A Man of Confidence (Details)
citation: Good Housekeeping, August 1955, 141(2):50-51, 103-104, 106, 109-110, 112, 114-115
alias: None
teaser: Here again — one of the special stories that the Editors always are pleased to present to their somewhat special readers
summary: In a modest room at an expensive hotel, Alfred G. Hinkle changes from expensive clothes into something cheaper, affecting a less sophisticated look. He imagines himself to be a widowed, disappointed inventor enjoying his first taste of prosperity.
A knock on the door admits Johnny, a younger man who jokes about wanting to buy something from Hinkle. Hinkle removes an intricate and expensive machine from its case, proudly showing it to Johnny, lecturing him that the only way one knows anything is when nothing is inconsistent to the senses. Even Johnny can be made to believe anything Hinkle wants him to.
For the remainder of the week, Hinkle enjoys himself making acquaintances. Soon, he knows a great deal about the guests and hotel. He is searching for a particular kind of man, a man who trusts in logic more than intuition.
At the beach, Hinkle meets Frank O. Lucca, a man Hinkle noticed earlier,
and characterized as predatory. Lucca explains he is a mining
engineer, a lucrative but unexciting profession. In return, Hinkle describes
himself as an inventor whose
greatest acheivements were in the area of photography. Specifically, Hinkle
claims to have invented a machine to focus a tiny beam
of light
on
light-sensitized paper, producing an exact and detailed copy of anything.
Hinkle adds his previous employer did not appreciate — or patent — his invention, and Hinkle lost his job. Taking the machine with him, Hinkle is now retired. With that, Hinkle thanks Lucca for listening to him, and leaves.
For the next few days, Hinkle's associate Johnny spends time with Mr. Lucca. Hinkle only meets Lucca casually, but each time manages to pay for something with crisp, new, ten dollar bills. Eventually, Hinkle gets himself invited to attend horse races with Johnny and Mr. Lucca.
When they meet for drinks before the races, Hinkle notes he hasn't any cash. Just before they leave for the races, he excuses himself to go to his room, promising to meet Johnny and Mr. Lucca at the racestrack.
In his room, Hinkle transfers new ten-dollar bills into his wallet, and streaks a little green ink on his coat. At the track, Hinkle bets haphazardly, and loses heavily. He refuses Lucca's dinner invitation, saying he has to write letters.
That night, Lucca comes to Hinkle's hotel room, claiming he knows Hinkle's game, and demands to see the machine. Admitting he has been careless, Hinkle demonstrates the machine by loading into it blank paper, then producing crisp, new, ten-dollar bills. The first batch is smudged, but thereafter, the money is flawless.
Lucca wants to buy the machine. If Hinkle won't sell it, Lucca promises to turn him in for counterfeiting. Hinkle can always make another, he argues.
As Lucca leaves town on a train with Hinkle's machine, Hinkle and Johnny leave carrying a suitcase of dense, dull yellow metal. Both parties congratulate themselves on their success.
words: 6,466
genre: None
similar: None
people: Alfred G. Henkle, Johnny, Frank O. Lucca
places: Miami Beach, FL
notes: Forthcoming