Chapter 45

CURIOUSSHIFTSOFTHEPOOR

ThegloomyHurstwood,sittinginhischeaphotel,wherehehadtakenrefugewithseventydollars—thepriceofhisfurniture-betweenhimandnothing,sawahotsummeroutandacoolfallin,reading.Hewasnotwhollyindifferenttothefactthathismoneywasslippingaway.Asfiftycentsafterfiftycentswerepaidoutforaday』slodginghebecameuneasy,andfinallytookacheaperroom—thirty-fivecentsaday—tomakehismoneylastlonger.FrequentlyhesawnoticesofCarrie.Herpicturewasinthe「World」onceortwice,andanold「Herald」hefoundinachairinformedhimthatshehadrecentlyappearedwithsomeothersatabenefitforsomethingorother.Hereadthesethingswithmingledfeelings.Eachoneseemedtoputherfartherandfartherawayintoarealmwhichbecamemoreimposingasitrecededfromhim.Onthebillboards,too,hesawaprettyposter,showingherastheQuakerMaid,demureanddainty.Morethanoncehestoppedandlookedatthese,gazingattheprettyfaceinasullensortofway.Hisclotheswereshabby,andhepresentedamarkedcontrasttoallthatshenowseemedtobe.

Somehow,solongasheknewshewasattheCasino,thoughhehadneveranyintentionofgoingnearher,therewasasubconsciouscomfortforhim—hewasnotquitealone.Theshowseemedsuchafixturethat,afteramonthortwo,hebegantotakeitforgrantedthatitwasstillrunning.InSeptemberitwentontheroadandhedidnotnoticeit.Whenallbuttwentydollarsofhismoneywasgone,hemovedtoafifteen-centlodging-houseintheBowery,wheretherewasabarelounging-roomfilledwithtablesandbenchesaswellassomechairs.Herehispreferencewastoclosehiseyesanddreamofotherdays,ahabitwhichgrewuponhim.Itwasnotsleepatfirst,butamentalhearkeningbacktoscenesandincidentsinhisChicagolife.Asthepresentbecamedarker,thepastgrewbrighter,andallthatconcerneditstoodinrelief.

Hewasunconsciousofjusthowmuchthishabithadholdofhimuntilonedayhefoundhislipsrepeatinganoldanswerhehadmadetooneofhisfriends.TheywereinFitzgeraldandMoy』s.Itwasasifhestoodinthedoorofhiselegantlittleoffice,comfortablydressed,talkingtoSagarMorrisonaboutthevalueofSouthChicagorealestateinwhichthelatterwasabouttoinvest.

「Howwouldyouliketocomeinonthatwithme.」heheardMorrisonsay.

「Notme,」heanswered,justashehadyearsbefore.「Ihavemyhandsfullnow.」

Themovementofhislipsarousedhim.Hewonderedwhetherhehadreallyspoken.Thenexttimehenoticedanythingofthesorthereallydidtalk.

「Whydon』tyoujump,youbloodyfool.」hewassaying.「Jump!」

ItwasafunnyEnglishstoryhewastellingtoacompanyofactors.Evenashisvoicerecalledhim,hewassmiling.Acrustyoldcodger,sittingnearby,seemeddisturbed;atleast,hestaredinamostpointedway.Hurstwoodstraightenedup.Thehumorofthememoryfledinaninstantandhefeltashamed.Forrelief,helefthischairandstrolledoutintothestreets.

Oneday,lookingdownthead.columnsofthe「EveningWorld,」hesawwhereanewplaywasattheCasino.Instantly,hecametoamentalhalt.Carriehadgone!Herememberedseeingaposterofheronlyyesterday,butnodoubtitwasoneleftuncoveredbythenewsigns.Curiously,thisfactshookhimup.Hehadalmosttoadmitthatsomehowhewasdependinguponherbeinginthecity.Nowshewasgone.Hewonderedhowthisimportantfacthadskippedhim.Goodnessknowswhenshewouldbebacknow.Impelledbyanervousfear,heroseandwentintothedingyhall,wherehecountedhisremainingmoney,unseen.Therewerebuttendollarsinall.

