IX + 

And so the interesting dinner, with Clyde attending, came to pass. And it was partaken of at FrissellвАЩs, as Ratterer had said. And by now Clyde, having come to be on genial terms with all of these youths, was in the gayest of moods about it all. Think of his new state in life, anyhow. Only a few weeks ago he was all alone, not a boy friend, scarcely a boy acquaintance in the world! And here he was, so soon after, going to this fine dinner with this interesting group. + 

And true to the illusions of youth, the place appeared far more interesting than it really was. It was little more than an excellent chophouse of the older American order. Its walls were hung thick with signed pictures of actors and actresses, together with playbills of various periods. And because of the general excellence of the food, to say nothing of the geniality of its present manager, it had become the hangout of passing actors, politicians, local business men, and after them, the generality of followers who are always drawn by that which presents something a little different to that with which they are familiar. + 

And these boys, having heard at one time and another from cab and taxi drivers that this was one of the best places in town, fixed upon it for their monthly dinners. Single plates of anything cost from sixty cents to a dollar. Coffee and tea were served in pots only. You could get anything you wanted to drink. To the left of the main room as you went in was a darker and low-ceilinged room with a fireplace, to which only men resorted and sat and smoked, and read papers after dinner, and it was for this room that these youths reserved their greatest admiration. Eating here, they somehow felt older, wiser, more importantвБ†вАФreal men of the world. And Ratterer and Hegglund, to whom by now Clyde had become very much attached, as well as most of the others, were satisfied that there was not another place in all Kansas City that was really as good. + 

And so this day, having drawn their pay at noon, and being off at six for the night, they gathered outside the hotel at the corner nearest the drug store at which Clyde had originally applied for work, and were off in a happy, noisy frame of mindвБ†вАФHegglund, Ratterer, Paul Shiel, Davis Higby, another youth, Arthur Kinsella and Clyde. + 

вАЬDidja hear de trick de guy from St.¬†Louis pulled on the main office yesterday?вАЭ Hegglund inquired of the crowd generally, as they started walking. вАЬWires last Saturday from St.¬†Louis for a parlor, bedroom and bat for himself and wife, anвАЩ orders flowers put in de room. Jimmy, the key clerk, was just tellinвАЩ me. Den he comes on here and registers himself anвАЩ his girl, see, as man and wife, anвАЩ, gee, a peach of a lookinвАЩ girl, tooвБ†вАФI saw вАЩem. Listen, you fellows, cantcha? Den, on Wednesday, after heвАЩs been here tree days and deyвАЩre beginninвАЩ to wonder about him a littleвБ†вАФmeals sent to de room and all datвБ†вАФhe comes down and says dat his wifeвАЩs gotta go back to St.¬†Louis, and dat he wonвАЩt need no suite, just one room, and dat they can transfer his trunk and her bags to de new room until train time for her. But de trunk ainвАЩt his at all, see, but hers. And she ainвАЩt goinвАЩ, donвАЩt know nuttin about it. But he is. Den he beats it, see, and leaves her and de trunk in de room. And widout a bean, see? Now, deyвАЩre holdinвАЩ her and her trunk, anвАЩ sheвАЩs cryinвАЩ and wirinвАЩ friends, and dereвАЩs hell to pay all around. Can ya beat dat? AnвАЩ de flowers, too. Roses. AnвАЩ six different meals in de room and drinks for him, too.вАЭ + 

вАЬSure, I know the one you mean,вАЭ exclaimed Paul Shiel. вАЬI took up some drinks myself. I felt there was something phony about that guy. He was too smooth and loud-talking. AnвАЩ he only comes across with a dime at that.вАЭ + 

вАЬI remember him, too,вАЭ exclaimed Ratterer. вАЬHe sent me down for all the Chicago papers Monday anвАЩ only give me a dime. He looked like a bluff to me.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, dey fell for him up in front, all right.вАЭ It was Hegglund talking. вАЬAnвАЩ now deyвАЩre tryinвАЩ to gouge it outa her. Can you beat it?вАЭ + 

вАЬShe didnвАЩt look to me to be more than eighteen or twenty, if sheвАЩs that old,вАЭ put in Arthur Kinsella, who up to now had said nothing. + 

вАЬDid you see either of вАЩem, Clyde?вАЭ inquired Ratterer, who was inclined to favor and foster Clyde and include him in everything. + 

