The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-05

Joe slipped into the seat behind the
> wheel. I've get to be in Traffic
Court at ten" he said.
you feuowsu have to get it VI if
you want to hold your jobs" Weiss
tod him. keystone took 800 cabs Of
the street yesterday"
Il don't stall" Joe said. He raced
his motor sullenly A cold blast
whipped in through the open ga-aga
door and Joe pulled the collar Of his
Gather jacket Up about his meek. He
threw the car into first gear, then
shifted into second.
Don't forget what I said" Weiss
jhouted ter him.
Nuts" ice muttered. He made a.
sharp right turn out of the garage
and headed uptown. It was 6
o'clock.
At 3Sd st. and Fourth Ave. he
stopped for traffic light and closed
the side window. His ears were tim
Cling. He scanned the street on both
sides smartlyr the keen and intui-
tive scrutiny Of en- experienced hack
man. He raced his motor to keep it
from stalling. In the window of the
cleanly-painted but vacant store near
which he was parked he could see the
big blue cab and himself at the
wheel. The car looked powerful.
He cruised slowly up Park Ave. A
yellow cab pulled up beside him.
Hello, wop" the driver shouted.
Joe grinned. "Hsllo, Levine"
The yellow cab drew ahead. Joe
.-t cigarette. Those fellows en- the
H9rnpany cabs had the RICH idea.
Steady job. He swo-e to himself.
Steady job in the pigs eye. Eighty
thousand hackmen In New York City.
Eighty thousand men out Of work.
You lest your job but you had a
chauffeur's license. You took your
test and joined the hack army.
The avenue was deee-ted. PEOPLE
who rode in taxis didn't get up at six.
The cab owners, however, weren't in
tsrested. They wanted their cars on
the street, Joe turned east down 42d
st. and then cut back into the hack
line which extended from Grand Cen
trail to the Hotel Commodore en-
trance. The area was restricted but
the cops didn't come on duty until Q
o'clock. joe cut off his motor and
removed his gloves. His hands were
frosthittcn. Levine and Anderson
came up.
You're heat WORKING" Levine
asked.
Sure" Joe said.
The two hackmen got into his cab.
Joe got out Of the drivers seat and
joined them in the rear.
Nine cars ahead of you" Levine
said. THE 6:35 amt due for ten
minutes. But the ridersll pass me
up anyway. That old load Of mine
looks like the Tooneryille bus"
A GLISTENING black Cadillac linz
n CUISINE drew up behind them. The
chauffeur leaped cut gingerly. He
opened the rear door and pair Of
silk ankles stepped out. The girl was
bundled to her eyes in sable. Hurry"
she snid. A round besr~kin tunoNled
out after her. Coming, darling" The
g-rl and the fat 'acod bearskin hur-
rted into the hotel
Levine watched them. His lips
frightened. Home from party. The
bastards," ne said. Freeze her tcot-
sizes, the cat. My wife was up at
$50 this morning fttetlin' some heat
out of the stove With 3 hendful of
wood. Aud me with an $ll pay
check last week"
That was good" Anderson said.
He was lanky and cadaverous look
ing. Il come home with nine"
Joe Yves silent. He was thinking
"hcut his court engage~en who's
sittin' in Traffic today" he asked.
Delaney" Levine said. Tough
baby. Got ticket?"
"Failin' to SIGNAL You know the
snow we had Thursday"
Glitch Of day"
"I'm comm down Fifth Ave. near
46th about ten in the mornin' when
IN old man with an umbrella steps
out in front Of me. It was slippery
But stopped dead. Smack, some
body hts RE IN the rear. The old
man beats it. I hop out and some guy
n a gray top-coat comes I'D swearin'.
spotted a pair Of black puttees."
"Cop?" Levine asked.
Traffic sergeant. His private car.
A roadster. The radiator was
You dago bastard!' he
yelS. I saw blood, but Jesus, a SER
yeant.
"He must have been on top of you
when you stopped" Anderson said.
Christ, couldn't take my hand
on the wheel to signal. I wouldve
clipped the old man"
One of the cars up front moved
away. Levine and Anderson got out.
Joe slipped behind his wheel. The
Westchester Limited was in. Two
more cabs pulled OH with calls. Joe