Hewonderedhowalltheseotherlodging-housepeoplearoundhimgotalong.Theydidn』tseemtodoanything.Perhapstheybegged—unquestionablytheydid.Manywasthedimehehadgiventosuchastheyinhisday.Hehadseenothermenaskingformoneyonthestreets.Maybehecouldgetsomethatway.Therewashorrorinthisthought.

Sittinginthelodging-houseroom,hecametohislastfiftycents.Hehadsavedandcounteduntilhishealthwasaffected.Hisstoutnesshadgone.Withit,eventhesemblanceofafitinhisclothes.Nowhedecidedhemustdosomething,and,walkingabout,sawanotherdaygoby,bringinghimdowntohislasttwentycents—notenoughtoeatforthemorrow.

Summoningallhiscourage,hecrossedtoBroadwayanduptotheBroadwayCentralhotel.Withinablockhehalted,undecided.Abig,heavy-facedporterwasstandingatoneofthesideentrances,lookingout.Hurstwoodpurposedtoappealtohim.Walkingstraightup,hewasuponhimbeforehecouldturnaway.

「Myfriend,」hesaid,recognizingeveninhisplighttheman』sinferiority,「isthereanythingaboutthishotelthatIcouldgettodo.」

Theporterstaredathimthewhilehecontinuedtotalk.

「I』moutofworkandoutofmoneyandI』vegottogetsome-thing,-itdoesn』tmatterwhat.Idon』tcaretotalkaboutwhatI』vebeen,butifyou』dtellmehowtogetsomethingtodo,I』dbemuchobligedtoyou.Itwouldn』tmatterifitonlylastedafewdaysjustnow.I』vegottohavesomething.」

Theporterstillgazed,tryingtolookindifferent.Then,seeingthatHurstwoodwasabouttogoon,hesaid:

「I』venothingtodowithit.You』llhavetoaskinside.」

Curiously,thisstirredHurstwoodtofurthereffort.

「Ithoughtyoumighttellme.」

Thefellowshookhisheadirritably.

Insidewenttheex-managerandstraighttoanofficeofftheclerk』sdesk.Oneofthemanagersofthehotelhappenedtobethere.Hurstwoodlookedhimstraightintheeye.

「Couldyougivemesomethingtodoforafewdays.」hesaid.「I』minapositionwhereIhavetogetsomethingatonce.」

Thecomfortablemanagerlookedathim,asmuchastosay:「Well,Ishouldjudgeso.」

「Icamehere,」explainedHurstwood,nervously,「becauseI』vebeenamanagermyselfinmyday.I』vehadbadluckinawaybutI』mnotheretotellyouthat.Iwantsomethingtodo,ifonlyforaweek.」

Themanimaginedhesawafeverishgleamintheapplicant』seye.

「Whathoteldidyoumanage.」heinquired.

「Itwasn』tahotel,」saidHurstwood.「IwasmanagerofFitzgeraldandMoy』splaceinChicagoforfifteenyears.」

「Isthatso.」saidthehotelman.「Howdidyoucometogetoutofthat.」

ThefigureofHurstwoodwasrathersurprisingincontrasttothefact.

「Well,byfoolishnessofmyown.Itisn』tanythingtotalkaboutnow.Youcouldfindoutifyouwantedto.I』m『broke』nowand,ifyouwillbelieveme,Ihaven』teatenanythingto-day.」

Thehotelmanwasslightlyinterestedinthisstory.Hecouldhardlytellwhattodowithsuchafigure,andyetHurstwood』searnestnessmadehimwishtodosomething.

「CallOlsen,」hesaid,turningtotheclerk.

Inreplytoabellandadisappearinghall-boy,Olsen,theheadporter,appeared.