вАЬNoвАЭ replied Clyde. вАЬI must have missed those two. I donвАЩt remember seeing either of вАЩem.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, you missed seeinвАЩ a bird when you missed that one. Tall, long black cut-a-way coat, wide, black derby pulled low over his eyes, pearl-gray spats, too. I thought he was an English duke or something at first, the way he walked, and with a cane, too. All they gotta do is pull that English stuff, anвАЩ talk loud anвАЩ order everybody about anвАЩ they get by with it every time.вАЭ + 

вАЬThatвАЩs right,вАЭ commented Davis Higby. вАЬThatвАЩs good stuff, that English line. I wouldnвАЩt mind pulling some of it myself sometime.вАЭ + 

They had now turned two corners, crossed two different streets and, in group formation, were making their way through the main door of FrissellвАЩs, which gave in on the reflection of lights upon china and silverware and faces, and the buzz and clatter of a dinner crowd. Clyde was enormously impressed. Never before, apart from the Green-Davidson, had he been in such a place. And with such wise, experienced youths. + 

They made their way to a group of tables which faced a leather wall-seat. The headwaiter, recognizing Ratterer and Hegglund and Kinsella as old patrons, had two tables put together and butter and bread and glasses brought. About these they arranged themselves, Clyde with Ratterer and Higby occupying the wall seat; Hegglund, Kinsella and Shiel sitting opposite. + 

вАЬNow, me for a good old Manhattan, to begin witвАЩ,вАЭ exclaimed Hegglund avidly, looking about on the crowd in the room and feeling that now indeed he was a person. Of a reddish-tan hue, his eyes keen and blue, his reddish-brown hair brushed straight up from his forehead, he seemed not unlike a large and overzealous rooster. + 

And similarly, Arthur Kinsella, once he was in here, seemed to perk up and take heart of his present glory. In a sort of ostentatious way, he drew back his coat sleeves, seized a bill of fare, and scanning the drink-list on the back, exclaimed: вАЬWell, a dry Martini is good enough for a start.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, IвАЩm going to begin with a Scotch and soda,вАЭ observed Paul Shiel, solemnly, examining at the same time the meat orders. + 

вАЬNone of your cocktails for me tonight,вАЭ insisted Ratterer, genially, but with a note of reserve in his voice. вАЬI said I wasnвАЩt going to drink much tonight, and IвАЩm not. I think a glass of Rhine wine and seltzer will be about my speed.вАЭ + 

вАЬFor de love oвАЩ Mike, will you listen to dat, now,вАЭ exclaimed Hegglund, deprecatingly. вАЬHeвАЩs goinвАЩ to begin on Rhine wine. And him dat likes Manhattans always. WhatвАЩs gettinвАЩ into you all of a sudden, Tommy? I tвАЩought you said you wanted a good time tonight.вАЭ + 

вАЬSo I do,вАЭ replied Ratterer, вАЬbut canвАЩt I have a good time without lappinвАЩ up everything in the place? I want to stay sober tonight. No more call-downs for me in the morning, if I know what IвАЩm about. I came pretty near not showing up last time.вАЭ + 

вАЬThatвАЩs true, too,вАЭ exclaimed Arthur Kinsella. вАЬI donвАЩt want to drink so much I donвАЩt know where IвАЩm at, but IвАЩm not going to begin worrying about it now.вАЭ + 

вАЬHow about you, Higby?вАЭ Hegglund now called to the round-eyed youth. + 

вАЬIвАЩm having a Manhattan, too,вАЭ he replied, and then, looking up at the waiter who was beside him, added, вАЬHowвАЩs tricks, Dennis?вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, I canвАЩt complain,вАЭ replied the waiter. вАЬTheyвАЩre breakinвАЩ all right for me these days. HowвАЩs everything over to the hotel?вАЭ + 

вАЬFine, fine,вАЭ replied Higby, cheerfully, studying the bill-of-fare. + 

вАЬAnвАЩ you, Griffiths? What are you goinвАЩ to have?вАЭ called Hegglund, for, as master-of-ceremonies, delegated by the others to look after the orders and pay the bill and tip the waiter, he was now fulfilling the role. + 

вАЬWho, me? Oh, me,вАЭ exclaimed Clyde, not a little disturbed by this inquiry, for up to nowвБ†вАФthis very hour, in factвБ†вАФhe had never touched anything stronger than coffee or ice-cream soda. He had been not a little taken back by the brisk and sophisticated way in which these youths ordered cocktails and whisky. Surely he could not go so far as that, and yet, so well had he known long before this, from the conversation of these youths, that on such occasions as this they did drink, that he did not see how he could very well hold back. What would they think of him if he didnвАЩt drink something? For ever since he had been among them, he had been trying to appear as much of a man of the world as they were. And yet back of him, as he could plainly feel, lay all of the years in which he had been drilled in the вАЬhorrorsвАЭ of drink and evil companionship. And even though in his heart this long while he had secretly rebelled against nearly all the texts and maxims to which his parents were always alluding, deeply resenting really as worthless and pointless the ragamuffin crew of wasters and failures whom they were always seeking to save, still, now he was inclined to think and hesitate. Should he or should he not drink? + 

