Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-06

H~AY, Shorty" says Swiftly Joe,
easin' himself in from the
gym here the other afternoon
and nudgin' me in the
shoulders. There it is again
"E;h?" says 1. still readin' the sport
in notes in a four-sta complete final
evening extra.
THE shadow on the door," goes on
Swiftly.
"Oh. yes. so it is" says I. twistin'
my neck for a look at the ground
grass pane that separates my fropt
Office from the second-f1oor landin
But what of it?'
Nit amt lucky" says Swiftly,
solemn
'.Ah, what dream book did you dig
that FROM says |. where do you
get all that Stuff
Well. it Amt. that's ALL" he in
sists. You can't tell whatll come
of it,
All the same. I couldn't help turnin'
for another look. It's the shadow of
a mans head and face; a side view,
sort of a silhouette. You could make
out the SLOUGH hat pulled down over
the eyes and the chin lost in the coat
collar. l must admit it amt cheer
full. even for a shadow.
"Spooky lookin," adds Swiftly.
But you know who is out there"
] tells him.
''Yeauh." says he. IT'S that sour
He's waitin for that little dame that
does typin' in the Siebert offices on
the next floor"
We'll, there you are says I. How
do you work up a jinX out of that
Swiftly shakes his head. a shadow
on tie door amt lucky" he grum-
bles. I've allus heard that"
And he's an expert on the rules of
luck. good and bad. Swiftly is.
Knows 'em all. from what happens if
you lace up the right shoe first. to
the awful fate thatll swamp you if
you forget to cross your fingers and
spit when you pass cross-eyed
party.
''Oh, come" says T. This has been
going on nearly every night for a
month now, and neither of us has
been hit by taxi or held up by a
yegg or anything like that
Huh" says Swiftly. wasn't 1
short-changed on the subway yester-
day, and didn't l break my watch
crystal last week. Ought to take it
away. 1 tell you
well. that's simple SAYS l. Go
throw him down stairs and unscrew
the light bulb. Or you might"
"S-s-sh!" whispers Swiftly. husky
'1t-itS comm this way.
Sure enough, the shadow has moved
and Is outlined sharp on the glass,
as il the party had stepped across the
hallway. Then there comes this timid
knock.
There" gasps Swiftly, turnin' pale
in the gills.
We'll. bring him in and let's see,
what he wants." says !.
Not on your life says Swiftly. Il
don't let in no bad luck. Not me-
Then hide under the DESK" says I.
while I give him the hail. Come" !
sings out.
And in steps this Gloomy Gus per-
SON. It's a good name for him. He's
O slim. sallow-faced gink of about
thirty, should guess, with kind of
hopeless sag to his shoulders and
limp way of carryin' his long hands
at his side. He has his coat collar
turned up to hide a collar that's over
due at the laundry, and his old shoes
are soggy from the outside slush. A
regular down-and-out picture.
well, bo," says I, "what'n it be?'
For a second he stands there witch
in his fingers nervous and tryin' to
swallow his throat apple before he
can get his conversation works I'M
limbered. But when he does he hands
me surprise.
IL beg pardon" says he. speakin'
it soft and genteel. but I was won
dering if you couldn't give me-er-
some sort OF work to do?''
"Eh?" says I. starin' at him. Say.
that's a new one. Why. you'll be losin'
your amateur standin' in the Pan
handlers Union. won't you. askin' for
anything like THAR"
He only shrugs his shoulders life
less. IL may look like aybum." says