「Olsen,」saidthemanager,「isthereanythingdownstairsyoucouldfindforthismantodo.I』dliketogivehimsomething.」

「Idon』tknow,sir,」saidOlsen.「Wehaveaboutallthehelpweneed.IthinkIcouldfindsomething,sir,though,ifyoulike.」

「Do.TakehimtothekitchenandtellWilsontogivehimsomethingtoeat.」

「Allright,sir,」saidOlsen.

Hurstwoodfollowed.Outofthemanager』ssight,theheadporter』smannerchanged.

「Idon』tknowwhatthedevilthereistodo,」heobserved.

Hurstwoodsaidnothing.Tohimthebigtrunkhustlerwasasubjectforprivatecontempt.

「You』retogivethismansomethingtoeat,」heobservedtothecook.

ThelatterlookedHurstwoodover,andseeingsomethingkeenandintellectualinhiseyes,said:

「Well,sitdownoverthere.」

ThuswasHurstwoodinstalledintheBroadwayCentral,butnotforlong.Hewasinnoshapeormoodtodothescrubworkthatexistsaboutthefoundationofeveryhotel.Nothingbetteroffering,hewassettoaidthefireman,toworkaboutthebasement,todoanythingandeverythingthatmightoffer.Porters,cooks,firemen,clerks—allwereoverhim.Moreoverhisappearancedidnotpleasetheseindividuals—histemperwastoolonely—andtheymadeitdisagreeableforhim.

Withthestolidityandindifferenceofdespair,however,heendureditall,sleepinginanatticattheroofofthehouse,eatingwhatthecookgavehim,acceptingafewdollarsaweek,whichhetriedtosave.Hisconstitutionwasinnoshapetoendure.

OnedaythefollowingFebruaryhewassentonanerrandtoalargecoalcompany』soffice.Ithadbeensnowingandthawingandthestreetsweresloppy.Hesoakedhisshoesinhisprogressandcamebackfeelingdullandweary.Allthenextdayhefeltunusuallydepressedandsataboutasmuchaspossible,totheirritationofthosewhoadmiredenergyinothers.

Intheafternoonsomeboxesweretobemovedtomakeroomfornewculinarysupplies.Hewasorderedtohandleatruck.Encounteringabigbox,hecouldnotliftit.

「What』sthematterthere.」saidtheheadporter.「Can』tyouhandleit.」

Hewasstrainingtoliftit,butnowhequit.

「No,」hesaid,weakly.

Themanlookedathimandsawthathewasdeathlypale.

「Notsick,areyou.」heasked.「IthinkIam,」returnedHurstwood.

「Well,you』dbettergositdown,then.」

Thishedid,butsoongrewrapidlyworse.Itseemedallhecoulddotocrawltohisroom,whereheremainedforaday.

「ThatmanWheeler』ssick,」reportedoneofthelackeystothenightclerk.

「What』sthematterwithhim.」

「Idon』tknow.He』sgotahighfever.」

Thehotelphysicianlookedathim.

「BettersendhimtoBellevue,」herecommended.「He』sgotpneumonia.」

Accordingly,hewascartedaway.

Inthreeweekstheworstwasover,butitwasnearlythefirstofMaybeforehisstrengthpermittedhimtobeturnedout.Thenhewasdischarged.

Nomoreweaklylookingobjecteverstrolledoutintothespringsunshinethantheoncehale,lustymanager.Allhiscorpulencehadfled.Hisfacewasthinandpale,hishandswhite,hisbodyflabby.Clothesandall,heweighedbutonehundredandthirty-fivepounds.Someoldgarmentshadbeengivenhim—acheapbrowncoatandmisfitpairoftrousers.Alsosomechangeandadvice.Hewastoldtoapplytothecharities.

AgainheresortedtotheBowerylodging-house,broodingoverwheretolook.Fromthisitwasbutasteptobeggary.

