ss.iftomorrowcomes-第28部分

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　There　was　a　position　listed　as　secretary　in　an　export　firm。
　
　The　moment　Tracy　walked　in　the　door；　the　personnel　manager　said；　〃Hey；　I　seen　you　on　television。　You　saved　a　kid　in　prison；　didn't　you？〃
　
　Tracy　turned　and　fled。
　
　The　following　day　she　was　hired　as　a　saleswoman　in　the　children's　department　at　Saks　Fifth　Avenue。　The　salary　was　a　great　deal　less　than　she　had　been　used　to；　but　at　least　it　was　enough　to　support　herself。
　
　On　her　second　day；　a　hysterical　customer　recognized　her　and　informed　the　floor　manager　that　she　refused　to　be　waited　on　by　a　murderess　who　had　drowned　a　small　child。　Tracy　was　given　no　chance　to　explain。　She　was　discharged　immediately。
　
　It　seemed　to　Tracy　that　the　men　upon　whom　she　had　exacted　vengeance　had　had　the　last　word　after　all。　They　had　turned　her　into　a　public　criminal；　an　outcast。　The　unfairness　of　what　was　happening　to　her　was　corrosive。　She　had　no　idea　how　she　was　going　to　live；　and　for　the　first　time　she　began　to　have　a　feeling　of　desperation。　That　night　she　looked　through　her　purse　to　see　how　much　money　remained；　and　tucked　away　in　a　corner　of　her　wallet　she　came　across　the　slip　of　paper　that　Betty　Franciscus　had　given　her　in　prison。　CONRAD　MORGAN；　JEWELER；　640　FIFTH　AVENUE；　NEW　YORK　CITY。　He's　into　criminal　reform。　He　likes　to　give　a　hand　to　people　who've　been　in　prison。
　
　**********
　
　Conrad　Morgan　et　Cie　Jewelers　was　an　elegant　establishment；　with　a　liveried　doorman　on　the　outside　and　an　armed　guard　on　the　inside。　The　shop　itself　was　tastefully　understated；　but　the　jewels　were　exquisite　and　expensive。
　
　Tracy　told　the　receptionist　inside；　〃I'd　like　to　see　Mr。　Conrad　Morgan；　please。〃
　
　〃Do　you　have　an　appointment？〃
　
　〃No。　A…　a　mutual　friend　suggested　that　I　see　him。〃
　
　〃Your　name？〃
　
　〃Tracy　Whitney。〃
　
　〃Just　a　moment；　please。〃
　
　The　receptionist　picked　up　a　telephone　and　murmured　something　into　it　that　Tracy　could　not　hear。　She　replaced　the　receiver。　〃Mr。　Morgan　is　occupied　just　now。　He　wonders　if　you　could　e　back　at　six　o'clock。〃
　
　〃Yes；　thank　you；〃　Tracy　said。
　
　She　walked　out　of　the　shop　and　stood　on　the　sidewalk；　uncertainly。　ing　to　New　York　had　been　a　mistake。　There　was　probably　nothing　Conrad　Morgan　could　do　for　her。　And　why　should　he？　She　was　a　plete　stranger　to　him。　He'll　give　me　a　lecture　and　a　handout。　Well；　I　don't　need　either。　Not　from　him　or　anyone　else。　I'm　a　survivor。　Somehow　I'm　going　to　make　it。　To　hell　with　Conrad　Morgan。　I　won't　go　back　to　see　him。
　
　Tracy　wandered　the　streets　aimlessly；　passing　the　glittering　salons　of　Fifth　Avenue；　the　guarded　apartment　buildings　on　Park　Avenue；　the　bustling　shops　on　Lexington　and　Third。　She　walked　the　streets　of　New　York　mindlessly；　seeing　nothing；　filled　with　a　bitter　frustration。
　
　At　6：00　she　found　herself　back　on　Fifth　Avenue；　in　front　of　Conrad　Morgan　et　Cie　Jewelers。　The　doorman　was　gone；　and　the　door　was　locked。　Tracy　pounded　on　the　door　in　a　gesture　of　defiance　and　then　turned　away；　but　to　her　surprise；　the　door　suddenly　opened。
　
　An　avuncular…looking　man　stood　there　looking　at　her。　He　was　bald；　with　ragged　tufts　of　gray　hair　above　his　ears；　and　he　had　a　jolly；　rubicund　face　and　twinkling　blue　eyes。　He　looked　like　a　cheery　little　gnome。　〃You　must　be　Miss　Whitney？〃
　
　〃Yes。。。。〃
　
　〃I'm　Conrad　Morgan。　Please；　do　e　in；　won't　you？〃
　
　Tracy　entered　the　deserted　store。
