XVIII

A few days later, Tetlow, having business with Norman, tried to reach him by telephone.  After several failures he went to the hotel, and in the bar learned enough to enable him to guess that Norman was of on a mad carouse.  He had no difficulty in finding the trail or in following it; the difficulty lay in catching up, for Norman was going fast.  Not until late at night—­that is, early in the morning—­of the sixth day from the beginning of his search did he get his man.

He was prepared to find a wreck, haggard, wildly nervous and disreputably disheveled; for, so far as he could ascertain Norman had not been to bed, but had gone on and on from one crowd of revelers to another, in a city where it is easy to find companions in dissipation at any hour of the twenty-four.  Tetlow was even calculating upon having to put off their business many weeks while the crazy man was pulling through delirium tremens or some other form of brain fever.

An astonishing sight met his eyes in the Third Avenue oyster house before which the touring car Norman had been using was drawn up.  At a long table, eating oysters as fast as the opener could work, sat Norman and his friend Gaskill, a fellow member of the Federal Club, and about a score of broken and battered tramps.  The supper or breakfast was going forward in admirable order.  Gaskill, whom Norman had picked up a few hours before, showed signs of having done some drinking.  But not Norman.  It is true his clothing might have looked fresher; but hardly the man himself.

“Just in time!” he cried out genially, at sight of Tetlow.  “Sit down with us.  Waiter, a chair next to mine.  Gentlemen, Mr. Tetlow.  Mr. Tetlow, gentlemen.  What’ll you have, old man?”

Tetlow declined champagne, accepted half a dozen of the huge oysters.  “I’ve been after you for nearly a week,” said he to Norman.

“Pity you weren’t with me,” said Norman.  “I’ve been getting acquainted with large numbers of my fellow citizens.”

“From the Bowery to Yonkers.”

“Exactly.  Don’t fall asleep, Gaskill.”

But Gaskill was snoring with his head on the back of his chair and his throat presented as if for the as of the executioner.  “He’s all in,” said Tetlow.

“That’s the way it goes,” complained Norman.  “I can’t find anyone to keep me company.”

Tetlow laughed.  “You look as if you had just started out,” said he.  “Tell me—­where have you slept?”

“I haven’t had time to sleep as yet.”

“I dropped in to suggest that a little sleep wouldn’t do any harm.”

“Not quite yet.  Watch our friends eat.  It gives me an appetite.  Waiter, another dozen all round—­and some more of this carbonated white wine you’ve labeled champagne.”

As he called out this order, a grunt of satisfaction ran round the row of human derelicts.  Tetlow shuddered, yet was moved and thrilled, too, as he glanced from face to face—­those hideous hairy countenances, begrimed and beslimed, each countenance expressing in its own repulsive way the one emotion of gratified longing for food and drink.  “Where did you get ’em?” inquired he.