The Prison Mirror

A CONFIDING NATURE
By E. H. T.

The large tri-motored plane bored its way into the night on its regular run between Chicago and Kansas City. The motor droned evenly, monotonously, but its sonorous snore barely penetrated the luxuriantly fitted cabin, sounding like a mosquito attacking an impenetrable net. The chief pilot and his relief man sat just behind the motor and separated from the cabin by a panelled partition; while the cabin itself was occupied by two men and the hostess, a young lady who kept discreetly in the background and what would ordinarily be out of hearing.

But no one could get out of the range of Saltus Rainsgold's voice, and yet remain in the plane; unless they were to join the pilots in their cockpit forward, and that was strictly against the rules. So the hostess compromised by taking the rearmost seat and engaging her mind elsewhere.

Saltus, a short, stocky man with evil, beady eyes, spaced by a caricature of a nose (all surmounted by a mass of black, unruly hair) was speaking and punctuating his words with eloquent pantomine.

"You know, s'funny thing, but whenever I get off somewhere an' there's only one or two people along-like on a train or in a plane, I get to talking an' I can't stop. I make friends easy anyhow, an it don't take long for me to get acquainted. No, sir!"

He paused momentarily for the first time since they had taken to the air in Chicago, as the sole passengers. During that time he had discussed the weather, unemployment, disarmament, France's repudiation of her war debt (this lead to a diversified treatise on reparations), the Nazis and their growth in Germany, the anti-Semitic demonstration and now, evidently he was launching a more personal vessel.

"I wonder when we reach Iowa City?" his companion asked. It was the first word beyond an occasional monosyllable of agreement, which he had been able to say.

Saltus shrugged, "I don't know. What difference does it make? We're here and we might as well improve the opportunity for a talk, no?"

His companion sighed submissively. Saltus affected not to notice the implied slight, and continued from where he had left off.

"Yes, I guess I've got a confiding nature. All the time I'm telling practically total strangers all my troubles. Not that I have many--not even little ones, for which I give thanks at the Synagogue every week. Most everything is nice by me, except maybe for business now and then. But what's that? Almost nobody makes any money in suitings this year, especially when they handle the best grade of goods could be bought west of Chicago. like me for instance. You know what I'm going to Kansas City for? Well, I'll tell you."

He stopped long enough to fill his lungs with air and marshall his mental forces for the onslaught. Saltus' companion stirred restlessly.

"I told my partner, Morrie-yesterday it was," he continued, "that I maybe better make a quick trip and see why it is our customers in Kansas City don't send such big orders like they used to. That's what I told Morrie yesterday. What he don't know ain't going to hurt him any when he thinks what this trip costs. But mostly I go for pleasure-to see--guess who? Lorraine Farrow!" He mouthed the name gloatingly as if to extract the last savory delight from its contemplation.

"You've heard about Lorraine?" he asked. Yes. Sure. I know you have. The girl what stopped the show at the Palace last week in Chicago? Yes, her nobody but! Boy, when Solly steps out, its high, wide and handsome! And when I throw a party -Say, you ain't been no place until you go to one of Solly's parties. Ask anybody in Chicago--well, anybody what is anybody.

"Lorraine has a spot at the Elhambra in Kansas City this week. And is it a spot? I'm telling you, not asking! And now-- now I'm on the way to see Lorraine!"

"Isn't she married?" his companion asked. "Seems to me I read something"

"Oh--that," Solly answered scornfully. "Yes she married some millionaire in Chicago year before lastor was it three years ago? I don't know. Anyway, it doesn't make any difference. She left him in six months and went back on the stage, but they haven't got a divorce. She won't give him one, and he ain't got grounds to sue on--that's an ugly word what should be stricken, positively stricken from the English language.

"But don't worry about Solly. He's very careful and takes care of himself like nobody's business. Anyway," he added cautiously, "there ain't nothing between us but friendship. What do you call it--platonic friendship that's it.

"You see I couldn't lay myself open to a lawsuit. Oi-the money them things run into. So I'm careful. Even for the free publicity I could get for the firm, I wouldn't risk it. No." He shuddered. "Those judges --phooie! They get so careless with somebody else's money! Like it was water they spend it!"

Solly's mind was off on a new tack "Say, my friend, what's your line?"

"Line?"

"Yeah. Business-you know."

"Oh." Solly's companion laughed. "I haven't any. I'm kept busy following my wife around the country, and tending to a few investments. She's on the stage-my wife, I mean-playing the Elhambra in K. C. this week. You know Lorraine-- purely on a basis of friendship--I believe?" he asked quietly, staring straight ahead at the panels separating them from the pilots.

"Oi," Solly groaned. "Now what have I done. Talking, talking, always talking like I wasn't born with even one brain. I tell you absolutely, without qualification, so strike me dead if I lie, I don't even know any Lorraine--phooie what a name! And now I guess I've got a lawsuit on my hands already! Talking . . . Oi . . . What will Rose think--my Rose what I'm practically engaged to be married." He stopped, breathless and his face livid with fear. He washed his hands in the air. rolled from side to side in his seat, finally emitting a groan of protest.

"I tell you"

"You've already told me plenty," his companion interrupted cynically.

When the plane landed in Kansas City, Saltus Rainsgold scuttled away like a frightened rabbit. The hostess stepped down behind Saltus' travelling companion and stretched lazily.

"I didn't know you were married. Mr. Anderson. Here you've been making this trip once every two weeks for three years and never mentioned having a wife."

"That isn't strange," he laughed. "I haven't one."