113

Chapter Eleven

Stones 3

New York City

5/3/15

7:14 PM

“This Loveland…”

“Sounds like an amusement park.” Agnes said as she began to remove the remaining dessert dishes and coffee cups.

Continuing “...where’s it at, this Loveland?” Morris questioned.

Stretching his arms then standing as, reaching into his jacket pocket...“About fifteen-twenty miles south of Cincinnati.” ...Charlie removed a silver cigar case. Taking two, handing one across the table to Morris. “Going for a walk and a smoke, wanna come along?”

“No. Don’t smoke or feel like a walk just yet.” Actually wanting to wait for Agnes to ask her to sit with him for a while on one of the gliders outside.

“Well, okay. Probably won’t see you again then, ‘cause gotta catch the five-o-five to Schenectady tomorrow.” The unlit cigar in Charlie’s mouth, stopping as he was about to leave the room. “Well…” turning back “...come to think, if you should take the store in Loveland,— and it’ll be a good deal for you— we’ll certainly be meeting again.”

His eyes on the kitchen entrance. “How’s that?” turning to Charlie.

“ ‘Niagara Hammer’ supplies a good part of the tools you’d be selling.”

Morris Pinowskiz, AKA Solomon Berkowitz, AKA Morris Pink so far as handling tools is, in a way, an engineer enjoying the feel of a hammer or a pair of pliers in hand tinkering with something that might be in need of repair, or loosening or tightening. However he knew nothing about being the proprietor of a hardware store and now feels a bit of a kinship with this Charlie Tenner that could— if he should happen to purchase that store in...

‘Loveland, Ohio? Jesus! He thought: ‘Loveland, Ohio’? Why’d anyone ever look for a German jewel thief in a middle American place called, Loveland, Ohio? Morris’ thoughts returning to this ‘Charlie Tenner’ who would probably be most informative in the operation of such a place— If I should buy it?

“If this should happen…” Morris said.

“You getting hold of the Proctor store?”

“Yes. If this should happen, how will I get hold of you?”

“Don’t you worry, Morrie…” taking a small box of wooden matches from a vest pocket, striking the match bringing the cigar to life and taking a draw “… it’s my business to know!” Exhaling the thick grey smoke, Charlie left the room.

7:24 PM

“Morris…” rather sure he’d still be there “...surprised you’d still be sitting here all by yourself.”

“If you’re finished helping Bertha, thought I’d ask if you’d like to sit outside for a while.”

Agnes had been thinking, along with hoping the same thing. “Yes, I would.” She said. “Let me get a jacket.

7:32 PM

The glider slowed to a barely rocking motion. Agnes and Morris sitting, legs crossed, angled towards each other for better sight and easier conversation.

Things Morris had learned about women during his employment in an upper end jewellery store: Unless you’ve something extremely important to say that cannot wait, allow the lady the lead in conversation.

“I’m so glad that you feel the need for women to have their American right to vote, most men think we’re too stupid to figure— all by ourselves, who’d be the best choice for president… Or anything else.”

Afraid to mention too much about himself or life before coming to America because it would be so easy to make a slip regarding the story he had already made up and what he’d already told Agnes.

“Possibly it might be because I’d always had a deep respect for women, and had met so many, uh, European women with inteligence that by far outweighed mine.”

“You saying…” Agnes asked part humorously and part seriously “...that American women aren’t as smart as European?”

“No, of course not!” Unintentional y placing his hand on Agnes’ knee. “You’re the smartest woman I’ve ever met.”

In the same woollen dress she had worn to dinner, Agnes felt the sensual heat of Morris’ hand resting upon her knee.

A ‘good girl’ or a real gentleman would, of course remove it.

However neither she nor Morris did as this unintentional, wholly innocent gesture both knew turned a page on their slowly budding relationship.

“I’ve been thinking; Tomorrow, would you like to join me for dinner… Uh, outside of here…” nodding his head towards the inside “... and then, if you’d like, go see a play?”

Without a moments hesitation. “Oh, yes! I’d love to! But tomorrow we’ll have a house full of your ships people, and…” stopping, thinking “… there’s Widow Baily —That’s always in need of an extra dollar.— that help’s aunt Bertha when we’re busy if I’m held up at the bank for a meeting or something.”

Absolutely not wanting to spend even a moment’s time with any of the ships passengers for possibly being noticed or remembered.

This thought being his primary concern, as…

Reluctantly moving his hand from Agnes’ knee; standing. “Here…” stretching his arm into a pocket “...give this to Widow, uh…” handing Agnes a half dollar and two quarters.

