The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1936-11-23

-
T - think I'd rather stay IN
town." Julia said. f-
Latta shrugged. even II you
do, $40 Is ell / can afford to pay"
"That win be quite salts
factory, Mr.. Latta.''
His wide smile flashed again.
"Goodl And one other thing.
Everybody calls me Tony. NO
body calls me Mr.. Latta unless
they do not like me much. I think
right from the start you should
call me Tony, and ] should call
you Julia. Is 1t q go2"
Julia laughed. TITS q CO." she
agreed, wondering what there was
about this short, dark man that
was so likable.
But when he led her TO the end
Of the wharf where four sleek
mahogany runabouts were rnoored
she felt as II she were about TO
step into an abyss from which a
return would be difficult. At sight
Of Latta a man appeared from out
the sedan-top Of the nearest boat
Ready to go, Tony?"
"All ready. Put the light on
the ladder, Pete"
Below :r Julia saw the narrow
rungs which made 1t possible To
board the water taxi. In no time
at all she and Latta were aboard
and the boat seemed TO literally
leap away from the dock. Julia
caught her breath at the sudden
speed, and Latta smiled.
"These boats are very fast" he
said. II have had them O long
time" He looked at her slyly
like a small boy confessing q pee
cadillo. II had them before pro-
hibition was repealed. Before,
he added With a smile, before ]
decided that 1t was not right To
be breaking the law"
II see," said Julia uncertain
ly.
"You know my ship Is perfectly
legal?" he asked anxiously. 1T
does not operate In the state, and
so 1t is not subject to state laws
You know that?"
"Oh, yes" laughed Julia. "Cintra
told me. I wouldn't have taken
the Job II she hadn't assured me
Of that"
Latta nodded. II believe you, Julia.
You are o good girl. ! can see that
with only one eye. And that Is what
I want. Cintra says you sing like
I think she said 1t was like nobody's
business"
II hope she didn't build me up
so much that you'll be disappoint-
ed.
IT cannot tell q good note from
d bad one" Latta confessed. But
take Cintra's word for anything.
And anyhow, my customers Will
tell me II they do not like you"
He laughed uproariously at this
last remark, but somehow Julia
could not find II amusing. II hope"
she thought, that can last the
week out"
But when the speedy boat had
left the harbor and encountered the
heavier weather outside she was
not so certain that she would want
to last the week out. The rum
about seemed to leap from one
wave crest TO the next, and each
wave slapped the bottom like o
giant sledge.
Does II get rougher than this?"
"Rough?" Tony Lata seemed
surprised. "This Is not rough
These boats will take more than
you think and sometimes II Is
pretty bad" He smile ct her. Il
think sometimes you will change
your mind about wanting to come
back into town."
Julia's heart beat faster. Would
this Job, too. be virtual irnprison-
ment-as she had suffered on the
Wood Nymphp Certainly she had
no desire TO spend very many days
and nights, friendless, on q lone
ship moored out from shore. But
perhaps Latta was having some
mild fun with her.
Fortunately II was not very
many more minutes before there
doomed ahead OF them the outlines
OF O ship. 1t WAS not now fully
illuminated, except for Its regula-
t4on lights, and TO Julia II seemed
a black and forbidding hulk bear
Ing down upon them. But Lattas
man Unanswered the small boat
4 with the perfection Of long expert
ence, and Tony Latta helped Julia
to the landing platform. In an
other moment she was on the deck
Of his gambling ship.
|
It was not the largest ship out OF
the harbor that night, but neither
was It very small. Latta explained
that he had purchased 1t from q
transportation company which con-
sidered the boat out OF date.
But she's fine for my purposes, 3"
he said. II got her for o song, and
sold the engines for q good price,