The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1930-05-09
His Hunch Meant
Something
By JACK WOODFORD

DROBABLY Mickey had never even
heard the racket about "Do Unto
Others AS You Would Have Them Do
Unto You," but curiously enough, such
Is the paradox of life In this vale, that
he actually observed the axiom, even
though he had never heard of 1t,
whereas thousands of people in town.
who had the axiom drilled into them
from childhood up, and knew all about
IL, paid no attention to 1t.
But, then, Mickey was q dip, which
is to say pickpocket, and he took his
PHILOSOPHERS more seriously than most.
1t was when he was returning to
his room, at twenty minutes past
three, that he saw an officer pulling a
box at the corner. Because 1t was
such an early hour, and because 1t
was section of town so tough that
even hard-bOiled citizens did not often
lounge about ii at that hour, the stree;
was deserted
The officer, Mickey observed, had
handcuffed a man to him. Further
| more, the officer held In his hand, the
handcuffed one, bottle. A bottle
whose significant shape was unmis-
| taxable.
Mickey hadn't the slightest idea
who the victim was. Nor had he the
slightest idea who the cop was; but
their relative positions interested him.
And, besides, he had had a most sue
cessful evening and was In an expan-
| sive mood.
Evidently small dealer, who didn't
run with the right mob, and had not
the proper protection.
Didn't the sap have sense enough
TO kick the bottle out of the cops
hand, thereby destroying evidence?
Mickey was contemptuous. Such
fellow hardly deserved his aid. And
yet, was he not member of the
brotherhood, If even indirectly? And
was his captor not one of those to be
hated and feared by all of the broth
erhood?
Mickey stepped back a little way.
He was in the shadows. The police
man and his victim had their backs
to him. BY crouching very low be
could see the bottle clearly. 1t was
between the men. A clear target. And
Mickey prided himself upon his abil-
ity as marksman.
Very carefully he considered every
contingency. If he shot, the police
man could hardly blame the man be
had handcuffed to him. True, he
might think 1t was one of his mob;
but, even so, he couldn't directly
blame him. And too, the officer could
hardly give chase, handcuffed as he
was. By the time he got the cuffs off,
Mickey would be between the two
houses and out In the open alley, ev-
cry inch and creyice of which he knew
intimately. In fact, If the bull should
unhandcuff the man and give chase,
Mickey could far outdistance him, and
still his victim would escape In the
ensuing excitement. Impossible for
the officer to return the fire quickly
enough to get him before he could run
In between the buildings Chicago
cops weren't that quick on the draw;
and, besides it was very dark.
Mickey put his hand inside of his
coat, grasped the butt of his thirty
eight, grinning. Some premonition,
however, held him back. He stopped
to consider, carefully, all over again.
Usually his lunches meant something.
Why had he such a strong hunch
against the act this time?
Mickey shrugged his shoulders.
Pulling the gun forth, he took care
full aim, sighted until he could see the
bottle perfectly along the barrel of his
gun. 1t was an easy shot. Why, oh,
why this dread premonition?
Slowly his finger pulled back the
trigger. Expertly he squeezed both
stock and trigger at the same time,
so as not to Interfere with his aim.
And as the trigger drew back, the
hunch grew stronger.
Any moment now. The trigger was
back just about far enough to catch.
And then, suddenly, the gun roared.
There was deafening explosion.
Windows all around shattered Mickey
rocked back and forth on his feet,
dazed He rubbed his eyes. Looked
ahead. Both Of the men were gone.
Even the call box was gone.
"Soup! Nitroglycerin !" Mickey mur-
INJURED to himself. dazedy, as he fed
down the alley,