XIV + 

The result of all this on Clyde was to cause him to think more specifically on the problem of the sexes than he ever had before, and by no means in any orthodox way. For while he condemned his sisterвАЩs lover for thus ruthlessly deserting her, still he was not willing to hold her entirely blameless by any means. She had gone off with him. As he now learned from her, he had been in the city for a week the year before she ran away with him, and it was then that he had introduced himself to her. The following year when he returned for two weeks, it was she who looked him up, or so Clyde suspected, at any rate. And in view of his own interest in and mood regarding Hortense Briggs, it was not for him to say that there was anything wrong with the sex relation in itself. + 

Rather, as he saw it now, the difficulty lay, not in the deed itself, but in the consequences which followed upon not thinking or not knowing. For had Esta known more of the man in whom she was interested, more of what such a relationship with him meant, she would not be in her present pathetic plight. Certainly such girls as Hortense Briggs, Greta and Louise, would never have allowed themselves to be put in any such position as Esta. Or would they? They were too shrewd. And by contrast with them in his mind, at least at this time, she suffered. She ought, as he saw it, to have been able to manage better. And so, by degrees, his attitude toward her hardened in some measure, though his feeling was not one of indifference either. + 

But the one influence that was affecting and troubling and changing him now was his infatuation for Hortense BriggsвБ†вАФthan which no more agitating influence could have come to a youth of his years and temperament. She seemed, after his few contacts with her, to be really the perfect realization of all that he had previously wished for in a girl. She was so bright, vain, engaging, and so truly pretty. Her eyes, as they seemed to him, had a kind of dancing fire in them. She had a most entrancing way of pursing and parting her lips and at the same time looking straightly and indifferently before her, as though she were not thinking of him, which to him was both flame and fever. It caused him, actually, to feel weak and dizzy, at times, cruelly seared in his veins with minute and wriggling threads of fire, and this could only be described as conscious lust, a torturesome and yet unescapable thing which yet in her case he was unable to prosecute beyond embracing and kissing, a form of reserve and respect in regard to her which she really resented in the very youths in whom she sought to inspire it. The type of boy for whom she really cared and was always seeking was one who could sweep away all such psuedo-ingenuousness and superiorities in her and force her, even against herself, to yield to him. + 

In fact she was constantly wavering between actual like and dislike of him. And in consequence, he was in constant doubt as to where he stood, a state which was very much relished by her and yet which was never permitted to become so fixed in his mind as to cause him to give her up entirely. After some party or dinner or theater to which she had permitted him to take her, and throughout which he had been particularly tactfulвБ†вАФnot too assertiveвБ†вАФshe could be as yielding and enticing in her mood as the most ambitious lover would have liked. And this might last until the evening was nearly over, when suddenly, and at her own door or the room or house of some girl with whom she was spending the night, she would turn, and without rhyme or reason, endeavor to dismiss him with a mere handclasp or a thinly flavored embrace or kiss. At such times, if Clyde was foolish enough to endeavor to force her to yield the favors he craved, she would turn on him with the fury of a spiteful cat, would tear herself away, developing for the moment, seemingly, an intense mood of opposition which she could scarcely have explained to herself. Its chief mental content appeared to be one of opposition to being compelled by him to do anything. And, because of his infatuation and his weak overtures due to his inordinate fear of losing her, he would be forced to depart, usually in a dark and despondent mood. + 

But so keen was her attraction for him that he could not long remain away, but must be going about to where most likely he would encounter her. Indeed, for the most part these days, and in spite of the peculiar climax which had eventuated in connection with Esta, he lived in a keen, sweet and sensual dream in regard to her. If only she would really come to care for him. At night, in his bed at home, he would lie and think of herвБ†вАФher faceвБ†вАФthe expressions of her mouth and eyes, the lines of her figure, the motions of her body in walking or dancingвБ†вАФand she would flicker before him as upon a screen. In his dreams, he found her deliciously near him, pressing against himвБ†вАФher delightful body all hisвБ†вАФand then in the moment of crisis, when seemingly she was about to yield herself to him completely, he would awake to find her vanishedвБ†вАФan illusion only. + 

