Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-05

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When the combat ended and the
fallen lay starkly where they fe.i,
Clinch said in his pleasant. level
voice:
''Take them out and stick their
heads in the pond. And don't go for
to get me mad, boys, or I'm liable to
act up rough"
They pore forth the sleepers for
immersion in Star Pond. Clinch re-
lighted his cigar and repeated tho
rulings which had caused the fracas:
you gotta play square cards here
or you don't play none in my house.
No living thum-nail car nick no
cards in my place and get away with
it. Three kings and two treys is bet
ter than three chickens and WI
eggs. If you don't like it, g'wan
hcme."
He went out in his shirt sleeves to
see how the knock-outs were reviv-
ing. and met Hal Smith returning
from the pond. who reported prog
ress toward consciousness. They
walked back to the hotel together.
Say, young fella," said Clinch in
his soft, agreeable way, you want
to keep your eye peeled tonight
"Why?" inquired Smith.
well, there'll be a lot o. folks
here. There'll be strangers, too.
. Don't forget the State Troop
ers are looking for you"
They had paused on the rough
veranda in the hot October sunshine.
Mike" suggested Smith careless
ly. wouldn't it pay you better to
go straight"
Clinch's small gray eyes, which
had been roaming over the prospect
of lake and forest, focused on
Smiths smiling features.
whats that t 0 your" he asked.
"Ill be out of a job" remarked
Smith, laughing, 'if they ever land
you."
Clinch's level gaze measured him;
his mind was busy measuring him,
too.
"Who the hell are you. anyway"
he asked. Il don't know. You stick
up a man on the Ghost Lake road
and hide out here when the State
Troopers come after you. And now
you ask me If it pays better to go
straight. Why didn't you go straight
if you think it pays?"
81 haven't got a daughter to worry
about" explained Smith. "If they
get me 1t won't hurt nobody else"
A dull red tinge came out under
Clinch's tan;
who asked you to worry about
Ever"
"She's a fine girl; that's ALL"
Clinch's steely glare measured the
young a
You trying to make UP to her?"
he inquired gently.
mo. She has no use for me-"
Clinch reflected, his cold tiger gaze
still fastened on Smith.
you're right" he said after a mo-
ment. Eve is a good girl. Some
day I'll make a lady>of her."
She is one, Clinch."
At that Clinch Redeemed heavily
the first finer emotion ever betrayed
before Smith. He did not say any
thing for a few moments, but his
grim mouth worked. Finally:
Il guess you vas a gentleman
once before you went crooked, Hail."
he said. You act UP like you once
was Say; there's only one
thing or Gods earth I care about.
You've guessed it, too" He was off
again upon his ruling passion.
Eve" nodded Smith.
Sure. She isn't my flesh and
blood. But it seems like she's more,
even. I want she should be a lady.
It's all I want. That damned mil
lionaire Harrod bust me. But he
couldn't stop me giving Eve her
schooling. And now all I'm Twin
for is to be fixed SOS to give her
money to GO to the city like a lady.
I don't care how I make money; ali
I want is to make it. And I'm
a going TO-"
Smith nodded again.
Clinch. now obsessed by his mono
mania mpnf IN with an oaths
II can't make no money on the
level after what Harrod done to me.
And L gotta fix up Eve. What the
hell do you meal by asking me
would it pay to travel straight I
dunno"
"I was only thinking of Eve. A
lady isn't supposed to have a crook
for a father"
Clinch's gray eyes blazed for a
moment, then their menacing glare
dUlled, died out into wintry- fixity.
II want born a crook" he said.
II amt got no choice. And don't
worry. young fella; they amt ago
ing to get me-"
You can't go on beating the game
forever, Clinch."
.anG it won't be so long. neither be-
fore l turn over enough to let Eve
live in the city like any lady, with
her autymobile and her own butler
and all her swell friends, in a big
house like she is educated for"
He broke off abruptly as a proces-
sion approached from the lake, es-
corting the battered gentry who now
were able to wabble about a little.
One of them. afox-faced trap thief
named Earl Leverett, skunk hastily
by as though expecting another kick
from Clinch.
"G'wan inside, Earl, and act up
right" said Clinch pleasantly. you
oughter nave more sensea than to
start a fight in. my place-you and
Sid Hone and Harvey Chase. G'wan
in and behave"
He and Smith followed the o
sion of damaged ones into the house.
The big Imprinted room where a
bar had once been was blue with
cheap cigar smoke: the air reeked
with the stencil of beer and spirits.
A score or more shambling forest
louis in their dingy Saturday finery
were gathered there playing cards. |
shooting craps, lolling around tables
and fitting stopping glasses at one
another.
Heavy pleasantries were ex-
changed with the victims of Clinch's
pcnderous fists as they re-entered the
room from which they had been
borne so recently, feet first.
Nov, boys" said Clinch kindly,
'act up like swell gents and behave
friendly. And if any ladies come in
for the chicken supper. why. gol
dang it, we'll have a dance!"
fCzu<sroa - o. 80