the efficiency expert-第7章

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The　other　smiled。　　〃If　an　increase　in　salary；〃　he　suggested；　〃would　influence　you；　I　had　intended　to　tell　you　that　I　would　take　care　of　you　beginning　next　week。　I　thought　of　making　it　fifteen　dollars；〃　and　with　that　unanswerable　argument　for　Jimmy's　continued　service　the　buyer　sat　back　and　folded　his　bands。

〃Nothing　stirring；〃　said　Jimmy。　　〃I　wouldn't　sell　another　sock　if　you　paid　me　ten　thousand　dollars　a　year。　I　am　through。〃

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　the　buyer　aggrievedly；　〃but　if　you　leave　me　this　way　you　will　be　unable　to　refer　to　the　house。〃

But　nothing；　not　even　a　team　of　oxen；　could　have　held　Jimmy　in　that　section　another　minute；　and　so　he　got　his　pay　and　left　with　nothing　more　in　view　than　a　slow　death　by　starvation。

〃There；〃　exclaimed　Elizabeth　Compton；　as　she　sank　back　on　the　cushions　of　her　car。

〃There　what？〃　asked　Harriet。

〃I　have　placed　him。〃

〃Whom？〃

〃That　nice…looking　young　person　who　waited　on　us　in　the　hosiery　section。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Harriet。　　〃He　was　nice…looking；　wasn't　he？　　But　be　looked　out　of　place　there；　and　I　think　he　felt　out　of　place。　Did　you　notice　how　he　flushed　when　he　asked　you　what　size？〃　and　the　girls　laughed　heartily　at　the　recollection。　〃But　where　have　you　ever　met　him　before？〃　Harriet　asked。

〃I　have　never　met　him；〃　corrected　Elizabeth；　accenting　the　〃met。〃　〃He　changed　a　wheel　on　the　roadster　several　weeks　ago　one　evening　after　I　had　taken　Harold　down　to　the　club。　And　he　was　very　nice　about　it。　I　should　say　that　he　is　a　gentleman；　although　his　clothes　were　pretty　badly　worn。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Harriet；　〃his　suit　was　shabby；　but　his　linen　was　clean　and　his　coat　well　brushed。〃

〃My！〃　exclaimed　Elizabeth。　　〃He　must　have　made　an　impression　on　some　one。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Harriet；　〃it　isn't　often　you　see　such　a　nice…looking　chap　in　the　hosiery　section。〃

〃No；〃　said　Elizabeth；　〃and　probably　if　he　were　as　nice　as　he　looks　he　wouldn't　be　there。〃

Whereupon　the　subject　was　changed；　and　she　promptly　forgot　Mr。　Jimmy　Torrance。　But　Jimmy　was　not　destined　soon　to　forget　her；　for　as　the　jobless　days　passed　and　he　realized　more　and　more　what　an　ass　he　had　made　of　himself；　and　why；　he　had　occasion　to　think　about　her　a　great　deal；　although　never　in　any　sense　reproaching　her。　He　realized　that　the　fault　was　his　own　and　that　he　had　done　a　foolish　thing　in　giving　up　his　position　because　of　a　girl　he　did　not　know　and　probably　never　would。

There　came　a　Saturday　when　Jimmy；　jobless　and　fundless；　dreaded　his　return　to　the　Indiana　Avenue　rooming…house；　where　he　knew　the　landlady　would　be　eagerly　awaiting　him；　for　he　was　a　week　in　arrears　in　his　room　rent　already；　and　had　been　warned　he　could　expect　no　further　credit。

〃There　is　a　nice　young　man　wanting　your　room；〃　the　landlady　had　told　him；　〃and　I　shall　have　to　be　having　it　Saturday　night　unless　you　can　pay　up。〃

Jimmy　stood　on　the　corner　of　Clark　and　Van　Buren　looking　at　his　watch。　　〃I　hate　to　do　it；〃　he　thought；　〃but　the　Lizard　said　he　could　get　twenty　for　it；　and　twenty　would　give　me　another　two　weeks。〃　And　so　his　watch　went；　and　two　weeks　later　his　cigarette…case　and　ring　followed。　Jimmy　had　never　gone　in　much　for　jewelrya　fact　which　he　now　greatly　lamented。

Some　of　the　clothes　he　still　had　were　good；　though　badly　in　want　of　pressing；　and　when；　after　still　further　days　of　fruitless　searching　for　work　the　proceeds　from　the　articles　he　had　pawned　were　exhausted；　it　occurred　to　him　he　might　raise　something　on　all　but　what　he　actually　needed　to　cover　his　nakedness。

In　his　search　for　work　he　was　still　wearing　his　best…looking　suit；　the　others　he　would　dispose　of；　and　with　this　plan　in　his　mind　on　his　return　to　his　room　that　night　he　went　to　the　tiny　closet　to　make　a　bundle　of　the　things　which　he　would　dispose　of　on　the　morrow；　only　to　discover　that　in　his　absence　some　one　had　been　there　before　him；　and　that　there　was　nothing　left　for　him　to　sell。

