The Washington times., 1932-07-09

LanSuId AFTERNOON
Every now and then a traf-
fic light blinked and a few
automobiles stirred into action.
Occasionally a trolley bounced
along to disturb the monotony
of the sound of shifting gears.
On the various corners news
boys sat behind their papers
and mopped their brows. 1t
was all very quiet. And very
hot. And very depressing.
Suddenly two shots rang out;
two shots that were clear and
ominous in their crack. AS if
by magic the neighborhood
leaped into action. A mad
frenzy of police whistles sound
ed on every side. Sticks re-
verberated on the heated pave
ments and the chilling siren OF
q flying police car screamed
its warning.
The storekeepers left their
children in charge Of their
stores and raced in the direc-
ton of the shots as though
they were running from the de-
preston. The crowds came
from nowhere and everywhere.
The center Of attraction rest
ed in the gutter spot into
which he had rolled. Blood
yo,Ired from his left side and
his right arm. He cursed and
he moaned and he groaned
and he cursed again. Two po-
licemen very probably his
sworn enemies-did their best
10 make him comfortable.
Escapes Police
An ambulance Changed up as
other policemen cleared the
way. More and louder curses
fell from the injured mans
lips as the doctor fiddled with
his wounds. Soon they placed
him on a stretcher and pushed
him into the machine. The po-
licemen compared notes The
doctor smiled at a pretty girl in
the crowd. The Speakeasy
owners across the way pulled
in their heads and closed their
windows again. The ambu-
lance rolled away. The crowd
dispersed. The show was over.
And, several blocks away the
scared figure of running man
dived across Ninth Avenue and
disappeared INTO one Of the
dark streets that lead toward
the river
In a Tenth Avenue apartment
a woman heard furtive steps
on the landing and then a
quiet knock. Slowly she crossed
the room and opened the door.
The breathless figure of man
lurched in. He gasped as he
fell into a chair.
Shut that lousy door, Nell,"
he muttered between breaths'
The woman betrayed no great
emotion. She closed the door
and went over to the man.
whats wrong, Red?" she
asked. Whats got you this
way? Who's after you? The
cops AGAIN."
The man nodded.
yeah. I got caught pretty
on an Eighth Avenue job. Didn't
wanna do it, but I had to use
my gat. I think I shook 'em
off, but I amt sure"
Knock on the Door
He paused. He looked up.
Listen, Nell" he went on.
''T don't wanna get caught here.
Not here.
The woman shrugged her
shoulders.
Don't talk like a dope" she
returned. why the hell should
the cops come here? They didn't
see you get in. Stick around.
Red. You're better off if you
wait until the circus is over"
The man arose. His face
twitched nervously. He almost
shouted his words.
''No. Nothin' doin'. Kid. I
can't do that.
He wet his lips. He fumbled
with his collar.
Listen. Nell" he said jerkily.
"I'm flat. Lend me twenty
bucks and I'll hop over to my
brothers place in Paterson. I'll
hide up there for a bit.
The woman regarded him curl
ouSly for a moment.
'If that's what you want,
Red. it's okav by me. Seems to
me, though, that this is the first
time i've ever seen you like this.
Jeez, anybody would think this
was your first job. What'sa
matter, bov?"
Red shifted uneasily. He
seemed on the verge of hys-
terics.
Come on. willya? Slip me
the twenty bucks. Nell, like a
good girl. Can't you see I got
the shakes in here?"
With another shrug of her
shoulders, the woman lifted her
skirt careleSsly and was just
about to remove a wad of
money from her stocking top
when a firm tread was heard
on the stairs. You couldn't
mistake those footsteps. Neither
could Red. Neither could Nell.
Advises Escape
The man blanched and looked
badly about for a method of
escape. But the woman kept
hAr haod She bundled him