Jennie Gerhardt - Драйзер Теодор. Страница 52

constantly in mind.

CHAPTER XXXII

The following spring the show-rooms and warehouse were completed,

and Lester removed his office to the new building. Heretofore, he had

been transacting all his business affairs at the Grand Pacific and the club.

From now on he felt himself to be firmly established in Chicago—as if

that was to be his future home. A large number of details were thrown

upon him—the control of a considerable office force, and the handling of

various important transactions. It took away from him the need of

travelling, that duty going to Amy's husband, under the direction of

Robert. The latter was doing his best to push his personal interests, not only through the influence he was bringing to bear upon his sisters, but

through his reorganisation of the factory. Several men whom Lester was

personally fond of were in danger of elimination. But Lester did not hear of this, and Kane senior was inclined to give Robert a free hand. Age was telling on him. He was glad to see some one with a strong policy come up

and take charge. Lester did not seem to mind. Apparently he and Robert

were on better terms than ever before.

Matters might have gone on smoothly enough were it not for the fact that

Lester's private life with Jennie was not a matter which could be

permanently kept under cover. At times he was seen driving with her by

people who knew him in a social and commercial way. He was for

brazening it out on the ground that he was a single man, and at liberty to associate with anybody he pleased. Jennie might be any young woman of

good family in whom he was interested. He did not propose to introduce

her to anybody if he could help it, and he always made it a point to be a fast traveller in driving, in order that others might not attempt to detain and talk to him. At the theatre, as has been said, she was simply "Miss Gerhardt."

The trouble was that many of his friends were also keen observers of life.

They had no quarrel to pick with Lester's conduct. Only he had been seen

in other cities, in times past, with this same woman. She must be some

one whom he was maintaining irregularly. Well, what of it? Wealth and

youthful spirits must have their fling. Rumours came to Robert, who,

however, kept his own counsel. If Lester wanted to do this sort of thing, well and good. But there must come a time when there would be a show-down.

This came about in one form about a year and a half after Lester and

Jennie had been living in the north side apartment. It so happened that,

during a stretch of inclement weather in the fall, Lester was seized with a mild form of grip. When he felt the first symptoms he thought that his

indisposition would be a matter of short duration, and tried to overcome it by taking a hot bath and a liberal dose of quinine. But the infection was stronger than he counted on; by morning he was flat on his back, with a

severe fever and a splitting headache.

His long period of association with Jennie had made him incautious.

Policy would have dictated that he should betake himself to his hotel and endure his sickness alone. As a matter of fact, he was very glad to be in the house with her. He had to call up the office to say that he was

indisposed and would not be down for a day or so; then he yielded

himself comfortably to her patient ministrations.

Jennie, of course, was delighted to have Lester with her, sick or well. She persuaded him to see a doctor and have him prescribe. She brought him

potions of hot lemonade, and bathed his face and hands in cold water over and over. Later, when he was recovering, she made him appetising cups

of beef-tea or gruel.

It was during this illness that the first real contretemps occurred. Lester's sister Louise, who had been visiting friends in St. Paul, and who had

written him that she might stop off to see him on her way, decided upon

an earlier return than she had originally planned. While Lester was sick at his apartment she arrived in Chicago. Calling up the office, and finding

that he was not there and would not be down for several days, she asked

where he could be reached.

"I think he is at his rooms in the Grand Pacific," said an incautious secretary. "He's not feeling well." Louise, a little disturbed, telephoned to the Grand Pacific, and was told that Mr. Kane had not been there for

several days—did not, as a matter of fact, occupy his rooms more than

one or two days a week. Piqued by this, she telephoned his club.

It so happened that at the club there was a telephone boy who had called

up the apartment a number of times for Lester himself. He had not been

cautioned not to give its number—as a matter of fact, it had never been

asked for by any one else. When Louise stated that she was Lester's sister, and was anxious to find him, the boy replied, "I think he lives at 19, Schiller Place."

"Whose address is that you're giving?" inquired a passing clerk.

"Mr. Kane's."

"Well, don't be giving out addresses. Don't you know that yet?"

The boy apologised, but Louise had hung up the receiver and was gone.

About an hour later, curious as to this third residence of her brother,

Louise arrived at Schiller Place. Ascending the steps—it was a two-

apartment house—she saw the name of Kane on the door leading to the

second floor. Ringing the bell, she was opened to by Jennie, who was

surprised to see so fashionably attired a young woman.

"This is Mr. Kane's apartment, I believe," began Louise, condescendingly, as she looked in at the open door behind Jennie. She was a little surprised to meet a young woman, but her suspicions were as yet only vaguely

aroused.

"Yes," replied Jennie.

"He's sick, I believe. I'm his sister. May I come in?"

Jennie, had she had time to collect her thoughts, would have tried to make some excuse, but Louise, with the audacity of her birth and station, swept past before Jennie could say a word. Once inside Louise looked about her

inquiringly. She found herself in the sitting-room, which gave into the

bedroom where Lester was lying. Vesta happened to be playing in one

corner of the room, and stood up to eye the new-comer. The open

bedroom showed Lester quite plainly lying in bed, a window to the left of him, his eyes closed.

"Oh, there you are, old fellow!" exclaimed Louise. "What's ailing you?"

she hurried on.

Lester, who at the sound of her voice had opened his eyes, realised in an instant how things were. He pulled himself up on one elbow, but words

failed him.

"Why, hello, Louise," he finally forced himself to say, "Where did you come from?"

"St. Paul. I came back sooner than I thought," she answered lamely, a sense of something wrong irritating her. "I had a hard time finding you, too. Who's your—" she was about to say "pretty housekeeper," but turned to find Jennie dazedly gathering up certain articles in the adjoining room and looking dreadfully distraught.

Lester cleared his throat hopelessly.

His sister swept the place with an observing eye. It took in the home

atmosphere, which was both pleasing and suggestive. There was a dress

of Jennie's lying across a chair, in a familiar way, which caused Miss

Kane to draw herself up warily. She looked at her brother, who had a

rather curious expression in his eyes—he seemed slightly nonplussed, but

cool and defiant.

"You shouldn't have come out here," said Lester finally, before Louise could give vent to the rising question in her mind.