Chicago (Ill.) -- Fiction; Didactic fiction; Mistresses -- Fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction; Young women -- Fiction
That was not before he had become settled, however. Carrie and he went
looking for a flat, as arranged, and found one in Seventy-eighth Street
near Amsterdam Avenue. It was a five-story building, and their flat was
on the third floor. Owing to the fact that the street was not yet built
up solidly, it was possible to see east to the green tops of the trees
in Central Park and west to the broad waters of the Hudson, a glimpse of
which was to be had out of the west windows. For the privilege of six
rooms and a bath, running in a straight line, they were compelled to pay
thirty-five dollars a month--an average, and yet exorbitant, rent for a
home at the time. Carrie noticed the difference between the size of the
rooms here and in Chicago and mentioned it.
"You'll not find anything better, dear," said Hurstwood, "unless you go
into one of the old-fashioned houses, and then you won't have any of
these conveniences."
Carrie picked out the new abode because of its newness and bright
wood-work. It was one of the very new ones supplied with steam heat,
which was a great advantage. The stationary range, hot and cold water,
dumb-waiter, speaking tubes, and call-bell for the janitor pleased her
very much. She had enough of the instincts of a housewife to take great
satisfaction in these things.
Hurstwood made arrangement with one of the instalment houses whereby
they furnished the flat complete and accepted fifty dollars down and ten
dollars a month. He then had a little plate, bearing the name G. W.
Wheeler, made, which he placed on his letter-box in the hall. It sounded
exceedingly odd to Carrie to be called Mrs. Wheeler by the janitor, but
in time she became used to it and looked upon the name as her own.
These house details settled, Hurstwood visited some of the advertised
opportunities to purchase an interest in some flourishing down-town bar.
After the palatial resort in Adams Street, he could not stomach the
commonplace saloons which he found advertised. He lost a number of days
looking up these and finding them disagreeable. He did, however, gain
considerable knowledge by talking, for he discovered the influence of
Tammany Hall and the value of standing in with the police. The most
profitable and flourishing places he found to be those which conducted
anything but a legitimate business, such as that controlled by
Fitzgerald and Moy. Elegant back rooms and private drinking booths on
the second floor were usually adjuncts of very profitable places. He saw
by portly keepers, whose shirt fronts shone with large diamonds, and
whose clothes were properly cut, that the liquor business here, as
elsewhere, yielded the same golden profit.
At last he found an individual who had a resort in Warren Street, which
seemed an excellent venture. It was fairly well-appearing and
susceptible of improvement. The owner claimed the business to be
excellent, and it certainly looked so.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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