spoiled!" groaned Mr. Pertell. "Well, doit over. Had you run out much film?" he asked the operator.
"No, only a few feet."
"Well, try again. And, Pepper, look out for your head this time, thatyou don't get that caught in the safe. You might lose it."
"Uh!" grunted the human grouch.
Russ Dalwood came out of the developing room.
"That's going to be a great film!" he declared. It's one of the bestI've ever seen. The pictures will show up fine."
"Glad to hear it," remarked the manager. "That's some good news inthis day
of trouble."
"Did I do all right?" asked Mr. DeVere, hoarsely. "I would like tosee myself--as others see me--and that's possible now, in themovies."
"Your pictures are fine," answered Ross.
"And I want to congratulate you," went on Mr. Pertell. "You are doingsplendid work, and we are glad to have you with us. It is noteveryone who can come from the legitimate stage and go into themovies with success; but you have."
"I am glad to hear it," declared the actor. "There was greatnecessity, or I should not have done it; but I am not sorry now. Itis a great relief not to have to speak my lines."
"And you mustn't do much talking now, Daddy," cautioned Ruth. "Youwant your throat to get well, you know."
"Yes, I know, dear," replied her father, patting her on the shoulder.
"Good-bye!" called Alice, who with Paul, Miss Fillmore, and thecamera operator, were going out for the exterior scenes. "I'll behome soon."
"I'll take care of her," promised Paul, and, as he and Alice wentout, side by side, Ruth caught a sharp glance from Miss Dixon, whowas narrowly watching the two.
"Well, everything seems to be going on all right now," observed Mr.Pertell. "Here's Pop with the fence. Now, Mr. Switzer, and MissDixon----well, what is it?" he broke off with, as he saw WellingtonBunn approaching with an irritated air.
"I must refuse, sir, positively refuse, to go on with the part youhave assigned to me!" exclaimed the former Shakespearean player,striking what he thought was a dignified attitude. "I cannot do it,Mr. Pertell, and I wonder that you expect it of me."
"What part is it you object to?" asked the manager. "Let's see,you're in 'A Man's Home;' aren't you?"
"Yes, and in one scene I am supposed to come home from the office,and get down on the floor to play with blocks with the children. Ido not mind that so much, but I have to play horse, and ride thechildren around on my back, and then, to cap the climax, I have toturn a somersault."
"Well?" asked the manager, as the actor paused.
"Well, I positively refuse to do that somersault! The idea ofme--Wellington Bunn--who has played in Shakespearean dramas,groveling on the floor and turning somersaults! The somersaultspositively must be cut out."
"But they can't very well, Mr. Pertell!" broke in one of the otheractors in the same drama. "Because when Mr. Bunn goes over that wayhe is supposed accidentally to upset the table, and the supper thingsfly all over, and the children laugh and think it's a great joke. Thewhole scene will be spoiled if Mr. Bunn doesn't turn his somersault."
"Then he'll turn it!" announced the manager, grimly.
"What! But I protest, sir! I protest!" cried the tragedian. "I willnot do it! The idea of me--Wellington Bunn----"
"Somersault--or look for another engagement," was the terserejoinder, and with a gesture of despair Mr. Bunn turned asidemurmuring;
"Oh, that I should come to this! Oh, the pity of it! The pity! I'llnever do it!"
But a little later, for the sake of his salary, he turned thesomersault.