american tragedy

Chapter 12 (1)
Chapter 19 (1)
So the dinner that Clyde was looking forward to took place, they had it at the Frisell Hotel that Rattler said, Clyde got on well with these young people, he was very happy on this occasion, just imagine, a new life What a pleasure.He was alone a few weeks ago and now he is having dinner with so many interesting company.

And the place seems more interesting than it is because it fits the fancy of young people.This restaurant is a more refined American-style small restaurant.The walls are covered with signed photos of actors and actresses, as well as play lists from various periods.The current manager is friendly, and the bartending skills alone have made the hotel a hangout for passing actors, politicians and local businessmen.

These waiters have heard from others many times that this is one of the best restaurants in the city, so they decided to hold a monthly dinner here.As soon as you enter the door, there is a darker room with a lower ceiling and a fireplace on the left side of the large dining room, where the male guests come to sit after eating, smoke and read the newspaper.Everyone's favorite is this room.They ate here as if they had grown older and truly seen the world.Clyde was now very close to Rattler and Hegglund, and they and most of the others were satisfied that there was no restaurant in all of Kansas City like this.

On this day, they received their wages at noon and got off work at six in the afternoon. At the intersection outside the hotel, everyone gathered together, and then set off full of joy and interest. Hegglund, Ratterer, Paul Hill, David Adams, Higby, Arthur, Kinsella and Clyde.

As they set off, Hegglund asked, "Did you hear that guy from St. Louis was joking with the counting house yesterday? He had a telegram from St. Louis last Saturday to book a room for the couple for a day." There is a living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, and there are flowers in the room. Then he came, and he registered with the girl who came with him, saying that they were a couple. Hey, that little girl is really beautiful, I I saw it with my own eyes. Can you listen carefully? He only stayed for a few days, and people began to suspect him, because the food was delivered to the room, and there were many tricks. At this time, he also came down and said that his wife was going to St. Louis, he doesn't need the flat, he just needs a single room. When she gets on the train, have his suitcase and her bag moved to the new room. But the suitcase isn't his at all. It's hers, it seems that she didn't leave at all, it was him who wanted to leave, and then he slipped away. He left her and her suitcase in the room, and didn't give any money. Now the hotel puts the girl and her suitcase together She kept her stuff. Good fellow! The flowers, the six meals in the room, and the wine he drank will all have to be paid for, and it will take a lot of money to get it done."

"Paul," Hill yelled, "no, I know the guy you're talking about, and I've given him drinks, and I thought he was unreliable at first, too slick and ostentatious, and the tip is only worth it." Give me a dime."

Ratterer yelled, "I remember, too, he gave me a dime on Monday to buy all the papers in Chicago, and I think he's kind of a swindler."

Says Hegglund, "The hotel really got sucked into the way he was doing it, and now they're making her take the money and take it out on her. Ever seen anything like that?"

Ser Kinsella, who had been silent all this time, interjected, "I think she's only twenty at most."

Ratterer asked Clyde: "Which of these two people have you met?" He was willing to take care of Clyde and wanted to drag him into everything.

Clyde replied, "No, I must have missed it, or I can't remember which one I saw."

"If you miss this one, you're missing a first-class man. Tall, rounded black frock coat, and this bowler hat pulled low over the eyes. I thought it was an English duke or something at first." , the way he walks, with his cane, with that English air, bragging, ordering people to do this and that, and you'll let him pass by every month."

"That's right," Davis Siegel remarked. "That British style is really good, and I'm going to fake it later."

They had turned two turns and walked two streets.Form a file and walk through the doors of the Frisell Hotel.Under the lights, there are many chinaware, silverware, various faces, and the noisy chatter and laughter of the diners. Clyde is very interested in all of these. Except for the Green Davidson Hotel, he I have never been to such a rich place, and I still come with these young people who are knowledgeable, experienced and rich.

They made their way to a row of tables with leather chairs against the wall.As soon as the foreman saw Ratterer, Hegglund and the other regular customers, he put the two tables together and brought over butter, bread and glasses.They arranged seats around these two tables, with Clyde, Rattler, and Siegel sitting against the wall, and the others sat across from each other.

