the efficiency expert-第9章

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iminals　and　the　women　of　the　underworld　at　night。　In　the　weeks　that　he　was　there　he　came　to　know　many　of　the　local　celebrities　in　various　walks　of　life；　to　know　them　at　least　by　name。　There　was　Steve　Murray；　the　labor　leader；　whom　rumor　said　was　one　of　Feinheimer's　financial　backersa　large　man　with　a　loud　voice　and　the　table　manners　of　a　Duroc…Jersey。　Jimmy　took　an　instinctive　dislike　to　the　man　the　first　time　that　he　saw　him。

And　then　there　was　Little　Eva；　whose　real　name　was　Edith。　　She　was　a　demure　looking　little　girl；　who　came　in　every　afternoon　at　four　o'clock　for　her　breakfast。　She　usually　came　to　Jimmy's　table　when　it　was　vacant；　and　at　four　o'clock　she　always　ate　alone。　Later　in　the　evening　she　would　come　in　again　with　a　male　escort；　who　was　never　twice　the　same。

〃I　wonder　what's　the　matter　with　me？〃　she　said　to　Jimmy　one　day　as　he　was　serving　her　breakfast。　〃I'm　getting　awfully　nervous。〃　'

〃That's　quite　remarkable；〃　said　Jimmy。　　〃I　should　think　any　one　who　smoked　as　many　cigarettes　and　drank　as　much　whisky　as　you　would　have　perfect　nerves。〃

The　girl　laughed；　a　rather　soft　and　mellow　laugh。　　〃I　suppose　I　do　hit　it　up　a　little　strong；〃　she　said。

〃Strong？〃　exclaimed　Jimmy。　　〃Why；　if　I　drank　half　what　you　do　I'd　be　in　the　Washingtonian　Home　in　a　week。〃

She　looked　at　him　quizzically　for　a　moment；　as　she　had　looked　at　him　often　since　he　had　gone　to　work　for　Feinheimer。

〃You're　a　funny　guy；〃　she　said。　　〃I　can't　quite　figure　you　out。　　What　are　you　doing　here　anyway？〃

〃I　never　claimed　to　be　much　of　a　waiter；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃but　I　didn't　know　I　was　so　rotten　that　a　regular　customer　of　the　place　couldn't　tell　what　I　was　trying　to　do。〃

〃Oh；　go　on；〃　she　cried；　〃I　don't　mean　that。　　These　other　hash…slingers　around　here　look　the　part。　Aside　from　that；　about　the　only　thing　they　know　how　to　do　is　roll　a　souse；　but　you're　different。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃I　am　different。　　My　abilities　are　limited。　　All　I　can　do　is　wait　on　table；　while　they　have　two　accomplishments。〃

〃Oh；　you　don't　have　to　tell　me；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃I　wasn't　rubbering。　　I　was　just　sort　of　interested　in　you。〃

〃Thanks；〃　said　Jimmy。

She　went　on　with　her　breakfast　while　Jimmy　set　up　an　adjoining　table。　　Presently　when　he　came　to　fill　her　water…glass　she　looked　up　at　him　again。

〃I　like　you；　kid；〃　she　said。　　〃You're　not　fresh。　　You　know　what　I　am　as　well　as　the　rest　of　them；　but　you　wait　on　me　just　the　same　as　you　would　on〃she　hesitated　and　there　was　a　little　catch　in　her　voice　as　she　finished　her　sentence〃just　the　same　as　you　would　on　a　decent　girl。〃

Jimmy　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　　It　was　the　first　indication　that　he　had　ever　had　from　an　habitu；　of　Feinheimer's　that　there　might　lurk　within　their　breasts　any　of　the　finer　characteristics　whose　outward　indices　are　pride　and　shame。　He　was　momentarily　at　a　loss　as　to　what　to　say；　and　as　he　hesitated　the　girl's　gaze　went　past　him　and　she　exclaimed：

〃Look　who's　here！〃

Jimmy　turned　to　look　at　the　newcomer；　and　saw　the　Lizard　directly　behind　him。

〃Howdy；　bo；〃　said　his　benefactor。　　〃I　thought　I'd　come　in　and　give　you　the　once…over。　And　here's　Little　Eva　with　a　plate　of　ham　and　at　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon。〃

The　Lizard　dropped　into　a　chair　at　the　table　with　the　girl；　and　after　Jimmy　had　taken　his　order　and　departed　for　the　kitchen　Little　Eva　jerked　her　thumb　toward　his　retreating　figure。

〃Friend　of　yours？〃　she　asked。

〃He　might　have　a　worse　friend；〃　replied　the　Lizard　non…committally。

〃What's　his　graft？〃　asked　the　girl。

〃He　ain't　got　none　except　being　on　the　square。　　It's　funny；〃　the　Lizard　philosophized；　〃but　here's　me　with　a　bank　roll　that　would　choke　a　horse；　and　you　probably　with　a　stocking　full　of　dough；　and　I'll　bet　all　the　money　I　ever　had　or　ever　expect　to　have　if　one　of　us　could　change　places　with　that　poor　simp　we'd　do　it。〃

