"A Pursuit Race" Summary

William Campbell is in a pursuit race with a burlesque show. The burlesque show chases him from Pittsburgh to Kansas City. When the manager of the show, Mr. Turner, catches up with him in a Kansas City hotel, Campbell has already injected drugs. He shows Turner the marks on his arm, choosing to talk to him through the bed sheets. Turner urges him to go to a drug rehabilitation clinic, but Campbell refuses. Turner leaves. When he returns, Campbell is asleep and Turner does not wake him.

"A Pursuit Race" Analysis

While the pursuit race refers to an actual publicity stunt, it also has a second meaning. The drug and alcohol abuse of Campbell represents a second type of race, as Campbell chases the relief that the drugs and alcohol give to him while his friends and...