The Washington times., 1937-09-25

ing gunman.
years. He had known him through
Prohibition and he was pretty GER
tain that Mike was gunman, a
hired killer, who killed people for
money.
He went to Mike. He introduced
the subject with what he thought
was subtle tact, but Mike, after
listening a while, asked:
George, you tryin' to find out
how much I charged for knockin'
a guy off?"
Georges blanched and admitted
it.
Il got a scale of prices" Mike
said. 1T all depends on how much
heat gets turned on when the guy
gets knocked over. 1t depends on
how big a guy he is. Some guys
I'd charge five grand for. A ousl-
ness man runs to about a grand"
NO HEAT
This guy" Georges said eagerly,
remembering that he had $1,000
in an old sock behind the plaster
of his bedroom wall, sis business
man. There'll be no heat. No
body" tears welled in his soft eyes.
loves this guy
"Fine!" Mike says. "A grand it
is. Who is he?"
Hes me-" Georges told him.
I'm tired of living. But I do not
want to kill myself. I want you
to do it for me-
"One thing more" Georges In
structed. There are two condl-
tions. I want you to promise me
that you will do this no matter
what 1 say. I may come to you
tomorrow or the next day and tell
you l have changed my mind.
20. X" Mike agreed. I'll sur
prise you so you'll never know it,"
1t was less than two days after
Georges paid Mike the $1,000 that
business began to pick up. 1t came
out of a convention. For a week,
the place was damned. 1t DIDN'T
make Georges feel any better.
FALLS IN LOVE
Tillie came in looking for a job
at the beginning of the second
week. She was trim and bright
eyed. Georges fell in love with her
on sight. He hired her. She was
a fine waitress. People liked her.
She seemed to like Georges.
AS has been said, Georges was
emotional. Touch his feelings and
he was like a roman candle. Now
love gripped him. He thought OF
nothing else but Title.
He took her to the movies, to the
theater, to other restaurants. 1t
was very late and Tillie was very
beautiful. Georges reached for her
hand.
"Tillie," he said. Il love you. I
am lonely. I want a pretty, loving
wife. Will you marry me? I will
work my hands to the bone for
you. I will plan for you. I will
open another restaurant and buy
you ermine coats and diamonds
will live for you"
At that moment there was a
sound like two backfires in quick
succession. There we're two whin-
ing "twangs!" as bullets whistled
past Georges ears. There were
two holes in the wall just above. his
head. Tillie began screaming
"Oh! They're killing us! Help!
Help"
She ran into the street and q
policeman came running back
with her, his gun drawn, and
pulled Georges out from under the
table. Georges swore he had no
idea who was shooting at him.
He had, he told the policeman
no enemies. He couldn't under.
stand it. He repeated his story at
headquarters and they let him go.
He went straight from there to
Mike Castano.
CHANGES MIND
1--WE changed my mind, Mike"
he said, gulping to moisten his dry
throat. Now, I'm in love. want
to live. I do not want to die"
No dice, Georges" Mike smiled
sympathetically. You know what
you told me about changin' your
mind. Your dough is on the line.
l do what I was paid for"
Three times within the next
month death missed Georges by a
hair. Twice there were revolver
bullets, once a knife sailing
through the air to miss Georges by
an inch. Finally. he told Tillie
about his bargain with Mike.
I cannot marry you, my dove"
he told her because I am about
to be dead man. And no woman
loves dead man"
'YeS?" Tillie said. "Well, I love
you, Georges. And you are not
going to be a dead man. Where
can find this Mike Castano?"
Mike was very polite to her until
she delivered him her ultimatum.
Either you quit shooting at my
Georges" she said, or III 60 to
the police. I have left letter %
them with a friend.
If anything happens to Georges,
the letter will be mailed and you
will die in the electric chair as his
murderer. Besides. I want $3.50
back. We need it for new furni-
ture."
Mike cursed P,,t he ,ororoiSad