The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-12-13

a job. Well, Omaha isn't such a good place to be in, the winter when you're broke and out of work. Too cold. But Tracy finds a job. Washin dishes! He works in restaurant and lives in a cheap rooming house.
 "One night he gets talkin' with fellow named Joe Parrott. This iParrott lives in the same roomz ing house with Tracy. He plays the ukulele and sings little and Tracy thinks. he's good. We'll, they, work upsan act together and Tracy gets ih touch with a book in agent he knows. This fellow gets them on in local house and they go ovor. Then he gets them some dates out of town. After while they land on a regular cir cult.
 ssThey're billed as King and Costello because neither of them thinks Parrott is such a good stage name. Parrott plays his uk- ulele and they sing together and then they both do a little hoofin'. "They play the middlewest two or three seasons and then they go east. All the while they're partners. But by this time Parrott's drinkin' pretty heavy. Sometimes he doesn't show up for the act. Finally they have a big row and bust up. Tracy knocks around by himself for a while and then joins Louie La monts orchestra. Of course you know who Louie Lamont is! Well, after while Tracy gets the. idea of having his own orchestra. He gets some boys together. That was thre years ago. was with him then and I've been with him ever since. We$played a. couple of sea Sons in vaudeville and then he got this offer to come to the State. Most of the boys in the orchestra live around here but came with Tracy. Like that, we are!"
 < Drugan, stopped talking long enough to raise two fingers of his right hand, holding them firmly side by side. Hike that he re- peated. "Me an Tracy"
 He leaned forward again, in- tent on his narrative. Now heres what happened last week" he said. Tracy and me were stand in right over there" Che mo- tione6 to a spot near the outside entrance "when little dark fe,- lows in seedy-lookin' clothes walks, in, claps Tracy on the back and begins pumpin' his arm. It's this Joe Parrott! Tracy tries to get rid of him but Parrott says he's got to see. him private, Of course I know that means touch so hang around.
 Then x the little fellow gets sore. He asks Tracy forsa job and Tracy says nothin' doin'., Then he. asks, for $50. Finally he gets it down to: $10. We'll, Tracy gives him a; couple of bucks and tells him to keep awal from the <. ..But the little fellow doesn't keep away He's back the next morning and the next afternoon
 He's bad actor, this Joe Parrott
 He meets Tracy out i'll the alley and he makes more trouble Tracy gets good and sore this time and tells Parrot that if he doesn't keep away he'll have the cops on him. Tracy tells me about it and says he's worried be- cause besides bein' such a drink CT Joes a iiop-head. You know
 ger Joe's a hop head. You know. Drugan paused signifi- cantly and made 3 quick move ment that suggested the use of, a
 hypodermic needle. tI
 "Now last night" Drugan's voice lowered and the hush gave it emphasis. Tracy saw Parrott hanging around outside when he came in. We went on for the early show and afterward Tracy told me he was goin. to go home and stay there until time for the second show. He said he couldn't stand seein' Parrott around and he didn't really want to turn him over to the police: He went out the front way--and that's tn elast we saw of him. When it got near time for us to 2 oon again I called his apart ment but there wasn't any an swer. We thought he was on his way and would. be here any min ute. We'll, we had to go on with out him. It was the first time il ever Tappenedi As soon as I could get away I jumped into cab and rode out to the Shelby Arms guess you know the rest. couldn't get any answer when rang the bell or pounded on the door so. I ran downstairs and got Ethe clerk. He opened the doci and we found himr
 It had been a long story and it ended as abruptly as 1t had be, gun. There could be no doubtine l the honesty of the. emotion that lmade Drugan's voice die away. all Isfnost to q whisper.
 There was pause and then Gainey said, .sI suppose you've l.told the police all this?"
 "rye told them to' ind Joe Par Itkilled Tfacy. q Drugan said slow | 1r 4stI4ose~ f1s ar ofsIv aUefny Ira ~