Stanley Elkin - A Bad Man

A Bad Man

Stanley Elkin

For Joan
And for her brother Bernard

Acknowledgment

The author wishes to express his thanks to the
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
and to Washington University for their support.

Contents

O ne day a young man in an almost brimless fedora burst into the office where Feldman was dictating a letter to his secretary. He pointed a gun and said, Reach, the jig is up, Feldman. They were working in front of Feldmans safe, where his department stores daily receipts were kept. The secretary, whose name was Miss Lane, immediately pressed a button on an underledge of Feldmans desk, and loud bells rang.

That will bring the police before theres time to open the safe, she announced in the dinging din. But Feldman, who until this time had been sitting in his chair, elbows on the desk, his cheeks pushed into his palms in a position of concentration, slowly began to raise his arms.

Im afraid I shant require your services for a while, Miss Lane, Feldman shouted.

One false move, the young man said, and Ill plug you.

Youve got me covered, Feldman admitted.

Miss Lane looked from one to the other. What is this? she demanded.

Its the jig, Feldman explained. Its up.

He was sentenced to a year in the penitentiary.

It was in the western part of the state, in the mountains, where he had never been who went East for vacations, to a shore, or who had been to Las Vegas for the shows, and twice to Europe for a month, and to the Caribbean on cruises with clothes from Sportswear.

It was not in a town, or near one, and there were no direct connections between Feldmans city and the prison, three hundred miles away.

After his sentencing, a deputy came to him in his cell. Tomorrow were going on a train ride, he said.

Feldman didnt sleep. Except for the few hours when he had been arrested, it was the first evening he had ever spent in a jail. He still wore the fresh blue businessmans suit the buyer had brought him from Mens Clothing. He wondered if he would be handcuffed. (He remembered a pair of specially wrought silver handcuffs he had once had made up for the sheriff.)

In the morning the deputy came. He was carrying a large suitcase. Right-or left-handed? he said.

Pardon?

Left-handed or right-handed?

Im right-handed.

The deputy studied him for a moment. Its on your record. I could check.

Im right-handed. I am.

Put out your right hand. He locked up his wrist.

Youve scratched my watch.

The deputy smiled. Tell you what. Ill give you a fiver for that. They wont let you keep it. You can use the money in the canteen.

I have money.

The deputy grinned. Theyll take it away, he said. Afraid of bribes. You can keep up to five dollars. Im giving you top dollar.

Take the watch, Feldman said.

The deputy slipped the watch from his wrist and put it in a pocket of his suit coat.

Wheres my five dollars?

Listen to me, the deputy said. You are green. They take everything away. They dont give any receipts. Afraid of forgery. There are guys up there could forge a fingerprint. The stated be in hock to the cons up to its ears if they gave out receipts. With no claim you never get anything back. You should have left everything behind. They should tell you that. I dont know why they dont tell you that.

Feldman nodded. The other loop of the handcuff swung against the coins in his pocket. The empty handcuff felt like some strangely weighted sleeve he had not yet buttoned.

Even change, the deputy said. Listen to me. Its too late for you to do anything about it now. Try to complain. You cant complain against a custom. You know? So listen to me, give me your wallet. You probably got cards, pictures. Ill keep the money and send the wallet to your people. Why should those guys up there get it? Theyre mostly single men up there. Ive got a family. Listen to me.

All right, Feldman said.

The deputy took the wallet Feldman handed him. He looked familiarly at the photographs and cards. You want to know something funny? My wife has a charge account at your store. He ripped the cash out of the wallet. She needs a new dress. You may get some of this back.

The rich get richer, Feldman said.

Heres a buck for the watch, the deputy said. He shoved the bill behind the handkerchief in Feldmans breast pocket. Well go in a minute, he said. He leaned down, picked up the suitcase he had brought with him into the cell, and heaved it up onto Feldmans cot. He opened the grip and took out a strange leather harness which he fitted over his jacket. Buckle me up in the back, he told Feldman. Okay, your right hand again. He took the empty handcuff and fitted it through a metal ring that hung from a short chain attached to the harness. Latest crimestopper. Both hands free, the deputy explained. Close the suitcase, he commanded.

Feldman shut the suitcase clumsily with his left hand. He felt leashed.

You carry that, the deputy said. Wait a minute. He took a chain from his pocket and looped it quickly and intricately around Feldmans left wrist and through the handle of the suitcase. He locked the chain. Okay, he said, now we can go.

Feldman strained against the suitcase. Nothing in there but my pajamas and a change of underwear. The suitcase is weighted, thats why its so heavy, the deputy said.

In the train Feldman was told to take the aisle seat. The deputy would not unlock his left hand. He pressed a button on the armrest and pushed his seat back. Long ride, he said. Say, he said, looking at Feldman maneuvering the heavy suitcase stiffly with his locked left arm, his body twisted, you dont have to be so uncomfortable. Why dont you shove your seat back? Here, Ill do it. He leaned across Feldmans stomach and found the button on the armrest. Now lean back. Feldman pushed against the seat. Hard, the deputy said. Hard.Feldman shook his head. Busted, the deputy said, and leaned back against his own seat.

We could find other seats, Feldman said.

No, dont bother, the deputy said. The train doesnt go straight through. We have to change in a couple of hours. It doesnt pay. He smiled. Say, he said, look at that. Theres somebody in a mighty hurry. Look at that guy come.

A man in a black suit was running along the station platform.

Freedman, Feldman said.

Whats that? You know him?

Its Freedman, Feldman said.

Come to tell you goodbye, the deputy said. Thats nice. He lifted the window. In here, Freedman, the deputy called. He turned and smiled at Feldman.

In a moment the door at the end of the car was pulled open and Dr. Freedman came in. He rushed up to them. Deputy, he said, Feldman. May I? He pulled roughly against the seat in front of Feldman and turned it around. He sat down in the empty seat, facing Feldman. So youre going on a journey. Id shake your hand, but He pointed at the handcuff.

Mr. Feldmans on his way to penitentiary, Mr. Freedman, the deputy said.

Ah, to penitentiary. Yes, I read about that. To penitentiary, is it? Crime does not pay, hey, Feldman? Well well well. What do you know?

Get away from me, Freedman, Feldman said.

Tch tch tch. I have a ticket. Here it is. ToEnden. Yes. You go perhaps further. But thats where I leave you, where you leave me. But of course if the deputy objects Ill find some other seat at once. Do you object, Deputy?

No sir, Mr. Freedman, I sure dont. Its nice to have the company.

Thank you. Personally, I too find that the company of honest men is welcome, but my friend Feldman here has things to think about, perhaps. I hope our chatter dont disturb him. Hes not well, you know. I was his doctor, did you know that? Yes, indeed.