Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
Gigolo By: Edna Ferber (1885-1968) |
---|
![]()
BY EDNA FERBER
AUTHOR OF SO BIG, EMMA McCHESNEY & CO.,
FANNY HERSELF, THE GIRLS, ETC. GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK Made in the United States of America COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY
DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY McCLURE's MAGAZINE, INCORPORATED
COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY P. F. COLLIER & SON COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES,
GREAT BRITAIN AND CANADA COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY THE CROWELL PUBLISHING COMPANY,
AND THE PICTORIAL REVIEW COMPANY PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT
THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y.
CONTENTS PAGE THE AFTERNOON OF A FAUN 1 OLD MAN MINICK 34 GIGOLO 69 NOT A DAY OVER TWENTY ONE 106 HOME GIRL 150 AIN'T NATURE WONDERFUL! 188 THE SUDDEN SIXTIES 222 IF I SHOULD EVER TRAVEL! 259
GIGOLO
THE AFTERNOON OF A FAUN
Though he rarely heeded its summons cagy boy that he was the telephone
rang oftenest for Nick. Because of the many native noises of the place,
the telephone had a special bell that was a combination buzz and ring.
It sounded above the roar of outgoing cars, the splash of the hose, the
sputter and hum of the electric battery in the rear. Nick heard it,
unheeding. A voice Smitty's or Mike's or Elmer's answering its call.
Then, echoing through the grey, vaulted spaces of the big garage: "Nick!
Oh, Ni ick!" From the other side of the great cement floored enclosure, or in muffled
tones from beneath a car: "Whatcha want?" "Dame on the wire." "I ain't in." The obliging voice again, dutifully repeating the message: "He ain't
in.... Well, it's hard to say. He might be in in a couple hours and
then again he might not be back till late. I guess he's went to Hammond
on a job " (Warming to his task now.) "Say, won't I do?... Who's
fresh! Aw, say, lady !" You'd think, after repeated rebuffs of this sort, she could not possibly
be so lacking in decent pride as to leave her name for Smitty or Mike or
Elmer to bandy about. But she invariably did, baffled by Nick's
elusiveness. She was likely to be any one of a number. Miss Bauers
phoned: Will you tell him, please? (A nasal voice, and haughty, with the
hauteur that seeks to conceal secret fright.) Tell him it's important.
Miss Ahearn phoned: Will you tell him, please? Just say Miss Ahearn.
A h e a r n. Miss Olson: Just Gertie. But oftenest Miss Bauers. Cupid's messenger, wearing grease grimed overalls and the fatuous grin
of the dalliant male, would transmit his communication to the uneager
Nick. "'S wonder you wouldn't answer the phone once yourself. Says you was to
call Miss Bauers any time you come in between one and six at Hyde
Park wait a min't' yeh Hyde Park 6079, and any time after six at " "Wha'd she want?" "Well, how the hell should I know! Says call Miss Bauers any time
between one and six at Hyde Park 6 " "Swell chanst. Swell chanst!" Which explains why the calls came oftenest for Nick. He was so
indifferent to them. You pictured the patient and persistent Miss
Bauers, or the oxlike Miss Olson, or Miss Ahearn, or just Gertie
hovering within hearing distance of the telephone listening,
listening while one o'clock deepened to six for the call that never
came; plucking up fresh courage at six until six o'clock dragged on to
bedtime. When next they met: "I bet you was there all the time. Pity you
wouldn't answer a call when a person leaves their name. You could of
give me a ring. I bet you was there all the time." "Well, maybe I was." Bewildered, she tried to retaliate with the boomerang of vituperation. How could she know? How could she know that this slim, slick young
garage mechanic was a woodland creature in disguise a satyr in store
clothes a wild thing who perversely preferred to do his own pursuing?
How could Miss Bauers know she who cashiered in the Green Front Grocery
and Market on Fifty third Street? Or Miss Olson, at the Rialto ticket
window? Or the Celtic, emotional Miss Ahearn, the manicure? Or Gertie
the goof? They knew nothing of mythology; of pointed ears and pug noses
and goat's feet... Continue reading book >>
|
Genres for this book |
---|
Fiction |
Literature |
Short stories |
eBook links |
---|
Wikipedia – Edna Ferber |
Wikipedia – Gigolo |
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|