Evening star., 1922-05-28


my scalp begins to itch like it does now
that's a sign Of a close haircut coming
on. I've got educated dandruff, says.
and it amt never fooled me yet. In
short 1 says. I've been handed the
Office, to skiddoo, and in such cases
believe in skiddooing. Let US create q
vacancy in these parts sine quinine-
which, I says. lis Latin, meaning it's
bitter dose, but you gotta take it,
81 can't start right this minute says
Sweet Caps: my toothbrush is packed
and all I've got to do is to put on my
hat. S'pose we run up to a Hundred
and Twenty fifth street. which is a nice
secluded spot he says, and catch the
rattler' .-e @r-3: + :
"How are you fixed for currencyr +
says.
"'Ffxed?' he says. 4 amt fixed
a-tall. Amt you been carrying the
firms bank roll? Say, amt your
'Well, right here I has to break the
sad news to him. l does it as gentle
as could, but still he seems peeved.
Money has caused lot of suffering in
this world. they tell me. but I'm here
to tell you the lack Of it's been respon-
sible for considerable many heartburn
inss. too Up until that minute hadn't
had the heart to tell the Sweet Caps
Kid that our little joint partnership
bank roll is no longer with US. I'd been
saving back them tidings for q more
suitable moment, but now has to tell
him.
''It seems that the night before had
been tiger hunting in the jungle down
at Honest Johns. OF course. should
have knowed better than" to 60 up
against game run by anybody calling
hisself Honest John. Them compile
mentary monikers always work with the
reverse English. You are walking along
and you see a gin-mill across the street
with a sign over the door which says
it's Smiling Pete's Place and you cross
over and look in. and behind the bar IL
an old guy who, ain't heard anything
that really pleased him since the Mar
Unique disaster. He's standing there
with his lip stuck out like a fender on
a street car, and a bung starter handy.
just hoping that somebody will come
in and start to start something. That's
Smiling Pete. AS for this here Honest
John, he's so crooked he can't eat noth-
ing except stick candy and cheese
straws without he gets cramps in his
stomach. He'd take the numbers of
your house. That's why they call him
Honest John. know all this, good and
we'll, but what's 4 feller going to do
when his is the only place In town
that's open. You've got to play some-
where's, amt your Somehow L always
was sort Of drawed to faro.
UXIIELL.s you know the saying-one
mans meat is another's pizon.
He was my pizon and certainly was
his meat. 30 now amt got nothing
in my pockets except the Innings.
'I tells the Sweet Caps Kid Just how
It was-how right up to the very last
minute kept expecting the luck to turn
and how even then l mightA got It all
back IL the game-keeper hadn't been
SO blamed unreasonable and mercenary.
When my last chip is gone holds up a,
finger for marker. and tells him I'll
take another stack of fifty, all blues this
time, but he only looks at me sort Of
chilly and distrustful and remarks in q
kind Of bored way that there's nothing
doing
"'That'n be all right says to HIM.
III ,sees you tomorrow.
tsNo you won't. he says. spiteful-.
like. s,...
why says. won't you be here
tomorrow
oh. yes he says. wen be here to-
morrow, but YOU won't ]
Is that so?' says. sarcastical.
Coming in.' says. I thought seen
the word welcome on the doormat..
Going out he says, .yousn notice
that. spelled backward. It's a.. French
word sisnifying mind your STEP
"And while I'm thinking up proper
comeback for. that last remark Of his'n
somebody hands me my hat. and In
less'n q p,inste. seems liAe. rm out in
the street keeping company with ,my-
self. ss s &. B
Il tells al this to the sweet cSps Kid.
but stin ne doii't seem sAtisaed with
my sxpianAtion. That's one drawback
to the kids dispositiesa gsts an, put
out over the least little thing. SO I