Taking the dollar’s change. “ ‘Baily’ “. Agnes said, “Widow Baily lives just a few houses down, so if you want to…”

“Yes…” Morris said “...let’s take a walk and see if she’ll do it.”

7:48 PM

Hands brushing, but not held. “Caught the old lady just in time!”

“Yes. Maybe even got her out of bed.” Morris said. “By the way, I’ll be up and have breakfast with you and walk you to work tomorrow, then go buy tickets. Never did say, but what do you want to see?”

Looking at him. “ ‘Gilbert and Sullivan’! You like Gilbert and Sullivan?”

“Yes, I do. Very much!”

“ The Mikado’ at the ‘49th Street Theatre’.”

Thinking a moment, then making the decision.“I’ve some things I want to do, so after you go to work, I’ll… How far is the theatre from the your bank?”

“Not all that far, if you’ve the time.”

“I’ve all day, because I’m also going to come and get you after work. So. I’ll take the ferry boat to your Stature of Liberty and then just amble around because I’m sure there’’s plenty to see in your Manhattan and while I’m ambling, I’ll get tickets for The Mikado.”

“Feel like going in yet?”

This day had been a very long, very nerve wracking day for Morris and his two other ‘Also Known As’ names starting while in the slow moving line of people approaching ‘Customs’. Then the search for, and finding a buyer and selling the eight diamonds, and the securing of his three thousand dollars in a bank’s safety deposit box, and the meeting of this unusual woman walking alongside that he knew had an attraction to him, an attraction that was fully reciprocated. ‘Also’ now the step by step life altering arrangements that Morris had planned for tomorrow. Yet…

Not quite ready to say ‘goodnight’. “No, don’t mind walking a while longer.”

“You thinking about that hardware store Charlie told you about?”

“Might be the kind of business I’d pretty much been thinking of.”

“Think you plan on seeing it first?”

“Don’t know.” Morris said, becoming self protectively quiet for fear of becoming caught up in his lies, having no doubt Agnes would notice.

Once around the block, now back in front of Bertha’s Boarding Hotel.

“Bank doesn’t open until nine, but I’m to be there by eight…” inside, walking Agnes to her room “... so I’m always out of the house by seven-thirty.”

Nodding his head towards the dining room. “I’ll be there.”

Opening her door. “Good night, then.”

Never expecting it, a quick kiss on his lips, and the door closing behind her.

New York City

5/4/15

6:46 AM

The scents of brewing coffee and frying bacon enticingly greeting him along with — before the stove, house-dress protected by a long, white apron— “Good morning…” Bertha said “...sleep well?”

“Yes, I did, thank you.” Morris said, but actually did not as thoughts of today and his step by step preparations continued to pepper his mind throughout the night and — something happening to thirty-two year old Morris that hadn’t happen in…? He couldn’t remember the last time — awakening from a distorted dream his first thought was of Agnes, and, his hand reaching beneath the blanket, closed about his erection.

6:47 AM

Coming from behind, “Good morning.” Agnes said as entering the kitchen— wearing a business-like white blouse with a decorative black tie and a two piece tweed suit — pouring two mugs of coffee, handing one to Morris, “Sleep well?”

Once again, as had happened the day and evening before, Morris’ visual estimation of Agnes Longstead had risen to: “You look really…” sincerely spoken “... ‘really’ pretty today!”

Having anything to do when awakening with Agnes on his mind, and an erection within his hand?

Twenty-two year old Agnes Longstead felt that she, in her own negative appraisal and opinion of herself, was skinny and unattractive. So, mentally warmed by this sincerely spoken complement coming from this man that she, in the short time they’d known each other, had formed a highly unusual personal regard for— possibly more that merely a ‘regard’ for Morris.

Bacon and eggs, toast and homemade jam, along with second cups of coffee served along with early morning small talk mostly regarding the group of people off the Lusitania that will be looking for less expensive lodgings.

People off the ship that, of course, Morris— now— Pink hadn’t the slightest intention of being recognised or remembered as a fellow passenger.

7:29 AM

Rising, bringing her dish, silverware and cup to the sink. “Time to get going.”

Following Agnes into this warm spring morning, the half mile walk to National City Bank— although neither saying because even if they had tried, neither could formulate words enough, or proper enough to explain the inner sensation both Agnes and Morris felt by just ‘being’.

8:01 AM

Knocking on the thick plate glass door, catching the attention of the after hours security guard. Unlocking the door. “Morning, Miss.” Holding it open for Agnes to enter, and in the moment of the door opening and her entering; once again surprising Morris. “See you later,” she said, kissing him on the cheek.

