The Washington times., 1937-08-13

the dial of the watch and an
nounced jubilantly:
Nineteen to CO."
He beckoned the waiter; paid
the check.
Rabbits scowled, but Shorty
argued:
There amt no law against
payin' the bill"
About that time Danny Dayton
staggered to his feet, pushed a
roll of bills into his walters hands,
and began to weave his deter
mined if indecisive way out of
the grove.
"C'mon," beseeched shorty,
jumping up.
"sit down, you fool" the big
fellow commanded. I'm telling
yuh, I amt setting a foot otta
the joint so longs it's Friday the
thirteenth. That's orders"
"Sure, Boss" Shorty stammered,
and sank back in his chair.
and if you had a damned bit a
sense" Rabbits continued, "yuh d
know we was smart people to wait.
Danny'S carrying load; it'll take
him plenty time to get in his car.
What times it know"
Two heads bent over the watch.
1t was two minutes to IL. Like a
racehorse ready for the signal,
Shorty paved the ground. Like
the timekeeper waiting to give the
signal. Rabbits lowered over the
watch. 1t wasn't until the two
hands met precisely at the figure
IL that he nodded the 60"
LEAVE ROADHOUSE
Shorty grabbed his watch. Rab-
bits stuffed the charm hastily into
his gun pocket. Then the two,
with careful casualneSs. left the
roadhouse. Once in their car, they
put on the speed. A turn to the
right, another to the left, a sharp
turn down a lane, and they were
upon Danny's roadster, which was
weaving its crazy way from side
to side.
The rest was easy. These Two
were no amateurs. The maneu-
vering of the roadster toward the
| ditch. The masks over their faces.
The final checkmate Of the road
ster. The sudden grinding of
brakes. The swift pulling of their
guns. And the big fellow and the
little fellow were on the running
board of the roadster. No time
for the drunken Danny to get his
gun. Instead, he faced Rabbits
gun, leveled at his heart.
Yes, Danny had cleaned up 20
grand. And now they had it.
They tossed Danny into the ditch
and jumped back into their car,
headed for Burneys place and
safety.
Rabbits, at the wheel, exulted:
"That was a damned smooth
pushover. You gotta hand 1t to
the old rabbits foot"
Automatically he took one hand
off the wheel, reached into his
gun pocket, furnbled around in it
for a moment. then shrieked
wildly:
LUCK is LOST
Good God. it's gone; the rab-
bits foot, it's gone, God Al
mighty" his voice rose to an
hysterical scream.
The car Swerved; careened
dizzily across the road and banged
to dead stop in the middle Of a
fence.
Rabbits crawled out, moaning
about the rabbits foot. Shorty
crawled out, cursing.
Just then, around the bend in
the road, swung a big touring car,
the siren Screeching.
The squad car pulled up along
side the accident. The flashlights
focused on the smashed car. The
police guns focused on Rabbits
and Shortys
Hi, Rabbits" the sergeant
stuck his gun into the big fellows
ribs, hand it over"
II amt got nothing" Rabbits
muttered.
"C'mon," the sergeant nudged
the gun a bit deeper, come across
with Danny'S dough. You done it
And left your name and address
just to make it easy for the cops.
AS he said this the sergeant
pushed his left hand into Rabbits
face, and dangled before his eyes
the MISSING rabbits foot.
Rabbits Connelley, six feet three
Of superstition, caved in as If he
had been struck in the stomach.
Shorty Snarled over at him:
And yuh was so God-damne6
cocky becuz we wasn't dom the
job on Friday the thirteenth.
But you were doing the job or
Friday the thirteenth" the ser
geant yelled. You're such a wise
guy. Amt you ever heard of set
ting your watch back when you
. get to Chicago? 1t may be Satur
day in New York, but it's still Fri
day the thirteenth here"
THE END