the efficiency expert-第7部分

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ave　a　good　grasp　of　the　business　I　can　handle　it。　Don't　you　suppose　you　could　persuade　him　to　take　a　trip？　I　know　that　he　wants　to　travel。　He　has　told　me　so　several　times；　and　if　he　could　get　away　from　here　this　fall　and　stay　away　for　a　year；　if　possible；　it　would　make　a　new　man　of　him。　I　am　really　very　much　worried　about　him；　and　while　I　hate　to　worry　you　I　feel　that　you　are　the　only　person　who　can　influence　him　and　that　something　ought　to　be　done　and　done　at　once。〃

〃Why；　Harold；〃　exclaimed　the　girl；　〃there　is　nothing　the　matter　with　father！　He　was　never　better　in　his　life　nor　more　cheerful。〃

〃That's　the　side　of　him　that　he　lets　you　see；〃　replied　the　man。　　〃His　gaiety　is　all　forced。　If　you　could　see　him　after　you　leave　you　would　realize　that　he　is　on　the　verge　of　a　nervous　breakdown。　Your　father　is　not　an　old　man　in　years；　but　he　has　placed　a　constant　surtax　on　his　nervous　system　for　the　last　twenty…five　years　without　a　let…up；　and　it　doesn't　make　any　difference　how　good　a　machine　may　be　it　is　going　to　wear　out　some　day；　and　the　better　the　machine　the　more　complete　will　be　the　wreck　when　the　final　break　occurs。〃

As　he　spoke　he　watched　the　girl's　face；　the　changing　expression　of　it；　which　marked　her　growing　mental　perturbation。

〃You　really　believe　it　is　as　bad　as　that；　Harold？〃　she　asked。

〃It　may　be　worse　than　I　think；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　surely　fully　as　bad。〃

The　girl　rose　slowly　from　the　chair。　　〃I　will　try　and　persuade　him　to　see　Dr。　Earle。〃

The　man　took　a　step　toward　her。　　〃I　don't　believe　a　doctor　is　what　he　needs；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃His　condition　is　one　that　even　a　nerve　specialist　might　not　diagnose　correctly。　It　is　only　some　one　in　a　position　like　mine；　who　has　an　opportunity　to　observe　him　almost　hourly；　day　by　day；　who　would　realize　his　condition。　I　doubt　if　he　has　any　organic　trouble　whatever。　What　he　needs　is　a　long　rest；　entirely　free　from　any　thought　whatever　of　business。　At　least；　Elizabeth；　it　will　do　him　no　harm；　and　it　may　prolong　his　life　for　years。　I　wouldn't　go　messing　around　with　any　of　these　medical　chaps。〃

〃Well；〃　she　said　at　last；　with　a　sigh；　〃I　will　talk　to　him　and　see　if　I　can't　persuade　him　to　take　a　trip。　He　has　always　wanted　to　visit　Japan　and　China。〃

〃Just　the　thing！〃　exclaimed　Bince；　〃just　the　thing　for　him。　　The　long　sea　voyage　will　do　him　a　world　of　good。　And　now；〃　he　said；　stepping　to　her　side　and　putting　an　arm　around　her。

She　pushed　him　gently　away。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I　do　not　feel　like　kissing　now；〃　and　turning　she　entered　her　father's　office；　followed　by　Bince。




CHAPTER　VII。

JOBLESS　AGAIN。

From　her　father's　works　Elizabeth　and　Harriet　drove　to　the　shopping　district；　where　they　strolled　through　a　couple　of　shops　and　then　stopped　at　one　of　the　larger　stores。

Jimmy　Torrance　was　arranging　his　stock；　fully　nine…tenths　of　which　he　could　have　sworn　he　had　just　shown　an　elderly　spinster　who　had　taken　at　least　half　an　hour　of　his　time　and　then　left　without　making　a　purchase。　His　back　was　toward　his　counter　when　his　attention　was　attracted　by　a　feminine　voice　asking　if　he　was　busy。　As　he　turned　about　he　recognized　her　instantlythe　girl　for　whom　he　had　changed　a　wheel　a　month　before　and　who　unconsciously　had　infused　new　ambition　into　his　blood　and　saved　him；　temporarily　at　least；　from　becoming　a　quitter。

He　noticed　as　he　waited　on　her　that　she　seemed　to　be　appraising　him　very　carefully；　and　at　times　there　was　a　slightly　puzzled　expression　on　her　face；　but　evidently　she　did　not　recognize　him；　and　finally　when　she　had　concluded　her　purchases　he　was　disappointed　that　she　paid　for　them　in　cash。　He　had　rather　hoped　that　she　would　have　them　charged　and　sent；　that　he　might　learn　her　name　and　address。　And　then　she　left；　with　Jimmy　none　the　wiser　concerning　her　other　than　that　her　first　name　was　Elizabeth　and　that　she　was　even　better…looking　than　he　recalled　her　to　have　been。

〃And　the　girl　with　her！〃　exclaimed　Jimmy　mentally。　　〃She　was　no　slouch　either。　They　are　the　two　best…looking　girls　I　have　seen　in　this　town；　notwithstanding　the　fact　that　whether　one　likes　Chicago　or　not　he's　got　to　admit　that　there　are　more　pretty　girls　here　than　in　any　other　city　in　the　country。

〃I'm　glad　she　didn't　recognize　me。　　Of　course；　I　don't　know　her；　and　the　chances　are　that　I　never　shall；　but　I　should　hate　to　have　any　one　recognize　me　here；　or　hereafter；　as　that　young　man　at　the　stocking　counter。　Gad！　but　it's　beastly　that　a　regular　life…sized　man　should　be　selling　stockings　to　women　for　a　living；　or　rather　for　a　fraction　of　a　living。〃

While　Jimmy　had　always　been　hugely　disgusted　with　his　position；　the　sight　of　the　girl　seemed　to　have　suddenly　crystallized　all　those　weeks　of　self…contempt　into　a　sudden　almost　mad　desire　to　escape　what　he　considered　his　degrading　and　effeminating　surroundings。　One　must　bear　with　Jimmy　and　judge　him　leniently；　for　after　all；　notwithstanding　his　college　diploma　and　physique；　he　was　still　but　a　boy　and　so　while　it　is　difficult　for　a　mature　and　sober　judgment　to　countenance　his　next　step；　if　one　can　look　back　a　few　years　to　his　own　youth　he　can　at　least　find　extenuating　circumstances　surrounding　Jimmy's　seeming　foolishness。

For　with　a　bang　that　caused　startled　clerks　in　all　directions　to　look　up　from　their　work　he　shattered　the　decorous　monotone　of　the　great　store　by　slamming　his　sales　book　viciously　upon　the　counter；　and　without　a　word　of　explanation　to　his　fellow　clerks　marched　out　of　the　section　toward　the　buyer's　desk。

〃Well；　Mr。　Torrance；〃　asked　that　gentleman；　〃what　can　I　do　for　you？〃

〃I　am　going　to　quit；〃　announced　Jimmy。

〃Quit！〃'　exclaimed　the　buyer。　　〃Why；　what's　wrong？　　Isn't　everything　perfectly　satisfactory？　You　have　never　complained　to　me。〃

〃I　can't　explain；〃　replied　Jimmy。　　〃I　am　going　to　quit。　　I　am　not　satisfied。　I　am　going　to　erahaccept　another　position。〃

The　buyer　raised　his　eyebrows。　　〃Ah！　he　said。　　〃With〃　and　he　named　their　closest　competitor。

〃No；〃　said　Jimmy。　　〃I　am　going　to　get　a　regular　he…job。〃

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