The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-02-02
Chapter 20
MEXICAN MOVIE


 TTORATIO GREENE was discon- 1 solate. For the first time in his fife he felt somewhat at loss. Mex GO was unciyilized and not at all helpful.
 Everything had gone wrong that lay and indications were that the balance of the afternoon would be equally baffling. Janice was fretful with him in the heat of the tropic afternoon. Hogarth, the director, had damned him for an ass because ais Spanish had not been adequate for the Progreso customs officials who had paved over their cameras and equipment.
 And this despit the official per missions he had secured in Mexico City en route to Yucatan. McGrath, the production manager. should have done that, McGrath should have been at the dock to meet them, McGrath, who had taken a previous boat, should have done thousand and one things he had not done, and now everything was balled up.
 "Fll bet" he rapped at Hogarth, that he never was here at all I'll bet he's swilling beer in some joint back in Tia Juana, or some other place a couple of thousand miles away
 "Yeah% said Hogarth wearily- Whats beer in Spanish?"
 "Cerveza, snapped Mir. Greene. God knows what it is in this dia- feet.
 Hogarth strolled off. "Hey, where're you going?" called MT. Greene. Were not through with these boxes yet"
 Down the street a ramshackle sign hung out into the street. In crude but unmistakable letters it read "CerveZa." Hogarth was headed to- ward that sign. Evidently he had learned his first word in Spanish and was aaking use of the knowledge.
 Green turned weariiy to his boxes. Later he visited Janice at the American Consulate where he had left her. She was sitting drearily on the veranda, in a broken-backed wicker chair.
 Consul back yet?"
 "No. I don't think he's coming either. This place looks as if it had been closed for weeks. Did you find McGrath?"
 Mir. Greene exploded.
 Please" asked Janice.
 Excuse me- apologized MT, Greene. "Tm all hot and bothered. Damn this country. Nothing goes right. Nobody knows where Mo Grath is. Nobody ever heard f him. 1 got all our stuff in the customs house and they sock me plenty duty.
 q went to place they call bank and hey refused to cash my drafts, so finally 1 went to a sort of grocery store anu the fellow told me-he speaks pretty Sood English-to hunt dude up who was last see.- walk. ing toward a wharf.
 
 It took two hours to find him, but he cashed my draft all right. That's the only break got. Hogarth and the two came. d-men are getting drunk at some ba,, waiting until the train starts for Merida"
 "Is that wh-ce the ruins are?"
 "No. That's the apital of this county or state o whatever it is. We make our headquarters there. The ruins are a days ride further on Why they waited to come to this country is over my head They car build sets better and cheaper thar this location Ill cost"
 "McGrath and Hogarth felt thai we wanted authentic and accurate backgrounds"
 Those fat headsl The only thins authentic they wanted was the liquor"
 4 REEDY and phiegmy whistl, \ sounded. MT. Greene moppet his face with wet handkerchie and observed that they'd better ge going as it probably was the trail coming in to take them to Merida an hours ride in from the coast.
 "If it's any ,-otter when we worl at the ruins" he grumbled, "we'l need asbestos grease-paint. The Kle' got nc. in- on thi sun"
 They bc-- the train. The da, was cooling c. the approach o dusk and the shor quick showeI that spattered them as they loaded the boxes, made the air appreciabl, more comfortable.