The Buyer From Cactus City

by O. Henry

　　

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It is well that hay fever and colds do not obtain in the healthfulvicinity of Cactus City, Texas, for the dry goods emporium ofNavarro & Platt, situated there, is not to be sneezed at. Twenty thousand people in Cactus City scatter their silver coin withliberal hands for the things that their hearts desire. The bulk ofthis semiprecious metal goes to Navarro & Platt. Their huge brickbuilding covers enough ground to graze a dozen head of sheep. Youcan buy of them a rattlesnake-skin necktie, an automobile or aneighty-five dollar, latest style, ladies' tan coat in twentydifferent shades. Navarro & Platt first introduced pennies west ofthe Colorado River. They had been ranchmen with business heads, whosaw that the world did not necessarily have to cease its revolutionsafter free grass went out. Every Spring, Navarro, senior partner, fifty-five, half Spanish,cosmopolitan, able, polished, had "gone on" to New York to buygoods. This year he shied at taking up the long trail. He wasundoubtedly growing older; and he looked at his watch several timesa day before the hour came for his siesta. "John," he said, to his junior partner, "you shall go on this yearto buy the goods." Platt looked tired. "I'm told," said he, "that New York is a plumb dead town; but I'llgo. I can take a whirl in San Antone for a few days on my way andhave some fun." Two weeks later a man in a Texas full dress suit--black frock coat,broad-brimmed soft white hat, and lay-down collar 3-4 inch high,with black, wrought iron necktie--entered the wholesale cloak andsuit establishment of Zizzbaum & Son, on lower Broadway. Old Zizzbaum had the eye of an osprey, the memory of an elephant anda mind that unfolded from him in three movements like the puzzle ofthe carpenter's rule. He rolled to the front like a brunette polarbear, and shook Platt's hand. "And how is the good Mr. Navarro in Texas?" he said. "The trip wastoo long for him this year, so? We welcome Mr. Platt instead." "A bull's eye," said Platt, "and I'd give forty acres of unirrigatedPecos County land to know how you did it." "I knew," grinned Zizzbaum, "just as I know that the rainfall in ElPaso for the year was 28.5 inches, or an increase of 15 inches, andthat therefore Navarro & Platt will buy a $15,000 stock of suitsthis spring instead of $10,000, as in a dry year. But that will beto-morrow. There is first a cigar in my private office that willremove from your mouth the taste of the ones you smuggle across theRio Grande and like--because they are smuggled." It was late in the afternoon and business for the day had ended,Zizzbaum left Platt with a half-smoked cigar, and came out of theprivate office to Son, who was arranging his diamond scarfpin beforea mirror, ready to leave. "Abey," he said, "you will have to take Mr. Platt around to-nightand show him things. They are customers for ten years. Mr. Navarroand I we played chess every moment of spare time when he came. Thatis good, but Mr. Platt is a young man and this is his first visit toNew York. He should amuse easily." "All right," said Abey, screwing the guard tightly on his pin. "I'lltake him on. After he's seen the Flatiron and the head waiter at theHotel Astor and heard the phonograph play 'Under the Old Apple Tree'it'll be half past ten, and Mr. Texas will be ready to roll up inhis blanket. I've got a supper engagement at 11:30, but he'll be allto the Mrs. Winslow before then." The next morning at 10 Platt walked into the store ready to dobusiness. He had a bunch of hyacinths pinned on his lapel. Zizzbaumhimself waited on him. Navarro & Platt were good customers, and neverfailed to take their discount for cash. "And what did you think of our little town?" asked Zizzbaum, withthe fatuous smile of the Manhattanite. "I shouldn't care to live in it," said the Texan. "Your son and Iknocked around quite a little last night. You've got good water, butCactus City is better lit up." "We've got a few lights on Broadway, don't you think, Mr. Platt?" "And a good many shadows," said Platt. "I think I like your horsesbest. I haven't seen a crow-bait since I've been in town." Zizzbaum led him up stairs to show the samples of suits. "Ask Miss Asher to come," he said to a clerk. Miss Asher came, and Platt, of Navarro & Platt, felt for the firsttime the wonderful bright light of romance and glory descend uponhim. He stood still as a granite cliff above the canon of theColorado, with his wide-open eyes fixed upon her. She noticed hislook and flushed a little, which was contrary to her custom. Miss Asher was the crack model of Zizzbaum & Son. She was of theblond type known as "medium," and her measurements even wentthe required 38-25-42 standard a little better. She had been atZizzbaum's two years, and knew her business. Her eye was bright, butcool; and had she chosen to match her gaze against the optic of thefamed basilisk, that fabulous monster's gaze would have wavered andsoftened first. Incidentally, she knew buyers. "Now, Mr. Platt," said Zizzbaum, "I want you to see these princessgowns in the light shades. They will be the thing in your climate.This first, if you please, Miss Asher." Swiftly in and out of the dressing-room the prize model flew, eachtime wearing a new costume and looking more stunning with everychange. She posed with absolute self-possession before the strickenbuyer, who stood, tongue-tied and motionless, while Zizzbaum oratedoilily of the styles. On the model's face was her faint, impersonalprofessional smile that seemed to cover something like weariness orcontempt. When the display was over Platt seemed to hesitate. Zizzbaum was alittle anxious, thinking that his customer might be inclined to tryelsewhere. But Platt was only looking over in his mind the bestbuilding sites in Cactus City, trying to select one on which tobuild a house for his wife-to-be--who was just then in thedressing-room taking off an evening gown of lavender and tulle. "Take your time, Mr. Platt," said Zizzbaum. "Think it over to-night.You won't find anybody else meet our prices on goods like these.I'm afraid you're having a dull time in New York, Mr. Platt. Ayoung man like you--of course, you miss the society of the ladies.Wouldn't you like