Yet there were several things in connection with her which seemed to bode success for him. In the first place, like himself, she was part of a poor familyвБ†вАФthe daughter of a machinist and his wife, who up to this very time had achieved little more than a bare living. From her childhood she had had nothing, only such gewgaws and fripperies as she could secure for herself by her wits. And so low had been her social state until very recently that she had not been able to come in contact with anything better than butcher and baker boysвБ†вАФthe rather commonplace urchins and small job aspirants of her vicinity. Yet even here she had early realized that she could and should capitalize her looks and charmвБ†вАФand had. Not a few of these had even gone so far as to steal in order to get money to entertain her. + 

After reaching the age where she was old enough to go to work, and thus coming in contact with the type of boy and man in whom she was now interested, she was beginning to see that without yielding herself too much, but in acting discreetly, she could win a more interesting equipment than she had before. Only, so truly sensual and pleasure-loving was she that she was by no means always willing to divorce her self-advantages from her pleasures. On the contrary, she was often troubled by a desire to like those whom she sought to use, and per contra, not to obligate herself to those whom she could not like. + 

In ClydeвАЩs case, liking him but a little, she still could not resist the desire to use him. She liked his willingness to buy her any little thing in which she appeared interestedвБ†вАФa bag, a scarf, a purse, a pair of glovesвБ†вАФanything that she could reasonably ask or take without obligating herself too much. And yet from the first, in her smart, tricky way, she realized that unless she could bring herself to yield to himвБ†вАФat some time or other offer him the definite reward which she knew he cravedвБ†вАФshe could not hold him indefinitely. + 

One thought that stirred her more than anything else was that the way Clyde appeared to be willing to spend his money on her she might easily get some quite expensive things from himвБ†вАФa pretty and rather expensive dress, perhaps, or a hat, or even a fur coat such as was then being shown and worn in the city, to say nothing of gold earrings, or a wrist watch, all of which she was constantly and enviously eyeing in the different shop windows. + 

One day not so long after ClydeвАЩs discovery of his sister Esta, Hortense, walking along Baltimore Street near its junction with FifteenthвБ†вАФthe smartest portion of the shopping section of the cityвБ†вАФat the noon hourвБ†вАФwith Doris Trine, another shop girl in her department store, saw in the window of one of the smaller and less exclusive fur stores of the city, a fur jacket of beaver that to her, viewed from the eye-point of her own particular build, coloring and temperament, was exactly what she needed to strengthen mightily her very limited personal wardrobe. It was not such an expensive coat, worth possibly a hundred dollarsвБ†вАФbut fashioned in such an individual way as to cause her to imagine that, once invested with it, her own physical charm would register more than it ever had. + 

Moved by this thought, she paused and exclaimed: вАЬOh, isnвАЩt that just the classiest, darlingest little coat you ever saw! Oh, do look at those sleeves, Doris.вАЭ She clutched her companion violently by the arm. вАЬLookit the collar. And the lining! And those pockets! Oh, dear!вАЭ She fairly vibrated with the intensity of her approval and delight. вАЬOh, isnвАЩt that just too sweet for words? And the very kind of coat IвАЩve been thinking of since I donвАЩt know when. Oh, you pity sing!вАЭ she exclaimed, affectedly, thinking all at once as much of her own pose before the window and its effect on the passerby as of the coat before her. вАЬOh, if I could only have вАЩoo.вАЭ + 

She clapped her hands admiringly, while Isadore Rubenstein, the elderly son of the proprietor, who was standing somewhat out of the range of her gaze at the moment, noted the gesture and her enthusiasm and decided forthwith that the coat must be worth at least twenty-five or fifty dollars more to her, anyhow, in case she inquired for it. The firm had been offering it at one hundred. вАЬOh, ha!вАЭ he grunted. But being of a sensual and somewhat romantic turn, he also speculated to himself rather definitely as to the probable trading value, affectionally speaking, of such a coat. What, say, would the poverty and vanity of such a pretty girl as this cause her to yield for such a coat? + 

