The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-09-25

DuS SCdTGeQ.
It was a nice ride. The lecturer de-
Ivered N rather q monotone a long
and ~stereotyped talk on the points of
interest. The bus made dozens of stops
while special buildings were pointed out.
Grandma didn't notice very closely.
She had already had several bus rides
around New York. Shed pay more at
tention, she felt, when they reached
Chinatown. She'd never been to China
town. The lecturers voice was pleasant
car stopped the driver turned around
and gave grandma a friendly grin.
Grandma liked him more all the time.
A friendly boy.
The car stopped in front of a d.
lapidated looking building.
This mission" gRid the lecturer,
lis one of the Oldest in New York. It
was started to take care of some of
the thousands of New York's homeless"
little 'U Sleepy Sfon She OH did Itan listen was ver a
closely but she heard some of it. e.
so you may get out for a few minutes
to see what the mission is doing and as
sist, If you wish, in the splendid
Everyone but grandma got out of
mission: The driver got out, too. Grand
ma decided that she wouldn't get out
at all. She sat there, nodding a bit
sleepily.
A curious thing happened. A man
got into the bus.
Now, ordinarily, a man getting into
mas attention at all. But everyone else
had got off the bus-and then this man
got on. He hadn't been one of the pass
engers. Grandma was sure Of that. He
was an ugly little fellow and he was
looking for some one.
Suddenly, grandma knew that the
man was looking for her! This wa the
man-Eddie, more than likely, that the
other man had spoken about. Well,
she'd pay no attention to him. He came
up close to her, muttered something.
What did you say?" asked grandma
Her voice sounded suddenly shrill,
th e%gt u usually ally a J it was soft and low;
Just telephoned that Matte was on
this bus--had something for me. Did
she give it to you?"
II don't know Matte" said grand
ma.
Come, now" said the man. His voice :,
was rough, harsh. Joe said Matte was
She isn't inside. And you're in her
seat. Come across. I got to beat it.
What's your gamer"
mo game at ALL" said grandma. Il
don't like you or your friend. And I'm
not going around delivering bundles
for either of you."
see 90 sGyC S%'r fbi ao!'" said the man. I'll
He leaned still closer to grandma.
Took hold of her shoulder. Whether he
would have shaken her grandma never
knew. In fact she was never awfully
clear about what happened at all just
then.
She knew she started to her feet.
And said stop that" And the man put
his hand owe her mouth.
And at that very minute the driver,
who had got out of the car to stretch
his legs, returned suddenly. Then it
was his hand or the mans shoulder.
And the next thing that grandma
knew the man had drawn a gun. And
ears. Cries. then, in a woman's voice.
Grandma knew she didn't utter a
sound. She was frightened-and calm
at the same time.
Confusion then. And crowds. And a
moment later policemen in uniform
They questioned grandma many
times. Questioned the driver, too. And
they found the little box under the
drivers seat.
Nobody seemed to get things quite
right. But as it turned out grandma
didn't care. The driver, according to
The police, assisted by grandma, had
a seller Of dope, and with the dope
right on him, too. The police had been
on the trail Of this dope running outfit
for some time. But they never guessed
that the old lady bus "come-on," all un-
known to the bus company, had worked
with n dope runners It was all quite
The furtive little man didn't look
like q big criminal to grandma. He
looked more like some poor fellow who
needed a meal and q good suit Of
clothes and, most of all, good manners.
But grandma didn't feel any too sorry
when the police took him away.
1t was different about the bus driver.
hurt in the shoulder. He was bleeding.
They had telephoned for an ambulance
were going to take him to the hos
pital.
Grandma noticed that he seemed
perturbed. More worried than he should
nave been. The shot only grazed his
mans arm just as he fired the gun.
TT amt me I'm worried about" he
said. ITS my family. I got three kids.
Out on Long Island. WoOdside. Got an
apartment there. And the girl who
looks after 'em wouldn't know what to
DO Y I didn't get home"
where's your wife?" asked grand
She's dead. A year, now. Died when
the baby was born"
It all seemed simple to grandma.
And, curtously enough, nc M inter-
fered with her plans. When the ambu-
lance came she climbed aboard right
With Bill LETTERS, that was the bus
She waited in the hospital waiting
room, q terrible, cold looking place
with straight, uncomfortable benches
and Q smell Of disinfectant.