a nice young lady to take out to dinner thisevening? Miss Asher, now, is a very nice young lady; she will makeit agreeable for you." "Why, she doesn't know me," said Platt, wonderingly. "She doesn'tknow anything about me. Would she go? I'm not acquainted with her." "Would she go?" repeated Zizzbaum, with uplifted eyebrows. "Sure,she would go. I will introduce you. Sure, she would go." He called Miss Asher loudly. She came, calm and slightly contemptuous, in her white shirt waistand plain black skirt. "Mr. Platt would like the pleasure of your company to dinner thisevening," said Zizzbaum, walking away. "Sure," said Miss Asher, looking at the ceiling. "I'd be muchpleased. Nine-eleven West Twentieth street. What time?" "Say seven o'clock." "All right, but please don't come ahead of time. I room with aschool teacher, and she doesn't allow any gentlemen to call in theroom. There isn't any parlor, so you'll have to wait in the hall.I'll be ready." At half past seven Platt and Miss Asher sat at a table in a Broadwayrestaurant. She was dressed in a plain, filmy black. Platt didn'tknow that it was all a part of her day's work. With the unobtrusive aid of a good waiter he managed to order arespectable dinner, minus the usual Broadway preliminaries. Miss Asher flashed upon him a dazzling smile. "Mayn't I have something to drink?" she asked. "Why, certainly," said Platt. "Anything you want." "A dry Martini," she said to the waiter. When it was brought and set before her Platt reached over and tookit away. "What is this?" he asked. "A cocktail, of course." "I thought it was some kind of tea you ordered. This is liquor. Youcan't drink this. What is your first name?" "To my intimate friends," said Miss Asher, freezingly, "it is'Helen.'" "Listen, Helen," said Platt, leaning over the table. "For many yearsevery time the spring flowers blossomed out on the prairies I got tothinking of somebody that I'd never seen or heard of. I knew it wasyou the minute I saw you yesterday. I'm going back home to-morrow,and you're going with me. I know it, for I saw it in your eyes whenyou first looked at me. You needn't kick, for you've got to fallinto line. Here's a little trick I picked out for you on my wayover." He flicked a two-carat diamond solitaire ring across the table. MissAsher flipped it back to him with her fork. "Don't get fresh," she said, severely. "I'm worth a hundred thousand dollars," said Platt. "I'll build youthe finest house in West Texas." "You can't buy me, Mr. Buyer," said Miss Asher, "if you had ahundred million. I didn't think I'd have to call you down. Youdidn't look like the others to me at first, but I see you're allalike." "All who?" asked Platt. "All you buyers. You think because we girls have to go out to dinnerwith you or lose our jobs that you're privileged to say what youplease. Well, forget it. I thought you were different from theothers, but I see I was mistaken." Platt struck his fingers on the table with a gesture of sudden,illuminating satisfaction. "I've got it!" he exclaimed, almost hilariously--"the Nicholsonplace, over on the north side. There's a big grove of live oaks anda natural lake. The old house can be pulled down and the new one setfurther back." "Put out your pipe," said Miss Asher. "I'm sorry to wake you up, butyou fellows might as well get wise, once for all, to where you stand.I'm supposed to go to dinner with you and help jolly you along soyou'll trade with old Zizzy, but don't expect to find me in any ofthe suits you buy." "Do you mean to tell me," said Platt, "that you go out this way withcustomers, and they all--they all talk to you like I have?" "They all make plays," said Miss Asher. "But I must say that you'vegot 'em beat in one respect. They generally talk diamonds, whileyou've actually dug one up." "How long have you been working, Helen?" "Got my name pat, haven't you? I've been supporting myself for eightyears. I was a cash girl and a wrapper and then a shop girl until Iwas grown, and then I got to be a suit model. Mr. Texas Man, don'tyou think a little wine would make this dinner a little less dry?" "You're not going to drink wine any more, dear. It's awful to thinkhow-- I'll come to the store to-morrow and get you. I want you topick out an automobile before we leave. That's all we need to buyhere." "Oh, cut that out. If you knew how sick I am of hearing such talk." After the dinner they walked down Broadway and came upon Diana'slittle wooded park. The trees caught Platt's eye at once, and hemust turn along under the winding walk beneath them. The lightsshone upon two bright tears in the model's eyes. "I don't like that," said Platt. "What's the matter?" "Don't you mind," said Miss Asher. "Well, it's because--well, Ididn't think you were that kind when I first saw you. But you areall like. And now will you take me home, or will I have to call acop?" Platt took her to the door of her boarding-house. They stood for aminute in the vestibule. She looked at him with such scorn in hereyes that even his heart of oak began to waver. His arm was half wayaround her waist, when she struck him a stinging blow on the facewith her open hand. As he stepped back a ring fell from somewhere and bounded on thetiled floor. Platt groped for it and found it. "Now, take your useless diamond and go, Mr. Buyer," she said. "This was the other one--the wedding ring," said the Texan, holdingthe smooth gold band on the palm of his hand. Miss Asher's eyes blazed upon him in the half darkness. "Was that what you meant?--did you"-- Somebody opened the door from inside the house. "Good-night," said Platt. "I'll see you at the store to-morrow." Miss Asher ran up to her room and shook the school teacher until shesat up in bed ready to scream "Fire!" "Where is it?" she cried. "That's what I want to know," said the model. "You've studiedgeography, Emma, and you ought to know. Where is a town calledCac--Cac--Carac--Caracas City, I think, they called it?" "How dare you wake me up for that?" said the school teacher."Caracas is in Venezuela, of course." "What's it like?" "Why, it's principally earthquakes and negroes and monkeys andmalarial fever and volcanoes." "I don't care," said Miss Asher, blithely; "I'm going thereto-morrow."

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