The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-28

started TO gather the papers. Inc
cop came back. He said, Listen
don't want to warn you again
tonight. I'll swat the hell out of q
you. Maybe I'll run you in and
maybe I'll swat the hell out of you
Just remember that"
Mr.. Lang threw the newspaper
back into the garbage can and
walked west. rolled up my can
vas and followed him I wanted
to talk to him, but didn't know
how to start.
THE moment he stepped over the
L fence I knew he was hungry.
Did you ever see real hungry
man walk? It's like a drunken
stagger, only there's a faintness
about it.
In front of the Eldorado he hit
up two taxi drivers who didn't an
swer. He turned into 74th st. and
lifted the cover of garbage can
and reached deep into it and
brought forth an object and tossed
it into the gutter. On Amsterdam
Avenue he hit up another taxi
driver who turned one pocket in
side out and made helpless mo-
ton. Mr.. Lang sat on stoop.
I didn't know exactly how to ap-
proach. I leaned on the banis-
ter and said, Are you Mr.. Lang?"
Eyes" he said, trying to recol-
lect, You're from the SCHOOL,"
Right" said, "class of 49,"
Il don't know your name, but 1
remember the face Were you in
any of my classes?"
mo, just saw you around the
building"
And what are you doing now2"
Nothing. Gave up looking for a
job four months ago."
He smoothed his hair and adj
justed his tie. His collar was
dirtier than mine, even. 1t was
certainly more crumpled. My shirt
was brown, you couldn't notice the
dirt.
"Are you still teaching?" I said.
mo, haven't been there for some
time. :. :"
81 have a little money, Mr.. Lang.
Let's go in there and eat some
thing"
MY boy, l haven't cent, but 1
don't mind if we do. I'm penniless
at the moment. Temporary en-
barrassment, of course"
I was no longer sorry for him.
"You son of a BITCH" 1 thought,
"te mpor ary embarrassment, of
course. is it? Why don't you sing
the Star Spangled Banner?"
in the cafeteria there was a sign
advertising baked apple for five
cents
Il have twenty cents" said, I'll
have a baked apple and you can
buy fifteen cents worth. I advise
pancakes and baked apple. Fill
you up and plenty of calories.'
First Mr.. Lang went into the
mems room and when he returned
the pancakes were on the table.
His yellow eyes bulged and his
stubbled cheek bulged and he
scratched his dusty hair loudly.
He had thick, handsome lips, few
erishly red. He didn't tall. until
the pancakes were finished.
couldn't say I'm the guy you fired
out of your class" You can see
how that would have sounded.
1 said, Whatever became of
Roy Kaufman. fellow used to write
poetry?"
II don't remember him."
"Or that other fellow who
wouldn't sing the Star Spangled
Banner?"
That one I remember" Mr..
Lang said, "but I never heard of
him and don't expect to. Wouldn't
give two cents for his future"
why not?"
Born troublemaker, he was. The
kind that doesn't know when he's
well off. They tried to palm him
off on me one term, only wouldn't
have him. Do you have a cigar
ette?"
mo, can't use any that are not
specially made up, and ran out of
those. Well send Jenkins over TO
Dunhill's early tomorrow. No, let's
wake him now Jenkins. Jenkins,
say" The fellow next table
looked up. Mister" I said, "can
you let us have a butt?" He gave
us two Camels.
Thank you" Mr.. Lang said to
him.
"Thatll be all, Jenkins" said,
quietly, so he didn't hear.
That is comical," Mr.. Lang said,
whats your name, my boy?"
my name is jenkins"
"Really?"
Really"
"Ho, no." Mr.. Lang said, This is
rich. Jenkins, oh yes, class of 30.
Sure you weren't in any Of my
classes?"
mo, I'd surely remember"
Great old school, at that" he
said, reflectively.
/ became sleepy. The counter
man wiped his tearing eyes. He
was cutting up onions for salmon
SALAD. Inc more ne wiped, the
harder the tears came. He cut his
finger and cursed and ran to get
mercurochrome.
Mr.. Lang said, I'm glad ! didn't
cut my finger"
I'm sleepy" I said, I'm going
to turn in"
"Where?"
TN the park"
You'll have no peace trying 10