The Washington times., 1919-04-01


EDDIE Brandes. gambler. and his
pal Stuli meet Rue and the former 10
Smitten BY her beauty.
CHAPTER VI-CCOntinuea).
Say. Eddie" he began, can't no
one learn you nothin' at all? How
many times would you have been
better OF II you'd listened to me?
Every time you throw me you hand
yourself one. Now that you got a
little money again and q little back
ing. don't do anything like
that
Like what?-
Like chasin' danes, Don't act
foolish like you done in Chicago
last summeri You wouldn't listen
10 me then. would you. And that
Denver business, too! Say. look at
all the foolish things you done
against all ] could say to save
you-like backing that cowboy
plug against Battling jensen
Like taking that big hunk o. beef.
Walstein. to San Antonio, where
Kid ORourke put him out in the
first, And eveEybody's laughing at
you vet. All" he exclaimed
angriIy. some body tell me why I
don't quit you. you big dill pickles
I wish some one would tell me why
I stand for you. because I don't
know And look what you're
doing now: you got some money OF
your own and plenty OF syndicate
money to put on the races and a big
cornish, You got a good theayter
in town with Morris Stein to back
you and everything-and look what
you're doing"' he ended bitterly.
Brandes frightened his dental grip
on his cigar and squinted at him
goOd-humoredly.
Say, Ben" he said, would you
believe it il told you I'm stuck on
herr
"Ah. you'd fall for anything. 1
never seen a skirt you wouldn't
chase"
"I don't mean that kind"
What kind, then?"
This is on the level, Ben"
What! All. go on You on the
leveI?"
"AII the same. I am"
You can't be on the level. You
don't know how"
Why"
You got a wife, and you know
damn well you have"
Yes, and she's getting her di-
vorce."
Stun regarded him with habit1aI
A Look OF Contempt.
and sullen distrust.
she hasn't got it yet"
She'll get it. Don't worry"
Il thought you was for fighting
it."
"I was going to fight it; but"
His slow, narrow. greenish eyes
stole toward the house across the
road.
Just like that" he said, after a
slight pause; that's the way the
little girl hit me. I'm on the level.
Ben. First skirt I ever saw that I
wanted to find waiting dinner for
me when come home. Got me?"
"T don't know whether 1 do or
not"
Get this. then: she isn't all over
paint; she's got freckles, thank God,
and she smells sweet as daisy
field. All. what the hell" he
burst out between his parted teeth
when every woman in New York
SIlellS lhe a CutIuH SUI A'CA
get il all day? The whole city
stinks like A stars dressing room.
And married one! And I'm
through. I want to get my breath
and I'm getting it,"
StuITs white features betrayed
merely the morbid suffering Of in
digestion: he said nothing and
sucked his cigar
I'm through" repeated Brandes.
"I want a home and a wife-the
kind that even a fly cop won't pinch
on sight-the kind OF little thing
that's over there in that old shack.
Whatever ! am. I don't want a wife
like me-nOr kids, either"
Stull remained sullenly unre-
sponsive.
Call her a hick il you like. All
right. ] want that kind"
No comment from Stull. who was
looking at the wrecked car.
understand, Benz"
81 tell you l don't know whether
l do or nOt.'
stand?"
..Nothin'. Well. then, your
falling for kid like that, first
crack out a. the box. I'm honest;
] don't understand It,"
'She hit me that way-so help
me GOdr'
And you're on the leyel?"
Absolutely, Ben"
What about the old guy and
the mother? Take 'em to live with
you:'
IF she wants EN-
Stull stared at him in uneasy
astonishment:
"All right. Eddie. Only don't act
foolish till Minra passes YOU up.
And get out Of here or you will. II
you're on the level. az you say you
are. you've got to mark time for a
good long while yet"