Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04

Then Pascal looks out the tUindo1U and
there's Pete on the SidetUGlk-and an
old tconrGn is pointing up at U.S."
you hear mel" said Blue. Funniest thing
ever pulled There was waiting in a room
across the street trying to read magazine, and
Pascal was sitting with his head against the
wall sleeping. I says There's Pete now He
was coming out of his Office We wasn't look
ing for him for two hours yet. So I jist set
there couldn't move, see, cause he come
sudden, see and was figuring he wouldn't be
out for two hours yet Pascal says, there's
Pete now But Pascal he jist opens his eyes
like fish and don't say nothing.
Pete he stops and looks right up at the
window where I'm sitting. see, and 1 wonder
does this guy know something I couldn't
move. wasn't ready, see? Well so Pascal
he slips and falls over and hits his head. This
makes me laugh, but still couldn't move my
trigger finger Pete he holds out his hand like
he's looking for rain, then let him have it.
don't know. It was funny. I jist let him
have 1t without knowing 1t, see, and before,
couldn't pull that trigger when I wanted to.
when the old gat starts to bark, Pascal gets
up and yells. What you smoking for, you
bum? 1t amt time yet Then he looks out
the window and there's Pete on the sidewalk
dead as yesterdays newspaper and old
woman is pointing up at U.s. We ditch the gun
and beat 1t down the back stairs.
That's all there was to it. There wasn't
nobody in the alley, see, so we jist walked along
slow, and pretty soon come to drugstore
and went in to get some Gigs cause we smoked
all ours waiting for that guy to come out"
Pour me little drink, honey" said Birdy.
Blue got up, took big flask out of his hip
pocket and poured Birdy another drink Then
he sat down, took out his billfold and extracted
q couple of railroad tickets.
Look at them, old kid" he said. when we
ride, we ride. Twentieth Century to New York
That's us. kid, and won't we give 'em a treat
over in BrooklynI Say, them Fasteners think
we're still shooting Indians. Why. Chicago
makes that place log like Y. M c. A. Yeah,
I used to know Ruby WEIGH. and he was big
stuff from Brooklyn. but what did he do when
Guido started cunning for him? He got him
self put in the can as a vag.
Yeah, we ought to go big over in New York,
kid. When somebody needs somebody for the
No. caper, Blues the guy for the job. I was
born with a rod in my cradle and I'm the best
there is. YEAH when the Big Boy wanted Pete
bumped, who did he call on first? Old Blue
yes, sir old Blue"
Blue got up. turned the photograph and
started to dance with a chair.
Hey" he said come on, let's dance, Birdy.
We're big shots now. Birdy, let's dance. Look
at me! If had my coat on I'd look like the
Prince of Wales Boup Mich, kid; that's us;
Boul' Mich. Well knock their eyes out on
Fifth avenue, kid: yes, sir. Let's dance"
I'm getting SICK, said Birdy.
Blue went over and looked down at her Her
face was pale and drawn, there were blue
circles under her eyes,
Getting sick, Birdy?"
yeah I can't stand it like used to. Put
me to bed, honey"
Blue picked Birdy up and carried her into
the bed room. Birdy began to hiccough.
Gimme glass of water she said
CHE lay down on the bed, and before Blue
could bring her a glass of water she was
asleep. He stood looking down at her, then he
went back into the living room, took a long
pull at his flask and picked up the crumpled
newspaper But he had read the account of
the killing of Big Pete many times that he
knew it by heart He sat staring at the paper,
then he threw it on the floor and sat rolling
cigarette between his palms.
It had begun to get light He heard milk
wagon passing. He got up and went over to
the window. The houses were still dark, and
far of down the street string of lighted
elevated cars along the horizon, but the
sky was gray and in the east some of the
clouds were turning yellow. 1t quiet Blue
began to notice how quiet it was.
"Birdy," he called
But he heard her snoring and turned back
to the table.
The telephone rang, but when he answered
it there was nobody on the line.
whats the idea?" he said.
He sat down at the table, took out his billfold
and counted his money, then he took out the
railroad tickets and read everything printed ON