the efficiency expert-第3章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


alized　it　a　dozen　curious　pedestrians　were　approaching　them　from　different　directions；　and　a　burly　blue…coated　figure　was　shouldering　his　way　forward。

Jimmy　had　permitted　his　captive　to　rise；　but　he　still　held　tightly　to　his　wrist　as　the　officer　confronted　them。　He　took　one　look　at　Jimmy's　companion；　and　then　grabbed　him　roughly　by　the　arm。　〃So；　it's　you　again；　is　it？〃　he　growled。

〃I　ain't　done　nuthin'；〃　muttered　the　man。

The　officer　looked　inquiringly　at　Jimmy。

〃What's　all　the　excitement　about？〃　asked　the　latter。　　〃My　friend　and　I　have　done　nothing。〃

〃Your　fri'nd　and　you？〃　replied　the　policeman。　　〃He　ain't　no　fri'nd　o'　yours；　or　yez　wouldn't　be　sayin'　so。〃

〃Well；　I'll　admit；〃　replied　Jimmy；　〃that　possibly　I　haven't　known　him　long　enough　to　presume　to　claim　any　close　friendship；　but　there's　no　telling　what　time　may　develop。〃

〃You　don't　want　him　pinched？〃　asked　the　policeman。

〃Of　course　not；〃　replied　Jimmy。　　〃Why　should　he　be　pinched？〃

The　officer　turned　roughly　upon　the　stranger；　shook　him　viciously　a　few　times；　and　then　gave　him　a　mighty　shove　which　all　but　sent　him　sprawling　into　the　gutter。

〃G'wan　wid　yez；〃　he　yelled　after　him；　〃and　if　I　see　ye　on　this　beat　again　I'll　run　yez　in。　An'　you〃he　turned　upon　Jimmy〃ye'd　betther　be　on　your　wayand　not　be　afther　makin'　up　with　ivery　dip　ye　meet。〃

〃Thanks；〃　said　Jimmy。　　〃Have　a　cigar。〃

After　the　officer　had　helped　himself　and　condescended　to　relax　his　stern　features　into　the　semblance　of　a　smile　the　young　man　bid　him　good　night　and　resumed　his　way　toward　the　hotel。

〃Pretty　early　to　go　to　bed；〃　he　thought　as　he　reached　for　his　watch　to　note　the　time；　running　his　fingers　into　an　empty　pocket。　Gingerly　he　felt　in　another　pocket；　where　he　knew　his　watch　couldn't　possibly　be；　nor　was。　Carefully　Jimmy　examined　each　pocket　of　his　coat　and　trousers；　a　slow　and　broad　grin　illumining　his　face。

〃What　do　you　know　about　that？〃　he　mused。　　〃And　I　thought　I　was　a　wise　guy。〃

A　few　minutes　after　Jimmy　reached　his　room　the　office　called　him　on　the　telephone　to　tell　him　that　a　man　had　called　to　see　him。

〃Send　him　up；〃　said　Jimmy；　wondering　who　it　might　be；　since　he　was　sure　that　no　one　knew　of　his　presence　in　the　city。　He　tried　to　connect　the　call　in　some　way　with　his　advertisement；　but　inasmuch　as　that　had　been　inserted　blind　he　felt　that　there　could　be　no　possible　connection　between　that　and　his　caller。

A　few　minutes　later　there　was　a　knock　on　his　door；　and　in　response　to　his　summons　to　enter　the　door　opened；　and　there　stood　before　him　the　young　man　of　his　recent　encounter　upon　the　street。　The　latter　entered　softly；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　His　feet　made　no　sound　upon　the　carpet；　and　no　sound　came　from　the　door　as　he　closed　it；　nor　any　slightest　click　from　the　latch。　His　utter　silence　and　the　stealth　of　his　movements　were　so　pronounced　as　to　attract　immediate　attention。　He　did　not　speak　until　he　had　reached　the　center　of　the　room　and　halted　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　table　at　which　Jimmy　was　standing；　and　then　a　very　slow　smile　moved　his　lips；　though　the　expression　of　his　eyes　remained　unchanged。

〃Miss　anything？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Here　it　is；〃　said　the　visitor；　laying　the　other's　watch　upon　the　table。

〃Why　this　spasm　of　virtue？〃　asked　Jimmy。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　replied　the　other。　　〃I　guess　it's　because　you're　a　white　guy。　O'Donnell　has　been　trying　to　get　something　on　me　for　the　last　year。　He's　got　it　in　for　meI　wouldn't　cough　every　time　the　big　stiff　seen　me。〃

〃Sit　down；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Naw；〃　said　the　other；　〃I　gotta　be　goin'。〃

〃Come；〃　insisted　the　host；　〃sit　down　for　a　few　minutes　at　least。　I　was　just　wishing　that　I　had　someone　to　talk　to。〃

The　other　sank　noiselessly　into　a　chair。　　〃All　right；　bo；〃　he　said。

Jimmy　proffered　him　his　cigar…case。

〃No；　thanks；〃　declined　the　visitor。　〃I'd　rather　have　a　coffin…nail；〃　which　Jimmy　forthwith　furnished。

