The Make-Believe Man

A young stenographer in bustling New York dreams of the excitement that seems to slip through his fingers. He watches his coworker Kinney—an easy‑going clerk who repeatedly finds himself at the center of daring rescues, spontaneous midnight encounters and unexpected celebrity friendships. While women routinely seek Kinney’s help, the narrator feels left behind, convinced his quiet upbringing in the harbor town of Fairport has left him ill‑prepared for true adventure. When Kinney promises that a vacation together will finally put the narrator on the front line of “adventures walking up to eat out of his hand,” the narrator can’t refuse.

The two men spend months poring over timetables, maps and glossy hotel brochures, debating whether the sea’s salty air or the mountains’ fresh breezes will set the stage for their quest. Kinney pushes for rugged peaks, insisting the highlands attract “our best people,” while the narrator longs for a simple day on a catboat in Fairport’s harbor. Their lively planning sets the scene for a journey where the promise of danger, romance and self‑discovery looms just beyond the next train departure.