Nevertheless hours and even days, and finally a week and then ten days,
passed without any word from him as to the whereabouts of a doctor to
whom she could go. For although having said so much to her he still did
not know to whom to apply. And each hour and day as great a menace to
him as to her. And her looks as well as her inquiries registering how
intense and vital and even clamorous at moments was her own distress.
Also he was harried almost to the point of nervous collapse by his own
inability to think of any speedy and sure way by which she might be
aided. Where did a physician live to whom he might send her with some
assurance of relief for her, and how was he to find out about him?
After a time, however, in running over all the names of those he knew,
he finally struck upon a forlorn hope in the guise of Orrin Short,
the young man conducting the one small "gents' furnishing store" in
Lycurgus which catered more or less exclusively to the rich youths
of the city--a youth of about his own years and proclivities, as
Clyde had guessed, who ever since he had been here had been useful to
him in the matter of tips as to dress and style in general. Indeed,
as Clyde had for some time noted, Short was a brisk, inquiring and
tactful person, who, in addition to being quite attractive personally
to girls, was also always most courteous to his patrons, particularly
to those whom he considered above him in the social scale, and among
these was Clyde. For having discovered that Clyde was related to the
Griffiths, this same Short had sought, as a means for his own general
advancement in other directions, to scrape as much of a genial and
intimate relationship with him as possible, only, as Clyde saw it, and
in view of the general attitude of his very high relatives, it had not,
up to this time at least, been possible for him to consider any such
intimacy seriously. And yet, finding Short so very affable and helpful
in general, he was not above reaching at least an easy and genial
surface relationship with him, which Short appeared to accept in good
part. Indeed, as at first, his manner remained seeking and not a little
sycophantic at times. And so it was that among all those with whom he
could be said to be in either intimate or casual contact, Short was
about the only one who offered even a chance for an inquiry which might
prove productive of some helpful information.
In consequence, in passing Short's place each evening and morning,
once he thought of him in this light, he made it a point to nod and
smile in a most friendly manner, until at least three days had gone
by. And then, feeling that he had paved the way as much as his present
predicament would permit, he stopped in, not at all sure that on this
first occasion he would be able to broach the dangerous subject. The
tale he had fixed upon to tell Short was that he had been approached
by a young working-man in the factory, newly-married, who, threatened
with an heir and not being able to afford one as yet, had appealed to
him for information as to where he might now find a doctor to help
him. The only interesting additions which Clyde proposed to make to
this were that the young man, being very poor and timid and not so
very intelligent, was not able to speak or do much for himself. Also
that he, Clyde, being better informed, although so new locally as not
to be able to direct him to any physician (an after-thought intended
to put the idea into Short's mind that he himself was never helpless
and so not likely ever to want such advice for himself), had already
advised the young man of a temporary remedy. But unfortunately, so his
story was to run, this had already failed to work. Hence something more
certain--a physician, no less--was necessary. And Short, having been
here longer, and, as he had heard him explain, hailing previously from
Gloversville, it was quite certain, as Clyde now argued with himself,
that he would know of at least one--or should. But in order to divert
suspicion from himself he was going to add that of course he probably
could get news of some one in his own set, only, the situation being so
unusual (any reference to any such thing in his own world being likely
to set his own group talking), he preferred to ask some one like Short,
who as a favor would keep it quiet.
As it chanced on this occasion, Short himself, owing to his having done
a very fair day's business, was in an exceedingly jovial frame of mind.
And Clyde having entered, to buy a pair of socks, perhaps, he began:
"Well, it's good to see you again, Mr. Griffiths. How are you? I was
just thinking it's about time you stopped in and let me show you some
of the things I got in since you were here before. How are things with
the Griffiths Company anyhow?"
Short's manner, always brisk, was on this occasion doubly reassuring,
since he liked Clyde, only now the latter was so intensely keyed up by
the daring of his own project that he could scarcely bring himself to
carry the thing off with the air he would have liked to have employed.
Nevertheless, being in the store and so, seemingly, committed to the
project, he now began: "Oh, pretty fair. Can't kick a bit. I always
have all I can do, you know." At the same time he began nervously
fingering some ties hung upon movable nickeled rods. But before he
had wasted a moment on these, Mr. Short, turning and spreading some
boxes of very special ties from a shelf behind him on the glass case,
remarked: "Never mind looking at those, Mr. Griffiths. Look at these.
These are what I want to show you and they won't cost _you_ any more.
Just got 'em in from New York this morning." He picked up several
bundles of six each, the very latest, as he explained. "See anything
else like this anywhere around here yet? I'll say you haven't." He eyed
Clyde smilingly, the while he wished sincerely that such a young man,
so well connected, yet not rich like the others, would be friends with
him. It would place him here.
Clyde, fingering the offerings and guessing that what Short was saying
was true, was now so troubled and confused in his own mind that he
could scarcely think and speak as planned. "Very nice, sure," he said,
turning them over, feeling that at another time he would have been
pleased to possess at least two. "I think maybe I'll take this one,
anyhow, and this one, too." He drew out two and held them up, while
he was thinking how to broach the so much more important matter that
had brought him here. For why should he be troubling to buy ties,
dilly-dallying in this way, when all he wanted to ask Short about
was this other matter? Yet how hard it was now--how very hard. And
yet he really must, although perhaps not so abruptly. He would look
around a little more at first in order to allay suspicion--ask about
some socks. Only why should he be doing that, since he did not need
anything, Sondra only recently having presented him with a dozen
handkerchiefs, some collars, ties and socks. Nevertheless every time
he decided to speak he felt a sort of sinking sensation at the pit of
his stomach, a fear that he could not or would not carry the thing off
with the necessary ease and conviction. It was all so questionable and
treacherous--so likely to lead to exposure and disgrace in some way. He
would probably not be able to bring himself to speak to Short to-night.
