"Stand over there," he said.
By this the spell was broken.Even while the soldier resumed his short, solemn walk, other figures shuffled forward.They did not so much as greet the leader, but joined the one, sniffling and hitching and scraping their feet.
"Gold, ain't it?"
"I'm glad winter's over."
"Looks as though it might rain."
The motley company had increased to ten.One or two knew each other and conversed.Others stood off a few feet, not wishing to be in the crowd and yet not counted out.They were peevish, crusty, silent, eying nothing in particular and moving their feet.
There would have been talking soon, but the soldier gave them no chance.Counting sufficient to begin, he came forward.
"Beds, eh, all of you?"
There was a general shuffle and murmur of approval.
"Well, line up here.I'll see what I can do.I haven't a cent myself."
They fell into a sort of broken, ragged line.One might see, now, some of the chief characteristics by contrast.There was a wooden leg in the line.Hats were all drooping, a group that would ill become a second-hand Hester Street basement collection.
Trousers were all warped and frayed at the bottom and coats worn and faded.In the glare of the store lights, some of the faces looked dry and chalky; others were red with blotches and puffed in the cheeks and under the eyes; one or two were rawboned and reminded one of railroad hands.A few spectators came near, drawn by the seemingly conferring group, then more and more, and quickly there was a pushing, gaping crowd.Some one in the line began to talk.
"Silence!" exclaimed the captain."Now, then, gentlemen, these men are without beds.They have to have some place to sleep to-
night.They can't lie out in the streets.I need twelve cents to put one of them to bed.Who will give it to me?"
No reply.
"Well, we'll have to wait here, boys, until some one does.
Twelve cents isn't so very much for one man."
"Here's fifteen," exclaimed a young man, peering forward with strained eyes."It's all I can afford."
"All right.Now I have fifteen.Step out of the line," and seizing one by the shoulder, the captain marched him off a little way and stood him up alone.
Coming back, he resumed his place and began again.
"I have three cents left.These men must be put to bed somehow.
There are"--counting--"one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve men.Nine cents more will put the next man to bed; give him a good, comfortable bed for the night.I go right along and look after that myself.Who will give me nine cents?"
One of the watchers, this time a middle-aged man, handed him a five-cent piece.
"Now, I have eight cents.Four more will give this man a bed.
Come, gentlemen.We are going very slow this evening.You all have good beds.How about these?"
"Here you are," remarked a bystander, putting a coin into his hand.
"That," said the captain, looking at the coin, "pays for two beds for two men and gives me five on the next one.Who will give me seven cents more?"
"I will," said a voice.
Coming down Sixth Avenue this evening, Hurstwood chanced to cross east through Twenty-sixth Street toward Third Avenue.He was wholly disconsolate in spirit, hungry to what he deemed an almost mortal extent, weary, and defeated.How should he get at Carrie now? It would be eleven before the show was over.If she came in a coach, she would go away in one.He would need to interrupt under most trying circumstances.Worst of all, he was hungry and weary, and at best a whole day must intervene, for he had not heart to try again to-night.He had no food and no bed.
When he neared Broadway, he noticed the captain's gathering of wanderers, but thinking it to be the result of a street preacher or some patent medicine fakir, was about to pass on.However, in crossing the street toward Madison Square Park, he noticed the line of men whose beds were already secured, stretching out from the main body of the crowd.In the glare of the neighbouring electric light he recognised a type of his own kind--the figures whom he saw about the streets and in the lodging-houses, drifting in mind and body like himself.He wondered what it could be and turned back.
There was the captain curtly pleading as before.He heard with astonishment and a sense of relief the oft-repeated words: "These men must have a bed." Before him was the line of unfortunates whose beds were yet to be had, and seeing a newcomer quietly edge up and take a position at the end of the line, he decided to do likewise.What use to contend? He was weary to-night.It was a simple way out of one difficulty, at least.To-morrow, maybe, he would do better.
Back of him, where some of those were whose beds were safe, a relaxed air was apparent.The strain of uncertainty being removed, he heard them talking with moderate freedom and some leaning toward sociability.Politics, religion, the state of the government, some newspaper sensations, and the more notorious facts the world over, found mouthpieces and auditors there.
Cracked and husky voices pronounced forcibly upon odd matters.
Vague and rambling observations were made in reply.
There were squints, and leers, and some dull, ox-like stares from those who were too dull or too weary to converse.
