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the Movies！〃
〃The King of the Movies；〃 repeated Billy。 His disappointment was so
keen as to be embarrassing。
〃Oh！〃 he exclaimed； 〃I thought you〃 Then he remembered his
manners。 〃Glad to meet you；〃 he said。 〃Seen you on the screen。〃
Again his own troubles took precedence。 〃Did you say；〃 he demanded；
〃One of our war…ships is coming here TO…DAY？〃
〃Coming to take me to Santo Domingo；〃 explained Mr。 St。 Clair。 He
spoke airily； as though to him as a means of locomotion
battle…ships were as trolley…cars。 The Planter's punch； which was
something he had never before encountered； encouraged the great
young man to unbend。 He explained further and fully； and Billy； his
mind intent upon his own affair； pretended to listen。
The United States Government； Mr。 St。 Clair explained； was
assisting him and the Apollo Film Company in producing the
eight…reel film entitled 〃The Man Behind the Gun。〃
With it the Navy Department plotted to advertise the navy and
encourage recruiting。 In moving pictures； in the form of a story；
with love interest； villain； comic relief； and thrills； it would
show the life of American bluejackets afloat and ashore； at home
and abroad。 They would be seen at Yokohama playing baseball with
Tokio University； in the courtyard of the Vatican receiving the
blessing of the Pope； at Waikiki riding the breakers on a
scrubbing…board； in the Philippines eating cocoanuts in the shade
of the sheltering palm； and in Brooklyn in the Y。 M。 C。 A。 club； in
the shadow of the New York sky…scrapers； playing billiards and
reading the sporting extras。
As it would be illustrated on the film the life of 〃The Man Behind
the Gun〃 was one of luxurious ease。 In it coal… passing； standing
watch in a blizzard； and washing down decks； cold and
unsympathetic； held no part。 But to prove that the life of Jack was
not all play he would be seen fighting for the flag。 That was
where； as 〃Lieutenant Hardy； U。 S。 A。；〃 the King of the Movies
entered。
〃Our company arrived in Santo Domingo last week；〃 he explained。
〃And they're waiting for me now。 I'm to lead the attack on the
fortress。 We land in shore boats under the guns of the ship and I
take the fortress。 First； we show the ship clearing for action and
the men lowering the boats and pulling for shore。 Then we cut back
to show the gun…crews serving the guns。 Then we jump to the
landing…party wading through the breakers。 I lead them。 The man who
is carrying the flag gets shot and drops in the surf。 I pick him
up； put him on my shoulder； and carry him and the flag to the
beach； where〃
Billy suddenly awoke。 His tone was one of excited interest。
〃You got a uniform？〃 he demanded。
〃Three；〃 said St。 Clair impressively； 〃made to order according to
regulations on file in the Quartermaster's Department。 Each
absolutely correct。 〃Without too great a show of eagerness he
inquired： 〃Like to see them？〃
Without too great a show of eagerness Billy assured him that he
would。
〃I got to telephone first；〃 he added； 〃but by the time you get your
trunk open I'll join you in your room。〃
In the cafe； over the telephone； Billy addressed himself to the
field…marshal in charge of the cable office。 When Billy gave his
name； the voice of that dignitary became violently agitated。
〃Monsieur Barlow；〃 he demanded； 〃 do you know that the war… ship
for which you cabled your Secretary of State makes herself to
arrive？〃
At the other end of the 'phone； although restrained by the confines
of the booth； Billy danced joyously。 But his voice was stern。
〃Naturally；〃 he replied。 〃Where is she now？〃
An hour before； so the field…marshal informed him； the battle…ship
LOUISIANA had been sighted and by telegraph reported。 She was
approaching under forced draft。 At any moment she might anchor in
the outer harbor。 Of this President Ham had been informed。 He was
grieved； indignant； he was also at a loss to understand。
〃It is very simple；〃 explained Billy。 〃She probably was somewhere
in the Windward Passage。 When the Secretary got my message he
cabled Guantanamo； and Guantanamo wired the war… ship nearest
Port…au…Prince。〃
〃President Poussevain； warned the field marshal； 〃is greatly
disturbed。〃
〃Tell him not to worry；〃 said Billy。 〃Tell him when the bombardment
begins I will see that the palace is outside the zone of fire。〃
As Billy entered the room of St。 Clair his eyes shone with a
strange light。 His manner； which toward a man of his repute St。
Clair had considered a little too casual； was now enthusiastic；
almost affectionate。
〃My dear St。 Clair；〃 cried Billy； 〃I'VE FIXED IT！ But； until I was
SURE； I didn't want to raise your hopes！〃
〃Hopes of what？〃 demanded the actor。
〃An audience with the president！〃 cried Billy。 〃I've just called
him up and he says I'm to bring you to the palace at once。 He's
heard of you； of course； and he's very pleased to meet you。 I told
him about 'The Man Behind the Gun；' and he says you must come in
your makeup as 'Lieutenant Hardy； U。S。A。；' just as he'll see you on
the screen。〃
Mr。 St。 Clair stammered delightedly。
〃In uniform；〃 he protested； 〃won't that be〃
〃White； special full dress；〃 insisted Billy。 〃Medals； side… arms；
full…dress belt； and gloves。 What a press story！ 'The King of the
Movies Meets the President of Hayti！' Of course； he's only an
ignorant negro； but on Broadway they don't know that； and it will
sound fine！〃 St。 Clair coughed nervously。
〃DON'T forget；〃 he stammered； 〃I can't speak French； or understand
it； either。〃
The eyes of Billy became as innocent as those of a china doll。
〃Then I'll interpret；〃 he said。 〃And； oh； yes；〃 he added； 〃he's
sending two of the palace soldiers to act as an escort… sort of
guard of honor！〃
The King of the Movies chuckled excitedly。
〃Fine！〃 he exclaimed。 〃You ARE a brick！〃
With trembling fingers he began to shed his outer garments。
To hide his own agitation Billy walked to the window and turned his
back。 Night had fallen and the electric lights； that once had been
his care； sprang into life。 Billy looked at his watch。 It was seven
o'clock。 The window gave upon the harbor； and a mile from shore he
saw the cargo lights of the PRINZ DER NEDERLANDEN； and slowly
approaching； as though feeling for her berth； a great battle…ship。
When Billy turned from the window his voice was apparently
undisturbed。
〃We've got to hurry；〃 he said。 〃The LOUISIANA is standing in。
She'll soon be sending a launch for you。 We've just time to drive
to the palace and back before the launch gets here。〃
From his mind President Ham had dismissed all thoughts of the
war…ship that had been sighted and that now had come to anchor。 For
the moment he was otherwise concerned。 Fate could not harm him； he
was about to dine。
But； for the first time in the history of his administration； that
solemn ceremony was rudely halted。 An excited aide； trembling at
his own temerity； burst upon the president's solitary state。
In the anteroom； he announced； an officer from the battle… ship
LOUISIANA demanded instant audience。
For a moment； transfixed in amazement； anger； and alarm President
Ham remained seated。 Such a visit； uninvited； was agai