The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1934-06-14

When we got to Eds place 1t
was about nine o'clock. l was
tired and didn't feel like climbing
the five flights to his room so we
into the doorway to finish
talking.
After a few minutes boy came
along and leaned against the wall.
He was a nice-looking boy with a
clean-cut, bony face and square
Jaw. When he put his head back
the light from the street lamp
caught his face and then l could
see the tight lines around his
mouth and the pockets under his
eyes so that he didn't look like a
boy any more.
When he put his head back he
did it slowly like a man dropping
off to sleep in an armchair. He
looked funny doing that. Ed stop
ped talking and We both watched
him. 1 couldn't tell whether he
was asleep or not because his eyes
were closed. Ed shook his head
and gave a little click with his
tongue. l could tell he felt the
way did. When you pass an
old bum on the street who's broken
down and ready for the scrap heap
you sort of don't pay any atten-
ton to him. But when you see
young boy like that with dirty old
clothes and torn shoes and no place
to sleep so that he has to lean ms
head up against wall he's so
tired-it's different. You know it
is sentimental because the old bum
is out of the same mill as the
Young kid, and the kids being
showed into the gutter in the same
way the old bum was. But 1t
doesn't change the way you feel
about it.
, On the next corner there was a
Salvation Army band playing. We
. could hear the chorus singing and
l got a mental picture of couple
of women with plump, white faces
! and nice little lamb expressions
/ opening up their mouths and bleat-
ing in three-quarter time. Some
how or other I can never see
r salvation Army meeting without
getting sore.
I wondered whether the boy was
listening too and what ne wa
: thinking about. I could tell nov
n that he wasn't asleep because ever!
once in a while his Adams appl
|. would give a little twitch and nj
n evelids would pop open. 1t mad
y me nervous to watch him.
| started to say something tc
Ed but he nudged me and jerke
e his head toward the kid. / locke
around. A fat man with a fanc
gold headed cane was walking
y along the street staring at the hc
The man walked down ways an
d then turned around and came bacl
: He stood himself in front OF. tn
doorway and if I'D wanted to
q could have leaned out and touche
u him.
After a while he took out
q silver cigarette case and offered
If to the boy. Would you like
I'd cigarette?" he asked.
'e The kid didn't answer. The ma
cleared his throat and spoke
rs little louder. "Do you want cii
IS arette?"
re The boy gave that little twitC
a. in his throat and opened his eye
He looked at the fat man and the
o. at the shiny, silver case. But whe
( he tried to take a cigarette n
Mt fingers were like sticks and Il
!. man had to help him.
lg In the light of the match l cou
X see the boys face too-he ma
thick, smooth flesh that look'
n like it had just been shaved al
g his hands were white and meaty
al The boy took a long drag on t
cigarette and rested his head
be against the wall. The fat ma
to leaned over him. GA cigarette
nd good once in a while, isn't 1t
Then his voice got soft. "Unel
Oy ployed?"
g The boy looked at him for
Id moment and then nodded.
ae Haven't had a square meal
E. a long time, eh?"
IN The boy didn't nod this time.
Just looked away and took anoth
en-, puff on his cigarette.
of "It's tough not having a jol
ell the fat man said. He waited fo1
while. ''You know" he said' y
ct, like to help you"
The boy turned his head slow
Or and looked at him. "Sure." ne
Sc, peated, "Pd like to help a boy Ii
ids YOU" :,
nd Ed looked at me and gave tt
nat little click with his tongue. /
fat man heard it and turned L
ler a flash, but we pulled back and
ned didn't see us. He waited a WI
and then cleared his throat a
re- started to talk again. But
/. stopped in the middle OF it &
md looked off down the. street. | CO
N. hear some one coming.
sed 1t was the little blonde chiE
wn who hangs around Riccardfs
;er- the, next block. She had a tank
under her belt and she was 81
her ping along from, side to side
and singing N time with the Salvat
ac- Army band. When she came ur
rip where the fat man was she plan
:. herself in front Of him and
Sr. hose With a hiccup that must h