The 42nd Parallel by John Dos Passos Read Free Book Online

culture, none of those finer feelings that distinguish the civilized man from the savage aborigines of the wilds . . . No enthusiasm for truth, for bringing light into dark places . . . Do you realize, young man, that it is not a job I’m offering you, it is a great opportunity . . . a splendid opportunity for service and selfimprovement. I’m offering you an education gratis.”
    Fainy shuffled his feet. He had a husk in his throat.
    “If it’s in the printin’ line I guess I could do it.”
    “Well, young man, during the brief interrogatory through which I’m going to put you, remember that you stand on the threshold of opportunity.”
    Doc Bingham ferreted in the pigeonholes of his desk for a long time, found himself a cigar, bit off the end, lit it, and then turned again to Fainy, who was standing first on one foot and then on the other.
    “Well, if you’ll tell me your name.”
    “Fenian O’Hara McCreary . . .”
    “Hum . . . Scotch and Irish . . . that’s pretty good stock . . . that’s the stock I come from.”
    “Religion?”
    Fainy squirmed. “Pop was a Catholic but . . .” He turned red.
    Dr. Bingham laughed, and rubbed his hands.
    “Oh, religion, what crimes are committed in thy name. I’m an agnostic myself . . . caring nothing for class or creed when among friends; though sometimes, my boy, you have to bow with the wind . . . No, sir, my God is the truth, that rising ever higher in the hands of honest men will dispel the mists of ignorance and greed, and bring freedom and knowledge to mankind . . . Do you agree with me?”
    “I’ve been working for my uncle. He’s a social-democrat.”
    “Ah, hotheaded youth . . . Can you drive a horse?”
    “Why, yessir, I guess I could.”
    “Well, I don’t see why I shouldn’t hire you.”
    “The advertisement in the
Tribune
said fifteen dollars a week.”
    Doc Bingham’s voice assumed a particularly velvety tone.
    “Why, Fenian my boy, fifteen dollars a week will be the minimum you will make . . . Have you ever heard of the cooperative system? That is how I’m going to hire you . . . As sole owner and representative of the Truthseeker Corporation, I have here a magnificent line of small books and pamphlets covering every phase of human knowledge and endeavor . . . I am embarking immediately on a sales campaign to cover the whole country. You will be one of my distributors. The books sell at from ten to fifty cents. On each tencent book you make a cent, on the fifty-cent book you make five cents . . .”
    “And don’t I get anything every week?” stammered Fainy.
    “Would you be penny-wise and pound-foolish? Throwing away the most magnificent opportunity of a lifetime for the assurance of a paltry pittance. No, I can see by your flaming eye, by your rebellious name out of old Ireland’s history, that you are a young man of spirit and determination . . . Are we on? Shake hands on it then and by gad, Fenian, you shall never regret it.”
    Doc Bingham jumped to his feet and seized Fainy’s hand and shook it.
    “Now, Fenian, come with me; we have an important preliminary errand to perform.” Doc Bingham pulled his hat forward on his head and they walked down the stairs to the front door; he was a big man and the fat hung loosely on him as he walked. Anyway, it’s a job, Fainy told himself.
    First they went to a tailorshop where a longnosed yellow man whom Doc Bingham addressed as Lee shuffled out to meet them. The tailorshop smelt of steamed cloth and cleansing fluid. Lee talked as if he had no palate to his mouth.
    “’M pretty sick man,” he said. “Spen’ mor’n thou’an’ dollarm on doctor, no get well.”
    “Well, I’ll stand by you; you know that, Lee.”
    “Hure, Mannie, hure, only you owe me too much money.”
    Dr. Emmanuel Bingham glanced at Fainy out of the corner of his eye.
    “I can assure you that the entire financial situation will be clarified within sixty days . . . But what I