「Whatcanamando.」hesaid.「Ican』tstarve.」

HisfirstapplicationwasinsunnySecondAvenue.Awell-dressedmancameleisurelystrollingtowardhimoutofStuyvesantPark.Hurstwoodnervedhimselfandsidlednear.

「Wouldyoumindgivingmetencents.」hesaid,directly.「I』minapositionwhereImustasksomeone.」

Themanscarcelylookedathim,fishedinhisvestpocketandtookoutadime.

「Thereyouare,」hesaid.

「Muchobliged,」saidHurstwood,softly,buttheotherpaidnomoreattentiontohim.

Satisfiedwithhissuccessandyetashamedofhissituation,hedecidedthathewouldonlyaskfortwenty-fivecentsmore,sincethatwouldbesufficient.Hestrolledaboutsizinguppeople,butitwaslongbeforejusttherightfaceandsituationarrived.Whenheasked,hewasrefused.Shockedbythisresult,hetookanhourtorecoverandthenaskedagain.Thistimeanickelwasgivenhim.Bythemostwatchfulefforthedidgettwentycentsmore,butitwaspainful.

Thenextdayheresortedtothesameeffort,experiencingavarietyofrebuffsandoneortwogenerousreceptions.Atlastitcrossedhismindthattherewasascienceoffaces,andthatamancouldpicktheliberalcountenanceifhetried.

Itwasnopleasuretohim,however,thisstoppingofpassers-by.Hesawonemantakenupforitandnowtroubledlestheshouldbearrested.Nevertheless,hewenton,vaguelyanticipatingthatindefinitesomethingwhichisalwaysbetter.

Itwaswithasenseofsatisfaction,then,thathesawannouncedonemorningthereturnoftheCasinoCompany,「withMissCarrieMadenda.」Hehadthoughtofheroftenenoughindayspast.Howsuccessfulshewas—howmuchmoneyshemusthave!Evennow,however,ittookasevererunofilllucktodecidehimtoappealtoher.Hewastrulyhungrybeforehesaid:

「I』llaskher.Shewon』trefusemeafewdollars.」

Accordingly,heheadedfortheCasinooneafternoon,passingitseveraltimesinanefforttolocatethestageentrance.ThenhesatinBryantPark,ablockaway,waiting.「Shecan』trefusetohelpmealittle,」hekeptsayingtohimself.

Beginningwithhalf-pastsix,hehoveredlikeashadowabouttheThirty-ninthStreetentrance,pretendingalwaystobeahurryingpedestrianandyetfearfullestheshouldmisshisobject.Hewasslightlynervous,too,nowthattheeventfulhourhadarrived;butbeingweakandhungry,hisabilitytosufferwasmodified.Atlasthesawthattheactorswerebeginningtoarrive,andhisnervoustensionincreased,untilitseemedasifhecouldnotstandmuchmore.

OncehethoughthesawCarriecomingandmovedforward,onlytoseethathewasmistaken.

「Shecan』tbelong,now,」hesaidtohimself,halffearingtoencounterherandequallydepressedatthethoughtthatshemighthavegoneinbyanotherway.Hisstomachwassoemptythatitached.

Individualafterindividualpassedhim,nearlyallwelldressed,almostallindifferent.Hesawcoachesrollingby,gentlemenpassingwithladies—theevening』smerrimentwasbeginninginthisregionoftheatresandhotels.

Suddenlyacoachrolledupandthedriverjumpeddowntoopenthedoor.BeforeHurstwoodcouldact,twoladiesflouncedacrossthebroadwalkanddisappearedinthestagedoor.HethoughthesawCarrie,butitwassounexpected,soelegantandfaraway,hecouldhardlytell.Hewaitedawhilelonger,growingfeverishwithwant,andthenseeingthatthestagedoornolongeropened,andthatamerryaudiencewasarriving,heconcludeditmusthavebeenCarrieandturnedaway.

