Free The day of the locust by Nathanael West Page B

was a dark gray jacket. His shirt was navy-blue cotton with large polka dots, each the size of a dime. The sleeves of his shirt were not rolled, but pulled to the middle of his forearm and held there by a pair of fancy, rose armbands. His hands were the same clean reddish tan as his face.
    "Lo, thar," was the way he returned Tod's salute.
    Tod found his Western accent amusing. The first time he had heard it, he had replied, "Lo, thar, stranger," and had been surprised to discover that Earle didn't know he was being kidded. Even when Tod talked about "cayuses," "mean hombres" and "rustlers," Earle took him seriously.
    "Howdy, partner," Tod said.
    Next to Earle was another Westerner in a big hat and boots, sitting on his heels and chewing vigorously on a little twig. Close behind him was a battered paper valise held together by heavy rope tied with professional-looking knots.
    Soon after Tod arrived a third man came along. He made a thorough examination of the merchandise in the window, then turned and began to stare across the street like the other two.
    He was middle-aged and looked like an exercise boy from a racing stable. His face was completely covered with a fine mesh of wrinkles, as though he had been sleeping with it pressed against a roll of rabbit wire. He was very shabby and had probably sold his big hat, but he still had his boots.
    "Lo, boys," he said.
    "Lo, Hink," said the man with the paper valise.
    Tod didn't know whether he was included in the greeting, but took a chance and replied.
    "Howdy."
    Hink prodded the valise with his toe.
    "Coin' some place, Calvin?" he asked.
    "Azusa, there's a rodeo."
    "Who's running it?"
    "A fellow calls himself 'Badlands jack.'"
    "That grifter!...You goin', Earle?"
    "Nope."
    "I gotta eat," said Calvin.
    Hink carefully considered all the information he had received before speaking again.
    "Mono's makin' a new Buck Stevens," he said. "Will Ferris told me they'd use more than forty riders."
    Calvin turned and looked up at Earle.
    "Still got the piebald vest?" he asked slyly.
    "Why?"
    "It'll cinch you a job as a road agent."
    Tod understood that this was a joke of some sort because Calvin and Hink chuckled and slapped their thighs loudly while Earle frowned.
    There was another long silence, then Calvin spoke again. "Ain't your old man still got some cows?" he asked Earle. But Earle was wary this time and refused to answer. Calvin winked at Tod, slowly and elaborately, contorting one whole side of his face.
    "That's right, Earle," Hink said. "Your old man's still got some stock. Why don't you go home?"
    They couldn't get a rise out of Earle, so Calvin answered the question.
    "He dassint. He got caught in a sheep car with a pair of rubber boots on."
    It was another joke. Calvin and Hink slapped their thighs and laughed, but Tod could see that they were waiting for something else. Earle, suddenly, without even shifting his weight, shot his foot out and kicked Calvin solidly in the rump. This was the real point of the joke. They were delighted by Earle's fury. Tod also laughed. The way Earle had gone from apathy to action without the usual transition was funny. The seriousness of his violence was even funnier.
    A little while later, Faye drove by in her battered Ford touring car and pulled into the curb some twenty feet away. Calvin and Hink waved, but Earle didn't budge. He took his time, as befitted his dignity. Not until she tooted her horn did he move. Tod followed a short distance behind him.
    "Hi, cowboy," said Faye gaily.
    "Lo, honey," he drawled, removing his hat carefully and replacing it with even greater care. Faye smiled at Tod and motioned for them both to climb in. Tod got in the back. Earle unfolded the jacket he was carrying, slapped it a few times to remove the wrinkles, then put it on and adjusted its collar and shaped the roll of its lapels. He then climbed in beside Faye. She started the car with a jerk. When she reached LaBrea, she turned right to Hollywood Boulevard