Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17

a for me, I don't know whether
Ax to be glad or sorry about what
IN we helped Todd to do. Just
= q how Pinckney feels about it 1
amt sure, either. Course 1 know what
he says But what Pinckney means by
what he says is something else again.
"Casuals of Kismet, Shorty. no more
says he. 1--WE served merely as the poor
: pawns of the game"
NHuhr says /, tryin' to look like 1 was
keepin' up. You don't say?'
And, after all, only started the thing.
Funny about me and Todd. I expect
we'd seen each other day in and day
out for a matter of three years or more.
without either of us ever battin' an eye
as we passed. There was no cause. He
might of known who 1 was and he
might not. Course, it was plain enough
about him. There it was, right on his
cap.
But Todd wasn't one you'd give the
CHEEKY hail to offhand and unlimited. A
sour, grouchy little party. You could
tell that by the sag to his mouth cor
ners, by the burrows between his thin,
sketchy eyebrows. and by the droopy
hang of his sandy. ragged mustaehe
Had a droop to his shoulders. too.
Well, 1 don't know as I'd be so chirky
IL I had to do twelve-hour trick on
q dinky old passenger elevator six days
In the week. It's in the buildin' next
to where 1 have my physical culture
studio. When he wasn't travelin up and
down in the old cage Todd had habit
of slippin' out to the doorway, where
he'd SLOUGH just inside, scowlin over the
black bowl of his corn-cob pipe at the
world in general.
I expect / got so I didn't notice him
any more than the ashcans he used to
roll out to the edge of the -curD
mornin's
So this time. when I finds him shakin'
his fist at the broad back OF the hook
nosed lady with the big sparks in her
ears, I was all for brushin by as usual
Just as I'm passin', though. he unl1m-
bers a string of remarks
They sure were emphatic and high
spfced remarks. but SO muff1ed and
throaty that there was no chance OF
her hearin' 'em. Naturally, i swings
my head to look after a party who was
bein' described SO picturesque and I'M
complimentary. and then turns TO take
to be his cue for confidin' his further
emotions to me.
THE old hippopotamus." he explodes.
Fat old swine. Look at her"
"EhT' says l. Annoyed about some
thing, are your
Am II" says he. IT'S wonder I
don't do murder one of these fine days.
with the likes of that maxim life hard
for me-
"How's that?" says I.
why" he snarls, comm down here
twice a week. snoopin' around and find
in fault. Ever since she bought the
buildin' it's been that way. And me
with never a cross word from the boss.
But .now-'vy dond you the sidewalk
sweep oop?' 'Vot is it you smoke in
your dirty pipe-rubber, eh?' And
threatenin to tie the can to me every
trip. Trust a woman. G-r-r-r."
That's right" says I. Get it all out
of your system and then maybe you'll
feel better" And with grin 1 leaves
him to his happy thoughts.
Seems to break the ice with him. this
little exchange. After that he never
fails to hold me up and spill his trou-
bles. Yes. he had a lot of 'em. mainly
sex. 1t was one doy when the old eleva-
tor went out of commission and the re-
pair gang was tinkerin' it up that he
finds his way up to the studio and gives
me complete bill of complaint
Il used to think i was a man." says
he. glarin' savage at the worn-out toes
Of his old shoes. "Now-well, / don't
know what I am. It's bein surrounded
and hectored SO much by old hens"
AMeanin' the fair SEX" suggests
Fair be blowed"' says he. "Old hens.
That Mrs. Rosenbaum, the landlady.
She's a fair sample. And look at our
ouildin'-full of 'em. Madam Jezinski,
what runs the hair shop on the second
Madam OByrne. robes. for another; and
all them miiliners and typewriters and
corn doctors on the other floors. Every
one ready to bawl me out any time of
day. And I have to stand for tine
Samson Todd"
Samson. eh?" says /, sizin' up this
thin chested. sQuint-eyed. booze-soaked
specimen Of human wasp. "Ain't that
Kind Of a misfit name for a party of
: your Weight?'
an stunt. out Of dislike. suppose she
knew i was Eoin' to be sickly and never