hr.thecarpetbaggers-第74章

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　The　platform　boss　spoke　in　a　flat　voice。　〃It'll　cost　yuh　five　bucks　to　get　off　that　truck；　Jew　boy；〃　he　said。　〃If　yuh　ain't　got　it；　jus'　stay　there！〃
　David　slipped　his　hand　into　his　pocket。　The　metal　was　icy　cold　against　his　fingers　as　he　slipped　the　brass　knuckles　over　his　hand。　〃I　got　something　for　you；〃　he　said　quietly；　as　he　walked　toward　the　man；　his　hand　still　in　his　pocket。
　〃Now　you're　getting　smart；　Jew　boy；〃　the　boss　said；　his　eyes　turning　away　from　David　toward　the　crowd。　It　was　at　that　moment　David　hit　him。　He　felt　the　shock　of　pain　run　up　his　arm　as　the　duster　tore　into　the　man's　face。　A　half　scream　of　pain　came　from　his　throat　as　the　metal　spikes　tore　his　cheek　open　like　an　overripe　melon。
　He　turned；　swinging　wildly　at　David；　the　blow　catching　him　on　the　side　of　the　head；　slamming　him　back　against　the　side　of　the　truck。　David　could　feel　his　forehead　beginning　to　swell。　It　had　to　be　a　quick　fight　or　the　man　would　kill　him。　He　shook　his　head　to　clear　it　and　looked　up　to　see　the　platform　boss　ing　at　him　again。　He　braced　his　feet　against　the　side　of　the　truck　and　using　the　added　leverage　this　gave　him；　lashed　out　at　the　man's　face。
　The　blow　never　reached　its　target。　The　platform　boss　caught　it　on　his　raised　arm　but　it　spun　him　backward　toward　the　edge　of　the　platform。　Again　David　lashed　out　at　him。　He　sidestepped　the　blow　but　stumbled　and　fell　from　the　platform　to　the　ground。
　David　leaned　over　the　big　hydraulic　jack　and　looked　down　at　him。　He　was　getting　to　his　hands　and　knees。　He　turned　his　face　up　to　David；　the　blood　running　down　his　cheeks；　his　lips　drawn　savagely　back　across　his　teeth。　〃I'll　kill　yuh　for　this；　yuh　Jew　bastard！〃
　David　stared　down　at　him。　The　man　was　up　on　one　knee。　〃You　wanted　it　like　this；　mister；〃　David　said　as　he　reached　for　the　handle　of　the　jack。
　The　platform　boss　screamed　once　as　the　heavy　jack　came　down　on　him。　Then　he　lay　quietly；　face　on　the　ground；　the　jack　straddling　his　back　like　a　primeval　monster。
　Slowly　David　straightened　up；　his　chest　heaving。　He　stared　at　the　crowd。　Already　they　were　beginning　to　melt　away；　their　faces　white　and　frightened。　Needlenose　climbed　up　on　the　truck。　He　looked　down　at　the　platform　boss。　〃Yuh　think　yuh　croaked　him？〃
　David　shrugged。　He　slipped　the　brass　knuckles　into　his　friend's　pocket。　〃You　better　get　the　truck　out　of　here。〃
　Needlenose　nodded　and　climbed　behind　the　wheel　as　David　stepped　across　onto　the　loading　platform。　The　truck　pulled　out　into　the　street　just　as　Wagner　came　up　with　a　policeman。　The　policeman　looked　at　David。　〃What　happened？〃
　〃There's　been　an　accident；〃　David　answered。
　The　policeman　looked　down　at　the　platform　boss。　〃Call　an　ambulance；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃Somebody　help　me　get　this　thing　off　him。〃
　David　turned　and　went　up　in　the　freight　elevator。　He　heard　the　clanging　of　the　ambulance　while　he　was　in　the　bathroom；　washing　up。　The　door　behind　him　opened　and　he　turned　around。
　The　Sheriff　was　standing　there；　a　towel　in　his　hand。　〃I　thought　you　could　use　this。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　David　took　the　towel　and　soaked　it　in　hot　water；　then　held　it　to　his　face。　The　heat　felt　soothing。　He　closed　his　eyes。　The　sound　of　the　ambulance　grew　fainter。　〃You　all　right？〃　the　old　man　asked。
　〃I'm　O。K。；〃　David　answered。
　He　heard　the　old　man's　footsteps。　The　door　closed　behind　him　and　David　took　the　towel　from　his　face。　He　stared　at　himself　in　the　mirror。　Except　for　a　slight　lump　on　his　temple；　he　looked　all　right。　He　rinsed　his　face　with　cold　water　and　dried　it。　Leaving　the　towel　hanging　over　the　edge　of　the　sink；　he　walked　out。
　A　girl　was　standing　near　the　staircase；　wearing　the　blue　smock　with　Henri　France　lettered　on　the　pocket。　He　stopped　and　looked　at　her。　She　looked　vaguely　familiar。　She　must　have　been　one　of　the　girls　he　had　seen　downstairs。