"Okay, I'll have a glass of old Manhattan first." Hegglund said impatiently, glanced at the guests around the room, and felt that he was a decent man now.His skin is reddish black and brown, his eyes are very intelligent, and his reddish brown hair stands on his forehead, looking a bit like a big rooster who is too excited.

Arthur Kinsella, too, seemed to be puffed up when he arrived here, energized by the triumph before him.Pretentiously, he pushed up the sleeves of his jacket, picked up a menu, carefully looked at the names of the wines listed on the back, and shouted: "Hey, it would be nice to have some martinis without sweetness first."

Hill said proudly, "Hey, give me some whiskey first."

Ratterer said firmly: "I won't drink your cocktail tonight, I can't drink too much today, I'll have a glass of Rhine wine and mix it with some Sercha mineral water.

"My God, do you believe him?" exclaimed Hegglund, dissatisfied. "He wants a Rhine first. But he always likes a Manhattan. What's wrong with you, Tommy? I remember you saying you were going to have a good time tonight."

Rattler replied: "I still say it now, do I have to drink up the wine here to have a good time? I don't plan to get drunk tonight. If I have a clear mind, I won't be scolded tomorrow morning." Yeah, last time I almost missed work because of too much alcohol.

Kinsella added, "That's the truth, and I don't want to drink too much."

"How are you, Higby?" Hegglund asked the round-eyed young man.

"I want a Manhattan, too," he replied, then looked up at the waiter beside him. "How's your luck, Dennis?"

The waiter replied: "Nothing to complain about, luck is not bad these days. How is your restaurant?"

Higby looked at the menu and said cheerfully, "Very good, very good."

"What about you, Griffiths? What do you want?" Hegglund said, because he was recommended by everyone as a waiter. He was responsible for ordering food, paying the bill, and giving tips. He was performing a task.

"Who, me?" The question made him uneasy, because until now, in fact, he had never touched anything more stimulating than coffee and ice cream soda.He was amazed by the energy and sophistication of these young men called Cocktail and Whiskey.Of course he must not drink that kind of wine, but he knew from the behavior of these young people that drinking was required on these occasions, so he found it difficult to flinch.What would people think of him if he drank nothing? Ever since they got together, he always pretended to be like them, a very sophisticated guy.But for many years, his parents have always taught him that drinking and making friends with bad people are "terrible" things. Even now, he still feels that the influence of his family education is very deep.Over the years, he has been secretly rebelling against the set of principles and rules that his parents often mentioned. He has always hated the messy trash and useless guys that he often wants to save, thinking that they are all insignificant thing.Still, he had to think about it now.He couldn't help hesitating, should he drink alcohol?

While these thoughts were churning in his mind, he hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Well, I'll have some Rhine wine and Selcha, too." Sure enough, Hegglund and everyone here said that Rhine wine with mineral water was mild and harmless.His choice of this kind of wine is not too conspicuous, nor is it too ridiculous.

Hegglund exclaimed emphatically, "Listen! He said he wanted Rhenish with mineral water too. I think we'll be gone by 08:30, unless any of us can come up with something."

Higbe, who is kind on the surface, but actually sharp and quarrelsome, turned to Rattler: "You want Rhine wine and Seltzer mineral water when you come, what the hell do you mean, you don't want us to have a game tonight?" happy?

"I've told you why," Rattler said. "Besides, the last time I went to that den, I had 40 yuan with me when I first entered. When I came out, I didn't have any money. This time I want to be clearer about what happened."

"That nest," Clyde thought after hearing this.In this way, after eating, they have had enough of eating and drinking, and they will go to a so-called "nest".There would be women there—bad women, wicked women.And people will call him... Could it be, is there such a possibility?

Now for the first time in his life he had to decide on his attitude.For a long time, there has been a fascinating big secret in front of him, which makes him fascinated, embarrassed and afraid.He originally wanted to get to the bottom of this secret, but what should he do now? Although he had thought a lot about these matters, he had never had any contact with a woman in this way.And now, now...

(End of this chapter)