Evening star., 1936-03-08
March 8, 1896


now, and Eddie MCGUIRE talk was running
down. II got to get to work. Horne said.
Watt
Its no good, kid Once cop always ~
Give me these two hours, then! Don't
tell her"
Horne shrugged. AS long as you don't
start something -" He ended abruptly. The
girl was coming toward them.
Johnnie Durkn smiled. II met an old
friend, dear" he said. II didn't recognize him
az first This is my wife Mr.. Horne
Her smile was quick and friendly. why,
what luck! John told me he'd lost track OF all
his old friends And here he runs into you!'
Sam Horne's lip curled. Its lucky, all
right" he said. Amt it, Johnnie
Its shame We didn't meet you sooner"
the girl went on. We're going home tonight,
after dinner" She placed her hand on the,
boys arm. Couldn't MIR Horne have dinner
with us tonight"
The grey haired man gave an angry start.
Il couldn't make it," he asserted shortly.
"See youlater, he said then to John Durkin.
Horne walked swiftly across the deck to his
platform. and young Mcclure grlnned and
stepped down gladly enough. Sam Horne
cleared his throat He knew his piece well; he
was glib with facts and figures about the mid
town skyline. 1t was familiar stuff; he talked
rapidly hardly thinking of what he was
saying. His glance moved ceaselessy over his
audience, but occasionally his small hard eyes
fingered on the stopped figure of Johnnie
Durkin in the last row.
The steamer ploughed on through the
drizzle that had set in. 1t came abreast of
Welfare Island and passed by and cut down
speed at Hell Gate to turn into the Harlem
river Sam Horne stepped down from his
stand. This was intermission time. Horne lit
cigarette and stood little to one side, where
he could keep an eye on Johnnie Durkin. =
He smoked the cigarette down to the end,
and thought about Durkin. The girl was nest
ling quite close to him. and. though Horne
couldn't see, he knew she was holding his
hand. Durkin was dumb kid, Sam Horne
thought. He would have been safe for the rest
of his life if he hadn't come to New York to
show pretty country girl the big town.
Horne frowned at the thought of the girl.
Johnnie wasn't talking much he couldn't be
telling her. preparing her for what was going
to happen when the gangplank went down at
the Battery Sam Horne didn't like it.
Women who wept and begged and clung to
you only messed up job that should be
quick and clean and quietly done.
The steamer passed Spuyten Duyvil and
nosed into the Hudson. Usually, at this
point, he took up his megaphone again to
show them the sweep of Palisades across the
river and the towering apartments of upper
Riverside. But there was no need now to 60
back to the job. The fog had swallowed the
skyline; there was nothing left to see They
were drifting through muggy world of grey
over waters dark as slate. Somewhere ahead
was George Washington bridge. but its mas
sive towers and sweeping cables were blotted
out. Captain Kane had cut down speed. 1t
would be sticky going from now on; they
would be late in docking The first doleful
wall of the steamers siren sounded from
the bridge.
Home threw away one cigarette and pulled
out another The wind caught his first match,
and his second When he finally looked up.
his eyes widened in alarm. Johnnie's girl was
sitting alone. and Johnnie was gone.
Horne walked rapidly to the bow and
pushed his way through the groups of pas
sengers his eyes searching. Then he went into
the cabin, and so to the lower deck. Johnnie