　She　smiled　at　him　boldly；　revealing　not　too　pretty　teeth。　〃Is　it　true　you're　old　man　Norman's　nephew？〃
　He　nodded。
　〃Freddie　Jones；　who　runs　your　still　lab；　says　I　ought　to　be　in　pictures。　He　had　me　pose　for　him。〃
　〃Yeah？〃
　〃I　got　them　here；〃　she　said。　〃Want　to　see　'em？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　She　smiled　and　took　some　photographs　out　of　her　pocket。　He　took　the　pictures　and　looked　at　them。　This　Freddie；　whoever　he　was；　knew　how　to　take　pictures。　She　looked　much　better　without　a　smile。　And　without　her　clothes。
　〃Like　'em？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃You　can　keep　'em；〃　she　said。
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃If　you　get　a　chance；　show　'em　to　your　uncle　sometime；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃Lots　of　girls　get　started　in　pictures　that　way。〃
　He　nodded。
　〃I　seen　what　happened　downstairs。　It　was　sure　time　that　Tony　got　his　lumps。〃
　〃You　didn't　like　him？〃
　〃Nobody　liked　him；〃　she　said。　〃But　they　were　all　afraid　of　him。　The　cop　asked　me　what　happened。　I　told　him　it　was　an　accident。　The　jack　fell　on　him。〃
　He　looked　into　her　eyes。　They　were　hard　and　shining。
　〃You're　nice；〃　she　said。　〃I　like　you。〃　She　took　something　out　of　her　pocket　and　gave　it　to　him。　It　looked　like　a　small　tin　of　aspirin　but　the　lettering　read：　Henri　France　De　Luxe。
　〃You　don't　have　to　worry　about　those；〃　she　said。　〃They're　the　best　we　make。　You　can　read　a　newspaper　through　'em。　I　inspected　and　rolled　them　myself。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Got　to　get　back　to　work；〃　she　said。　She　walked　back　to　the　stairway。　〃See　yuh。〃
　〃See　yuh。〃　He　looked　down　at　the　small　tin　in　his　hand　and　opened　it。　She　was　right。　You　could　read　right　through　them。　There　was　a　slip　of　paper　in　the　bottom。　Written　on　it　in　black　pencil　was　the　name　Betty　and　a　telephone　number。
　Wagner　was　sitting　at　his　desk　when　David　walked　by。　〃You　were　pretty　lucky；〃　he　said。　〃The　doctor　said　that　all　Tony　has　is　a　concussion　and　a　couple　of　broken　ribs。　He'll　need　twelve　stitches　in　his　cheek；　though。〃
　〃He　was　lucky；〃　David　said。　〃It　was　an　accident。〃
　The　supervisor's　gaze　fell　before　his。　〃The　garage　across　the　street　wants　ten　bucks　to　fix　the　jack。〃
　〃I'll　give　it　to　them　tomorrow。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to；〃　Wagner　said　quickly。　〃I　already　did。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　The　foreman　looked　up　from　his　desk。　His　eyes　met　David's　squarely。　〃I　wish　we　could　pretend　this　morning　never　happened；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃I'd　like　to　start　all　over　again。〃
　David　stared　at　him　for　a　moment。　Then　he　smiled　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃My　name　is　David　Woolf；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　supposed　to　see　the　foreman　about　a　job。〃
　The　foreman　looked　at　David's　hand　and　got　to　his　feet。　〃I'm　Jack　Wagner；　the　foreman；〃　he　said；　and　his　grip　was　firm。　〃Let　me　introduce　you　to　the　boys。〃
　When　David　turned　toward　the　packaging　tables；　all　the　men　were　grinning　at　him。　Suddenly；　they　weren't　strangers　any　more。　They　were　friends。
　
　7
　
　BERNARD　NORMAN　WALKED　INTO　HIS　NEW　YORK　OFFICE。　It　was　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning　and　his　eyes　were　bright　and　shining；　his　cheeks　pink　from　the　winter　air；　after　his　brisk　walk　down　from　the　hotel。
　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Norman；〃　his　secretary　said。　〃Have　a　nice　trip？〃
　He　smiled　back　at　her　as　he　walked　on　into　his　private　office　and　opened　the　window。　He　stood　there　breathing　in　the　cold　fresh　air。　Ah；　this　was　geshmach。　Not　like　the　day…in；　day…out　sameness　of　California。
　Norman　went　over　to　his　desk　and　took　a　large　cigar　from　the　humidor。　He　lit　it　slowly；　relishing　the　heavy　aromatic　Havana　fragrance。　Even　the　cigars　tasted　better　in　New　York。　Maybe；　if　he　had　time；　he'd　run　down　to　Ratner's　on　Delancey　Street　and　have　blintzes　for　lunch。