〃He　is　a　square　guy；　isn't　he？〃　said　the　girl。　　〃You　can　almost　tell　it　by　looking　at　him。　How　did　you　come　to　know　him？〃

〃Oh；　that's　a　long　story；〃　said　the　Lizard。　　〃We　room　at　the　same　place；　but　I　knew　him　before　that。〃

〃On　Indiana　near　Eighteenth？〃　asked　the　girl。

〃How　the　hell　did　you　know？〃　he　queried。

〃I　know　a　lot　of　things　I　ain't　supposed　to　know；〃　replied　she。

〃You're　a　wise　guy；　all　right；　Eva；　and　one　thing　I　like　about　you　is　that　you　don't　let　anything　you　know　hurt　you。〃

And　then；　after　a　pause：　〃I　like　him；〃　she　said。　　〃What's　his　name？〃

The　Lizard　eyed　her　for　a　moment。

〃Don't　you　get　to　liking　him　too　much　he　said。　　That　bird's　the　class。　　He　ain't　for　any　little〃

〃Cut　it！〃　exclaimed　the　girl。　　〃I'm　as　good　as　you　are　and　a　damn　straighter。　What　I　get　I　earn；　and　I　don't　steal　it。〃

The　Lizard　grinned。　　〃I　guess　you're　right　at　that；　but　don't　try　to　pull　him　down　any　lower　than　he　is。　He　is　coming　up　again　some　day　to　where　he　belongs。〃

〃I　ain't　going　to　try　to　pull　him　down；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃And　anyhow；　when　were　you　made　his　godfather？〃

Jimmy　saw　Eva　almost　daily　for　many　weeks。　　He　saw　her　at　her　post…meridian　breakfastsober　and　subdued；　he　saw　her　later　in　the　evening；　in　various　stages　of　exhilaration；　but　at　those　times　she　did　not　come　to　his　table　and　seldom　if　ever　did　he　catch　her　eye。

They　talked　a　great　deal　while　she　breakfasted；　and　he　learned　to　like　the　girl　and　to　realize　that　she　possessed　two　personalities。　The　one　which　he　liked　dominated　her　at　breakfast；　the　other　which　he　loathed　guided　her　actions　later　in　the　evening。　Neither　of　them　ever　referred　to　those　hours　of　her　life；　and　as　the　days　passed　Jimmy　found　himself　looking　forward　to　the　hour　when　Little　Eva　would　come　to　Feinheimer's　for　her　breakfast。




CHAPTER　XI。

CHRISTMAS　EVE。

It　was　Christmas　Eve。　　Elizabeth　Compton　and　Harriet　Holden　were　completing　the　rounds　of　their　friends'　homes　with　Christmas　remembrancesa　custom　that　they　had　continued　since　childhood。　The　last　parcel　had　been　delivered　upon　the　South　Side；　and　they　were　now　being　driven　north　on　Michigan　Boulevard　toward　home。　Elizabeth　directed　the　chauffeur　to　turn　over　Van　Buren　to　State；　which　at　this　season　of　the　year　was　almost　alive　with　belated　Christmas　shoppers　and　those　other　thousands　who　always　seize　upon　the　slightest　pretext　for　a　celebration。

It　was　a　noisy；　joyous　crowd　whose　spirit；　harmonizing　with　the　bright　lights　and　the　gay　shop　windows；　infected　all　who　came　within　its　influence。　As　the　car　moved　slowly　northward　along　the　world's　greatest　retail　street　the　girls　leaned　forward　to　watch　the　passing　throng　through　the　windows。

〃Isn't　it　wonderful；〃　exclaimed　Harriet；　〃what　a　transformation　a　few　lights　make？　Who　would　ever　think　of　State　Street　as　a　fairy…land？　And　yet；　if　you　half　close　your　eyes　the　hallucination　is　complete。　Even　the　people　who　by　daylight　are　shoddy　and　care…worn　take　on　an　appearance　of　romance　and　gaiety；　and　the　tawdry　colored　lights　are　the　scintillant　gems　of　the　garden　of　a　fairy　prince。〃

〃Don't！〃　Elizabeth　pleaded。　　〃The　city　night　always　affects　me。　　It　makes　me　want　to　do　something　adventurous；　and　on　Christmas　Eve　it　is　even　worse。　If　you　keep　on　like　that　I　shall　soon　be　telling　David　to　drive　us　up　and　down　State　Street　all　night。〃

〃I　wish　we　didn't　have　to　go　home　right　away；〃　said　Harriet。　　〃I　feel　like　doing　something　devilish。〃

〃Well；　let's！〃　exclaimed　Elizabeth。

〃Do　something　devilish？〃　inquired　Harriet。　〃What；　for　instance？〃

〃Oh；　'most　anything　that　we　shouldn't　do；〃　replied　Elizabeth；　〃and　there　isn't　anything　that　we　could　do　down　here　alone　that　we　should　do。〃