And yet, as he argued with himself, how could the occasion ever be more
satisfactory?
Short, in the meantime having gone to the rear of the store and now
returning, with a most engaging and even sycophantic smile on his face,
began with: "Saw you last Tuesday evening about nine o'clock going into
the Finchleys' place, didn't I? Beautiful house and grounds they have
there."
Clyde saw that Short really was impressed by his social station here.
There was a wealth of admiration mingled with a touch of servility. And
at once, because of this, he took heart, since he realized that with
such an attitude dominating the other, whatever he might say would be
colored in part at least by his admirer's awe and respect. And after
examining the socks and deciding that one pair at least would soften
the difficulty of his demand, he added: "Oh, by the way, before I
forget it. There's something I've been wanting to ask you about. Maybe
you can tell me what I want to know. One of the boys at the factory--a
young fellow who hasn't been married very long--about four months now,
I guess--is in a little trouble on account of his wife." He paused,
because of his uncertainty as to whether he could succeed with this
now or not, seeing that Short's expression changed ever so slightly.
And yet, having gone so far, he did not know how to recede. So now he
laughed nervously and then added: "I don't know why they always come
to me with their troubles, but I guess they think I ought to know all
about these things." (He laughed again.) "Only I'm about as new and
green here as anybody and so I'm kinda stumped. But you've been here
longer than I have, I guess, and so I thought I might ask you."
His manner as he said this was as nonchalant as he could make it, the
while he decided now that this was a mistake--that Short would most
certainly think him a fool or queer. Yet Short, taken back by the
nature of the query, which he sensed as odd coming from Clyde to him
(he had noted Clyde's sudden restraint and slight nervousness), was
still so pleased to think that even in connection with so ticklish a
thing as this, he should be made the recipient of his confidence, that
he instantly recovered his former poise and affability, and replied:
"Why, sure, if it's anything I can help you with, Mr. Griffiths, I'll
be only too glad to. Go ahead, what is it?"
"Well, it's this way," began Clyde, not a little revived by the other's
hearty response, yet lowering his voice in order to give the dreadful
subject its proper medium of obscurity, as it were. "His wife's already
two months gone and he can't afford a kid yet and he doesn't know how
to get rid of it. I told him last month when he first came to me to
try a certain medicine that usually works"--this to impress Short with
his own personal wisdom and resourcefulness in such situations and
hence by implication to clear his own skirts, as it were--"But I guess
he didn't handle it right. Anyhow he's all worked up about it now and
wants to see some doctor who could do something for her, you see. Only
I don't know anybody here myself. Haven't been here long enough. If it
were Kansas City or Chicago now," he interpolated securely, "I'd know
what to do. I know three or four doctors out there." (To impress Short
he attempted a wise smile.) "But down here it's different. And if I
started asking around in my crowd and it ever got back to my relatives,
they wouldn't understand. But I thought if you knew of any one you
wouldn't mind telling me. I wouldn't really bother myself, only I'm
sorry for this fellow."
He paused, his face, largely because of the helpful and interested
expression on Short's, expressing more confidence than when he had
begun. And although Short was still surprised he was more than pleased
to be as helpful as he could.
"You say it's been two months now."
"Yes."
"And the stuff you suggested didn't work, eh?"
"No."
"She's tried it again this month, has she?"
"Yes."
"Well, that is bad, sure enough. I guess she's in bad all right. The
trouble with this place is that I haven't been here so very long
either, Mr. Griffiths. I only bought this place about a year and a half
ago. Now, if I were over in Gloversville--" He paused for a moment,
as though, like Clyde, he too were dubious of the wisdom of entering
upon details of this kind, but after a few seconds continued: "You see
a thing like that's not so easy, wherever you are. Doctors are always
afraid of getting in trouble. I did hear once of a case over there,
though, where a girl went to a doctor--a fellow who lived a couple
miles out. But she was of pretty good family too, and the fellow who
took her to him was pretty well-known about there. So I don't know
whether this doctor would do anything for a stranger, although he might
at that. But I know that sort of thing is going on all the time, so
you might try. If you wanta send this fellow to him, tell him not to
mention me or let on who sent him, 'cause I'm pretty well-known around
there and I wouldn't want to be mixed up in it in case anything went
wrong, you see. You know how it is."
And Clyde, in turn, replied gratefully: "Oh, sure, he'll understand
all right. I'll tell him not to mention any names." And getting the
doctor's name, he extracted a pencil and notebook from his pocket in
order to be sure that the important information should not escape him.
Short, sensing his relief, was inclined to wonder whether there was
a working-man, or whether it was not Clyde himself who was in this
scrape. Why should he be speaking for a young working-man at the
factory? Just the same, he was glad to be of service, though at the
same time he was thinking what a bit of local news this would be,
assuming that any time in the future he should choose to retail it.
Also that Clyde, unless he was truly playing about with some girl here
who was in trouble, was foolish to be helping anybody else in this
way--particularly a working-man. You bet he wouldn't.
Nevertheless he repeated the name, with the initials, and the exact
neighborhood, as near as he could remember, giving the car stop and
a description of the house. Clyde, having obtained what he desired,
now thanked him, and then went out while the haberdasher looked after
him genially and a little suspiciously. These rich young bloods, he
thought. That's a funny request for a fellow like that to make of me.
You'd think with all the people he knows and runs with here he'd know
some one who would tip him off quicker than I could. Still, maybe,
it's just because of them that he is afraid to ask around here. You
don't know who he might have got in trouble--that young Finchley
girl herself, even. You never can tell. I see him around with her
occasionally, and she's gay enough. But, gee, wouldn't that be the....