　He　sat　down　and　began　to　go　over　the　reports　lying　on　his　desk。　He　nodded　to　himself　with　satisfaction。　The　billings　from　the　exchanges　were　up　over　last　year。　He　turned　to　the　New　Yorker　theater　reports。　The　Norman　Theater；　his　première　house　on　Broadway；　had　picked　up　since　they　started　having　stage　shows　along　with　the　picture。　It　was　holding　its　own　with　Loew's　State　and　the　Palace。　He　leafed　through　the　next　few　reports；　then　stopped　and　studied　the　report　from　the　Park　Theater。　An　average　gross　of　forty…two　hundred　dollars　a　week　over　the　past　two　months。　It　must　be　a　mistake。　The　Park　had　never　grossed　more　than　three　thousand　tops。　It　was　nothing　but　a　third…run　house　on　the　wrong　side　of　Fourteenth　Street。
　Norman　looked　further　down　the　report　and　his　eyes　came　to　rest　on　an　item　labeled　Employee　Bonuses。　They　were　averaging　three　hundred　a　week。　He　reached　for　the　telephone。　Somebody　must　be　crazy。　He'd　never　O。K。'd　bonuses　like　that。　The　whole　report　must　be　wrong。
　〃Yes；　Mr。　Norman？〃　his　secretary's　voice　came　through。
　〃Tell　Ernie　to　get　his　ass　in　here；〃　Norman　said。　〃Right　away。〃　He　put　down　the　telephone。　Ernie　Hawley　was　his　treasurer。　He'd　be　able　to　straighten　this　out。
　Hawley　came　in；　his　eyes　shadowed　by　his　thick　glasses。　〃How　are　you；　Bernie？〃　he　asked。　〃Have　a　good　trip？〃
　Norman　tapped　the　report　on　his　desk。　〃What's　with　this　on　the　Park　Theater？〃　he　said。　〃Can't　you　bastards　get　anything　right？〃
　Hawley　looked　confused。　〃The　Park？　Let's　see　it。〃
　Norman　gave　him　the　report；　then　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　savagely　puffing　at　his　cigar。　Hawley　looked　up。　〃I　can't　see　anything　wrong　with　this。〃
　〃You　can't？〃　Norman　said　sarcastically。　〃You　think　I　don't　know　the　Park　never　grossed　more　than　three　thousand　a　week　since　it　was　built？　I'm　not　a　dope　altogether。〃
　〃The　gross　on　the　report　is　correct；　Bernie。　Our　auditors　check　it　every　week。〃
　Bernie　scowled　at　him。　〃What　about　those　employee　bonuses？　Twenty…four　hundred　dollars　in　the　last　two　months！　You　think　I'm　crazy？　I　never　O。K。'd　anything　like　that。〃
　〃Sure　you　did；　Bernie；〃　Hawley　replied。　〃That's　the　twenty…five…per　cent　manager's　bonus　we　set　up　to　help　us　over　the　slump　after　Christmas。〃
　〃But　we　set　the　top　gross　for　the　theaters　as　a　quota；〃　Norman　snapped。　〃We　figured　out　it　would　cost　us　next　to　nothing。　What　figure　did　we　use　for　the　Park？〃
　〃Three　thousand。〃
　Bernie　looked　down　at　the　report。　〃It's　a　trick；〃　he　said。　〃Taubman's　been　stealing　us　blind。　If　he　wasn't；　how　e　all　of　a　sudden　he's　grossing　forty…two　hundred？〃
　〃Taubman　isn't　managing　the　theater　now。　He's　been　out　with　appendicitis　since　right　after　Christmas。〃
　〃His　signature's　on　the　report。〃
　〃That's　just　a　rubber　stamp。　All　the　managers　have　them。〃
　〃So　who's　managing　the　theater？〃　Norman　asked。　〃Who's　the　wise　guy　beating　us　out　of　three　hundred　a　week？〃
　Hawley　looked　unfortable。　〃We　were　in　a　spot；　Bernie。　Taubman　caught　us　at　a　bad　time；　we　didn't　have　anybody　else　to　send　in。〃
　〃So　stop　beating　around　the　bush　and　tell　me　already；〃　Norman　snapped。
　〃Your　nephew；　David　Woolf；〃　the　treasurer　said　reluctantly。
　Norman　clapped　his　hand　to　his　head　dramatically。　〃Oy！　I　might　have　known。〃
　〃There　wasn't　anything　else　we　could　do。〃　Hawley　reached　for　a　cigarette　nervously。　〃But　the　kid　did　a　good　job；　Bernie。　He　made　tie…ins　with　all　the　neighborhood　stores；　pulled　in　some　give…aways　and　he　swamps　the　neighborhood　with　heralds　twice　a　week。　He　even　started　what　he　calls　family　night；　for　Monday　and　Tuesday；　the　slow　nights。　A　whole　family　gets　in　for　seventy…five　cents。　And　it's　working。　His　candy　and　popcorn　sales　are　four　times　what　they　were。〃
　〃So　what's　the　extra　business　costing　us？〃
　Again　the　treasurer　looked　unfortable。　〃It　added　a　little　to　operating　expenses　but　we　figure　it's　worth　it。〃
　〃So？〃　Norman　said。　〃Exactly　h