In the meantime, however, Hortense, having gloated as long as her noontime hour would permit, had gone away, still dreaming and satiating her flaming vanity by thinking of how devastating she would look in such a coat. But she had not stopped to ask the price. Hence, the next day, feeling that she must look at it once more, she returned, only this time alone, and yet with no idea of being able to purchase it herself. On the contrary, she was only vaguely revolving the problem of how, assuming that the coat was sufficiently low in price, she could get it. At the moment she could think of no one. But seeing the coat once more, and also seeing Mr.¬†Rubenstein, Jr., inside eyeing her in a most propitiatory and genial manner, she finally ventured in. + 

вАЬYou like the coat, eh?вАЭ was RubensteinвАЩs ingratiating comment as she opened the door. вАЬWell, that shows you have good taste, IвАЩll say. ThatвАЩs one of the nobbiest little coats weвАЩve ever had to show in this store yet. A real beauty, that. And how it would look on such a beautiful girl as you!вАЭ He took it out of the window and held it up. вАЬI seen you when you was looking at it yesterday.вАЭ A gleam of greedy admiration was in his eye. + 

And noting this, and feeling that a remote and yet not wholly unfriendly air would win her more consideration and courtesy than a more intimate one, Hortense merely said, вАЬYes?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, indeed. And I said right away, thereвАЩs a girl that knows a really swell coat when she sees it.вАЭ + 

The flattering unction soothed, in spite of herself. + 

вАЬLook at that! Look at that!вАЭ went on Mr.¬†Rubinstein, turning the coat about and holding it before her. вАЬWhere in Kansas City will you find anything to equal that today? Look at this silk lining hereвБ†вАФgenuine Mallinson silkвБ†вАФand these slant pockets. And the buttons. You think those things donвАЩt make a different-looking coat? There ainвАЩt another one like it in Kansas City todayвБ†вАФnot one. And there wonвАЩt be. We designed it ourselves and we never repeat our models. We protect our customers. But come back here.вАЭ (He led the way to a triple mirror at the back.) вАЬIt takes the right person to wear a coat like thisвБ†вАФto get the best effect out of it. Let me try it on you.вАЭ + 

And by the artificial light Hortense was now privileged to see how really fetching she did look in it. She cocked her head and twisted and turned and buried one small ear in the fur, while Mr.¬†Rubenstein stood by, eyeing her with not a little admiration and almost rubbing his hands. + 

вАЬThere now,вАЭ he continued. вАЬLook at that. What do you say to that, eh? DidnвАЩt I tell you it was the very thing for you? A find for you. A pickup. YouвАЩll never get another coat like that in this city. If you do, IвАЩll make you a present of this one.вАЭ He came very near, extending his plump hands, palms up. + 

вАЬWell, I must say it does look smart on me,вАЭ commented Hortense, her vainglorious soul yearning for it. вАЬI can wear anything like this, though.вАЭ She twisted and turned the more, forgetting him entirely and the effect her interest would have on his cost price. Then she added: вАЬHow much is it?вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, itвАЩs really a two-hundred-dollar coat,вАЭ began Mr.¬†Rubenstein artfully. Then noting a shadow of relinquishment pass swiftly over HortenseвАЩs face, he added quickly: вАЬThat sounds like a lot of money, but of course we donвАЩt ask so much for it down here. One hundred and fifty is our price. But if that coat was at JarekвАЩs, thatвАЩs what youвАЩd pay for it and more. We havenвАЩt got the location here and we donвАЩt have to pay the high rents. But itвАЩs worth every cent of two hundred.вАЭ + 

вАЬWhy, I think thatвАЩs a terrible price to ask for it, just awful,вАЭ exclaimed Hortense sadly, beginning to remove the coat. She was feeling as though life were depriving her of nearly all that was worth while. вАЬWhy, at Biggs and BeckвАЩs they have lots of three-quarter mink and beaver coats for that much, and classy styles, too.вАЭ + 

