The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1934-04-11

buy that are driving through.
On a d ay that's so hot you can
| feel the ends OF your hair splitting
on your head, I'm sitting up to
Gordie's fountain making 1t worse
with fizzy~ stuff when Benny Mer-
ton comes In and says: There's a
big noise over to the hotel that's
asking about you, GOrdie."
So" Gordie says, and goes on
polishing the glass In his hand.
Comes from Newark, New Jer-
sey."
''T been expecting him."
Friend of yours?"
mo"
I'm glad to hear it," Merton
says. He'd give pain In the
NECK to an iron man"
"Drunk?" says Gordie.
More or less; but 1t amt that.
It's the size of his talk. Never
been West before, but he's telling
! old man Bliven just how it all
came to be like 1t is. There amt
anything he don't know"
There's one thing" Gordie says:
and that's where Lily is"
Our two glasses hit the counter
at the same time. Lily" he say
together. Lily's the girl Gordie's
going to marry. AS sweet and
nice kid as you ever saw.
"What---
"She was engaged to this bird
! once" Gordie says, white as his
| shirt. hand shaking little as he
| reaches for another glass. Back
East. That's why she came out
hereto get away from him. Her
1 Ill tnlr xd INIT
any money. She couldn't leave
him, oh hire any help. They'd
Just come to Newark, and this
Marcus Keener-thats his name
was the only one they knew. He's
got a spot OF money. and he
wanted to marry her. She never
cared about him and told him SO,
hut she said she'd marry him and
do the best she could by him. II
he'd see the old man through. And
a week later the old man died and
she couldn't stick it, and said so.
Said 1t would be better for her to
split up the Keener before marry
| ing him than afterward. He
raised so much hell she was scared
| to stay in the same town. She
got Job In the station eating
house out here, and her transpor-
| tation, and came on out, like
like little scared bird" Gordie
says. mot knowing where she was
going or anything. And just about
| the time her'n med fixed 1t up,
Keener writes he's coming after
her. dunno how he'd found out
where she was. Anyhow, write
him not to bother--that in three
weeks she's marrying me. Which
Is the truth"
/! GORDIES THE LIIvTLEST
FELLOW IN TWO ROCKS
Gordie Wilbur's the littlest fell
low In Two Rocks. He's sensitive
about 1t. The day he opened up
here three cowpunchers LACED In off
a cattle train that had stopped for
water lined UP at his fountain and
drunk 1t dry. When nothing more
would come out Of 1t, the biggest
guzzlingest bozo gets UP and
stretches and says, boiling over
with soda water like a soap kettle
on a hot fire:
| "Well, we'll be seeing you, Little
Half Pint. Thanks for the buggy
ride"
| Meaning" Gordie says, getting
| pale, that you ain't aiming to
pay?"
1.-THE kid" the big puncher says.
| Guessed right the very first time!"
Gents" says Gordie, quiet and
| trembling, IF you think I amt
running this place you're going to
| learn something" And he locks
| the door and puts the key in his
pocket. / don't own a gun, and
amt unusually powerful, or any
| like that; but I'm stronger'n !
look, and I'm here to do what
| can to collect what's owing me.
Who'll be first?"
The one that'd done the talking
says, keep your bib on baby, and
get out of the way" The other
| two speak up together. Hell!
He's q good Guy, and he gets his
money. Dig into your pants, now,
and pony up. What do we owe
you, mister?" And Gordie stands
there, white but quiet, like nothing
had happened. collecting every
cent that's coming to him.
So when he says he's gotta
handle Kcener alone, we know ne
means It., and go on off MY bust
ness being next door, ! inquire
however, I'll be there II needed.
I'm just leaving when this keener
gets out, ugly drunk and looking
like the Great /, Am in his cheap
summer getup; blue golf stockings
and pale gray golf suit with plus
tours you could put half barrel
OF apples in, pale blue shirt and
little white cap on his long lumpy
head.
vou ~ he says, sticking out his
-."I am" says Gordie; and right
there I had to leave. The woman
had said some Of the folk in the
wrecked car were hurt.
Name of Gordon Wilbur
Keener says.
Gordie mods. getting winter. as
1--WE DRIVEN TWO
THOUSAND MILES"
"WelI," Keener says in loud
voice, staring at him hard, i've
driven two thousand miles to see
you, Wilbur"
"You came too far, Keener."
Gordie says. 1T amt going to be
worth 1t to you"
Listen, your Keener says, MS
| voice getting louder and the liquor
L In HIM WoThiHB last AA saS Aus
1 weather. 1--WE come for the woman
that promised to marry me. see?
i Where 10 she?
"She's going away from here"
i Gordie says. Nobody knows
/ where to but me, and I'm not tell
/ inng. And In q week, now, she's,
i marrying me-like wrote you. ]
/ wouldn't leave you come around q
/ dog liked much less Lily. I'm
i looking after her from this time
on. Now beat It,"
Il Keener stared down at him hard,
l turning purple In big spots. And
4 then he throws back his long mule
head and laughs at the size OF
il him. You so-and-so Of Little
Il Half Pint he roars. You tell me
Il where she Is, or Til" And
Il Gordie jumps right down his