University of Virginia Library

I

THEY had four hours in New York between trains. The one thing Babbitt wished to see was the Pennsylvania Hotel, which had been built since his last visit. He stared up at it, muttering, "Twenty-two hundred rooms and twenty-two hundred baths! That's got everything in the world beat. Lord, their turnover must be—well, suppose price of rooms is four to eight dollars a day, and I suppose maybe some ten and— four times twenty-two hundred-say six times twenty-two hundred— well, anyway, with restaurants and everything, say summers between eight and fifteen thousand a day. Every day! I never thought I'd see a thing like that! Some town! Of course the average fellow in Zenith has got more Individual Initiative than the fourflushers here, but I got to hand it to New York. Yes, sir, town, you're all right—some ways. Well, old Paulski, I guess we've seen everything that's worth while. How'll we kill the rest of the time? Movie?''

But Paul desired to see a liner. "Always wanted to go to Europe—and, by thunder, I will, too, some day before I past out,'' he sighed.

From a rough wharf on the North River they stared at the stern of the Aquitania and her stacks and wireless antenna lifted above the dock-house which shut her in.

"By golly,'' Babbitt droned, "wouldn't be so bad to go over to the Old Country and take a squint at all these ruins, and the place where Shakespeare was born. And think of being able to order a drink whenever you wanted one! Just range up to a bar and holler out loud, `Gimme a cocktail, and darn the police!' Not bad at all. What juh like to see, over there, Paulibus?''

Paul did not answer. Babbitt turned. Paul was standing with clenched fists, head drooping, staring at the liner as in terror. His thin body, seen against the summer-glaring planks of the wharf, was childishly meager.

Again, "What would you hit for on the other side, Paul?''

Scowling at the steamer, his breast heaving, Paul whispered, "Oh, my God!'' While Babbitt watched him anxiously he snapped, "Come on, let's get out of this,'' and hastened down the wharf, not looking back.

"That's funny,'' considered Babbitt. "The boy didn't care for seeing the ocean boats after all. I thought he'd be interested in 'em.''