What's-His-Name

On a bustling Broadway sidewalk two weary actors pause, their conversation drifting toward a man who drifts even more unnoticed. They point out a slight figure with hands in his pockets, introducing him only as the husband of the celebrated Nellie Duluth—simply “What’s‑His‑Name.” The narrator’s wry commentary makes clear that this unremarkable fellow is the story’s quiet hero, a man who slips through the city’s glare without leaving a trace.

Back in the modest Western town where he once roamed, he was a swaggering presence—known by name, greeted by friends, and unafraid to challenge policemen or conductors. In New York, however, his straw‑colored moustache and baby‑blue eyes become curiosities, his deference to waiters and strangers a gentle echo of his former bravado. The novel follows his tentative steps through an unfamiliar world, inviting listeners to watch how anonymity and identity intertwine in a city that forgets even the most earnest faces.