「Lord,」hesaid,hasteningoutofthestreetintowhichthemorefortunatewerepouring,「I』vegottogetsomething.」

Atthathour,whenBroadwayiswonttoassumeitsmostinterestingaspect,apeculiarindividualinvariablytookhisstandatthecornerofTwenty-sixthStreetandBroadway—aspotwhichisalsointersectedbyFifthAvenue.Thiswasthehourwhenthetheatreswerejustbeginningtoreceivetheirpatrons.Firesignsannouncingthenight』samusementsblazedoneveryhand.Cabsandcarriages,theirlampsgleaminglikeyelloweyes,patteredby.Couplesandpartiesofthreeandfourfreelymingledinthecommoncrowd,whichpouredbyinathickstream,laughingandjesting.OnFifthAvenuewereloungers—afewwealthystrollers,agentlemanineveningdresswithhisladyonhisarm,someclub-menpassingfromonesmoking-roomtoanother.Acrossthewaythegreathotelsshowedahundredgleamingwindows,theircafesandbilliard-roomsfilledwithacomfortable,well-dressed,andpleasure-lovingthrong.Allaboutwasthenight,pulsatingwiththethoughtsofpleasureandexhilaration—thecuriousenthusiasmofagreatcitybentuponfindingjoyinathousanddifferentways.

Thisuniqueindividualwasnolessthananex-soldierturnedreligionist,who,havingsufferedthewhipsandprivationsofourpeculiarsocialsystem,hadconcludedthathisdutytotheGodwhichheconceivedlayinaidinghisfellow-man.Theformofaidwhichhechosetoadministerwasentirelyoriginalwithhimself.Itconsistedofsecuringabedforallsuchhomelesswayfarersasshouldapplytohimatthisparticularspot,thoughhehadscarcelythewherewithaltoprovideacomfortablehabitationforhimself.Takinghisplaceamidthislightsomeatmosphere,hewouldstand,hisstockyfigurecloakedinagreatcapeovercoat,hisheadprotectedbyabroadslouchhat,awaitingtheapplicantswhohadinvariouswayslearnedthenatureofhischarity.Forawhilehewouldstandalone,gazinglikeanyidleruponaneverfascinatingscene.Ontheeveninginquestion,apolicemanpassingsalutedhimas「captain,」inafriendlyway.Anurchinwhohadfrequentlyseenhimbefore,stoppedtogaze.Allotherstookhimfornothingoutoftheordinary,saveinthematterofdress,andconceivedofhimasastrangerwhistlingandidlingforhisownamusement.

Asthefirsthalf-hourwaned,certaincharactersappeared.Hereandthereinthepassingcrowdsonemightsee,nowandthen,aloitereredginginterestedlynear.Aslouchyfigurecrossedtheoppositecornerandglancedfurtivelyinhisdirection.AnothercamedownFifthAvenuetothecornerofTwenty-sixthStreet,tookageneralsurvey,andhobbledoffagain.TwoorthreenoticeableBowerytypesedgedalongtheFifthAvenuesideofMadisonSquare,butdidnotventureover.Thesoldier,inhiscapeovercoat,walkedashortlineoftenfeetathiscorner,toandfro,indifferentlywhistling.

Asnineo』clockapproached,someofthehubbuboftheearlierhourpassed.Theatmosphereofthehotelswasnotsoyouthful.Theair,too,wascolder.Oneveryhandcuriousfiguresweremoving—watchersandpeepers,withoutanimaginarycircle,whichtheyseemedafraidtoenter—adozeninall.Presently,withthearrivalofakeenersenseofcold,onefigurecame

forward.ItcrossedBroadwayfromouttheshadowofTwenty-sixthStreet,and,inahalting,circuitousway,arrivedclosetothewaitingfigure.Therewassomethingshamefacedordiffidentaboutthemovement,asiftheintentionweretoconcealanyideaofstoppinguntiltheverylastmoment.Thensuddenly,closetothesoldier,camethehalt.

