had often seen the real Buck Benson's play, for it now appeared that
everything was going to be as Merton Gill wished. Baird had even
contrived an escape that was highly spectacular.

Locked by the detective in an upper room, the prisoner went to the
window and glanced out to find that his loyal horse was directly
beneath him. He would leap 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,