from the window, alight in the saddle after a
twenty-foot drop, and be off over the border. The window scene was shot,
including a flash of the horse below. The mechanics of the leap itself
required more time. Indeed, it took the better part of a morning to
satisfy Baird that this thrilling exploit had been properly achieved.
From a lower window, quite like the high one, Merton leaped, but only to
the ground a few feet below.

"That's where we get your take-off," Baird explained.

"Now we get you lighting in the saddle." This proved to be a more
delicate bit of work. From a platform built out just above the faithful
horse Merton precariously scrambled down into the saddle. He glanced
anxiously at Baird, fearing he had not alighted properly after the
supposed twenty-foot drop, but the manager appeared to be delighted with
his prowess after the one rehearsal, and the scene was shot.

"It's all jake," Baird assured him. "Don't feel worried. Of course
we'll trick the bit where you hit the saddle; the camera'll look out for
that."

One detail only troubled Merton. After doing the leap from the high
window, and before doing its finish where he reached the saddle, Baird
directed certain changes in his costume. He was again to don the false
mustache, to put his hat on, and also a heavy jacket lined with sheep's
wool worn by one of the cowboys in the dance-hall. Merton was pleased
to believe he had caught the manager napping here. "But Mr. Baird, if I
leap from the window without the hat or mustache or jacket and land
on my horse in them, wouldn't it look as if I had put them on as I was
falling?"

Baird was instantly overcome with confusion. "Now, that's so! I swear I
never thought of that, Merton. I'm glad you spoke about it in time. You
sure have shown me up as a director. You see I wanted you to disguise
yourself again--I'll tell you; get the things on, and after we shoot you
lighting in the saddle we'll retake the window scene. That'll fix it."

Not until long afterward, on a certain dread night when the earth was to
rock beneath him, did he recall that Baird had never retaken that window
scene. At present the young actor was too engrossed by the details of
his daring leap to remember small things. The leap was achieved at last.
He was in the saddle after a twenty-foot drop. He gathered up the reins,
the horse beneath him coughed plaintively, and Merton rode him out of
the picture. Baird took a load off his mind as t