Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-08-09


he enjoyed hanging around the slums |
and observing what went On.
At the corner of Northampton and
Washington streets ne waited idly
one evening for something to turn
up.
He glanced at his Waitham-ten
o'clock.
He yawned.
Perhaps it was the boredom Of
Boston that made him yawn; perhaps
because he was out late the night |
before
Nevertheless, he yawned lazily and
stretched his long, muscular arms. |
Someone tapped him on the Shout
der.
He turned half around.
The stranger a short, dark, brown,
rat-faceG man, smiled and inquired: |
Say; you got the habit, amt you,
What habit?"
law, don't try to play so dumb,
you knowi"
The stranger laid hand on Bills
arm.
You know because you gave ME
the signal"
Il gave you the signal?"
yes, you gaped .,ree times and
stretched your arms-that means the
habit"
Battle decided to play wise.
He confessed falsely:
Sure, partner, I've got the habit"
The little man became confidential
His grip frightened on Bill arm.
"All right, then! Wait here q min
ute and I'll get you fixed up!"
He was gone in flash and disap-
peared around the corner.
Bill stood mystified.
He lit cigarette and wondered
what was coming next.
Thoughts fairly few through his
mind.
He was reused from his rumina
tionS by young colored boy of per-
laps twelve years of age.
Mister, you the man with the hab-
it?"
"Sure, kidd"
Follow me then"
'Where?"
'T can't tell you, mister, it amt
far though"
They started off together.
Battle tried to engage the lad in
conversation; all he could get were
short, pup-like "yeps" and hopes.
They walked about three blocks |
and turned into dimly lighted, side
street.
Soon the urchin announced:
A MYSTERIOUS HOUSE
Here's the house; come In"
They halted in the vestibule Of a |
big, three-story house.
The boy rang the bell.
A voice called through the speak
ing-tube
who Is it?"
"It's me, momma. and a man who
does cleaning"
"All right, come up"
AS Bill stumbled I'D the stairs ne
tried to explain that he didn't do any
cleaning.
The kid said. Hush" almost ar
grily.
Little did Battle know that these
were the passwords.
The kid disappeared.
Bill was now in handsomely fur
nished living room.
Soft lights and velour cushioned,
oyerstuffed furniture added to Its at
Effectiveness.
On a settee in one corner FEM
mime figure lay-evidently young
woman: surely not an old one.
She was probably asleep. Bill
thought.
She was covered with blanket.
The blanket outlined the contour
of her body as if it had been draped.
He could see the rEvthmic rise
and fall of her body as she breath
Her legs were uncovered up to her
knees.
The bows mother. a big bloated.
brown skin woman of the sings
bIues-for- the-records type, entered
the rocn..
She scrntinized Bill carefully and
sIspiciously.
She seemed to be :2mewhat doubt
full
Her rowing black eyes noted every
detail about him
His clear. olive complexion his
perfect compoSure and ,olite manner
caused her to be uncertain Of him:
he wasn't the Usual type that came
TO ner house.
The woman was all BUSINESS
She snapned at him.
"What will YOU have sniff
or a iab?"
He instantly realized that he was
ir a dope Joint Ind that extreme
diplomacv was required.
9TH take sniff"