Watching through the glass as Agnes walked towards the rear, then as she disappeared around the corner.

If Agnes, by assumption, definitely by assumption — if Agnes would go along with it— Agnes had become a major part of Morris’ well thought, step by step plans and now, feeling confident, more so than before.

8:o6 AM

Walking to the corner, stepping to the curb, Morris hailed a cab.

Pulling to the curb, opening his door, the cab driver, a black man jauntily coming around to open the rear passenger door.

Before entering the cab, holding his hand forward, “What’s your name?”

Surprised, but accepting his passenger’s hand, “Benjamin, uh, Ben, sir.”

“Ben, you know your way around this city?”

“Yes, sir. Sure does!”

Reaching into his jacket breast pocket, retrieving his wallet and removing two five dollar bills. “I’ve places I want to get to, and things I want to do.”

Seeing a look come to Ben’s face.

“No! Nothing illegal!” He assured the cabbie. “Just things I’ve got to do and do not want to waste time looking for, or waiting for a cab to come along. So here!” Holding one of the bills forward. “Will this buy me… oh. Let’s say three hours of your time?”

Three hours of Ben’s time would usually bring, possibly, three or four dollars worth of fares, including tips. “Yes, sir. Five dollars would cover my time just fine.”

“Good. I thought it would!”

Rather sure the cash in his wallet and pocket would probably be more than needed for anything he would spend it on, including the train — if Agnes goes along with him, and two tickets to ‘The Mikado’ and a fancy dinner for Agnes and himself. Except — remembering, he thought— for a ring.

Because Morris did not want to go into any jewellery store, this, a dangerous new hitch in his step by step plans, but, thinking of Anton Geneasta the jeweller that purchased his eight diamonds without a question. knowing he would be making a trip to his safety deposit box anyway.

“And here’s what I’m going to do…” he told Ben “...you get me to wherever I want to go, and then wait for me, and…” holding the second five dollar bill forward “...this one will be yours also.”

“Yes, sir!” tipping his cap. “You name it, and I’ll take you and wait so long as you want.”

“The train station, first.”

“Grand Central?” Ben asked. “You want to go to Grand Central?”

‘Grand Central Station and railroad terminal in New York City’, Morris remember reading, ‘was built in 1913 and was the largest fully enclosed, decorative space in the world.

“Yes...” Morris said “...Grand Central will be just fine.”

 8:35 AM

Inside the hustling crowd within the cavernous edifice of Grand Central Station, Morris stood a full two minutes marveling at the marbleized beauty and expanse of this brilliantly engineered, one in the world structure.

Looking for, and seeing at least fifteen on the far wall,— this the first step— walking to the line of ticket selling and general information stalls.

His footsteps seeming to echo as he crossed the marble-like floor…

“ ‘Morning…” the man in the near enclosed stall said “...how can I help you?”

“ ‘Morning. ‘Cincinnati, Ohio’? Will there be a train going to Cincinnati any time tomorrow?”

Checking the stations departing and destination schedules. “Yes, sir. Train tomorrow; that’ll be on ‘May five’, departing six-O-five pm with an hour stop-over in Philidalph , arriving in Cincinnati — if everything goes on schedule as it should — your arrival time should be at about ten pm on the sixth.”   

“About twenty-eight hours then?”

“Yes.” The man said, “Give or take.”

Once again assuming. “How much are tickets for two, with sleeping accommodations?”

“ ‘Private Compartment’?” Checking the rate sheet. “Private compartment from here to Cincinnati for two people will be forty-four dollars.”

“That’ll be fine.” Taking the wallet from his jacket pocket, removing two twenties and one five dollar bill that he handed to the ticket man.

Making a notation on the reservations sheet, the man handed Morris his one dollar change along with two strips of three tickets each that he’d stapled together. “When you get aboard, hand these to the porter, and he’ll show you to your compartment.” Adding, “Have a nice trip, and thank you.”

Dropping the dollar and tickets into his coat pocket.“You’re welcome!”

Moving from the ticket stall, looking about, Morris spotted— near side by side— the Western Union Telegraph office and a row of eight ‘public pay telephone booths’.

Turning back to the ticket man, taking the dollar from his pocket. “Excuse me…” handing the dollar over. “...could you please change this to ‘pay phone’ coins?”

The first public phones and booths appeared in telephone company offices in the early 1880s. A customer could pay an attendant to make a call. The next key innovation came in 1889 with first coin-operated public pay where they served the public at first for five cents per local call. Telephones were installed in places such as drug stores and train stations.

When making a toll call on these early pay phones, customers had to be careful to wait until the operator said how much money to deposit as there was no way for her to refund the coins.

