Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-13
Down the Bumps with Cliffy
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But Clifford just keeps on tryin to work hi
elbows clear and looks dazed. Il don't know.
says Cliffy, truly | don't, Cousin Robert
They've been following me for an hour, and w
had an awful time.
Maybe you've been maxim noise like
About that time Aunt Julie comes paddlin
out Did hear some one say Clifford" say
she.
You did" says Mr. Robert. There he is
the with the ear muffs. | haven't foun'
out who the others are vet
''Phe-e-e-ew!" says she. takin' one sniff, an,
with that she grabs out her scent bottle ano
runs back. slammin' the door behind her.
"Cliffy" says |, You don't seem to ID
maxim much of hit with your Ellis Islant
bunch
What want to know" says Mr.. Robert
is what this is all about"
PUT Clifford didn't have the key. All h,
= knew was that when he started to leave the
subway train they had tagged after, and tina
since then he hadn't been able to shake EN-
Once he'd jumped on a Broadway car; bu
they'd all piled in too, and the conductor hao
made him shell out nickel for every last one
Another time hed lodged through Que of then
revolvin doors into hotel and four of EN- haC
got wedged in SO tight it took half dozen por
tiers to get EN- out but the house detective hac
spotted Clifford for the head of the procession
him out to join his friends
1t was simply awful" says he, THROWN VI
his hands.
And then / notices the rattan cane. After
that it was all clear. "Where'd you cop the
stick. Cliffy?" says l.
"Stick'' says he why bless me! must
have taken this instead of my umbrella. 1t be
longs to that gentleman who sat next to me II
the subway train. You see, he was leaning
back taking nap in the corner and was try
ing to talk to him. and when left suppose
took his cane by mistake"
Well says l, the Zinskis goes with thu
cane"
It's fact, too. Most all them immigran
runners carries rattans when they're herdin
gangs of imported pick artists around to the
railroad stations It's kind of a badge anc
helps the bunch to keep track of their leader
Most likely them Zinskis had had their eye.
glued to that cane for hours. KNOWN that i
was leadin EN- to a job somewheres, and they
wa mt goin' to let it get away.
Gimme it." says l; "I'll show you how i
works"
SURE enough, soon's took it and started FOL
the door the whole push quits eatin' cheese
and bread out of their pockets and falls in righ
after me.
"Fine!" says Mr.. Robert, grabbin' my ha
and chuckin' it after me. GO on. Torchy
Keeep, goingi..,
An, say. saws i. l am { SuDD1n To-
Cliffy. This is his gang
But Mr. Robert only grins and motions m.
to be on my way If you come back here be
fore tomorrow morning" says he, I'll dis
charge you on the spot"
Now wouldn't that bump your
"All right" says l: but this'll cost Cliffy
just twenty"
IN pay it." says Mr. Robert.
Its whiZZ.' says /. wavin' the cane
5" Come on, you Sneezowskis! I'll show 20,
where the one fifty per grows on bushes"
WHAT did do with EN-? All. say. it wa:
~ a cinch! | runs EN- down seven flights o.
stairs marches 'em three blocks up town. anC
then rushes up to a big stiff in green and golc
uniform that's hired to stand outside flower
shop and open carriage doors. He and me ha6
some words couple of months ago, because
butted him in the belt when l was in a hurry
once.
Here" says l. rushin' up and jammin' the
cane into his hand. hold that till / come back!
and before he has time to pipe off the bunch O
Polackers that's come to a parade rest arounc
us, makes dive in amongst the cars and beats
it down Broadway.
Nah, don't know what becomes of him, OF
the Zinsks either. All know is that Tn
twenty to the good. and that Cousin Clifford's
been shipped back to Bubble Creek, glad to gel
out of New York alive But as | says to Mr.
Robert. What do you look for from guy that
buttons his ears up in fannels"
CHINA'S NATIONAL TREE