　
　〃I've　been　waiting　for　you；〃　Conrad　Morgan　said。　〃Let's　go　into　my　office　where　we　can　talk。〃
　
　He　led　her　through　the　store　to　a　closed　door；　which　he　unlocked　with　a　key。　His　office　was　elegantly　furnished；　and　it　looked　more　like　an　apartment　than　a　place　of　business；　with　no　desk；　just　couches；　chairs；　and　tables　artfully　placed。　The　walls　were　covered　with　old　masters。
　
　〃Would　you　care　for　a　drink？〃　Conrad　Morgan　offered。　〃Whiskey；　cognac；　or　perhaps　sherry？〃
　
　〃No；　nothing；　thank　you。〃
　
　Tracy　was　suddenly　nervous。　She　had　dismissed　the　idea　that　this　man　would　do　anything　to　help　her；　yet　at　the　same　time　she　found　herself　desperately　hoping　that　he　could。
　
　〃Betty　Franciscus　suggested　that　I　look　you　up；　Mr。　Morgan。　She　said　you…　you　helped　people　who　have　been　in。。。　trouble。〃　She　could　not　bring　herself　to　say　prison。
　
　Conrad　Morgan　clasped　his　hands　together；　and　Tracy　noticed　how　beautifully　manicured　they　were。
　
　〃Poor　Betty。　Such　a　lovely　lady。　She　was　unlucky；　you　know。〃
　
　〃Unlucky？〃
　
　〃Yes。　She　got　caught。〃
　
　〃I…　I　don't　understand。〃
　
　〃It's　really　quite　simple；　Miss　Whitney。　Betty　used　to　work　for　me。　She　was　well　protected。　Then　the　poor　dear　fell　in　love　with　a　chauffeur　from　New　Orleans　and　went　off　on　her　own。　And；　well。。。　they　caught　her。〃
　
　Tracy　was　confused。　〃She　worked　for　you　here　as　a　saleslady？〃
　
　Conrad　Morgan　sat　back　and　laughed　until　his　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃No；　my　dear；〃　he　said；　wiping　the　tears　away。　〃Obviously；　Betty　didn't　explain　everything　to　you。〃　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　steepled　his　fingers。　〃I　have　a　very　profitable　little　sideline；　Miss　Whitney；　and　I　take　great　pleasure　in　sharing　those　profits　with　my　colleagues。　I　have　been　most　successful　employing　people　like　yourself…　if　you'll　forgive　me…　who　have　served　time　in　prison。〃
　
　Tracy　studied　his　face；　more　puzzled　that　ever。
　
　〃I'm　in　a　unique　position；　you　see。　I　have　an　extremely　wealthy　clientele。　My　clients　bee　my　friends。　They　confide　in　me。〃　He　tapped　his　fingers　together　delicately。　〃I　know　when　my　customers　take　trips。　Very　few　people　travel　with　jewelry　in　these　parlous　times；　so　their　jewels　are　locked　away　at　home。　I　remend　to　them　the　security　measures　they　should　take　to　protect　them。　I　know　exactly　what　jewels　they　own　because　they　purchased　them　from　me。　They…〃
　
　Tracy　found　herself　on　her　feet。　〃Thank　you　for　your　time；　Mr。　Morgan。〃
　
　〃Surely　you're　not　leaving　already？〃
　
　〃If　you're　saying　what　I　think　you're　saying…〃
　
　〃Yes。　Indeed；　I　am。〃
　
　She　could　feel　her　cheeks　burning。　〃I'm　not　a　criminal。　I　came　here　looking　for　a　job。〃
　
　〃And　I'm　offering　you　one；　my　dear。　It　will　take　an　hour　or　two　of　your　time；　and　I　can　promise　you　twenty…five　thousand　dollars。〃　He　smiled　impishly。　〃Tax　free；　of　course。〃
　
　Tracy　was　fighting　hard　to　control　her　anger。　〃I'm　not　interested。　Would　you　let　me　out；　please？〃
　
　〃Certainly；　if　that　is　what　you　wish。〃　He　rose　to　his　feet　and　showed　her　to　the　door。　〃You　must　understand；　Miss　Whitney；　that　if　there　were　the　slightest　danger　of　anyone's　being　caught；　I　would　not　be　involved　in　this。　I　have　my　reputation　to　protect。〃
　
　〃I　promise　you　I　won't　say　anything　about　it；〃　Tracy　said　coldly。
　
　He　grinned。　〃There's　really　nothing　you　could　say；　my　dear；　is　there？　I　mean；　who　would　believe　you？　I　am　Conrad　Morgan。〃
