If you were Gortsby from "Dusk," what would you have done differently when you met the young man that evening? Explain why.

While sitting on the bench at "Dusk," Gortsby thinks depressing thoughts, associating the time of day with defeat and with hiding from others. When the young man sits down next to him, visibly upset, and tells his improbable tale, Gortsby is dubious at first. For him, the credibility of the story hinges on the soap that the man claims to have purchased. Gortsby finds it too much of a coincidence to lose track of the hotel’s address and the soap both in one day. After the man leaves and Gortsby finds the soap, he now believes that the parts of the story add up.
Gortsby runs off after him and eventually finds him, gives him the soap and his address, and lends him some money. Here, there are several possible options that one might take. The first would be not to pursue the man. If one did find and pursue him, one could return the soap and perhaps also give him a little money along with the soap. Maybe in another era, giving one’s address to a stranger was not reckless, but by making the transaction a loan and expecting repayment, Gortsby has given him the necessary information to visit him and possibly ingratiate himself further into his life or even to rob his home.