It　would　be　two　days　before　his　room　rent　was　again　due；　but　in　the　mean　time　Jimmy　had　no　money　wherewith　to　feed　the　inner　man。　It　was　an　almost　utterly　discouraged　Jimmy　who　crawled　into　his　bed　to　spend　a　sleepless　night　of　worry　and　vain　regret；　the　principal　object　of　his　regret　being　that　he　was　not　the　son　of　a　blacksmith　who　had　taught　him　how　to　shoe　horses　and　who　at　the　same　time　had　been　too　poor　to　send　him　to　college。

Long　since　there　had　been　driven　into　his　mind　the　conviction　that　for　any　practical　purpose　in　life　a　higher　education　was　as　useless　as　the　proverbial　fifth　wheel　to　the　coach。

〃And　even；　〃mused　Jimmy；　〃if　I　had　graduated　at　the　head　of　my　class；　I　would　be　no　better　off　than　I　am　now。〃




CHAPTER　VIII。

BREAD　FROM　THE　WATERS。

The　next　day；　worn　out　from　loss　of　sleep；　the　young　man　started　out　upon　a　last　frenzied　search　for　employment。　He　had　no　money　for　breakfast；　and　so　he　went　breakfastless；　and　as　he　had　no　carfare　it　was　necessary　for　him　to　walk　the　seemingly　interminable　miles　from　one　prospective　job　to　another。　By　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　Jimmy　was　hungrier　than　he　had　ever　been　before　in　his　life。　He　was　so　hungry　that　it　actually　hurt；　and　he　was　weak　from　physical　fatigue　and　from　disappointment　and　worry。

〃I've　got　to　eat；〃　he　soliloquized　fiercely；　　〃if　I　have　to　go　out　to…night　and　pound　somebody　on　the　head　to　get　the　price；　and　I'm　going　to　do　it；〃　he　concluded　as　the　odors　of　cooking　food　came　to　him　from　a　cheap　restaurant　which　he　was　passing。　He　stopped　a　moment　and　looked　into　the　window　at　the　catsup　bottles　and　sad…looking　pies　which　the　proprietor　apparently　seemed　to　think　formed　an　artistic　and　attractive　window　display。

〃If　I　had　a　brick；〃　thought　Jimmy；　〃I　would　have　one　of　those　pies；　even　if　I　went　to　the　jug　for　it；〃　but　his　hunger　had　not　made　him　as　desperate　as　he　thought　he　was；　and　so　he　passed　slowly　on；　and；　glancing　into　the　windows　of　the　store　next　door；　saw　a　display　of　second…hand　clothes　and　the　sign　〃Clothes　Bought　and　Sold。〃

Jimmy　looked　at　those　in　the　window　and　then　down　at　his　own；　which；　though　wrinkled；　were　infinitely　better　than　anything　on　display。

〃I　wonder；〃　he　mused；　〃if　I　couldn't　put　something　over　in　the　way　of　high　finance　here；〃　and；　acting　upon　the　inspiration；　he　entered　the　dingy　little　shop。　When　he　emerged　twenty　minutes　later　he　wore　a　shabby　and　rather　disreputable　suit　of　hand…me…downs；　but　he　had　two　silver　dollars　in　his　pocket。

When　Jimmy　returned　to　his　room　that　night　it　was　with　a　full　stomach；　but　with　the　knowledge　that　he　had　practically　reached　the　end　of　his　rope。　He　had　been　unable　to　bring　himself　to　the　point　of　writing　his　father　an　admission　of　his　failure；　and　in　fact　he　had　gone　so　far；　and　in　his　estimation　had　sunk　so　low；　that　he　had　definitely　determined　he　would　rather　starve　to　death　now　than　admit　his　utter　inefficiency　to　those　whose　respect　he　most　valued。

As　he　climbed　the　stairway　to　his　room　he　heard　some　one　descending　from　above；　and　as　they　passed　beneath　the　dim　light　of　a　flickering　gas…jet　he　realized　that　the　other　stopped　suddenly　and　turned　back　to　look　after　him　as　Jimmy　continued　his　ascent　of　the　stairs；　and　then　a　low　voice　inquired：

〃Say；　bo；　what　you　doin'　here？〃

Jimmy　turned　toward　the　questioner。

〃Oh！〃　he　exclaimed　as　recognition　of　the　other　dawned　slowly　upon　him。　　〃It's　you；　is　it？　My　old　and　esteemed　friend；　the　Lizard。〃

〃Sure；　it's　me；〃　replied　the　Lizard。　　〃But　what　you　doin'　here？　　Looking　for　an　assistant　general　manager？〃

Jimmy　grinned。

〃Don't　rub　it　in；〃　he　said；　still　smiling。

The　other　ascended　toward　him；　his　keen　eyes　appraising　him　from　head　to　foot。

〃You　live　here？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Jimmy；　〃do　you？〃

