Evening journal., 1922-10-07
CHAPTER III

1ilRi 4 I'm Ill
Bysnine o'clock the noisy chicken
supper had ended; the table had
been cleared; Jim Hastings was tun-
ing his fiddle in the big room; Eve
had seated herself before the batter
ed nrlodeon.
They're off," remarked Clinch "a
Smith. who stood at the pantry shelf
prepared TO serve whisky or beer
uponeprevlous receipt OF payment.
In the event of sudden raid, the
Rrrarkements at Clinchs we're quite
simple. Two large drain pipes
emerged from the kitchen floor be-
side smith, and ended in Star Pond.
In case OF alarm the tub OF beer
was poured down one pipe; the whis-
ky down the other
Only the trout in Star Pond would
ever sample that hootch again.
Clinch. now Slightly intoxicated.
leaned heavily on the pantry shelf
beside Smith adjusting his pistol
under his suspenders.
Young fella." he said in his
agreeable voice. you're dead right.
You sure said face-full when you
says 10 me. Ewes a lady. by Godr
Yough oughta know. You was a
gentleman yourself once. Even IL
you take TO stickin' up tourists you
knowa lady when you see one. Ana
you called the turn. She is lady.
All I'm livin' for is TO get her down
TO the city and give her money 20
live ike a lady I'll do II yet. d.
Soonl I'd do IL tomorrow
tonight--if 1 dared. II was
dead certain / could get away with
n. . I've got the money. Nowl
Only It amt in money.
SMITH"
Yes. Mike"
you know met"
Sure"
You size me up7"
Il do
IAN right. II you ever tell any
one got money that amt money
I'll shoot you through the head"
Don't worry, Chnch."
Il amt. You're a crook: You
won't talk. You're a gentleman, too.
They don't sell out pal. Say, Hal,
there's only one fella 1 don't want
to meet"
who's that Nike?"
'Lemme tell YOU" continued
C.inch resting more heavily on the
shelf while Smith. looking out
through the pantry shutter at the
dancing. listened intentiy.
when l was in France I'm a
Forstry Rig ment." went on cllnch.
lowering his always pleasant voice,
Il was to Paris on leave a few days
before they sent us home.
Il was in the washroom OF a carry
Ia cleanin' up for supper, when
dodbang into the place comes a
tumblJn' a man with two cops push
lnig and kickin' him.
They didn't see me in there for
they locked the door on the man.
He was swell gent. too, in full |
dress and silk hat and all like that
and a opry cloak and white kid |
gloves and mustache and French
beard.
when they locked him up he
Ttood stock still and lit cigaret, as
cool as fee. Then he begun wallSin'
around looking for a way to get out;
but there wasn't no way.
Then he seen me and over he
romes. and talks English right away:
Want to make a thousand francs.
soldier?' sez he in a quick whisper.
You're on, sez 1; show your
dough-, Them Flies has went TO
get the Commissaire for to frisk |
me- sez he. II they find this parcel |
>onsIne l do twenty years in Noumea
Five xears kills anybody out there
rWhattdc you want 1 should do?' sez
I. havin' no love for no cops. French |
or other. Take this packet and |
stick 81 in your overcoat, sez he. /
GO tQ i3 roo Quinze Octobre and
give x to the concierge for jose
Quintana.' And he shoves the
packet on me and thousand franc
note.
Then he grabs me sudden and
pulls 6pen my collar. God. he was
strongss
" whats the matter with your
says l. 'Lemme go or I'll mash your
mug fat Iemme see your identi-
hcatioa disc ne barks.
BEN in Paris for a bat. had
exchanged with my bunkie. Bill
Hanson Let him look thinks I
and he reads Bill's check
you fool me-. says he. TIL
folly yf and III do you in II takes
the rest of my life. You under
stand?. Sure says I. me tongue
in me vheek. Bong Allez yous en-
says he.
Hsw the hell sez I. do I get
put of 1ere?' You're a Yankee sol
sier. lFhe Flies don't know you
we're ID here. You go back and kick
on that door and make a holler.'
$50 J done II good; and a cop
opens and swears at me, but when
ae seez Yankee soldier was locked
IN the ~washroom by mistake, he let's
me out. you bet"
Clinch smiled thin smile. pour
ID our three fingers of hootch.
What n1fe ?" asked Smith quietly. |
Nothing much. didn't go to no
roo Quinze Octobre. But don't /
newer want to see that fella Quin- 1
lana. I've been waiting till it's safe !
10 sells-what was in that packet"
Sell what?"