Evening star., 1933-08-20

faces" he explained "Got . couple ribs
cracked in a show in Walla Waila and had
to take a layof Wanted to see the fair and
visit an aunt of mine who lives IN Peory, 50
here I am"
The girl regarded him curiously. Its
funny" she said Il was born in Pittsburgh.
Pop came here as a roller in rail mill Nom
is Rumanian while pop is German-Ir1Sh-
guess I'm just Chicago.
Thought you lived >in Gary
Its all the same-I've got an aunt who
lives there"
Rick chuckled. Now we're gettin' close.
I got an aunt in Peory. What else could be
mutual, 'wonder?"
At last the girl was interested. Her dark
eyes were alght as they gazed on Rick Powells
weathered comtenance Color was creeping
into her face, the tired lines fading. Rick
suddenly realized that Patsy Martin Of Chi
cago could be mighty beautiful stirring
warmth lifted under his sore ribs
uTEIL some more" invited Patsy. over her
coffee cup. we oughtta have more than
aunts together"
Il got a cabin up from the Horse Heaven
country" Rick said slowly. everything around
fading. IT'S a hun'erd miles from no
where"
"A hundred miles from nowhere" Patsy
Martin interrupted softly. That line has
swell sound-somehow-"
Take a time like now" Rick Powell drawled
on, his eyes drifting shut Twilight gone.
Brightest starshine ever siftin' through the
pines.
There's little lake down a piece from the
cabin This time you see it through the
clearn' like chunk of the sky that's tumbled
there The pines a-whisperin' in the night
wind This time I always haul out my geetar
and tenor a few range songs wham .
geetar porely."
He wiggled the rope-burned thumb. But
I reckon I don't tenor so worse. sing on
the side at the rodeos.'
Double in Brass said Patsy.
"Yay-hey!" Rick sat up. Il know that lingo,
trouper Are you with a show?"
The girl shook her head all her sparkle and
glow suddenly vanishing With the weariest
sigh. the most respondent expression. she
huddled down in the stool-chair.
Listen, trouper." said Rick demandingly.
we've struck common range. You're a-goin'
to tell me what it's all about"
For a moment Patsy Martin did not reply.
She was seated at the left end Of the counter,
toward the platform. 1t was vacant now ex-
cept for one figure. that of large, swarthy
man leaning against post Patsy Martin
looked back at Rick Powell with desperate,
haunted eyes.
She talked, swiftly, Ill a low, tense voice,
keeping a close watch on the waitress.
Rick Powell listened with an expression like
that of a boy watching a sword-swallover. OF
course he'd heard of the Chicago gangsters,
Just as he'd heard Of bandits in China and
sharks in the South Seas. But such items were
Just unreal to an Oregon cowpoke.
The rackets, it appeared, were things you
did not see or know unless you lived and
worked in the big town. The worst were the
outlaw labor unions and fake trade associations.
Patsy had been a laundry worker
There's six kids in the family, and I'm the
oldest" she said Year ago pop was laid on
so much I had to quit school and 60 to work.
I met Pogey Smarns at a union picnic.
It put On 4 act. Nom had taught me the
guitar and gypsy songs since I was q baby.
Pogey fell for my act-and me. He got me
chance in a night club-.hat shoulda told
She paused her eyes begging reinsurance.
"Stin with you, trOuper,' said Rick "Lopin'
Last Spring quit" Patsy went on steadily.
"It was q run-out I knew that Pogey Smarns
and Wecps Marone had mloaded Paul Hag-
gerty. mean they took him for ride.
"Haggerty was a federation organizer He'd
called bunch of truck drivers to meetin' to
make q fight againt the outlaw union.
coupla gunmen held up the hall. took Haggerty
with em, and he never came back.
Later Pogey talked too much, and heard
too much. It was run out, or 60 h with
Pogey Smarns, killer, for keeps"