This now Morris’ second and third steps needed to assure that he would not — if at all possible — be seen and possibly be remembered by those of the ships passengers using the amenities of ‘Bertha’s Boarding Hotel’.

Choosing the booth closest to the doorway of the Telegraph Office: lifting the receiver from the cradle, depositing a nickel into the nickel slot, jiggling the cradle, hearing the nickle ‘ding’ onto the bottom of the steel coin vault situated below the phone as a New York Bell Telephone Pperator answering, “Your number, please?”

Bending forward, speaking directly into the outgoing ‘speaker’. “Hello.” Morris said. “I do not know the number, or even if there is a number.”

This not a problem for the operator because though there were 25,000 pay telephones throughout the New York City area at this time, most people calling did not know the number they were attempting to reach.

“By your number, I see that you’re at Grand Central. Who are you trying to reach?”

“Actually, operator, I want to see if there is a bank in Loveland, Ohio, and then, if there is a bank, I’d like to speak to someone there.”

“ ‘Loveland, Ohio’” The operator repeated. “Allow me a minute, please.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Impatiently waiting, watching throngs of people coming and going in all directions. “Hello, sir!”

“Yes, Ma’am?”

“There is no ‘Bell’ sub-station in Loveland, Ohio, so the best I could do was to contact Cincinnati and have the operator there check for the number of any bank in Loveland, and they did find ‘Loveland National Bank’.”

“Thank you! I appreciate it. Would you please connect me.”

“I’m not able to make that connection, but if you break this connection and deposit another nickle, a different operator will connect you with a Cincinnati operator.”

“Uh, do I need a telephone number for a Cincinnati operator?”

“No. Just ask to be connected to Cincinnati Bell in Cincinitti.”

“I will, but, uh, do you have the number of the bank there?”

“No, just ask the Cincinitti operator to connect you with the bank in Loveland.”

“I will. Thank you.” Juggling the receiver cradle breaking the connection, then— hearing the ‘ding’— dropping another nickle into the slot. A New York Bell telephone operator answering, “Your number, please?”

“Uh, Cincinnati Bell please.”

“In what city?” The New York operator questioned.

“Uh, that would be in Cincinitti.”

“That will be ‘long distance’, deposit ten cents, please.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Dropping a dime into — hearing the ‘ding’— the dime slot as, now becoming aware that those two mugs of coffee this morning were beginning to work on his bowels in the most pressing way. What the hell! Dropping the receiver onto the cradle,— not much caring about the twenty cents he’d given the New York Bell Telephone Company —Morris anxiously searched throughout Grand Central Station for the closest ‘Gentleman’.

While in the toilet stall, checking the cash he had left. There was the seventy-six dollars at ‘The Port of Entry’, and the twenty he’d asked Agnes to withdraw from his account at the bank; ninety-six dollars, and lose change in all. Now deducting the dollar-thirty cab fare from the port of entry to National City Bank, one dollar last night for the Widow Baily, five dollars for Ben the Cab driver and forty-four dollars for the train tickets, leaving Morris approximately forty-three dollars on hand which might cover what was immediately needed except for the ring.

9:29 AM

Knowing the toll call, long distance routine by this time. Lifting the receiver, jiggling the cradle as dropping a nickle into the slot. New York Bell telephone operator answering, “Your number, please?”

“Cincinnati operator, please.”

“That will be an additional ten cents, please.”

Hearing the ‘ding’’ of his dime. “Cincinnati Operator. Number please.”

“Don’t know the number, but it’s for the ‘Loveland National Bank’.”

“Allow me a minute, please.”

Thinking he was ‘so’ glad he hadn’t waited to answer ‘nature’s call’.

“Sir.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“I have the number now. Would you like me to make the call?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Deposit a nickel, please.”

Hearing the ‘ding’ and a second or two after a number of ‘clicks’, then…

“Good morning! Loveland National Bank.”

Breathing a sigh of relief. “Good morning, might I speak to your manager.”

Cheerfully spoken: “That would be me.”

“My name’s Morris, uh, Pink and I’m calling from New York…”

“’New York’, eh!” Sounding impressed due to the fact that Loveland National Bank received very few long distant toll calls. “How can I help you Mister, uh?”

“ ‘Pink’…” Morris said and your name is?”

“Oh, yes, name’s ‘Forester’ and I’m bank president.”

“Mister Forester, I’m considering re-locating to Loveland…”

Thinking, Why’s anyone want to re-locate here?

“… and am looking to purchase a business and was wondering if there was anything there that I might possibly be interested in that, uh, your bank might have taken in, uh, foreclosure that I might be interested in.”