Thecaptainlookedinrecognition,buttherewasnoespecialgreeting.Thenewcomernoddedslightlyandmurmuredsomethinglikeonewhowaitsforgifts.Theothersimplymotionedto-wardtheedgeofthewalk.

「Standoverthere,」hesaid.

Bythisthespellwasbroken.Evenwhilethesoldierresumedhisshort,solemnwalk,otherfiguresshuffledforward.Theydidnotsomuchasgreettheleader,butjoinedtheone,snifflingandhitchingandscrapingtheirfeet.

「Gold,ain』tit.」

「I』mgladwinter』sover.」

「Looksasthoughitmightrain.」

Themotleycompanyhadincreasedtoten.Oneortwokneweachotherandconversed.Othersstoodoffafewfeet,notwishingtobeinthecrowdandyetnotcountedout.Theywerepeevish,crusty,silent,eyingnothinginparticularandmovingtheirfeet.

Therewouldhavebeentalkingsoon,butthesoldiergavethemnochance.Countingsufficienttobegin,hecameforward.

「Beds,eh,allofyou.」

Therewasageneralshuffleandmurmurofapproval.

「Well,lineuphere.I』llseewhatIcando.Ihaven』tacentmyself.」

Theyfellintoasortofbroken,raggedline.Onemightsee,now,someofthechiefcharacteristicsbycontrast.Therewasawoodenlegintheline.Hatswerealldrooping,agroupthatwouldillbecomeasecond-handHesterStreetbasementcollection.Trouserswereallwarpedandfrayedatthebottomandcoatswornandfaded.Intheglareofthestorelights,someofthefaceslookeddryandchalky;otherswereredwithblotchesandpuffedinthecheeksandundertheeyes;oneortwowererawbonedandremindedoneofrailroadhands.Afewspectatorscamenear,drawnbytheseeminglyconferringgroup,thenmoreandmore,andquicklytherewasapushing,gapingcrowd.Someoneinthelinebegantotalk.

「Silence!」exclaimedthecaptain.「Now,then,gentlemen,thesemenarewithoutbeds.Theyhavetohavesomeplacetosleeptonight.Theycan』tlieoutinthestreets.Ineedtwelvecentstoputoneofthemtobed.Whowillgiveittome.」

Noreply.

「Well,we』llhavetowaithere,boys,untilsomeonedoes.Twelvecentsisn』tsoverymuchforoneman.」

「Here』sfifteen,」exclaimedayoungman,peeringforwardwithstrainedeyes.「It』sallIcanafford.」

「Allright.NowIhavefifteen.Stepoutoftheline,」andseizingonebytheshoulder,thecaptainmarchedhimoffalittlewayandstoodhimupalone.

Comingback,heresumedhisplaceandbeganagain.

「Ihavethreecentsleft.Thesemenmustbeputtobedsomehow.Thereare」—counting—」one,two,three,four,five,six,seven,eight,nine,ten,eleven,twelvemen.Ninecentsmorewillputthenextmantobed;givehimagood,comfortablebedforthenight.Igorightalongandlookafterthatmyself.Whowillgivemeninecents.」

Oneofthewatchers,thistimeamiddle-agedman,handedhimafive-centpiece.

「Now,Ihaveeightcents.Fourmorewillgivethismanabed.Come,gentlemen.Wearegoingveryslowthisevening.Youallhavegoodbeds.Howaboutthese.」

「Hereyouare,」remarkedabystander,puttingacoinintohishand.

「That,」saidthecaptain,lookingatthecoin,「paysfortwobedsfortwomenandgivesmefiveonthenextone.Whowillgivemesevencentsmore.」

「Iwill,」saidavoice.

ComingdownSixthAvenuethisevening,HurstwoodchancedtocrosseastthroughTwenty-sixthStreettowardThirdAvenue.Hewaswhollydisconsolateinspirit,hungrytowhathedeemedanalmostmortalextent,weary,anddefeated.HowshouldhegetatCarrienow.Itwouldbeelevenbeforetheshowwasover.Ifshecameinacoach,shewouldgoawayinone.Hewouldneedtointerruptundermosttryingcircumstances.Worstofall,hewashungryandweary,andatbestawholedaymustintervene,forhehadnothearttotryagainto-night.Hehadnofoodandnobed.

