Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1925)

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16 Picture 5 and Picture $ver FEBRUARY 1925 he was called to screen triumphs, he served as a humble clerk in the socalled emporium of Amos G. Gashwiler — Everything For The Home. Our Prices Always Righ.t. Merton Gill — so for a little time he must still be known — moodily seized the late Estelle St. Clair under his arm and withdrew from the dingy back store-room. Down between the counters of the emporium he went with his fair burden and left her outside its portals, staring from her very definitely lashed eyes across the slumbering street at the Simsbury post office. She was tastefully arrayed in one of those new checked gingham house frocks so heatedly mentioned a moment since by her lawful owner, and across her chest Merton Gill now imposed, with no tenderness of manner, the appealing legend, " Our Latest for Milady; only $6.98." He returned for Snake le Vasquez. That outlaw's face, even out of the picture, was evil. He had been picked for the part because of this face — plump, pinkly-tinted cheeks, lustrous, curling hair of some repellant composition, eyes with a hard glitter, each lash distinct in blue-black lines, and a small, tipcurled black moustache that lent the whole an offensive smirk. Garbed now in a raincoat, he, too, was posed before the emporium front, labelled " Rainproof or You Get Back Your Money." So frankly evil was his mien that Merton Gill, pausing to regard him, suffered a brief relapse into artistry. " You fiend !" he muttered, and contemptuously smote the cynical face with an open hand. Snake le Vasquez remained indifferent to the affront, smirking insufferably across the slumbering street at the wooden Indian proffering cigars, before the establishment of Selby Brothers, Cigars and Confectionery. YV/ithin the emporium the proprietor * now purveyed hooks and eyes to an impatient Mrs. Leffingwell. Merton Gill, behind the opposite counter, waited upon a little girl sent for two and a quarter yards of stuff to match the sample crumpled in her damp hand. Over the suave amenities of this merchandizing Amos Gashwiler glared suspiciously across the store at his employe. Their relations were still strained. Merton also glared at Amos, but discreetly, at moments when the other's back was turned or when he was blandly wishing to know of Mrs. Leffingwell if there would be something else to-day. Other customers entered. Trade was on. Both Merton and Amos wore airs of cheerful briskness that deceived the public. No one could have thought that Amos was fearing his undoubtedly crazed clerk might become uncontrollable at any moment, or that the clerk was mentally parting from Amos for ever in a scene of tense dramatic value in which his few dignified but scathing words would burn themselves unfor gettably into the old man's brain. Merton, to himself, had often told Amos these things. Some day he'd say them right out, leaving his victim not only in the utmost confusion but in black despair of ever finding another clerk one half as efficient as Merton Gill. The afternoon wore to closing time in a flurry of trade, during which, as Merton continued to behave sanely, the apprehension of his employer in a measure subsided. The last customer had departed from the emporium. The dummies were brought inside. The dust curtains were hung along the shelves of dry goods. There remained for Merton only the task of delivering a few groceries. He gathered these and took them out to the waggon in front. Then he changed from his store coat to his street coat and donned a rakish plush hat. Amos was also changing from his store coat to his street coat and donning his frayed straw hat. " See if you can't keep from actin' crazy while you make them deliveries," said Amos not uncordially, as he lighted a choice cigar from the box which he kept hidden under a counter. Merton wished to reply, " See here, Mr. Gashwiler, I've stood this abuse long enough ! The time has come to say a few words to you ?' But aloud he merely responded : "Yes, sir!" The circumstance that he also had a cigar from the same box, hidden not so well as Amos thought, may have subdued his resentment. He would light the cigar after the first turn in the road had carried him beyond the eagle eye of its owner. The delivery waggon outside was drawn by an elderly horse devoid of ambition or ideals. His head was sunk in dejection. He was grey at the temples, and slouched in the shafts in a loafing attitude, one fore foot negligently crossed in front of the other. He aroused himself reluctantly and with apparent difficulty when Merton Gill seized the reins and called in commanding tones, " Get on there, you old skate !" The equipage moved off 1 ' " . 4 • i 4 • I H latest If^p&f^'Ssii " Buck Benson's " keen eyes flitted to Snake Le Vasquez —