вАЬMaybe, maybe. But not that coat,вАЭ insisted Mr.¬†Rubenstein stubbornly. вАЬJust look at it again. Look at the collar. You mean to say you can find a coat like that up there? If you can, IвАЩll buy the coat for you and sell it to you again for a hundred dollars. Actually, this is a special coat. ItвАЩs copied from one of the smartest coats that was in New York last summer before the season opened. It has class. You wonвАЩt find no coat like this coat.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, well, just the same, a hundred and fifty dollars is more than I can pay,вАЭ commented Hortense dolefully, at the same time slipping on her old broadcloth jacket with the fur collar and cuffs, and edging toward the door. + 

вАЬWait! You like the coat?вАЭ wisely observed Mr.¬†Rubenstein, after deciding that even a hundred dollars was too much for her purse, unless it could be supplemented by some manвАЩs. вАЬItвАЩs really a two-hundred-dollar coat. IвАЩm telling you that straight. Our regular price is one hundred and fifty. But if you could bring me a hundred and twenty-five dollars, since you want it so much, well, IвАЩll let you have it for that. And thatвАЩs like finding it. A stunning-looking girl like you oughtnвАЩt to have no trouble in finding a dozen fellows who would be glad to buy that coat and give it to you. I know I would, if I thought you would be nice to me.вАЭ + 

He beamed ingratiatingly up at her, and Hortense, sensing the nature of the overture and resenting itвБ†вАФfrom himвБ†вАФdrew back slightly. At the same time she was not wholly displeased by the compliment involved. But she was not coarse enough, as yet, to feel that just anyone should be allowed to give her anything. Indeed not. It must be someone she liked, or at least someone that was enslaved by her. + 

And yet, even as Mr.¬†Rubenstein spoke, and for some time afterwards, her mind began running upon possible individualsвБ†вАФfavoritesвБ†вАФwho, by the necromancy of her charm for them, might be induced to procure this coat for her. Charlie Wilkens for instanceвБ†вАФhe of the Orphia cigar storeвБ†вАФwho was most certainly devoted to her after his fashion, but a fashion, however, which did not suggest that he might do much for her without getting a good deal in return. + 

And then there was Robert Kain, another youthвБ†вАФvery tall, very cheerful and very ambitious in regard to her, who was connected with one of the local electric companyвАЩs branch offices, but his position was not sufficiently lucrativeвБ†вАФa mere entry clerk. Also he was too savingвБ†вАФalways talking about his future. + 

And again, there was Bert Gettler, the youth who had escorted her to the dance the night Clyde first met her, but who was little more than a giddy-headed dancing soul, one not to be relied upon in a crisis like this. He was only a shoe salesman, probably twenty dollars a week, and most careful with his pennies. + 

But there was Clyde Griffiths, the person who seemed to have real money and to be willing to spend it on her freely. So ran her thoughts swiftly at the time. But could she now, she asked herself, offhand, inveigle him into making such an expensive present as this? She had not favored him so very muchвБ†вАФhad for the most part treated him indifferently. Hence she was not sure, by any means. Nevertheless as she stood there, debating the cost and the beauty of the coat, the thought of Clyde kept running through her mind. And all the while Mr.¬†Rubenstein stood looking at her, vaguely sensing, after his fashion, the nature of the problem that was confronting her. + 

вАЬWell, little girl,вАЭ he finally observed, вАЬI see youвАЩd like to have this coat, all right, and IвАЩd like to have you have it, too. And now IвАЩll tell you what IвАЩll do, and better than that I canвАЩt do, and wouldnвАЩt for nobody elseвБ†вАФnot a person in this city. Bring me a hundred and fifteen dollars any time within the next few daysвБ†вАФMonday or Wednesday or Friday, if the coat is still here, and you can have it. IвАЩll do even better. IвАЩll save it for you. HowвАЩs that? Until next Wednesday or Friday. MoreвАЩn that no one would do for you, now, would they?вАЭ + 

He smirked and shrugged his shoulders and acted as though he were indeed doing her a great favor. And Hortense, going away, felt that if onlyвБ†вАФonly she could take that coat at one hundred and fifteen dollars, she would be capturing a marvelous bargain. Also that she would be the smartest-dressed girl in Kansas City beyond the shadow of a doubt. If only she could in some way get a hundred and fifteen dollars before next Wednesday, or Friday. + 