Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08

"An right-so far. Is your uncle gomez" no
whispers
Arna mods There's nobody here but uS
and the Negro boy--and Them
Then Golightly knees down and puts his
eye to the chink in the boards And there in
the room below is Boland and Bender, each
with bottle in front of him and each lOokin'
suspicious at the other.
You said you come here for drink,
Bender" Boland is growlin', land you've ha0
three-and still you amt startin' to CO."
''You said the same yourself, Boland," SAID
Bender.
IT got an appointment here in this room at
3 p.m,' says Boland finally.
That's certainly funny" says Bender,
scowlin' at him, for I got an appointment
same place and time and mebbe the same girl
And it's past 3-and I been hearin' queer
noises from the river
Its your crew cuttin' up, guess" says
Boland, eager, you better go out and calm
EN-"
go out yourself and see if it amt your
crew." says Bender.
Then they walk around each other for
minute like couple of big mastiffs. But finally
they both sit down again, and Little Gohghtly
sees its just as he suspicloned. Either one Is
ready to fight his weight in wildcats-as long
as he don't have to fight the other.
Little Golightly's mouth sets down very grim,
and he takes si1inin thing from his pocket.
He's got long tin peashooter in his hand.
room below again. Benders over by the
window now and his back half-turned to
Boland. And Little Golightly puts the tin pea
shooter to his mouth and blows.
Well, Bender jumps back from that window
as if white-faced hornet had stung him.
"FTazz.e your vitals, Hardaxe!" he roars at
Boland "You slap me again and I'll give you
the fight you're spoiln. fort"
What the blazin' thunder ais you, you
yeller-toed porcupine!" roars back Boland, sur
Srised Il never hit you"
well, who in the seven sad angels did,
them" ye!ls Bender.
And they argue around for while, pretty
mad. But finally they start to calm down.
Only Little Golightly don't give em time, for
he puts the p-ashcoter to his lips again. This
time it's "I1ardaxe" Boland that jumps as II
he'd sat on newhoned curry-comb. He rises
from his chair, slow and deadly.
st told you I didn't hit you, you dish-faced
piece OF misfortune says he. And you acted
like you believed me-and struck me unfair.
Now I'll show you the difference when does
hit"
He makes a pass at Bender, and Bender is
ready for him. and the fight begins.
Well, they say they heard the noise Of that
fight as far upstream as Riverbank. Down by
the wharf the crews and the steamboat man
stood frozen and gapin'. Not one of 'em would
have given plugged nickel for Little Co
lightly's chances of even bein' assembled to
show his sorrowin' relatives-but they had to
admit that his death agonies was lastin' somes
thin remarkable.
FINALLY the noise dies down. And slow.
very slow, the two crews began to steal up
to the tavern to hear the news and help sweep
up Little Golightly.
Then the door of the tavern opens-and the
nearest man jumps back. And there's Little
Golightly and Arna and the Negro boy-all
three pushin' and tuggin' at a limp mountain
a TlsV get him m he md
prop him against the wall-and it's "Hell'
Bender all right, but he don't look the same.
And when they see how he looks-and that
Golightly amt even marked-a long sigh Of
marvel and admiration goes up from the crowd.
When the three of 'em drag out 'Hardaxe"
Boland and lay him out beside Bender-and
what's happened to "Hardaxe" Is evident,-thae
sigh goes up again.
Then Little Golightly steps forward.
well there they lay" says he. do VIM"
There's silence for moment. And then an
1ncredulous voice pipes up.
DO you mean to say you licked those two
you, Little Goightly?"
ASK EN-" says Little Golightly. He steps
over to Bender and stirs him to life. Wake up,
BenderI'' he says, I'm putin It ND to YOU.
Who licked you today? Was it me?"
Bender moves and tries to answer He amt
rightly come to his senses yet and there's only
one eye he can open-but that eye glitters with
undyin' hate against "Hardaxe" Boland.
II anyDcuy ncked me today 1t was you,
Golightly,' he says slowly, "for there amt no
disgrace in bein' licked by scholard. But as
for that tub of tallow over there, he couldn't
lick a blind treetoad with black-snake whip"
you hear hm?" said Little Golightly He
turns to Bo,and. And what about you, Hard
axe? Who licked you?"
1T was you that licked me, Golightly" says
Boland, takin' his cue from Bender and like
wise his hate,-"for as for that giant skunk
cabbage, he couldn't lick cream from dishpan
if his tongue was nine miles long,
Little Golightly turns to the crowd again.
Rut he doY1't nov IN eLr bet.