Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-19

l. tel on West Forty-seventh
trucks iounced and Numbered
/ on their way TO the wharyeS.
Hokey-pokey men shooed flies
from their carts and gave vent to invit-
Ing squalls Roller skates whirred on
the uneven sidewalks, mingling with
khrill younG voices But the bedlam-
ever punctusted by the recurrent creS-
cendo of the elevated trains-failed 20
disturb the Young man i'll Room "A.
He lay sbed. though the afternoon
Wss far gone, sleeping one arm thrown
across the pillow above the taugle OF
dark cUrls Faint shadows beneath the
blur Of his laSheS served only 10 &C
centuste the fresh coloring, Lying so,
the slim Young body scarcely ridged the
smooth sweep Of the gray blanket,
Presently in the hall slight noise
became sudible---a faint tap-tap, SUBJ
6ue6 scrapins. a minor note i'll the pam
6enoniuTn Of outdoors But the boy
heard In a fash he was awake
TenSe6 ON one elbow. brown eyes watch
full. slowly his right hand crept beneath
the inflow For a hreathless moment
silence reigne6. while two blue-pala-
nlaeo legs slid Stealthily out and touched
the floor.
Hello" inquired voice. accompa-
MED by knock. You in there.
Danny?"
All right yswned Danny Just a
second
Stufine his bare feet into worn
leather slippers. he crossed the room,
Still rubbing his eyes. and unlocked the
door
wake you up" inquired the in
sruder.
He was tall. or would have been save
for the one leg that ne threw out and
ahead when he walked. supporting him.
self By the rubber tipped cane. The
square face above the dark suit was
scanned and kindly. with blue eyes.
Nc" lied tbs hoy. I was awake
got IN earlier than / expected.
No luck"
'N-no." yawncd Danny. frowning.
Looked like tip-ofT to me. Joe Ma
lone no sooner got his torch on the
end warehouse than two dicks jumped
us Dark as sin. too"
ANYBODY nicked?" The big man
lighted a cigarette. after waving the
pack at the boy who shook his head,
Don't think so. I busted pretty fast.
Me" he grinned almost APOLOGIZE
cslly. Il couldn't pot feller, less 1t
was him or me"
Not even a dick?" scowled the Older
man his eyes losing their genislity He
blew a cloud of smoke like an in
CenSed dragon. and Danny wondered
for the hundredth time at the bitter
ness Of the lodger across the hall. Him
self. he didn't hate policemen. even
after they had caught his cousin. Ed,
who had first introduced him to Butch
felton and the gang. For he knew,
now that he was older. that Ed had
been bad-not at ALL in fact, the Robin
Hood he had painted himself while in
NrRs
man. Two years ago-and now he was
IN for keeps
Yet the game had its points. All 70
gain. nothing to lose save Danny
frowned momentarily as he thought of
"a and Mig Ellis and Sweds Sibberson
on the sidewalk that raw December
night. Nothing 10 lose save .
The Older mans voice disrupted his
wool gathering.
can stand the sight of anything except
a dick"
DANNY nodded absently at the fanlil-
~ lar indictment He wished that
asking questions were part of the
code For he was still curious about
life. about people. His experiences had
not yet twisted his engaging smile into
the nirthless grin OF a Butch Pelton.
His face was still unknown compare.
tivelv. He was free to respond to the
sights and sounds and smells of world
that still held very great glamour for
seeking eyes
Well the visitor sighed. heaving
himself up from the chair, guess III
be moSeyin' along to eat son" He
hrnped slowly TO the door. where he
paused tn inquire, "How's things with
your girl?"
Danny's ears turned delicate cerise
though he still confronted himself in
the mirror over the dresser. affecting
nonchalance while brushing his hair
Aw. shut up" grinned Danny whirl-
ing You got me covered. Gimp. but
you needn't rub ii In. Every fella's got
IN go of his nut some time, guess.
But" ne shook his head ruefully,
''IIl be darned il thought would
and like it, too"
She know your line o. business yet?"
asked Gimp. slyly rubbing his chin.
No" exploded the boy. Shed fire
Gimp-straight's a string, Can y imag-
Inc it-and falling for me?"
Sure said Gimp, leaning on his
stick You amt 50 bad But some
day less you snap out of it, she's goin'
70 get on. Ever think of leavin' the easy
life and buryin' yourself in an Office
somewhere
Danny nodded slowly and looked out
Of the window, over the gray house
tops.
For the first time. in the weeks that
followed, Danny felt the coils OF his
associations tightening about him. He
would leave Millys snug little parlor,
his shoulder thrilling 10 the pressure
Of q small trusting head
Gee. honey" ne would complain,
brushing her feathery lashes with his
cheek gee. ! don't see what you can
gee in a guy like me Honest, ! don't.
amt in your class at all"
MilIy would smile up at his troubled
fsce, mysteriousiy. grsveiy sweet Then
sFe would trace the outlines Of his fea-