For the fraction of an instant only, while all these things in him now spoke, he hesitated, then added: вАЬWhy, I, ohвБ†вАФI think IвАЩll take Rhine wine and seltzer, too.вАЭ It was the easiest and safest thing to say, as he saw it. Already the rather temperate and even innocuous character of Rhine wine and seltzer had been emphasized by Hegglund and all the others. And yet Ratterer was taking itвБ†вАФa thing which made his choice less conspicuous and, as he felt, less ridiculous. + 

вАЬWill you listen to dis now?вАЭ exclaimed Hegglund, dramatically. вАЬHe says heвАЩll have Rhine wine and seltzer, too. I see where dis party breaks up at half-past eight, all right, unless some of de rest of us do someting.вАЭ + 

And Davis Higby, who was far more trenchant and roistering than his pleasant exterior gave any indication of, turned to Ratterer and said: вАЬWhatja want to start this Rhine wine and seltzer stuff for, so soon, Tom? Dontcha want us to have any fun at all tonight?вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, I told you why,вАЭ said Ratterer. вАЬBesides, the last time I went down to that joint I had forty bucks when I went in and not a cent when I came out. I want to know whatвАЩs goinвАЩ on this time.вАЭ + 

вАЬThat joint,вАЭ thought Clyde on hearing it. Then, after this supper, when they had all drunk and eaten enough, they were going down to one of those places called a вАЬjointвАЭвБ†вАФa bad-house, really. There was no doubt of itвБ†вАФhe knew what the word meant. There would be women thereвБ†вАФbad womenвБ†вАФevil women. And he would be expectedвБ†вАФcould heвБ†вАФwould he? + 

For the first time in his life now, he found himself confronted by a choice as to his desire for the more accurate knowledge of the one great fascinating mystery that had for so long confronted and fascinated and baffled and yet frightened him a little. For, despite all his many thoughts in regard to all this and women in general, he had never been in contact with any one of them in this way. And nowвБ†вАФnowвБ†вАФ + 

All of a sudden he felt faint thrills of hot and cold racing up and down his back and all over him. His hands and face grew hot and then became moistвБ†вАФthen his cheeks and forehead flamed. He could feel them. Strange, swift, enticing and yet disturbing thoughts raced in and out of his consciousness. His hair tingled and he saw picturesвБ†вАФbacchanalian scenesвБ†вАФwhich swiftly, and yet in vain, he sought to put out of his mind. They would keep coming back. And he wanted them to come back. Yet he did not. And through it all he was now a little afraid. Pshaw! Had he no courage at all? These other fellows were not disturbed by the prospects of what was before them. They were very gay. They were already beginning to laugh and kid one another in regard to certain funny things that had happened the last time they were all out together. But what would his mother think if she knew? His mother! He dared not think of his mother or his father either at this time, and put them both resolutely out of his mind. + 

вАЬOh, say, Kinsella,вАЭ called Higby. вАЬDo you remember that little red head in that Pacific Street joint that wanted you to run away to Chicago with her?вАЭ + 

вАЬDo I?вАЭ replied the amused Kinsella, taking up the Martini that was just then served him. вАЬShe even wanted me to quit the hotel game and let her start me in a business of some kind. вАШI wouldnвАЩt need to work at all if I stuck by her,вАЩ she told me.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, no, you wouldnвАЩt need to work at all, except one way,вАЭ called Ratterer. + 

The waiter put down ClydeвАЩs glass of Rhine wine and seltzer beside him and, interested and intense and troubled and fascinated by all that he heard, he picked it up, tasted it and, finding it mild and rather pleasing, drank it all down at once. And yet so wrought up were his thoughts that he scarcely realized then that he had drunk it. + 

вАЬGood for you,вАЭ observed Kinsella, in a most cordial tone. вАЬYou must like that stuff.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, itвАЩs not so bad,вАЭ said Clyde. + 

And Hegglund, seeing how swiftly it had gone, and feeling that Clyde, new to this world and green, needed to be cheered and strengthened, called to the waiter: вАЬHere Jerry! One more of these, and make it a big one,вАЭ he whispered behind his hand. + 

