Американська трагедія

           Isureamhardonthatstore.OnedayIcomesinlateafterlunch;oneoftheothergirlspunchedtheclockformewithmykey,see,andhewasoutinthehallandhesawher,andhesaystomeafterwards,abouttwointheafternoon,‘Saylookhere,MissBriggs’(healwayscallsmeMissBriggs,‘causeIwon’tlethimcallmenothingelse.He’dtrytogetfreshifIdid),‘thatloanin’thatkeystuffdon’tgo.Cutthatstuffoutnow.Thisain’tnoFollies.’Ihadtolaugh.Hedoesgetsosoreattimesatallofus.ButIputhiminhisplacejustthesame.He’skindasoftonme,youknow—hewouldn’tfiremeforworlds,nothim.SoIsaystohim,‘Seehere,Mr.Beck,youcan’ttalktomeinanysuchstyleasthat.I’mnotinthehabitofcomin’lateoften.An’wot’smore,thisain’ttheonlyplaceIcanworkinK.C.IfIcan’tbelateonceinawhilewithouthearin’aboutit,youcanjustsendupformytime,that’sall,see.’Iwasn’tgoin’tolethimgetawaywiththatstuff.AndjustasIthought,heweakened.Allhesayswas,‘Well,justthesame,I’mwarnin’you.NexttimemaybeMr.Tierney’llseeyouan’thenyou’llgetachancetotrysomeotherstore,allright.’HeknewhewasbluffingandthatIdid,too.Ihadtolaugh.An’Isawhimlaughin’withMr.Scottabouttwominuteslater.But,gee,Icertainlydopullsomerawstuffaroundthereattimes."

           BythensheandClyde,withscarcelyawordonhispart,andmuchtohiseaseandrelief,hadreachedFrissell’s.