〃Sure；　I　been　livin'　here　for　the　last　six　months。〃

〃That's　funny；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃I　have　been　here　about　two　months　myself。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　asked　the　Lizard。　　〃Didn't　you　like　the　job　as　general　manager？〃

Jimmy　flushed。

〃Forget　it；〃　he　admonished。

〃Where's　you　room？〃　asked　the　Lizard。

〃Up　another　flight；〃　said　Jimmy。　　〃Won't　you　come　up？〃

〃Sure；〃　said　the　Lizard；　and　together　the　two　ascended　the　stairs　and　entered　Jimmy's　room。　Under　the　brighter　light　there　the　Lizard　scrutinized　his　host。

〃You　been　against　it；　bo；　haven't　you？〃　he　asked。

〃I　sure　have；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Gee；〃　said　the　other；　〃what　a　difference　clothes　make！　　You　look　like　a　regular　bum。〃

〃Thanks；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃What　you　doin'？〃　asked　the　Lizard。

〃Nothing。〃

〃Lose　your　job？〃

〃I　quit　it；〃　said　Jimmy。　　〃I've　only　worked　a　month　since　I've　been　here；　and　that　for　the　munificent　salary　of　ten　dollars　a　week。〃

〃Do　you　want　to　make　some　coin？〃　asked　the　Lizard。

〃I　sure　do；〃　said　Jimmy。　　〃I　don't　know　of　anything　1　would　rather　have。〃

〃I'm　pullin'　off　something　to…morrow　night。　　I　can　use　you；〃　and　he　eyed　Jimmy　shrewdly　as　he　spoke。

〃Cracking　a　box？〃　asked　Jimmy；　grinning。

〃It　might　be　something　like　that；〃　replied　the　Lizard；　〃but　you　won't　have　nothin'　to　do　but　stand　where　I　put　you　and　make　a　noise　like　a　cat　if　you　see　anybody　coming。　It　ought　to　be　something　good。　I　been　working　on　it　for　three　months。　We'll　split　something　like　fifty　thousand　thirty…seventy。〃

〃Is　that　the　usual　percentage？〃　asked　Jimmy。

〃It's　what　I'm　offerin'　you；〃　replied　the　lizard。

Thirty　per　cent　of　fifty　thousand　dollars！　　Jimmy　jingled　the　few　pieces　of　silver　remaining　in　his　pocket。　Fifteen　thousand　dollars！　And　here　he　had　been　walking　his　legs　off　and　starving　in　a　vain　attempt　to　earn　a　few　paltry　dollars　honestly。

〃There's　something　wrong　somewhere；〃　muttered　Jimmy　to　himself。

〃I'm　taking　it　from　an　old　crab　who　has　more　than　he　can　use；　and　all　of　it　he　got　by　robbing　people　that　didn't　have　any　to　spare。　He's　a　big　guy　here。　When　anything　big　is　doing　the　newspaper　guys　interview　him　and　his　name　is　in　all　the　lists　of　subscriptions　to　charitywhen　they're　going　to　be　published　in　the　papers。　I'll　bet　he　takes　nine…tenths　of　his　kale　from　women　and　children；　and　he's　an　honored　citizen。　I　ain't　no　angel；　but　whatever　I've　taken　didn't　cause　nobody　any　sufferin'I'm　a　thief；　bo；　and　I'm　mighty　proud　of　it　when　I　think　of　what　this　other　guy　is。〃

Thirty　per　cent　of　fifty　thousand　dollars！　　Jimmy　was　sitting　with　his　legs　crossed。　He　looked　down　at　his　ill…fitting；　shabby　trousers；　and　then　turned　up　the　sole　of　one　shoe　which　was　worn　through　almost　to　his　sock。　The　Lizard　watched　him　as　a　cat　watches　a　mouse。　He　knew　that　the　other　was　thinking　hard；　and　that　presently　he　would　reach　a　decision；　and　through　Jimmy's　mind　marched　a　sordid　and　hateful　procession　of　recent　eventshumiliation；　rebuff；　shame；　poverty；　hunger；　and　in　the　background　the　face　of　his　father　and　the　face　of　a　girl　whose　name；　even；　he　did　not　know。

Presently　he　looked　up　at　the　Lizard。

〃Nothing　doing；　old　top；〃　he　said。　　〃But　don't　mistake　the　motives　which　prompt　me　to　refuse　your　glittering　offer。　I　am　moved　by　no　moral　scruples；　however　humiliating　such　a　confession　should　be。　The　way　I　feel　now　I　would　almost　as　lief　go　out　and　rob　widows　and　orphans　myself；　but　each　of　us；　some　time　in　our　life；　has　to　consider　some　one　who　would　probably　rather　see　us　dead　than　disgraced。　I　don't　know　whether　you　get　me　or　not。〃

〃I　get　you；〃　replied　the　Lizard；　〃and　while