the fortune hunter(闯世界的人)-第1节
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
THE FORTUNE
HUNTER
By DAVID GRAHAM PHILLIPS
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
CHAPTER I
ENTER MR。 FEUERSTEIN
On an afternoon late in April Feuerstein left his boarding…house in
East Sixteenth Street； in the block just beyond the eastern gates of
Stuyvesant Square； and paraded down Second Avenue。
A romantic figure was Feuerstein； of the German Theater stock
company。 He was tall and slender； and had large； handsome features。
His coat was cut long over the shoulders and in at the waist to show his
lines of strength and grace。 He wore a pearl…gray soft hat with rakish
brim； and it was set with suspicious carelessness upon bright blue； and
seemed to blazon a fiery； sentimental nature。 He strode along； intensely
self…conscious； not in the way that causes awkwardness； but in the way
that causes a swagger。 One had only to glance at him to know that he
was offensive to many men and fascinating to many women。
Not an article of his visible clothing had been paid for； and the ten…cent
piece in a pocket of his trousers was his total cash balance。 But his heart
was as light as the day。 Had he not youth？ Had he not health？ Had he
not looks to bewitch the women； brains to outwit the men？ Feuerstein
sniffed the delightful air and gazed round； like a king in the midst of
cringing subjects。 ‘‘I feel that this is one of my lucky days；'' said he to
himself。 An aristocrat； a patrician； a Hochwohlgeboren； if ever one was
born。
At the Fourteenth…Street crossing he became conscious that a young
man was looking at him with respectful admiration and with the anxiety of
one who fears a distinguished acquaintance has forgotten him。
Feuerstein paused and in his grandest； most gracious manner； said： ‘‘Ah！
Mr。 Hartmanna glorious day！''
Young Hartmann flushed with pleasure and stammered； ‘‘Yesa
GLORIOUS day！''
‘‘It is lucky I met you；'' continued Feuerstein。 ‘‘I had an appointment
at the Cafe Boulevard at four； and came hurrying away from my lodgings
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
with empty pocketsI am so absent…minded。 Could you convenience me
for a few hours with five dollars？ I'll repay you to…nightyou will be at
Goerwitz's probably？ I usually look in there after the theater。''
Hartmann colored with embarrassment。
‘‘I'm sorry；'' he said humbly； ‘‘I've got only a two…dollar bill。 If it
would''
Feuerstein looked annoyed。 ‘‘Perhaps I can make that do。 Thank
yousorry to trouble you。 I MUST be more careful。''
The two dollars were transferred； Feuerstein gave Hartmann a
flourishing stage salute and strode grandly on。 Before he had gone ten
yards he had forgotten Hartmann and had dismissed all financial carehad
he not enough to carry him through the day； even should he meet no one
who would pay for his dinner and his drinks？ ‘‘Yes； it is a day to back
myself to winfearlessly！''
The hedge at the Cafe Boulevard was green and the tables were in the
yard and on the balconies； but Feuerstein entered； seated himself in one of
the smoke…fogged reading…rooms； ordered a glass of beer； and divided his
attention between the Fliegende Blatter and the faces of incoming men。
After half an hour two men in an arriving group of three nodded coldly to
him。 He waited until they were seated； then joined them and proceeded
to make himself agreeable to the one who had just been introduced to him…
…young Horwitz； an assistant bookkeeper at a department store in Twenty…
third Street。 But Horwitz had a ‘‘soul；'' and the yearning of that secret
soul was for the stage。 Feuerstein did Horwitz the honor of dining with
him。 At a quarter past seven； with his two dollars intact； with a loan of
one dollar added to it； and with five of his original ten cents； he took
himself away to the theater。 Afterward； by appointment； he met his new
friend； and did him the honor of accompanying him to the Young German
Shooters' Society ball at Terrace Garden。
It was one of those simple； entirely and genuinely gay entertainments
that assemble the society of the real New Yorkthe three and a half
millions who work and play hard and live plainly and without pretense；
whose ideals center about the hearth； and whose aspirations are to retire
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
with a competence early in the afternoon of life； thenceforth placidly to
assist in the prosperity of their children and to have their youth over again
in their grandchildren。
Feuerstein's gaze wandered from face to face among the young women；
to pause at last upon a dark； handsome； strong…looking daughter of the
people。 She had coal…black hair that curled about a low forehead。 Her
eyes were dreamy and stormy。 Her mouth was sweet； if a trifle petulant。
‘‘And who is she？'' he asked。
‘‘That's Hilda Brauner；'' replied Horwitz。 ‘‘Her father has a
delicatessen in Avenue A。 He's very richowns three flat…houses。 They
must bring him in at least ten thousand net； not to speak of what he makes
in the store。 They're fine people； those Brauners； none nicer anywhere。''
‘‘A beautiful creature；'' said Feuerstein； who was feeling like a prince
who； for reasons of sordid necessity； had condescended to a party in Fifth
Avenue。 ‘‘I'd like to meet her。''
‘‘Certainly；'' replied Horwitz。 ‘‘I'll introduce her to you。''
She blushed and was painfully ill at ease in presence of his grand and
lofty courtesyshe who had been used to the offhand manners which
prevail wherever there is equality of the sexes and the custom of frank
sociability。 And when he asked her to dance she would have refused had
she been able to speak at all。 But he bore her off and soon made her
forget herself in the happiness of being drifted in his strong arm upon the
rhythmic billows of the waltz。 At the end he led her to a seat and fell to
complimenting herhis eyes eloquent； his voice； it seemed to her； as
entrancing as the waltz music。 When he spoke in German it was
without the harsh sputtering and growling； the slovenly slurring and
clipping to which she had been accustomed。 She could answer only with
monosyllables or appreciative looks； though usually she was a great talker
and； as she had much common sense and not a little wit； a good talker。
But her awe of him； which increased when she learned that he was on the
stage； did not prevent her from getting the two main impressions he
wished to make upon herthat Mr。 Feuerstein was a very grand person
indeed； and that he was condescending to be profoundly smitten of her
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
charms。
She was the ‘‘catch'' of Avenue A； taking prospects and looks together；
and the men she knew had let her rule them。 In Mr。 Feuerstein she had
found what she had been unconsciously seeking with the Idealismus of
genuine youtha man who compelled her to look far up to him； a man
who seemed to her to embody those vague dreams of a life grand and
beautiful； away off somewhere； which are dreamed by all young people；
and by not a few older ones； who have less excuse for not knowing where
happiness is to be found。 He spent the whole evening with her； Mrs。
Liebers and Sophie； with whom she had come； did not dare interrup