They　both　laughed。　　〃I　have　it！〃　exclaimed　Elizabeth　suddenly。　　〃We'll　be　utterly　abandonedwe'll　have　supper　at　Feinheimer's　without　an　escort。〃

Harriet　cast　a　horrified　glance　at　her　companion。　　〃Why；　Elizabeth　Compton；〃　she　cried；　〃you　wouldn't　dare。　You　know　you　wouldn't　dare！〃

〃Do　you　dare　me？〃　asked　the　other。

〃But　suppose　some　one　should　see　us？〃　argued　Harriet。　　〃Your　father　would　never　forgive　us。〃

〃If　we　see　any　one　in　Feinheimer's　who　knows　us；〃　argued　Elizabeth　shrewdly；　〃they　will　be　just　as　glad　to　forget　it　as　we。　And　anyway　it　will　do　it　will　do　harm。　I　shall　have　David　stay　right　outside　the　door　so　that　if　I　call　him　he　can　come。　I　don't　know　what　I　would　do　without　David。　He　is　a　sort　of　Rock　of　Ages　and　Gibraltar　all　in　one。〃

Through　the　speaking…tube　Elizabeth　directed　David　to　drive　to　Feinheimer's；　and；　whatever　David　may　have　thought　of　the　order；　he　gave　no　outward　indication　of　it。

Christmas　Eve　at　Feinheimer's　is；　or　was；　a　riot　of　unconfined　hilarity；　although　the　code　of　ethics　of　the　place　was　on　a　higher　plane　than　that　which　governed　the　Christmas　Eve　and　New　Year's　Eve　patrons　of　so…called　respectable　restaurants；　where　a　woman　is　not　safe　from　insult　even　though　she　be　properly　escorted；　while　in　Feinheimer's　a　woman　with　an　escort　was　studiously　avoided　by　the　other　celebrators　unless　she　chose　to　join　with　them。　As　there　was　only　one　class　of　women　who　came　to　Feinheimer's　at　night　without　escort；　the　male　habitues　had　no　difficulty　in　determining　who　they　might　approach　and　who　they　might　not。

Jimmy　Torrance　was　as　busy　as　a　cranberry　merchant。　　He　had　four　tables　to　attend　to；　and　while　the　amount　of　food　he　served　grew　more　and　more　negligible　as　the　evening　progressed；　his　trips　to　the　bar　were　exceeding　frequent。　One　of　his　tables　had　been　vacated　for　a　few　minutes　when；　upon　his　return　from　the　bar　with　a　round　of　drinks　for　Steve　Murray　and　his　party　he　saw　that　two　women　had　entered　and　were　occupying　his　fourth　table。　Their　backs　were　toward　him；　and　he　gave　them　but　little　attention　other　than　to　note　that　they　were　unescorted　and　to　immediately　catalogue　them　accordingly。　Having　distributed　Steve　Murray's　order；　Jimmy　turned　toward　his　new　patrons；　and；　laying　a　menu　card　before　each；　he　stood　between　them　waiting　for　their　order。

〃What　shall　we　take？〃　asked　Elizabeth　of　Harriet。　　Then：　〃What　have　you　that's　good？〃　and　she　looked　up　at　the　waiter。

Jimmy　prided　himself　upon　self…control；　and　his　serving　at　Feinheimer's　had　still　further　schooled　him　in　the　repression　of　any　outward　indication　of　his　emotions。　For；　as　most　men　of　his　class；　he　had　a　well…defined　conception　of　what　constituted　a　perfect　waiter；　one　of　the　requisites　being　utter　indifference　to　any　of　the　affairs　of　his　patrons　outside　of　those　things　which　actually　pertained　to　his　duties　as　a　servitor；　but　in　this　instance　Jimmy　realized　that　he　had　come　very　close　to　revealing　the　astonishment　which　he　felt　on　seeing　this　girl　in　Feinheimer's　and　unescorted。

If　Jimmy　was　schooled　in　self…control；　Elizabeth　Compton　was　equally　so。　She　recognized　the　waiter　immediately；　but　not　even　by　a　movement　of　an　eyelid　did　she　betray　the　fact；　which　may　possibly　be　accounted　for　by　the　fact　that　it　meant　little　more　to　her　than　as　though　she　had　chanced　to　see　the　same　street…sweeper　several　times　In　succession；　although　after　he　had　left　with　their　order　she　asked　Harriet　if　she；　too；　had　recognized　him。

〃Immediately；〃　replied　her　friend。　　〃it　doesn't　seem　possible　that　such　a　good…looking　chap　should　be　occupying　such　a　menial　position。〃

〃There　must　be　something　wrong　with　him；〃　rejoined　Elizabeth；　〃probably　utterly　inefficient。〃

〃Or　he　may　have　some　vice；〃