The Good Samaritan is a mystery short story by Isaac Asimov.
Part of the Black Widowers series, it was first published in the 10 September 1980 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. It was later collected in 1984's Banquets of the Black Widowers.
Summary[]
Mario Gonzalo hosts the Black Widowers banquet and creates tension by inviting a female guest, Mrs. Barbara Lindemann, which contravenes the club's rules. After a heated debate and an intervention by the waiter Henry, the members agree to hear her problem after dinner.
Mrs. Lindemann, a retired schoolteacher from Oregon, explains that during her first evening in New York, she was mugged by a group of youths who stole her purse. A young man intervened, chased the assailants away, and escorted her to his apartment at 54 West Fortieth Street, apartment 4-F, to ensure her safety. He gave her wine, reassured her, lectured her on city dangers, and refused to call the police at her request. He then escorted her downstairs, hailed a taxi, paid the driver in advance, and gave her twenty dollars so she wouldn't be left penniless. She was deeply grateful and intended to repay him generously.
However, the next day, she found she could not remember his first name or his address, only that the name and address had a fitting connection she had remarked upon at the time. This caused her great distress, as she feared the man would think her ungrateful.
The Black Widowers propose various theories connecting the address to the man's potential name (e.g., Sam, Luke, or names from American history), but none resonate with her. Henry, after listening carefully, deduces the solution. He notes her reference to the young man saying "there'd be a battle," connects it to the historical slogan "54-40 or fight" from the 1844 U.S. election concerning the Oregon Territory, and confirms she is from near Portland, Oregon. He then suggests the address is 54 West Fortieth Street and the man's name is Eugene, a city in Oregon. Mrs. Lindemann confirms this is correct. The story ends with the Black Widowers offering to accompany her to the address to ensure her safety and help her fulfill her wish to repay the "Good Samaritan."
Characters[]
Black Widowers[]
- Mario Gonzalo (the host)
- Geoffrey Avalon
- Emmanuel Rubin
- Thomas Trumbull
- Roger Halsted
- James Drake
- Henry (the waiter)
Others[]
- Mrs. Barbara Lindemann (the guest)
- Eugene (The Good Samaritan)
- The Muggers
- The Taxi Driver
- Mrs. Lindemann's Niece
- Mrs. Lindemann's Nephew
Historical Figures mentioned[]
- Anacreon (poet)
- Sherlock Holmes (fictional detective)
- Sam (for Samaritan)
- Luke (Biblical gospel writer)
- James Madison (U.S. President)
- Christopher Columbus (explorer)
- Paul Revere (American patriot)
- Peter Minuit (colonial governor)
- Henry Hudson (explorer)