And so the dinner proceeded. And it was nearly eleven before they had exhausted the various matters of interest to themвБ†вАФstories of past affairs, past jobs, past feats of daring. And by then Clyde had had considerable time to meditate on all of these youthsвБ†вАФand he was inclined to think that he was not nearly as green as they thought, or if so, at least shrewder than most of themвБ†вАФof a better mentality, really. For who were they and what were their ambitions? Hegglund, as he could see, was vain and noisy and foolishвБ†вАФa person who could be taken in and conciliated by a little flattery. And Higby and Kinsella, interesting and attractive boys both, were still vain of things he could not be proud ofвБ†вАФHigby of knowing a little something about automobilesвБ†вАФhe had an uncle in the businessвБ†вАФKinsella of gambling, rolling dice even. And as for Ratterer and Shiel, he could see and had noticed for some time, that they were content with the bellhop businessвБ†вАФjust continuing in that and nothing moreвБ†вАФa thing which he could not believe, even now, would interest him forever. + 

At the same time, being confronted by this problem of how soon they would be wanting to go to a place into which he had never ventured before, and to be doing things which he had never let himself think he would do in just this way, he was just a little disturbed. Had he not better excuse himself after they got outside, or perhaps, after starting along with them in whatsoever direction they chose to go, quietly slip away at some corner and return to his own home? For had he not already heard that the most dreadful of diseases were occasionally contracted in just such placesвБ†вАФand that men died miserable deaths later because of low vices begun in this fashion? He could hear his mother lecturing concerning all thisвБ†вАФyet with scarcely any direct knowledge of any kind. And yet, as an argument per contra, here were all of these boys in nowise disturbed by what was in their minds or moods to do. On the contrary, they were very gay over it all and amusedвБ†вАФnothing more. + 

In fact, Ratterer, who was really very fond of Clyde by now, more because of the way he looked and inquired and listened than because of anything Clyde did or said, kept nudging him with his elbow now and then, asking laughingly, вАЬHow about it, Clyde? Going to be initiated tonight?вАЭ and then smiling broadly. Or finding Clyde quite still and thinking at times, вАЬThey wonвАЩt do more than bite you, Clyde.вАЭ + 

And Hegglund, taking his cue from Ratterer and occasionally desisting from his own self-glorifying diatribes, would add: вАЬYou wonвАЩt ever be de same, Clyde. Dey never are. But weвАЩll all be wid you in case of trouble.вАЭ + 

And Clyde, nervous and irritated, would retort: вАЬAh, cut it out, you two. Quit kidding. WhatвАЩs the use of trying to make out that you know so much more than I do?вАЭ + 

And Ratterer would signal Hegglund with his eyes to let up and would occasionally whisper to Clyde: вАЬThatвАЩs all right, old man, donвАЩt get sore. You know we were just fooling, thatвАЩs all.вАЭ And Clyde, very much drawn to Ratterer, would relent and wish he were not so foolish as to show what he actually was thinking about. + 

At last, however, by eleven oвАЩclock, they had had their fill of conversation and food and drink and were ready to depart, Hegglund leading the way. And instead of the vulgar and secretive mission producing a kind of solemnity and mental or moral self-examination and self-flagellation, they laughed and talked as though there was nothing but a delicious form of amusement before them. Indeed, much to ClydeвАЩs disgust and amazement, they now began to reminisce concerning other ventures into this worldвБ†вАФof one particular one which seemed to amuse them all greatly, and which seemed to concern some вАЬjoint,вАЭ as they called it, which they had once visitedвБ†вАФa place called вАЬBettinaвАЩs.вАЭ They had been led there originally by a certain wild youth by the name of вАЬPinkyвАЭ Jones of the staff of another local hotel. And this boy and one other by the name of Birmingham, together with Hegglund, who had become wildly intoxicated, had there indulged in wild pranks which all but led to their arrestвБ†вАФpranks which to Clyde, as he listened to them, seemed scarcely possible to boys of this caliber and cleanly appearanceвБ†вАФpranks so crude and disgusting as to sicken him a little. + 

вАЬOh, ho, and de pitcher of water de girl on de second floor doused on me as I went out,вАЭ called Hegglund, laughing heartily. + 

вАЬAnd the big fat guy on the second floor that came to the door to see. Remember?вАЭ laughed Kinsella. вАЬHe thought there was a fire or a riot, I bet.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd you and that little fat girl, Piggy. вАЩMember, Ratterer?вАЭ squealed Shiel, laughing and choking as he tried to tell of it. + 

