Evening star., 1934-02-05
"What you doing here, Oily2"
"Oh, just looking around"

NE, 100.
They turned for a space to converse
with the waiter on the subject Of
beverages. This question settled, the
reunion was on again.
Old days passed under review. Old
names came up for mention. Reminis-
cences Of Plug This and Shorty That
were exchanged. Soup Slattery show
ed Mr.. Carlisle the scar on his fore
arm where quick-drawing house.
holder Of Des Moines, Iowa, had
pipped him couple of years back,
when he was visiting at his residence.
Mr.. Carlisle showed Soup Slattery the
nasty place on his left leg where
disappointed investor in Australian
gold mines had bitten him. 1t was
only after some half hour Of these
condolences that the talk took on a
softer and more sentimental note.
Got the little woman over here
with you?" asked Mr.. Slattery.
Little woman?"
Il met some guy forget who it was.
told me you were married to Gum
Shoe Gertie."
Gordon Carlisle had a somewhat
melancholy face. At these words, its
melancholy deepened. NO" he said.
This guy said you were"
well, I'm not" He spoke a little
sharply. Then, as if feeling remorse
for having snubbed a well-meaning
friend, he explained, "Gertie and I had
q fight"
He brooded for q space. Then the
urge to pour forth his troubles over
came reserve. Just about nothing"
he said bitterly. "A trifling misunder-
standing you would have thought
could have been put right In couple
Of words Shed had to 60 to q hos
pital for a few weeks with a broken
leg, and while she was there it hap
pened that I saw something from
time to time Of girl friend of hers.
Purely on business. And when she
heard about 1t, she went haywire.
kept telling her the whole thing had
been strictly on the up-and-up, but
she wouldn't listen. One word led to
another and in the end she hit me
over the head with a vase and went
out of my life. That was a year ago,
and from that day I've not set eyes on
her. Women are tough"
you bet they're tough" agreed Mr..
Slattery. You never know where you
are with them. You take me, for in
stance. Boy, could I write a book!
The slickest partner I ever worked
with goes and leaves me fiat without
so much as giving me her telephone
number"
I'm sunk without Gertie."
her name was"
Professionally, mean"
PROFESSIONALS what I mean. There
wasn't any Of the hearts and flowers
stuff between Julia and me. You
never met Julia, did you?"
No"
We'll, she was Just the best inside
worker safe-blower ever had. Used
to get herself invited to these swell
homes, and could get away with it.
too, because she had style and class
and read books and all To hear her
talk you'd Of thought she was in the
Social Register
Julia" said Mr.. slattery manfully
holding the floor, worked with me
for years. And then one day-four
years ago almost to this very minute
yes, it was in Twenty-eight. just be-
fore Shorty Jenkins got twenty years
she told me out Of blue sky as YOU
might say, that she was through. Just
like that. No explanations Just gave
me the Bronx cheer and beat it. And
me who had split even Stephen with
her on every deal. never chisehng.
never holding out on her, no. not so
much as a dime. Seems to me. some
times, the Squarer guy is with these
beasels, the worse they treat him.
Well. sir. off she went, and I've never
been the same since. I've gone down
and down, as you might say" Mr..
Slattery hesitated. Shall I tell you
something, Oily?" I even do stick-up
work now"
You do?" said Mr.. Carlisle, and
though he tried to keep the note Of
disa pproval out of his voice, it crept
in. He hoped he was no snob, but
there are social grades and degrees in
the world Of crime
Mr.. Slattery flushed. "A guys got
to live" he argued.
oII SdIllSl6.
There was a rather constrained
silence.
When Mr.. Slattery spoke again, 1t
was evident that he was anxious to
re-establish himself in his companions
eyes.
1T isn't as II I wouldn't open a
pete If I could. There's a big job
right here in this town I'd take on
tomorrow, if only I'd got partner to
do the inside work"
Mr. Carlisle was interested. He
forgot his disapproval. Right here
in this town."
About mile out. Joint called the
Chatty-o Blissac"
Mr. Carlisle shook his head Don't
know it. I'm q stranger in these
parts"
ITS up that hill past the casino.
Some American dame has rented 1t.
I'll bet she's got Ice"
'You don't know"