〃I　should　think；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃that　your　particular　line　of　endeavor　would　prove　rather　hazardous　in　a　place　where　you　are　known　by　the　police。〃

The　other　smiled　and；　as　before；　with　his　lips　alone。

〃Naw；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　the　safest　place　to　work。　　If　ten　per　cent　of　the　bulls　know　me　I　got　that　much　on　them；　and　then　some；　because　any　boob　can　spot　any　one　o'　de　harness　bunch；　and　I　know　nearly　every　fly　on　the　department。　They're　the　guys　yuh　gotta　know；　and　usually　I　know　something　besides　their　names；　too；〃　and　again　his　lips　smiled。

〃How　much　of　your　time　do　you　have　to　put　in　at　your　occupation　to　make　a　living？〃　asked　Jimmy。

〃Sometimes　I　put　in　six　or　eight　hours　a　day；〃　replied　the　visitor。　　〃De　rush　hours　on　de　surface　line　are　usually　good　for　two　or　t'ree　hours　a　day；　but　I　been　layin'　off　dat　stuff　lately　and　goin'　in　fer　de　t'ater　crowd。　Dere's　more　money　and　shorter　hours。〃

〃You　confine　yourself；〃　asked　Jimmy；　〃toerahpocket…picking　solely？〃

Again　the　lip　smile。　〃I'll　tell　youse　sumpin'；　bo；　dat　dey　don't　none　o'　dem　big　stiffs　on　de　department　know。　De　dip　game　is　a　stall。　I　learned　it　when　I　was　a　kid；　an'　dese　yaps　t'ink　dat's　all　I　know；　and　I　keep　dem　t'inkin'　it　by　pullin'　stuff　under　der　noses　often　enough　to　give　'em　de　hunch　dat　I'm　still　at　de　same　ol'　business。〃　He　leaned　confidentially　across　the　table。　〃If　you　ever　want　a　box　cracked；　look　up　the　Lizard。〃

〃Meaning？〃　asked　Jimmy。

〃Me；　bo；　I'm　the　Lizard。〃

〃Box　cracked？〃　repeated　Jimmy。　　〃An　ice…box　or　a　hot　box？〃

His　visitor　grinned。　　〃Safe；〃　he　explained。

〃Oh；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃if　I　ever　want　any　one　to　break　into　a　safe；　come　to　you；　huh？〃

〃You　get　me；〃　replied　the　other。

〃All　right；〃　said　Jimmy；　laughing；　〃I'll　call　on　you。　　That　the　only　name　you　got；　Mr。　Lizard？〃

〃That's　alljust　the　Lizard。　　Now　I　gotta　he　beatin'　it。〃

〃Goin'　to　crack　a　box？〃　asked　Jimmy。

The　other　smiled　his　lip　smile　and　turned　toward　the　door。

〃Wait　a　second；〃　said　Jimmy。　　〃What　would　you　have　gotten　on　this　watch　of　mine？〃

〃It　would　have　stood　me　about　twenty　bucks。〃

Jimmy　reached　into　his　pocket　and　drew　forth　a　roll　of　bills。　　〃Here；〃　he　said；　handing　the　other　two　tens。

〃Naw；〃　said　the　Lizard；　shoving　the　proffered　money　away。　　〃I'm　no　cheap　skate。〃

〃Come　ontake　it；〃　said　Jimmy。　　〃I　may　want　a　box　cracked　some　day。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　the　Lizard；　〃if　you　put　it　that　way；　bo。〃

〃I　should　think；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃that　a　man　of　your　ability　could　earn　a　living　by　less　precarious　methods。〃　〃You　would　think　so；〃　replied　the　Lizard。　〃I've　tried　two　or　three　times　to　go　straight。　Wore　out　my　shoes　looking　for　a　job。　Never　landed　anything　that　paid　me　more　than　ten　bucks　per；　and　worked　nine　or　ten　hours　a　day；　and　half　the　time　I　couldn't　get　that。〃

〃I　suppose　the　police　hounded　you　all　the　time；　too；〃　suggested　Jimmy。

〃Naw；〃　said　the　Lizard；　〃dat's　all　bunk。　　De　fellows　that　couldn't　even　float　down　a　sewer　straight　pull　dat。　Once　in　a　while　dey　get　it　in　for　some　guy；　but　dey're　glad　enough　to　leave　us　alone　if　we　leave　dem　alone。　I　worked　four　hours　to…day；　maybe　six　before　I　get　through；　and　I'll　stand　a　chance　of　makin'　all　the　way　from　fifty　dollars　to　five　thousand。　Suppose　I　was　drivin'　a　milk…wagon；　gettin'　up　at　t'ree　o'clock　in　the　mornin'　and　workin'　like　hellhow　much　would　I　get　out　of　dat？　Expectin'　every　minute　some　one　was　goin'　tuh　fire　me。　Nuthin'　doin'dey　can't　nobody　fire　me　now。　I'm　my　own　boss。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃your　logic　sounds　all　right；　but　it　all　depends　upon　the　viewpoint。　But　I'll　tell　you：　you've　offered　me　your　services；　I'll　offer　you　mine。　Whenever　you　want　a　job；　look　me　up。　I'm　going　to　be　general　manager　of　a　big　concern　here；　and　you'll　find　me　in　the　next　issue　of　the　telephone　directory。〃　He　handed　the　Lizard　his　card。

