assed by this
excess, but pardoned it in the reflection that he had indeed given the
best that was in him. "Bring all your Western stuff to the dressing room
tomorrow," said Baird.

Western stuff--the real thing at last! He was slightly amazed later
to observe the old mother outside the set. She was not only smoking a
cigarette with every sign of relish, but she was singing as she did a
little dance step. Still she had been under a strain all day, weeping,
too, almost continuously. He remembered this, and did not judge her
harshly as she smoked, danced, and lightly sang,

Her mother's name was Cleo,
Her father's name was Pat;
They called her Cleopatra,
And let it go at that.

CHAPTER XIV. OUT THERE WHERE MEN ARE MEN

From the dressing room the following morning, arrayed in the Buck Benson
outfit, unworn since that eventful day on the Gashwiler lot, Merton
accompanied Baird to a new set where he would work that day. Baird
was profuse in his admiration of the cowboy embellishments, the maroon
chaps, the new boots, the hat, the checked shirt and gay neckerchief.

"I'm mighty glad to see you so sincere in your work," he assured Merton.
"A lot of these hams I hire get to kidding on the set and spoil the
atmosphere, but don't let it bother you. One earnest leading man, if
he'll just stay earnest, will carry the piece. Remember that--you got a
serious part."

"I'll certainly remember," Merton earnestly assured him.

"Here we are; this is where we begin the Western stuff," said Baird.
Merton recognized the place. It was the High Gear Dance Hall where the
Montague girl had worked. The name over the door was now "The Come
All Ye," and there was a hitching rack in front to which were tethered
half-a--dozen saddled horses.

Inside, the scene was set as he remembered it. Tables for drinking
were about the floor, and there was a roulette wheel at one side. A
red-shirted bartender, his hair plastered low over his brow, leaned
negligently on the bar. Scattered around the room were dance-hall girls
in short skirts, and a number of cowboys.

"First, I'll wise you up a little bit," said Baird. "You've come out
here to work on a ranche in the great open spaces, and these cowboys all
love you and come to town with you every time, and they'll stand by
you when the detective from New York gets here. Now--let's see--I guess
first we'll get your entrance. You come in the front door at the head
of them. Y