Evening star., 1931-05-10


seen-by the man en- the block, by
those bidding. Now he tried to take the color
OF the crowd.
Just fast -out-that's me-"
He knew with his mind that he had succeed
ed, that all had gone as he had planned. The
man who has mapped every road does not lose
his way The skilled workman does not bungle
Manner does it; front does it, Foresight, skill
manner-he possessed them ALL and his reward
already filled his eyes like fruit on tree.
And yet, for all his assurance, his heart
was racing. He imagined that his fellows OF
the auction room were looking at him. He
knew with his mind that they were not but the
feeling persisted.
Later as he drew nearer the door, a woman
at his heels was thrown against him by surge
of the crowd. Tachman felt the thrust OF her
hand on his shoulder as o deliberate shove,
and later still, when the surge was repeated,
as a second. Stealing glance over his shoul-
der he recognized her as the fiery little woman
in black who had bid against him for powder
box. Her open desire to obtain it had tempted
him to outbid her. Afterward she would have
stabbed him dead with her angry eyes If looks
could kill.
He had found her rage relieving touch of
comedyA Her anger again acted divertingly to
steady his nerves. Nevertheless he felt glad to
reach the door.
He knew with his mind that the hard lay
behind, the easy ahead, but his self-conscious-
ness persisted even after he had reached the
street. An attendant at the door had given
him too much notice. The woman in black had
swept by too promptly to join the SouthbOmd
traffic. moment later he headed his own
boat northwaTd.
A s he hoated along with the current, his
~ seIf-conSciousneSs began to take other
form. He imagined he was attracting the at
tention of strangers. Two girls, overtakfng him,
looked around and giggled. man looked
around, stopped and hesitantly turned toward
him as if he were about to speak. Tachman
wheeled haughtily away toward show window
and the stranger moved on.
Front does it. Steady does IT,"
Later as he was crossing the street, traffic
policeman eyed him sharply. Two women saw
him and exchanged glanceS-they were old and
him with his eyes; then fat man. a lean man,
truck driver, two girls in taxicab.
He reached the farther street car track as
Southbound Route rear-enter came to q
stop. and he swung aboard. Paying his fare, he
slipped into the nearest seat, with his topcoat
folded across his arm.
He had not intended riding past the auction
room. The impulse that now led him to do so
led him to glance through the window at its
lighted interior. The piece remained as he had
left it, with no one rushing about excitedIy.
Plainly the auctioneer had not yet discovered
his loss.
That's that, and me seeing phony ever since
that jane poked me with her fist! Everybody
pass Even the conductorl Boy, cut 1t out!"
He therefore sat boldly at the window as far
as to the second corner; then, rising, he
changed to a seat even more conspicuous to-
ward the front Of the car, where he laid his
topcoat beside him. No one was looking at
him. Why should they be?
Had he glanced behind him he might have
in1Qained that not OFlV the conductor lOOk-
ing at him, but that the man was about to
speak to him. But he did not catch the quick
glance and nothing happened
Taehman spent the next f1ve minutes alone
with his light fingers First he cautiously with
drew from the folds Of his topcoat, although
not into. the light, that which lay concealed
there-a woman'S diamond necklace. Next,
finding handkerchief, he wrapped it about
the stones. When he had made sure Of his
parcel he slipped It into his inside coat pocket.
From first TO last he worked with one hand, by
the sense Of touch alone, his eyes directed idly
out Of the window.
His topcoat had served its purpose. He now
crowded it into the angle at the end of the
seat, Immediately under the window, and moved
over to hide 1t from view. II he had luck it
might lie there unnoticed to the end of the run.
The conductor, his mind told him, was busy col
lectfng fares: he could not keep track OF loose
topcoats.
was called. The car stopped; the forward door
swung open. Suddenly Tachman rose and
passed forward to leave, not hurriedly, but at
a moment chosen TO get him to the door as it
was about TO close again. The motorman had
to wait for him to spring to the ground. He
had intended that the mOtor1nan should see
him. The tOpcoat no longer entered tina pietEEe
Although he sffu had tbs uneasy feellf1k tlaa6
people were locking ae hilS. Be besleved tfi4f h
no longer stood In danger Of rutELBt. ~ the