〃Tanks；〃　said　the　latter。　　〃If　you　don't　want　a　box　cracked　any　sooner　than　I　want　a　job；　the　chances　are　we　will　never　meet　again。　So…long；〃　and　he　was　gone　as　noiselessly　as　he　had　come。

Jimmy　breakfasted　at　nine　the　next　morning；　and　as　he　waited　for　his　bacon　and　eggs　he　searched　the　Situations　Wanted　columns　of　the　morning　paper　until　his　eye　finally　alighted　upon　that　for　which　he　soughtthe　ad　that　was　to　infuse　into　the　business　life　of　the　great　city　a　new　and　potent　force。　Before　his　breakfast　was　served　Jimmy　had　read　the　few　lines　over　a　dozen　times；　and　with　each　succeeding　reading　he　was　more　and　more　pleased　with　the　result　of　his　advertising　ability　as　it　appeared　in　print。


　　　　　　　　WANTEDBy　College　GraduatePosition　as　　　　　　　　　　General　Manager　of　Large　Business　where　ability；　　　　　　　　　　energy　and　experience　will　be　appreciated。　　　　　　　　　　　Address　263…S；　Tribune　Office。

He　had　decided　to　wait　until　after　lunch　before　calling　at　the　newspaper　office　for　replies　to　his　advertisement；　but　during　breakfast　it　occurred　to　him　there　probably　would　be　several　alert　prospective　employers　who　would　despatch　their　replies　by　special　messengers；　and　realizing　that　promptness　was　one　of　the　cardinal　virtues　in　the　business　world；　Jimmy　reasoned　that　it　would　make　a　favorable　impression　were　he　to　present　himself　as　soon　as　possible　after　the　receipt　of　replies。

By　a　simple　system　of　reasoning　he　deduced　that　ten　o'clock　would　be　none　too　early　to　expect　some　returns　from　his　ad；　and　therefore　at　ten　promptly　he　presented　himself　at　the　Want　Ad　Department　in　the　Tribune　office。

Comparing　the　number　of　the　receipt　which　Jimmy　handed　him　with　the　numbers　upon　a　file　of　little　pigeonholes；　the　clerk　presently　turned　back　toward　the　counter　with　a　handful　of　letters。

〃Whew！〃　thought　Jimmy。　　〃I　never　would　have　guessed　that　I　would　receive　a　bunch　like　that　so　early　in　the　morning。〃　But　then；　as　he　saw　the　clerk　running　through　them　one　by　one；　he　realized　that　they　were　not　all　for　him；　and　as　the　young　man　ran　through　them　Jimmy's　spirits　dropped　a　notch　with　each　letter　that　was　passed　over　without　being　thrown　out　to　him；　until；　when　the　last　letter　had　passed　beneath　the　scrutiny　of　the　clerk；　and　the　advertiser　realized　that　he　had　received　no　replies；　he　was　quite　sure　that　there　was　some　error。

〃Nothing；〃　said　the　clerk；　shaking　his　head　negatively。

〃Are　you　sure　you　looked　in　the　right　compartment？〃　asked　Jimmy。

〃Sure；〃　replied　the　clerk。　　〃There　is　nothing　for　you。〃

Jimmy　pocketed　his　slip　and　walked　from　the　office。　　〃This　town　is　slower　than　I　thought　it　was；〃　he　mused。　〃'I　guess　they　do　need　some　live　wires　here　to　manage　their　business。〃

At　noon　he　returned；　only　to　be　again　disappointed；　and　then　at　two　o'clock；　and　when　he　came　in　at　four　the　same　clerk　looked　up　wearily　and　shook　his　head。

〃Nothing　for　you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　distributed　all　the　stuff　myself　since　you　were　in　last。〃

As　Jimmy　stood　there　almost　dazed　by　surprise　that　during　an　entire　day　his　ad　had　appeared　in　Chicago's　largest　newspaper；　and　he　had　not　received　one　reply；　a　man　approached　the　counter；　passed　a　slip　similar　to　Jimmy's　to　the　clerk；　and　received　fully　a　hundred　letters　in　return。　Jimmy　was　positive　now　that　something　was　wrong。

〃Are　you　sure；〃　he　asked　the　clerk；　〃that　my　replies　haven't　been　sidetracked　somewhere？　I　have　seen　people　taking　letters　away　from　here　all　day；　and　that　bird　there　just　walked　off　with　a　fistful。〃

The　clerk　grinned。　　〃What　you　advertising　for？〃　he　a