WhenhenearedBroadway,henoticedthecaptain』sgatheringofwanderers,butthinkingittobetheresultofastreetpreacherorsomepatentmedicinefakir,wasabouttopasson.However,incrossingthestreettowardMadisonSquarePark,henoticedthelineofmenwhosebedswerealreadysecured,stretchingoutfromthemainbodyofthecrowd.Intheglareoftheneighboringelectriclightherecognizedatypeofhisownkind—thefigureswhomhesawaboutthestreetsandinthelodging-houses,driftinginmindandbodylikehimself.Hewonderedwhatitcouldbeandturnedback.

Therewasthecaptaincurtlypleadingasbefore.Heheardwithastonishmentandasenseofrelieftheoft-repeatedwords:「Thesemenmusthaveabed.」Beforehimwasthelineofunfortunateswhosebedswereyettobehad,andseeinganewcomerquietlyedgeupandtakeapositionattheendoftheline,hedecidedtodolikewise.Whatusetocontend.Hewaswearyto-night.Itwasasimplewayoutofonedifficulty,atleast.To-morrow,maybe,hewoulddobetter.

Backofhim,wheresomeofthosewerewhosebedsweresafe,arelaxedairwasapparent.The

strainofuncertaintybeingremoved,heheardthemtalkingwithmoderatefreedomandsomeleaningtowardsociability.Politics,religion,thestateofthegovernment,somenewspapersensations,andthemorenotoriousfactstheworldover,foundmouthpiecesandauditorsthere.Crackedandhuskyvoicespronouncedforciblyuponoddmatters.Vagueandramblingobservationsweremadeinreply.

Thereweresquints,andleers,andsomedull,ox-likestaresfromthosewhoweretoodullortoowearytoconverse.

Standingtells.Hurstwoodbecamemorewearywaiting.Hethoughtheshoulddropsoonandshiftedrestlesslyfromonefoottotheother.Atlasthisturncame.Themanaheadhadbeenpaidforandgonetotheblessedlineofsuccess.Hewasnowfirst,andalreadythecaptainwastalkingforhim.

「Twelvecents,gentlemen—twelvecentsputsthismantobed.Hewouldn』tstandhereinthecoldifhehadanyplacetogo.」

Hurstwoodswallowedsomethingthatrosetohisthroat.Hungerandweaknesshadmadeacowardofhim.

「Hereyouare,」saidastranger,handingmoneytothecaptain.

Nowthelatterputakindlyhandontheex-manager』sshoulder.「Lineupoverthere,」hesaid.

Oncethere,Hurstwoodbreathedeasier.Hefeltasiftheworldwerenotquitesobadwithsuchagoodmaninit.Othersseemedtofeellikehimselfaboutthis.

「Captain』sagreatfeller,ain』the.」saidthemanahead—alittle,woebegone,helpless-lookingsortofindividual,wholookedasthoughhehadeverbeenthesportandcareoffortune.

「Yes,」saidHurstwood,indifferently.

「Huh!there』salotbackthereyet,」saidamanfartherup,leaningoutandlookingbackattheapplicantsforwhomthecaptainwaspleading.

「Yes.Mustbeoverahundredto-night,」saidanother.

「Lookattheguyinthecab,」observedathird.

Acabhadstopped.Somegentlemanineveningdressreachedoutabilltothecaptain,whotookitwithsimplethanksandturnedawaytohisline.Therewasageneralcraningofnecksasthejewelinthewhiteshirtfrontsparkledandthecabmovedoff.Eventhecrowdgapedinawe.