вАЬAnd RattererвАЩs legs all bent under his load. Yoo-hoo!вАЭ yelled Hegglund. вАЬAnd de way de two of вАЩem finally slid down de steps.вАЭ + 

вАЬThat was all your fault, Hegglund,вАЭ called Higby from KinsellaвАЩs side. вАЬIf you hadnвАЩt tried that switching stuff we never woulda got put out.вАЭ + 

вАЬI tell you I was drunk,вАЭ protested Ratterer. вАЬIt was the red-eye they sold in there.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd that long, thin guy from Texas with the big mustache, will you ever forget him, anвАЩ the way he laughed?вАЭ added Kinsella. вАЬHe wouldnвАЩt help nobody вАЩgainst us. вАЩMember?вАЭ + 

вАЬItвАЩs a wonder we werenвАЩt all thrown in the street or locked up. Oh, gee, what a night!вАЭ reminisced Ratterer. + 

By now Clyde was faintly dizzy with the nature of these revelations. вАЬSwitchinвАЩ.вАЭ That could mean but one thing. + 

And they expected him to share in revels such as these, maybe. It could not be. He was not that sort of person. What would his mother and father think if they were to hear of such dreadful things? And yetвБ†вАФ + 

Even as they talked, they had reached a certain house in a dark and rather wide street, the curbs of which for a block or more on either side were sprinkled with cabs and cars. And at the corner, only a little distance away, were some young men standing and talking. And over the way, more men. And not a half a block farther on, they passed two policemen, idling and conversing. And although there was no light visible in any window, nor over any transom, still, curiously, there was a sense of vivid, radiant life. One could feel it in this dark street. Taxis spun and honked and two old-time closed carriages still in use rolled here and there, their curtains drawn. And doors slammed or opened and closed. And now and then a segment of bright inward light pierced the outward gloom and then disappeared again. Overhead on this night were many stars. + 

Finally, without any comment from anyone, Hegglund, accompanied by Higby and Shiel, marched up the steps of this house and rang the bell. Almost instantly the door was opened by a black girl in a red dress. вАЬGood evening. Walk right in, wonвАЩt you?вАЭ was the affable greeting, and the six, having pushed past her and through the curtains of heavy velvet, which separated this small area from the main chambers, Clyde found himself in a bright and rather gaudy general parlor or reception room, the walls of which were ornamented with gilt-framed pictures of nude or semi-nude girls and some very high pier mirrors. And the floor was covered by a bright red thick carpet, over which were strewn many gilt chairs. At the back, before some very bright red hangings, was a gilded upright piano. But of guests or inmates there seemed to be none, other than the black girl. + 

вАЬJest be seated, wonвАЩt you? Make yourselves at home. IвАЩll call the madam.вАЭ And, running upstairs to the left, she began calling: вАЬOh, Marie! Sadie! Caroline! They is some young gentlemen in the parlor.вАЭ + 

And at that moment, from a door in the rear, there emerged a tall, slim and rather pale-faced woman of about thirty-eight or fortyвБ†вАФvery erect, very executive, very intelligent and graceful-lookingвБ†вАФdiaphanously and yet modestly garbed, who said, with a rather wan and yet encouraging smile: вАЬOh, hello, Oscar, itвАЩs you, is it? And you too, Paul. Hello! Hello, Davis! Just make yourselves at home anywhere, all of you. Fannie will be in in a minute. SheвАЩll bring you something to drink. IвАЩve just hired a new pianist from St.¬†JoeвБ†вАФa Negro. WaitвАЩll you hear him. HeвАЩs awfully clever.вАЭ + 

She returned to the rear and called, вАЬOh, Sam!вАЭ + 

As she did so, nine girls of varying ages and looks, but none apparently over twenty-four or fiveвБ†вАФcame trooping down the stairs at one side in the rear, and garbed as Clyde had never seen any women dressed anywhere. And they were all laughing and talking as they cameвБ†вАФevidently very well pleased with themselves and in nowise ashamed of their appearance, which in some instances was quite extraordinary, as Clyde saw it, their costumes ranging from the gayest and flimsiest of boudoir negligees to the somewhat more sober, if no less revealing, dancing and ballroom gowns. And they were of such varied types and sizes and complexionsвБ†вАФslim and stout and mediumвБ†вАФtall or shortвБ†вАФand dark or light or betwixt. And, whatever their ages, all seemed young. And they smiled so warmly and enthusiastically. + 

вАЬOh, hello, sweetheart! How are you? DonвАЩt you want to dance with me?вАЭ or вАЬWouldnвАЩt you like something to drink?вАЭ + 