I cursed them to myself, calling them every dirty name I could think of. They were trying to screw me up.
They broke it up at last, and began climbing on the train.
It was dark when we got into Peardale. A train from the city was just pulling out. I looked through the station door and saw a taxi on the other side-the only taxi there.
He swung the door open, and I climbed in. And-but I guess I don't need to tell you. I'd tried to be so damned careful, yet here she was, here we were, riding home together.
She gave me a startled, half-scared look. I said, 'Why, hello, Mrs. Winroy. Just come out from New York?'
'Y-yes.' She bobbed her head. 'Did-did you?'
I laughed. It sounded as hollow as that conductor's head. 'Not exactly. I left the city this morning but I fell asleep on the train. They carried me out to the end of the line, and I'm just now getting back.'
'Well,' she said. Just well. But the way she said it, she was saying a whole lot more.
'I was all worn out,' I said. 'A friend I stayed with in New York snored all night, and I didn't get much sleep.'
She turned her head sharply, glaring at me. Then she bit her lip, and I heard a sound that was halfway between a snicker and a snort.
We reached the house. She went on inside, and I paid off the driver and went across the street to the bar.
I drank two double shots. Then I ordered a ham and cheese sandwich and a bottle of ale, and sat down in one of the booths. I was easing down a little. It was a stupid mixup, but it was just one, and it would be hard for anyone to make anything out of it. Anyway, it was done, and there wasn't any use worrying.
I ordered another ale, easing my nerves down, arguing away the worry. I almost convinced myself that it had been a good break. It could be, if you looked at it in the right way. Because any damned fool ought to know that we wouldn't be goofy enough to lay up in town, and then ride home together.
I finished the ale, started to order a third one, and decided against it. I'd had enough. More than enough. Or I never would have. You take just so much from the bottle, and then you stop taking. From then on you're putting.
I picked up my suit box and crossed the street to the house. Half hoping that Jake was on hand.
He was.
He and Fay and Kendall were all in the living room together, and she was laughing and talking a mile a minute.
I went in, giving them a nod and a hello as I headed for the stairs. Fay turned and called to me.
'Come in, Mr. Bigelow. I was just telling about your train ride-how you went to sleep and rode to the end of the line. What did you think when you woke up?'
'I thought I'd better start carrying an alarm clock,' I said.
Kendall chuckled. 'That reminds me of an occasion several years ago when-'
'Excuse me'-Fay cut in on him-'Jake-'
He was bent forward in his chair, staring at the floor, his big bony hands folded across each other.
'Jake… Just a moment, Mr. Bigelow. My husband wants to apologize to you.'
'That's not necessary,' I said. 'I-'
'I know. But he wants to… don't you, Jake? He knows he made a very foolish mistake, and he wants to apologize for it.'
'That's right,' Kendall nodded primly. 'I'm sure Mr. Winroy is anxious to rectify any misunderstandings which- uh-can be rectified.'
J ake's head came up suddenly, 'Oh, yeah?' he snarled. 'Who pulled your chain, grandpa?'
Kendall looked down into the bowl of his pipe. 'Your grandparent?' he said, musingly. 'I believe that is just about the foulest name anyone ever called me.'
Jake blinked stupidly. Then it registered on him, and he dragged the back of his hand across his mouth like he'd been slapped. All the fight in him, the little he had left, went away again. He looked from Kendall to Fay and then, finally, at me. And I guess mine was about the friendliest face there.
He got up and sagged toward me, a big drained-empty sack of guts. He came toward me, holding out his hand, trying to work up a smile, the sly, sick look of a beaten dog on his face.
And I couldn't help feeling sorry for him, but the flesh crawled on the back of my neck. He'd had too much. He was too beaten. When they get that far gone, you'd better get in the final licks fast.
'S-sorry, lad. Musta had one too many. No hard feelings?' I said it was okay, but he didn't hear me. He clung to my hand, turning to look at Fay. He stared, frowned puzzledly, then turned back to me again. 'Glad to have you here. Anything I can do I-I-I-'
That was as much of his speech as he could remember. He dropped my hand, and looked at her again. She nodded briskly, took him by the arm, and led him out of the room.
They went out to the porch, and the door didn't quite close; and I heard her say, 'Now, you'd better not disappoint me, Jake. I've had just about-'
Kendall pushed himself up out of his chair. 'Well, Mr. Bigelow. You look rather tired if I may say so.'
'I am,' I said. 'I think I'll turn in.'
'Excellent. I was just about to suggest it. Can't have you getting sick at a time like this, can we?'
'At a time like this,' I said. 'How do you mean?'
'Why'-his eyebrows went up a trifle-'just when you're on the threshold of a new life. Your schooling and all. I feel that great things are in store for you here if you can just keep your original objective in mind, keep forging ahead toward it despite divertissements of the moment.'
'That's the secret of your success, huh?' I said.
And he colored a little but he smiled, eyes twinkling. 'That, I believe, is what might be called leaving one's self wide open. The obvious retort-if I cared to stoop to it-would be an inquiry as to the secret of
We said good night, and he went back to the bakery. I started up the stairs.
Fay had seenJake off for town or wherever he was going, and was out in the kitchen with Ruth. I stood at the foot of the stairs a moment, listening to her lay down the law in that husky, what-are-you-waiting-on voice. Then I cleared my throat loudly, and went on up to my room.
About five minutes later, Fay came in.
She said there wasn't a thing to worry about. Kendall and Jake had swallowed the story whole.
'And I'd know if they hadn't, honey. I was watching, believe you me. They didn't suspect a thing.'
She was feeling pretty proud of herself. I told her she'd done swell. 'Where's Jake gone?'
'To the liquor store. He's going to get a fifth of wine, and he'll probably pick up a couple of drinks in a bar. He damned sure won't get any more than that. I got all his money away from him but two dollars.'
'Swell,' I said. 'That's my baby.'
'Mmmmm? Even if I do snore?'
'Ahhh, I was kidding. I was sore about that goddamned train ride.'