「Thatfixesupninemenforthenight,」saidthecaptain,countingoutasmanyofthelinenearhim.「Lineupoverthere.Now,then,thereareonlyseven.Ineedtwelvecents.」

Moneycameslowly.Inthecourseoftimethecrowdthinnedouttoameagerhandful.FifthAvenue,saveforanoccasionalcaborfootpassenger,wasbare.Broadwaywasthinlypeopledwithpedestrians.Onlynowandthenastrangerpassingnoticedthesmallgroup,handedoutacoin,andwentaway,unheeding.

Thecaptainremainedstolidanddetermined.Hetalkedon,veryslowly,utteringthefewestwordsandwithacertainassurance,asthoughhecouldnotfail.

「Come;Ican』tstayouthereallnight.Thesemenaregettingtiredandcold.Someonegivemefourcents.」

Therecameatimewhenhesaidnothingatall.Moneywashandedhim,andforeachtwelvecentshesingledoutamanandputhimintheotherline.Thenhewalkedupanddownasbefore,lookingattheground.

Thetheatresletout.Firesignsdisappeared.Aclockstruckeleven.Anotherhalf-hourandhewasdowntothelasttwomen.

「Come,now,」heexclaimedtoseveralcuriousobservers;「eighteencentswillfixusallupforthenight.Eighteencents.Ihavesix.Somebodygivemethemoney.Remember,IhavetogoovertoBrooklynyetto-night.BeforethatIhavetotakethesemendownandputthemtobed.Eighteencents.」

Nooneresponded.Hewalkedtoandfro,lookingdownforseveralminutes,occasionallysayingsoftly:「Eighteencents.」Itseemedasifthispaltrysumwoulddelaythedesiredculminationlongerthanalltheresthad.Hurstwood,buoyedupslightlybythelonglineofwhichhewasapart,refrainedwithaneffortfromgroaning,hewassoweak.

AtlastaladyinoperacapeandrustlingskirtscamedownFifthAvenue,accompaniedbyherescort.Hurstwoodgazedwearily,remindedbyherbothofCarrieinhernewworldandofthetimewhenhehadescortedhisownwifeinlikemanner.

Whilehewasgazing,sheturnedand,lookingattheremarkablecompany,sentherescortover.Hecame,holdingabillinhisfingers,allelegantandgraceful.

「Hereyouare,」hesaid.

「Thanks,」saidthecaptain,turningtothetworemainingapplicants.「Nowwehavesomeforto-morrownight,」headded.

Therewithhelinedupthelasttwoandproceededtothehead,countingashewent.

「Onehundredandthirty-seven,」heannounced.「Now,boys,lineup.Rightdressthere.Wewon』tbemuchlongeraboutthis.Steady,now.」

Heplacedhimselfattheheadandcalledout「Forward.」Hurstwoodmovedwiththeline.AcrossFifthAvenue,throughMadisonSquarebythewindingpaths,eastonTwenty-thirdStreet,anddownThirdAvenuewoundthelong,serpentinecompany.Midnightpedestriansandloiterersstoppedandstaredasthecompanypassed.Chattingpolicemen,atvariouscorners,staredindifferentlyornoddedtotheleader,whomtheyhadseenbefore.OnThirdAvenuetheymarched,aseeminglywearyway,toEighthStreet,wheretherewasalodginghouse,closed,apparently,forthenight.Theywereexpected,however.

Outsideinthegloomtheystood,whiletheleaderparleyedwithin.Thendoorsswungopenandtheywereinvitedinwitha「Steady,now.」

Someonewasattheheadshowingrooms,sothattherewasnodelayforkeys.Toilingupthecreakystairs,Hurstwoodlookedbackandsawthecaptain,watching;thelastoneofthelinebeingincludedinhisbroadsolicitude.Thenhegatheredhiscloakabouthimandstrolledoutintothenight.

「Ican』tstandmuchofthis,」saidHurstwood,whoselegsachedhimpainfully,ashesatdownuponthemiserablebunkinthesmall,lightlesschamberallottedtohim.「I』vegottoeat,orI』lldie.」