　
　As　they　reached　the　front　entrance　of　the　store；　Morgan　said；　〃You　will　let　me　know　if　you　change　your　mind；　won't　you？　The　best　time　to　telephone　me　is　after　six　o'clock　in　the　evening。　I'll　wait　for　your　call。〃
　
　〃Don't；〃　Tracy　said　curtly；　and　she　walked　out　into　the　approaching　night。　When　she　reached　her　room；　she　was　still　trembling。
　
　She　sent　the　hotel's　one　bellboy　out　for　a　sandwich　and　coffee。　She　did　not　feel　like　facing　anyone。　The　meeting　with　Conrad　Morgan　had　made　her　feel　unclean。　He　had　lumped　her　with　all　the　sad；　confused；　and　beaten　criminals　she　had　been　surrounded　by　at　the　Southern　Louisiana　Penitentiary　for　Women。　She　was　not　one　of　them。　She　was　Tracy　Whitney；　a　puter　expert；　a　decent；　law…abiding　citizen。
　
　Whom　no　one　would　hire。
　
　Tracy　lay　awake　all　night　thinking　about　her　future。　She　had　no　job；　and　very　little　money　left。　She　made　two　resolutions：　In　the　morning　she　would　move　to　a　cheaper　place　and　she　would　find　a　job。　Any　kind　of　job。
　
　**********
　
　The　cheaper　place　turned　out　to　be　a　dreary　fourth…floor　walkup；　one…room　apartment　on　the　Lower　East　Side。　From　her　room；　through　the　paper…thin　walls；　Tracy　could　hear　her　neighbors　screaming　at　one　another　in　foreign　languages。　The　windows　and　doors　of　the　small　stores　that　lined　the　streets　were　heavily　barred；　and　Tracy　could　understand　why。　The　neighborhood　seemed　to　be　populated　by　drunks；　prostitutes；　and　bag　ladies。
　
　On　her　way　to　the　market　to　shop；　Tracy　was　accosted　three　times…　twice　by　men　and　once　by　a　woman。
　
　I　can　stand　it。　I　won't　be　here　long；　Tracy　assured　herself。
　
　**********
　
　She　went　to　a　small　employment　agency　a　few　blocks　from　her　apartment。　It　was　run　by　a　Mrs。　Murphy；　a　matronly　looking；　heavy…set　lady。　She　put　down　Tracy's　resumé　and　studied　her　quizzically。　〃I　don't　know　what　you　need　me　for。　There　must　be　a　dozen　panies　that'd　give　their　eyeteeth　to　get　someone　like　you。〃
　
　Tracy　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　have　a　problem；〃　she　said。　She　explained　as　Mrs。　Murphy　sat　listening　quietly；　and　when　Tracy　was　finished；　Mrs。　Murphy　said　flatly；　〃You　can　forget　about　looking　for　a　puter　job。〃
　
　〃But　you　said…〃
　
　〃panies　are　jumpy　these　days　about　puter　crimes。　They're　not　gonna　hire　anybody　with　a　record。〃
　
　〃But　I　need　a　job。　I…〃
　
　〃There　are　other　kinds　of　jobs。　Have　you　thought　about　working　as　a　saleslady？〃
　
　Tracy　remembered　her　experience　at　the　department　store。　She　could　not　bear　to　go　through　that　again。　〃Is　there　anything　else？〃
　
　The　woman　hesitated。　Tracy　Whitney　was　obviously　over…qualified　for　the　job　Mrs。　Murphy　had　in　mind。　〃Look；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　this　isn't　up　your　alley；　but　there's　a　waitress　job　open　at　Jackson　Hole。　It's　a　hamburger　place　on　the　Upper　East　Side。〃
　
　〃A　waitress　job？〃
　
　〃Yeah。　If　you　take　it；　I　won't　charge　you　any　mission。　I　just　happened　to　hear　about　it。〃
　
　Tracy　sat　there；　debating。　She　had　waited　on　tables　in　college。　Then　it　had　been　fun。　Now　it　was　a　question　of　surviving。
　
　〃I'll　try　it；〃　she　said。
　
　**********
　
　Jackson　Hole　was　bedlam；　packed　with　noisy　and　impatient　customers；　and　harassed；　irritable　fry　cooks。　The　food　was　good　and　the　prices　reasonable；　and　the　place　was　always　jammed。　The　waitresses　worked　at　a　frantic　pace　with　no　time　to　relax；　and　by　the　end　of　the　first　day　Tracy　was　exhausted。　But