“Don’t know, may have a couple here. What kind of business are you looking for?”

“Well…” Morris hesitantly said; not wanting to raise any red flags if Widow

Proctor was still getting by “… I like working with my hands, enjoy working with tools a bit, but now just looking.”

He knows something! The banker thought. Why now, all of a sudden when we took it over just last week? Well Mister Pink; think you’d have any interest in acquiring a hardware store?”

His heart jumping. “ ‘A hardware store’? Well, never thought about a hardware store…” hesitating “...yes! That might be just what I’m looking for.”

Knew it!

Pressing the receiver tighter to his ear. “What’ll it take to, uh, cover the, uh, foreclosure?”

“It’ll take all cash, you know.”

“That’ll be no problem.”

Doing all but rubbing his hands together. Kicking the cash amount fifty dollars upward. ‘Three hundred-seventy-two U.S. Dollars.” The banker said.

Morris’ heart jumping once again. “That’ll be fine, Mister, uh, Forester, so I’ll tell you what I’m going to do.” His step by step plan, so far, working perfectly. “Coincidentally I am in a pay telephone booth directly next door to a Western Union Telegraph office. So, to show good faith, I am going to send a ‘wire money transfer’ for, uh, thirty dollars to secure my purchase of the hardware store.

“As soon as you receive notice by telegraph that the cash has been transferred to Loveland Bank for that purpose, I request that you immediately telegram back stating that you are in receipt of the thirty dollar notification for the good faith purchase of your foreclosed property.

“Yes…” the banker said “...I will do that! But when will the balance be forthcoming?”

“I was about to get to that Mister Forester, and I do believe you will be most pleased.”

“Yes…” surprised at making such a good deal, pocketing the additional fifty dollars he’d charged for removing the three hundred-twenty-two dollar debt “...why’s that?”

“I have some errands to run, but will return here, or, if I can find one, to a closer Western Union within an hour and wire transfer the balance of three hundred-forty-two dollars to be deducted from…” thinking, enjoying being a thief, and “...you did say that if I opened an account with your bank you would make this an even three hundred-thirty dollar transaction!”

“No…” angrily “... I did not say that!” Knowing he was going to go through with the deal no matter what, because even ten dollars is ten dollars. “How much of an account you talking about?” Forester asked.

“How’s about twenty-five hundred? Would opening a twenty-five hundred dollar account at Loveland National Bank secure our deal for an even three hundred-thirty U.S. dollars for my purchase?”

Sighing, “Yes, but— assuming you have all that cash is in a bank?”

“It is.”

“It’ll be easier for both of us, and help tie up any lose end if you have your bank do a cash wire transfer, then we’ll both have a record of the money and I won’t have to wait for the Western Union messenger to hand deliver that much cash.”

“Hold on!” Thinking: Didn’t think of that, but then, if old man Flischner should have hired detectives to look for me, would they be looking for an English man by the name of Solomon Berkowitz’, or now, even Morris Pink? “You still there?” He asked Forester.

Aware the man in New York was doing some thinking. “Yes,” Forester said.

And if Flischner’s detectives would think of checking with all the banks in New York, which I can’t imagine they wouldn’t, and there’s got to be hundreds of banks in this city, so I’d guess they’d probably check first with Western Union that probably has only one central office to check. And I sure as hell don’t want to carry all that cash from here to Loveland.

“Okay, then, so we understand each other...” Morris said “...you change the price to three hundred-thirty dollars and I’ll wire transfer the thirty right now, and soon as you get notification that the cash is on the way, you let me know by telegram back to this office confirming that my thirty has been paid to show good faith. Soon as I get to my bank, I’ll have the bank send a wire transfer for twenty-five hundred to Loveland for deposit into the new account of Morris Pink… This is what we both understand, and agree to!”

“Yes. I will wire back soon as I have your first wire transfer.”

“Okay. Then we both should be on our way in ten minutes or so.”

“One thing more. What address should I use for your deposit and bank account?”

“We have no place else to go, so might as well use our business address.”

“The hardware store?”

“Yes. At least until we find a place to live.”

“ ‘Our’? ‘We’? Is there a Mrs Pink?”

“She doesn’t know it yet…” chuckling “... but I certainly hope so.”

“When do you plan on arriving here in Loveland?”

“Taking the train tomorrow, so, like the man said, ‘if all goes on schedule’, we should be in Cincinitti night after tomorrow; on the sixth.”

“Let me be first to say, welcome to Loveland!”

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                                                     129

                                Chapter Twelve

                                       Transferred 

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