The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-09

square, round-faced individual with
his infinitely shaver face and slow
greeniSh eyes, and his hair combed
back and still reeking with per-
fumed tonic-this shiny, scented and
overgroomed sport with rings on
his fat. blunt fingers and the silk
laces on his tan oXfords as fastidi-
ously tied as though a valet had
done It!
Ben Stull begun to speak; and
presently Neeland discovered that
the foX-faced mans name was Doc
Curfoot; that he had just arrived
from London on receipt OF a tele-
gram from them; and that they
themselves had landed the night be-
fore from a transatlantic liner to
await him here.
Doc Curfoot checked the CONVEX
sation, which was becoming general
now, saying that they'd better be
very sure that the man opposite
understood no English before they
became careless
Covering His Nationality.
"Musseer," he added suavely to
Neeland, who looked up with a po-
lite smile, 'parly VOC Anglay?"
"Je parle Francois, monsieur"
81 get him." said Stull, Sourly. 81
knew it anyway. He's got the sissy
manners of a Frenchy, even il he
don't look the part. No white man
tips his lid to nobody except a swell
skirt"
II seen two dudes do it to each
other on Fifth avenue" remarked
Curfoot, and spat from the window.
Brandes, imperturable, rolled his
cigar into the corner Of his mouth
and screwed his greenish eyes to
narrow Sits.
You got our wire, Door,
why am I here il didn'tr'
"Sure. Have an easy passage?1
Doc Curfoots foxy visage still
wore traces Of the greenish pallor;
he looked pityingly at Brandes-
self-pityingly:
Say, Eddie, that was the worst
ever seen. A freight boat, too.
God! was that sick hoped she'd
turn turtle! And nab it from me; IL
you hadn't wired me s S, I'd have
waited over for the steamer train
and the regular boat!'
"Well, it's o S all right, Doc.
I got a cable from Quint this morn
ing saying our place in Paris is
ready, and we're to be there and
open up tonight"
What placer" demanded Curfoot.
"Sure, I forgot. You don't know
anything yet, do you?"
Wants Center of Stage.
Eddie" interrupted StulI, 'let
me do the talking this time, if you
please"
And. to Curfoot:
u a1ofnEf
it. You heard. Every little thing
has went wrong since Eddie done
what he done-every damn thing!
Look what's happened since Maxy
Yemen got sore and he and Minna
started out to get him! Morris
Stein takes away the Silhouette
Theater from us and we can't get
no time for Tilith' on Broadway.
We go on the road and bust. All
our Saratoga winnings goes, also
what we got invested with Parson
Smawley when the bulls pulled
Ouint's-p
"Ah. fr the low o. Mixer began
Brandes. Can that stuff
"All right, Eddie. I'm tellin'
Doc, that's all. 1 amt aiming to
be no crape-hanger: I only want
you both to listen to me this time.
II you'd listened to me before, we'd
have been in Saratoga today in
our machines. But no; you done
what you done-Godi Did anyone
ever hear OF such a thing!-taking
chances with that little rube from
Brookhollow - that freckled-face
mill-hand-that yap-skirt! And
Minna and Max having you watched
all the time! You big bOobi No-don't
interrupt mel Listen to me! Where
are you now? You had good money;
you had a theaytre, you had backing.
Quint was doing elegant: Doc and
Parson and you and me had it all
our way and comm faster every
day. Wait. I tell you! This amt a
autopsy. This is business. I'm
tellin' you two guys all this becuZ
want you to realize that what
Eddie done was against my advice.
Come on, now; wasn't it,"
1T sure was" admitted Curfoot,
removing his cigar from his lean,
pointed visaSe Of a greyhound, and
squirting thoughtfulIy at the smoke
eddying in the draught from the
open window.
Am I right. Eddie?" demanded
Stun, fixing his black, smeary eyes
on Brandes.
well. go on" returned the lat
ter between thin lips that scarcely
moved.
Explains the Situation.
Cali right. then. Here's the situa-
ton, Doc. We're broke. If Quint
hadn't staked us to this here new
game were playin', where'd we be,
l ask you?
ave got no income now. CUNTS
is shut up: MaXy Venem and Minna
Mimic fixed us at Saratoga, so we
can't go back there for a while.
They won't let us touch a card on
the liners. Every pug is leery Of
us since Eddie flimhammed that
Battling Smoke: and told you he'd
hoIlcr. too! Didn't II" turning on
Brandes. who merely let his slow
eyes rest on him without replying.
eco on. Ben" said CuTfoOt.
I'm going on. We guys gotta do
something
1--WE ought to have fixed Max
Nenem,." said CurfoOt cooIly.
There was a silence: all three men
glanced stealthiIy at NeeIand, who
quietly turned the page of his book
as though absorbed in his story.
That sQuealer. Max" con-
tinUed CurfOtt with placid fero-
city blazing in his eyes" ought to
have been put away. Quint and