The Washington times., 1937-11-16

when he spoke it was as If he
hadn't heard what the big mar
had said.
Gee, it must be great to be a
real pusher-a heavy roller" he
remarked. Gus looked at him
curiouSly.
"Was you gettin' any ideas like
that for yourself. punk?" He
laughed uproariously. Listen,
Immy put you on this truck for
two reasons. One was to help
me when we get to town. The
other was because he was sorry
for you.
SOLE AMBITION
Joe sat silently. He promised
himself that he'd show them, show
them all that he could be as good
a heavy roller as anybody, that
he knew as much about trucks
and what went into them as any
man in the Blue Star Fleet-Fast
Freight to Boston.
Immy Johansen, truck boss for
Blue Star, had, as Gus thought,
finally taken pity on him. and
sent him out as a helper.
Immy had looked up and down
Joe's lank six feet. "You strong
enough to help unload?" he
grunted. At Joe's eager nod, he
jerked a thumb at No. 4, then
being tuned up by Big Gus and
a mechanic. "Okay, ride with Big
Gus. You get SO and cakes"
Privately, Gus had hollered at
Immy. "Whatcha wanta do-get
me sore?" Immy just grinned. In
side his rugged skull there was an
idea. This kid would probably
wear out on one trip.
But if he didn't - Immy had
seen those skinny ones fill out
before, and when they had a real
idea in their minds you couldn't
get better men.
"Take him, Big Gus" Immy
said. And that was that.
Finally, a great deal of respect
and some hesitancy in his voice.
Joe spoke us.
Listen, would you maybe let
me take the wheel when you get
tired, maybe when we're coming
back, and it's easier?"
Gus answer was characteristic
His heavy paw left the wheel fol
a moment, and travelled across tht
space between them in a backhanc
arc. It connected with Joe'S fac'
with a dull smack, leaving viciou.
red welt. The kids hands clinched
and he set his jaw. It hurt
hurt bad, and he had temper.
But he knew as we'll as Gus did
that the slightest pass on his part,
no matter how Intellectual, at the
puSher, would blacklist him from
the business. The heavy roller on
the road is as much master Of his
truck as the captain is Of his
ship.
JOE'S ANSWER
"All right" Joe's words came
slowly after a short silence. "You
may find it a little different wher
we get back to New York"
Gus looked at him curiouSly, his
small eyes taking in the long thir
figure slumped in the seat beside
him, the fair hair, and open face
His eyes Travelled down to the
hands, and he saw that they were
strong and we'll formed.
They made the rest of the rur
to Boston without comment. Ever
when they stopped at the pet lunch
wagon for pushers between Paw
tucket and Attleboro, Gus paid 70,
the food without a word. He no
ticed, though that Joe didn't ca
much. That was swell-he'd wea,
out that much quicker when h
started in Boston.
They rolled into Boston, ant
backed up to the loading platform
Gus face was grim.
"Okay, punk! Get goin'."
Joe looked at him in surprise
'You aren't working with me OF
it." He surveyed the heavy case
inside with diSmay.
Gus laugh was ugly. Listen
you're bein' paid to unload-an
load if there's any return. In
drivin', see. That's my part O
the job"
But I thought" Joe began
and then stopped. He realized tina
1t would be useless to go further
The usual practice, of course, i
Tor the puSher and helper to tax
turns at the wheel, and to hell
each other in the unloading ant
loading-GuS had done all tn
driving on the way up, and Jo
realized he'd do it on the way back
While the unloading went On, Gu
would snooze in the drivers seat
He braced his shoulders. Order
were orders, and he knew h
might just as well start walkin
back to New York Immediately a
to disobey.
FINISHED JOB
Five hours later he tapped Gu
on the shoulder, and as the olde
man growled his way out of slee,
he told him that the job was don
Gus answered in an indistint
monosyllable, still getting h
bearings.
ANY stuff loaded?" he final
asked.
Everything we're supposed
get. Here's the manifest for yc
to sign" He held out a pape
Gus looked it over, compared
to the one handed him when thu
had arrived, and saw that
checkad He f1iIed nl1t of the 20